Alumni versus alumnae
 

I thought we use the word alumnae for referring to Alpha Gam alums but I've seen some of you Alpha Gam GC'ers using the word alumni when referring to our alums.

Anyone know what's right for referring to our own alums?

Re: Alumni versus alumnae
 

Don't mean to barge in here, but I saw your post...my HQ just sent out a letter to alum presidents and included the definitions to your questions:

"As a “refresher”, we would like to review the definitions of alumna, alumnae, alumnus, and alumni.

Alumna: a girl or woman who is a former member, employee, or contributor
(plural alumnae, Latin feminine of alumnus) www.m-w.com
Alumnus: A male graduate or former student of a school, college, or university www.dictionary.com
Alumni: Plural of alumnus; Coeducational institutions usually use alumni for graduates of both sexes. www.dictionary.com "

Hope this helps!

Re: Re: Alumni versus alumnae
 

Thank you!

I'm "one of those" who is really anal about alumnus/na/ni/nae. It was something that was taught to us by my Frat Educator years ago and I still think it's important to know the proper terminology.

So just remember, for us it's ALUMNA and ALUMNAE. But when being informal, "alum" is appropriate as well!

What's a Frat Educator? My chapter doesn't have that office.

"Fraternity Education" was what New Member Education is called now. When I joined AGD, "PNM" was "rushee", "recruitment" was "rush", "NM Education" was "Frat Ed", and "NM" was "pledge".

And I believe I was the FEA (Fraternity Education Advisor) when OTW joined, which is now known as the MDA (Member Development Advisor) before I was asked to serve in my current position of CA (Chapter Advisor) :)

Happy to see that OTW still remembers! We've got a chapter full of alummae that still can't get it straight!!! :D

My terminology peeve is the reference to "nationals." A singular organization ought to be referred to as a "national" (or international, as in our case). Is it confusion between "headquarters" which uses a plural form even for a singular place? Yet you'd say, "Our national office," singular.

Alpha Gam used to have a terminology list called "The Alpha Gam Way: We Are, We Do, We Say," that explained just that.

It's now called the Alpha Gamma Delta Stylebook... but that term may change too!

Is the most recent Stylebook the one from 07/2000? When I served as Alumnae Chapter Editor, it was my BIBLE. I still have a copy handy!

That's the most recent that I have. I'd bet that they'll have a new one with the new handbooks that are coming out since a lot of what was presented at Convention about changes had to do with terminology.

Dee

What's a stylebook?

It is like a glossary/dictionary of official Alpha Gamma Delta terms.