I went through two new member periods - one for my local and one for AEPhi.
When pledging my local, we had a pledge project to accomplish - putting together a potluck dinner. Each pledge was responsible for bringing something, and the pledges and sisters enjoyed the dinner together. These days, that would be considered hazing, but I think planning and executing that project (which wasn't even all that complicated) brought the 5 of us closer together.
When we went through AEPhi's new member program as a new colony, we were already bonded as sisters... but one thing that sticks out in my mind is the group of us going out to dinner with a woman who has been very active with AEPhi from the day she pledged, who was a national officer at the time, whose daughter is an AEPhi, whose license plate is AEPHI
and who, to me, is an excellent example of what it means to be greek for life. I feel an event with alums should be part of the new member program.