legacy status -- unique to Beta Sigma Phi?
 

I am delighted to share that my Beta Sigma Phi chapter has formally invited my daughter (1 year old) to become a Legacy. In our October meeting last week, the Executive Board announced that they had voted to welcome her as our chapter's first Legacy.

In Beta Sigma Phi, being a "Legacy" means that a girl under 18 is registered with Beta Sigma Phi International, is eligible to participate in the Legacy ritual, is eligible to participate in Legacy activities such as the online chatroom, and receives a special necklace that is presented by the sponsoring chapter. A Legacy can be a daughter, granddaughter, or any young girl who is special to a Beta Sigma Phi sister.

I know that in the general Greek community the term "legacy" is used to indicate relationship (daughter, granddaughter, sibling, etc.) to a member, but I'm wondering if Beta Sigma Phi is unique in its Legacy programming. It reminds me a little of Rainbow Girls, but Rainbow Girls is obviously more elaborate. Beta Sigma Phi chapters differ in how much they do with their Legacies. Some only do a ritual as needed. Some have an annual Legacy tea or holiday party. I think you get the idea.:)

Do you know of other GLOs who handle legacies in this way? I'm just curious.

I know some NPC chapters will do teas with legacies, but that varies from chapter to chapter and region to region. It also has to be done with care, because while they are legacies, they are not guaranteed a bid, so the chapters have to be careful about not bid promising and making sure it doesnt look like a "pre-recruitment" event if you will.

For Theta, legacies do not have their own ritual nor do they get special gifts for being a legacy, and I personally agree with that.

Many alumnae that have daughters will sometimes bring them to events as long as the event is not for initiated members only. For example, alumnae would not be permitted to bring their non-initiated legacy to the initiation service or Founders Day, but are fine to bring them to homecoming or a philanthropy event if they wish.

I'm thinking that with recruitment being like it is now and with sooo many legacies (seems like the huge majority of them) being cut, NPC groups are afraid to do a thing re: legacy status. I would never buy my daughters or granddaughters clothing, for instance, with "Pi Phi Legacy" or something similar on it; I've noticed sororities backing off of this and only selling items like, say, onesies with "My Mom is an ABC!" or "An ABC Loves Me!"

I do plead guilty to buying dresses with angels, owls, pandas, crowns, and lions. :D

That's such a sweet idea, and an interesting way to encourage girls to consider membership in Beta Sigma Phi when they become adults.

I'm not aware of any NPC sorority that does anything similar. AEPhi doesn't have any sort of legacy ritual, jewelry, or programming. But if I had a daughter, her first toy would probably be a stuffed giraffe. ;)

Alpha Gamma Delta Rosebug Program
 

(Oops,...typo! Rosebud not to be confused with Ladybug ;) )

AGD started a cool Rosebud Program a few years ago.

The goals of the program are:

to foster strong adult-girl relationships;
to provide fun activities in which adults and girls can participate;
to provide ways for members to remain involved in Alpha Gam during the busy child rearing years;
to increase the visibility of Alpha Gamma Delta in the community;
to introduce girls and young women to the sisterhood of our Fraternity.

(And yes, moms can bring their sons, too!)

Alpha Phi has the Little Dipper program:

http://www.alphaphi.org/alumnae/littledipper

"Children who grow up around Alpha Phi learn about her unique sisterhood from an early age - now is the time to introduce your little dipper to the Alpha Phi tradition!"

Delta Gamma has an AnchorGirl Program. But there is no jewelry, ritual, or programs associated with it that I know of.

Thanks, everyone, for sharing!

If a Beta Sigma Phi Legacy decides to become a sister after she turns 18, she doesn't have to pay her initial pledge fee because it was already paid for her when she was enrolled as a Legacy. The program is definitely a nice way to potentially transition into the sorority.

CONGRATULATIONS :D