[astroAPhi]

I'll admit, through 2002 I gave serious thought to disaffiliating and almost turned in my badge.

Why? I felt that the girls in the chapter no longer lived up to the standards of the organization. We had an extremely negative President, and her attitude pervaded meetings and the entire organization. What I didn't realize was that most of my sisters were frustrated as well. I still believed in Alpha Phi, and loved it's ideals, but I couldn't bear to watch the chapter go downhill. Sisters only talked to me to nag me about mandatory this and mandatory that.

I confided in a few sisters who I felt still knew what it meant to be an Alpha Phi and they urged me to speak up. We had a chapter forum and I was randomly selected to brainstorm about "participation and morale". I told everyone how I felt and surprisingly, I got a lot of positive reaction. Sisters who I would have never expected to apologized to me for treating me so poorly.

Our President finished out her term, and I was appointed to Chaplain, where I felt I could best help current members and inspire New Members to follow the ideals of Alpha Phi.

Before you do anything like quit, please talk to your chapter. If you have to, get up in a meeting and say "This is how I feel... please help me change it". I am so glad I stayed with Alpha Phi because the problem was only temporary. Hopefully yours will be too.