1) Is there a such thing as Greeks 4 Four Years and Greeks 4 Life?
Yes and no. I've never heard of a GLO that
didn't claim that they were brothers/sisters for life. The problem is with individual members' perceptions. And I do think that often members who seem super involved do get burned out and nead a "break" from it.
2) Has anyone else had a conversation like the previously mentioned whether ist someone in their own house or a different one?
I haven't, but I think I would have a lot to say on the benefits of being an active alum.
3) Can you decifer between those who are 4 years and those for life? (like when my non-greek friends and one of their GDI (I call anti-greeks those) boyfriends start asking questions and crap and I an example of one of our mutual friends who is in XYZ sorority and myself. Even though she hangs out with her sisters all the time after we all graduated from college. I wouldn't consider her a Lifetimer b/c of things I know.
Usually, no. I have a sister who served as chapter prez for 2 years, attended the National Conventions as a collegiate and was all about Phi Beta. Then she went to grad school in a state where we don't have any chapters (collegiate or alumni). Now she is in a city with a pretty active alumni chapter, she sings with 2 of the members, and they have been trying to get her involved for a year and a half. She just feels like she doesn't have enough time to devote to it (because she is one of those people who goes all out with whatever she does). I'm sort of surprised she wasn't more excited about the opportunity to get involved again.
On the other hand, I have a good friend who I pledged with. She always liked stuff, had fun, did her part, etc. She never held any officer position within the chapter. She then took almost 2 years longer to graduate than the rest of our class and wasn't involved at all because she didn't know anyone. Now she has helped to reactivate our local alum chapter, serves as the treasurer and is really into it!
I think a lot of times people need that break.. they're going to grad school or starting their careers or beginning a family (or a combination of those three) and can't focus on being greek. Something Phi Beta has started trying to do is to immediately contact our graduating collegiates a few weeks before they leave school. We let them know how and why to stay in touch and include them in as much info as possible. A lot of times it takes a few years for alumni to feel like they have "time" for Phi Beta, but if they've been kept informed it's a lot easier for them to get involved again.
4) Would you consider yourself a 4 year or Lifetimer and by what standards? I know most of us would consider ourselves lifetimers, but Ill admitt probably at an early point when I was just getting really into it (even during new member/pledge period) I probably was a 4 year.
Actually, one of the major things that drew me to Phi Beta was its connections beyond the campus. I'm definately a lifer. I have stayed in touch with my old chapter (and still maintain their web site, although I've been trying to pass that on to an active so it's more accurate). I went to my first National Convention a year after graduation and I was hooked. Since then (2000) I've served as National Editor, and would like to continue service nationally for several years regardless of the position. I also just helped reactivate the local alumni chapter here in Columbus. I'm one of those alumni who still wears letters, displays them on her car, has my paddle hanging in my room, etc.
Edited to add this:
My biological sister is a KKG. After her freshman year she tranferred to a 2-year technical school (which of course doesn't have NPC sororities). The school is in Georgia, and she lives about 1/2 and hour outside of Savannah. I encouraged her to get involved in an alumni assoc./chapter but she hasn't done it. (And I'm pretty sure that KKG would have alumni in the Savannah area, but I could be wrong).
She's moving home soon (she graduates this week!!
) and I really hope that she re-connects with her sisters here. (Those that pledged as freshman w/ her will still have one more year to go).
I try my best to show her what alumni benefits have to offer, but she just recently was married and is starting her career, too. I hope that eventually she gets involved in Kappa again. Although I have heard her say she
is a Kappa and she still wears a lot of letters and things! So maybe she is a lifer, she just hasn't come around all the way yet!