Sponsorships questions
 

Thank you for the PMs and replies!

Not only that - but not all alumnae are aware of the alumnae initiation concept and they may misunderstand. They may think you are an already initiated member of a collegiate chapter, looking for an alumnae chapter to join. By the time you explain what you're trying to do, it can be a real mess.

DO NOT approach active members or alums until/unless the national HQ says it is alright to do so.

I would also like to echo that you should wait to hear back from national HQ, especially considering some organizations consider AI strictly an honor set aside for nominated women, not necessarily women pursuing the organization. Moving forward before you know what the HQ says about AI for their organization would be a bad idea.

I wouldn't recommend approaching members with the intent to request sponsorship.

However, if you want to approach them with the intent to help them with an activity like a community service project, presenting an educational workshop to a collegiate chapter (IE: resume writing, how to ace a job interview, nutrition and health, etc.) or becoming a sponsor for an alumnae association charity event, that would be one way to get your foot in the door.

Once your foot is in the door, you can meet these people and see if you would enjoy the local alumnae group. From there, it seems you would make some friends. You would follow up-- go shopping, have lunch, invite them to your home for a summer BBQ, etc.

Over time, you might bring up how much you admire the sorority and their involvement. And then go on to say that you would love to have the opportunity to be part of such an organization. See what they say.

Many sorority women (collegiate and alumnae) are not even aware that there is an Alumnae Initiate program in their organization. If once you have made a good sorority friend, you make your interest known and share with her what you have learned about AI in her sorority, I imagine she would either immediately get involved to help you, or she might need to "think about it."

So basically, don't approach someone to be a sorority sponsor. I think it is better to first make a sorority friend before you ask her to become your sorority sister.

ETA: I think it is very hard to commit to interest in a sorority based on a brief encounter, a rush experience 10 years ago or based on what you have read about a national group online. The traditions may be the same, but every alumnae chapter is different-- if you become an alumna initiate, you are going to be part of the alumnae chapter in your neighborhood. These are your "sisters." It doesn't make much sense to pursue an organization when you don't even know if you're going to like the people or the local programs, regardless of how much you admire its ideals. Admiring ideals doesn't mean much when you are spending time with people you have nothing in common with.

I have to agree with this. There was an alumna initiate who got initiated with my pearl class. Up until that point, no one in the chapter, or alumnae, or the chapter advisor even knew that this was possible to do.

Without giving too much info out, I have a strong affiliation; I just do not have current contact information for those I knew previously.

ETA: I found their local alum website and it has information on who to contact locally for this issue.
Thank you for your replies.