Quote:
Originally posted by SoCalGirl
There's a huge difference between 1) a national asking you to be alumna and act as an alumna. ie Join alumnae chapter and not become overly involved in collegiate chapters. (Meaning don't try to relive your glory days.) 2) A national asking you to not participate in anything period.
Simply being asked to not wear letters does not automatically make it case #2 because PNMs would be confused/curious or gossipy and the new initiates would be tempted to cross the line of the alumna/active relationship.
IMHO a chapter in this situaton should welcome the collegiate alumnae at meetings but the alumnae should also recognize that they have no say in the chapter business and should not be attempting to attend socials. I would find it acceptable though for the alumnae to attend the occasional sisterhood event though.
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Go back and read my post. Our situation was not as black-and-white as you try to put it - you have oversimplified. One of our major concerns was the last pledge class that joined in our last year as an active chapter. The problems with the chapter were not their fault and we did not want them punished for it by losing the chance to enjoy Greek life at UF for the next 2-3 of their years in college.
We were told that the younger sisters would be able to rejoin, no problem.
Nationals also asked us for our help. They especially wanted the help of sisters who had been very active on campus and positive influences in the house - that's what they said, anyway. Anyone who was bitter or apathetic about our chapter's situation was not going to be bothered, but those of us who were dedicated to Alpha Xi Delta and had tried so hard to make the chapter succeed were
recruited that Spring to assist with the recolonization in the Fall.
We even took the steps of forming a Zeta Omicron (our chapter) Alumnae Association as a way to be organized in our efforts to assist the colony. The executive officers were members who were active when we voted to close the chapter. We did all this with National's blessing.
When Fall came, there was a core group of a little more than a dozen older sisters who were committed to helping the house succeed and about that many of the younger sisters who also wanted to help and then rejoin the colony chapter. It should not surprise anyone that the stress of the chapter closing and recolonizing meant that the only sisters still around were the loyal, energetic, high-GPA, active on campus types - the best representatives for which any sorority could ask. We were the ones who had been the heart of the chapter, and we showed up, ready for hard work.
We were given a schedule of events. We helped tidy up the chapter house. We offered advice about UF's Greek system and what we thought was needed to succeed here.
Then, the recolonization process started. Suddenly and completely unexpectedly, sisters who showed up at events -
events that they had been asked to attend - were told that they were not welcome and should leave. The representatives from Nationals told us to tell everyone to stay away from the chapter house, we were not welcome inside, and not to wear letters.
No explanation, just suddenly wanting to pretend we didn't exist.