Quote:
Originally posted by veruca:
Okay - I absolutely agree with the first part of that but not the second. I think how people across the country see your organization does matter. We all joined our organizations for life - not just four years. Also, a valuable part of membership is that if you were to relocate to a new city your alum group might be a good starting point.
|
Veruca -
I know from experience how it is relocating to a new city with a different chapter. And that is why, before I moved, I called nationals and got in touch with both the president of the alum club as well as the president of the collegiate chapter. I wanted to ask them myself what the sorority chapter was like in my new town. I heard some pros and some cons about the chapter (from sisters who were honest with me and that I could trust), so I decided to take a very active role in each. I now serve as VP of the alum chapter, and Fraternal Relations advisor to the collegiate chapter. I am able to serve my sorority from both sides instead of not affiliating. Like I said - I knew when I was moving that I should call ahead. But I know that I'm not moving to say Chicago anytime soon, so why do I care what the chapter there is like. I feel much more compelled to worry about my "new" chapters here and supporting the chapter I was initiated in, than to worry about what other people are thinking about a chapter somewhere else. This is how I give my commitment for a lifetime - by serving my sorority through 1) serving as VP of my alumnae chapter; 2) serving as an advisor to the collegiate chapter at my graduate school; 3) networking with other AX's via the internet, mail, and phone to assist others in need; and 4) financial contributions to the Alpha Chi Omega Foundation and membership.
What if you posted "What do you think about XYZ sorority" and I replied that they were all stupid and trashy? Maybe I was rejected by XYZ and carried a grudge. Maybe a girl in XYZ stole my man. The point is that you (or anyone else) would have no idea why I said that, and thus I would be promoting negativity that could very well be uncalled for. Plus - what if someone told me the AX chapter at my grad school was terrible. I would want to join them anyway because THAT is my commitment to "Sisterhood for a Lifetime"! I think these kinds of posts (What's my soro like) leave too much room for rumors to be started in and thus to perpetuate negativity.