Quote:
Originally posted by doubleblue&gold
Actually, we've never had difficulty in initiating alums with my alum chapter---but we've always been open to it. In addition, my GLO makes it possible for the woman to receive approval when submitted from alum chapters, college chapters or even individual alums.
We do have to initiate with the college chapters or at national convention, but even though they might have a waiting period, they could still get approval and know it's coming.
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This is the same way in Gamma Phi Beta. Approvals are done anytime the alum chapter does the form on the woman -- the woman's background is essentially listed on the form and the alum sponsor has to write why this person would be a good Gamma Phi. In our alum chapter, the candidate needs to meet the members at one or two events. The alum chapter decides whether to move on and begin the paperwork based on their own criteria -- will she fit in, does she really want to be a member etc...Some of our alum chapters may be more or less open to AI than others because they have been burned -- eg. getting someone AI'd and then they rarely participate. In our chapter, potential AI candidates are NEVER brought to the chapter's attention (or to an event) unless we know we are going to do the paperwork. I do not want to say we are snobby, but we ARE selective. Even my two "GC lil sisters" -- Houstonchica and Cluey --came to meet members of our alum chapter before things got rolling! And neither of them lived closeby although Housonchica was about 2 hours away; Cluey was/is in another state (she did meet the alums where she lives and attended two events but I felt protective/possessive of her since I "found" her via GC! -- she is now working with the alum chapter where she lives). All the women in my alum chapter knew they would be wonderful Gamma Phis!! Two down, one to go! Anyways, after the alum chapter does the form and includes the candidate's background etc, the form is sent on to the collegiate chapter that is doing the initiation -- regardless of when their initiation is -- and the collegiate chapter president signs the form -- and they WILL sign it basically no matter what as long as the alum chapter has "vetted" the candidate. Then the form goes to our international Hqtrs and is approved. Then the "pledge" training materials are sent and training is conducted -- I like to do it in a long session -- it takes several hours -- and then there is a test (open book!) and then the badge orders are filled out and everything is sent in to be processed prior to initiation. The badge is not sent to the AI until after she is initiated.
I agree with double blue and gold that once this process has been undertaken and the GLO's hqtrs has signed off on the PNAM to get trained etc, then she should feel okay about saying who she is going to be initiated with.
I agree that this AI process is more mentally grueling than rush due to its extended time period. Women who pursue AI are generally VERY dedicated to their sorority once they are initiated!
Yay! AIs!!!