[aopirose]

I think that it is all how you look at it. What organization couldn’t use more hands to carry on its mission? Conversely, what woman couldn’t use a network of leadership, friendship, and service?

Several of AOIIs most outstanding sisters have been AIs, including two International Presidents. I, myself, am serving the Fraternity on an International Standing Committee. (That’s not too shabby considering that I have only been an initiated AOII for 3 ½ years.) This is in addition to my wonderful family and local AOII duties plus my other civic work.

GC is a great resource and I am glad that information about AI is out there. Not only are potential members finding out about it, but MEMBERS are discovering it too. However, I am sure that the number of women finding out about AI and subsequently finding a group is small compared to offline. (Congratulations again to those of you who did!) I don’t believe that GC will cause a stir “the likes of which no one has ever seen”.

I also stand by my original statement. I don’t feel that COR principles need to stop after “Pomp & Circumstance”. I believe that there are many qualified unaffiliated women and they would make perfect AOIIs. Now, I am not saying that we need to set up a booth and sign up sheet in a mall. That is extreme. Rather as dakareng and AOIIAlum put it, we should take the approach of our Founders. Take an inventory of those outstanding/deserving (any descriptor that you feel necessary) women in your life. You have got to know at least one, right? Invite her.

I know five women, in addition to the one that I am sponsoring, who I consider Sisters without Badges. Membership would certainly be mutually beneficial for these women and AOII. They are living our philosophy and purpose but they don’t realize it. These women would also have the chance to enhance their leadership skills by serving in an elected or volunteer position, enjoy our programming, and most importantly, develop lasting friendships. AOII would gain devoted sisters who would contribute time, talent, and money to ensure the Fraternity’s success. If AOII gains either one woman or 40 women per year, we are the richer for it. Ideally, we would pick these women up as collegians. Reality, unfortunately, doesn’t allow that.

Due to organizational policies, this is certainly an area where we can all agree to disagree.