[adpiucf]

Originally posted by Blue Violets


I thought all of the things they taught you pre-initiation were not secret/ritual. Did I imagine that? For example, what the pledge pin means, the sorority history, our psalm, etc. etc. etc....maybe I am confused though.

(Don't worry, I haven't shared any of this info w/ anyone, I'm just curious!)

I did it! I posted our blessing! The blessing is not ritual. If you have been taught that it is a ritual, please go back to the person who told you this and immediately correct them.

What is open: Our blessing. Our songs. The ADPi Creed. The history of our founding, our lion and his name "Alphie," the woodland violet or diamond, our colors and their meaning, our original name, our diamond circle and 25 year anniversary ceremonies, and our Founders Day ceremonies. The Mother Ceremony and the meaning of the Mother Pin. What our Pride Program is All ABOUT. What TME is. What goes on at an education meeting (unless that education meeting is a sorority ritual review). Our nomenclature for officers and phases of membership. (FYI-- we're trying to get away from calling our alumnae "Pi" members. Also, a female alum is an alumnA. Female alum together are AlumnAE. AlumnI are plural male alum or a coed crowd of alum. A single male alum is an alumnUS.) Our closing in a letter to another ADPi is "Loyally"-- this is not ritual or a secret, either.

There are open meanings for "Alpha Delta Pi" as Greek Letters and the alpha badge that may be shared with non members. These open meanings are often shared with PNM's during recruitment to help them understand ADPi and feel the connection. The fuller meaning of these are learned in the ritual ceremonies during Diamond Days.

What DRIVES ME CRAZY: The little sayings our chapters make up like PATA or OBIC, etc--- are not ritual and have never been ritual, and are not part of the Alpha Delta Pi international teachings or way, contrary to what your chapters may have taught you. I tell you this with ONE-THOUSAND PERCENT security and certainty. I know you will tell me I am wrong, will be upset--- as I practically caused a riot on here a couple of months ago when I dropped that "bomb" on you. PATA came out of a keynote speech at a convention many years ago-- It meant Pi's Are Totally Awesome. PATA came back to the chapters as this new "secret" and chapters made up their meanings for it. OBIC followed, and almost every chapter has made up their own nonsense words. THIS IS NOT AN ADPI THING. Even if it is a local tradition with your chapter, it is the equivalent of making up your own ritual. ADPi chapters do not have that privilege. KD has AOT. Alpha Xi has TFJ. Let's quit having Acronym Envy. ADPi DOES NOT have secret acronyms. We have plenty of other interesting ritual secrets though that do need to be kept quiet.

What is ritual and secret from non-members: the meaning of our coat-of-arms, the meaning of Alpha Delta Pi as it is learned in the initation ceremony (there is an open meaning that is shared with non members), our secret motto as it is learned in initation (Our open motto that is shared with non members is We Live For Each Other), anything you learn in alpha ceremony, neophyte ceremony, diamond days, initation, Jewel Degree (alumnae initation), our membership selection process during sorority recruitment, the way the chapter votes in a meeting, the opening to the chapter meeting, the closing to the chapter meeting, the "ritual paraphernalia" you see at any chapter business meeting, alpha ceremony, initation ritual, etc.

You should not discuss the business discussed or presented in chapter with a non-member. (However, if it was announced in chapter that ADPi will play KD in intramural football on Tuesday at 5 PM, it's ok to spread the word! Things like that...) I have heard back and forth on our psalm that it is secret vs open. I would advise if you are not certain of something, please don't repeat it outside of ADPi.

Also, if you feel a post by a member of GC is inappropriate, please PM them and share your feelings. That member can go back and delete her post, or if she initiated the thread, she can delete the thread without a moderator's assistance. GC does not seem to want to help us traffic the boards b/c they will not give us moderator access, so we must make up for this by helping one another.

I agree we all need to utilize Pride Online. Perhaps we can do this-- if you have a chapter concern, post a note on GC-- ADPi's please go to Pride Online to read a sister-sensitive post. I would appreciate your input. Perhaps we come up with a code--- for Example. Sisters, The Lion is Roaring at Pride Online; Board: Recruitment; Subject: Panhellenic at XYZ University. If the Pride Online option does not sound appealing, we could begin a Yahoo! Groups email list for the GC ADPi's where members can email the group about a problem they are facing in their chapter and get sisterly feedback over a secure channel.

Nothing our members post on GC is intended to humiliate or reveal ADPi secrets; I think we are so comfortable in our GC community, we forget that there are other groups and others who are non-Greeks on the boards, who, as much as we admire them and like them, are not members of ADPi and shouldn't be privy to our "dirty laundry."

Ok, is this post long enough? Have I offended anyone with this post? I truly hope not. I have the utmost care and concern for everyone of my sisters, and for Alpha Delta Pi as an organization. I'm happy to know all of you in the GC community and I look forward to our continuing to grow together as sisters.

Pi Love to All!

Edited to add: The ONLY things that should be kept secret from our ADPi new members are opening and closing meeting ritual and what is learned at initation. New members can wear letters, hold office in the chapter, vote and are considered SISTERS--- they do not have to work to prove themselves. Before any intro to a ritual, they will be downloaded on what to expect and how to prepare. If you're unsure of something to give to or tell a new member, please run it by the NMC. If she's not sure, she will talk to the MEVP. If any confusion remains, the TME adviser/chapter adviser/CPD or TME director will clear it up. Keeping things secret like the dates of initation, or the date of the international exam are not cool at all, and is seen as hazing. And ADPi doesn't haze So treat your alphas like the gems they are, and you will be rewarded with happy new sisters who are active and want to do everything with ADPi!