Quote:
Originally posted by ASAlady
For those who asked:
Ritual Advisor
They asked me to take on the position (although I expressed interest in helping out in any area) and with ASA there is an application process where we both fill out proper paperwork and the chapter sends it in. The letter is just a formality I guess, to state that I am "official."
I am trying to figure out my role with them, and I guess that is why I am sad that they are not reciprocating with me. I am ready to jump right in and offer assistance! I really hope after the winter break they are enthusiastic about me coming on to advise. I am glad to hear that I am not the only one who has dealt with this (although not really glad to hear it happens!)
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Okay, "ritual advisor". (Which we don't have in KD, ASA's, is this a common thing in ASA?). This explains why the chapter is overwhelmed with you. It seems that ASA wanted to give you a way to be involved that didn't require too much.
A chapter has ritual, what, several times a semester at most? You don't need to be in contact with the chapter frequently, and certainly not with most of the chapter. You need to be in contact with a sargeant at arms or whoever is in charge of setting up the rituals. And maybe the president at times. And you don't need to meet with them all that frequently- maybe once a semester to inventory your ritual equipment in preparation for what's coming up. It's not like you're advising a standards committee or something that needs more involvement from an advisor.
I can *really* see why they would get upset... if someone who has been through ritual once (as an initiate, not even on the chapter side! there's a HUGE difference) wants to come in and tell them how to do it, when many of them have been through it possibly even 6 or 7 times within the chapter.
Today's collegians are OVEREXTENDED like crazy. HQ each pushes the chapters to do, IMO, way too much. By this point in the semester, they're burned out on ASA and need to concentrate on finals.
Honestly, despite your first post, you seem to be looking for the collegiate experience you never had. That ship has sailed. You're not going to be super buddies with the girls in this chapter.
Your advisor position is a limited one. You seem to be trying to force yourself upon these girls to involve to you to a level that you aren't supposed to be involved.
What assistance can you give them in this role? Honestly, close to nada.
You are an ASA alumna, and an alumnae initiate. Get involved with an ASA alumnae chapter. Yes, you can help out with the chapter- WHEN THEY NEED YOU. But your focus should be on being an alumna.
If I were you, before I started getting pissed at the chapter, i'd be a little upset with whoever the National Officer was that had put me in this position, for not providing the materials needed and not actually defining what your role should be.