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Since I am celebrating 20 years of being an initiated member of Alpha Gamma Delta this month, I have to say that each year has brought a different and new meaning to my membership. From the sisterhood experienced as a collegian to the full blown realization of how expansive this sisterhood is at my first Convention. From watching a chapter almost drive themselves into the ground with "risky" behavior to helping them pull together and pull themselves back to the top. Seeing a new officer grow throughout their year in office and to see THEM first experience the true sisterhood you experience at Convention. It hasn't ever stopped being a wonderful experience. There have been challenges (having chapters close to due numbers) and there have been highs (seeing a successful re-colonization). There have been challenges that turned into highs! (Getting stranded in St. Louis with a fantastic group of other volunteers who had gathered there for training).
And then, somehow, the "old ladies" who are International Officers are no longer "old ladies", but the women you've been working so closely with for the past decade, and you see what a bright future the Fraternity has.
Ultimately, what I got from Alpha Gamma Delta was Our Purpose, a standard to strive for, that has become a part of who I am, that has gained so much more meaning over the years as I really began to think about what it meant to me, and a sisterhood, which is more than friendship, it's deeper and stronger and THAT is what women who never join a GLO (or who stop being involved) never get to experience.
Dee
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