[AOII Angel]

All of this stems from poor education. We assume our collegiate chapters know that membership is for a lifetime and that there are benefits to membership, but we usually do not expound on these benefits. The active alums and alumnae chapters who support each chapter need to do a better job of showing these women that our rituals are valid and useful, that continued involvement does serve a purpose and that your membership doesn't end when you are handed a college diploma. I loved my ritual as a collegian and knew I'd always be an active alumna, but no one ever told me how to do these things. We have to do a better job of showing these women what you can do to stay active, how to maximize your membership and how to make the sorority experience worthwhile. I'm trying my best with the chapters I'm involved in, because I recognize that this was a problem when I was a collegiate. You can't make changes if no one identifies what needs change. Sorry if this is long winded! I am really saddened by the authors attitude about membership. She, like many of our sisters, have missed the whole point of membership.