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Well, it took some chapters a LONG time to get rid of candles. My chapter was using them really up until my presidency or maybe the one before me (can't remember). I don't mind using them for certain things, but honestly, and this is just my opinion, using them for things in pref ceremony is super-super lame. We used to do a candle-lighting thing and it wasn't as cool with electric candles. Plus many of the PNMs don't realize why you'd be using electric candles and it seems weird to them too. I think we ended up changing our preference night ceremony when our alumnae got more involved and we had to quit using real candles.
I understand no candles in situations where there are a LOT of candles and maybe fabric around, or even when the candles are 'background items,' but I honestly think that if you're just using one candle, and the candle itself is the focus of the ceremony (as in candle passes or our old preference ceremony) it's pretty stupid to ban it. I just think it's taking risk management too far. I mean with one candle you can pretty quickly respond to any issue that arises. I did my best to obey the rule when I was leading my chapter, and I would in the future if I were in a Pi Phi leadership position, but I just think a lot of the beauty of the ceremony is taken away by using electric candles.
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