A.I. and past bid question

CatRabbit · #1 04-19-2006, 07:15 PM

I love the idea of AI. I never knew this existed before I started researching networking groups. I found a house I am going to contact because I love their philanthropies - all causes that are close to my heart. Also, they appear to have a very active local alumnae chapter in my area, which is important because I want to be as involved as possible.

Now for my question, and I apologize if this has been asked before and I missed it. I rushed in college and was extended a bid by the sorority I will be contacting. I did not accept the bid, mostly for financial reasons because money was very tight for me when I was in school. Will this effect my chances?

Also, when I contact their HQ, should I mention this previous bid in my email?

blueangel · #2 04-19-2006, 10:28 PM

I have mixed feelings on this. At first, I was going to say that if you had a past tie to the sorority you're interested in, that it would be a big plus.

But, the fact that you went through rush knowing you couldn't follow through might send up red flags.

I don't know... I'd like to hear what others think about this.

CatRabbit · #3 04-19-2006, 10:46 PM

I didn't even think of that! I wish I had access to a board like this when I went through rush 9 years ago. There's so much to learn on here. I went through rush knowing money was tight, but was hoping to be able to swing it. My Rho Chi knew that and told me to keep going.

The last night (pref night?) I told the ladies of the sorority that I could see myself there, but was concerned about the dues. I figured I was better off being honest. So they gave me a bid, and were so kind as to try to figure out how it would work with my budget. In the end, I simply couldn't afford it, but remained friends with a lot of the girls in the house.

Then we all moved home (it was a big out-of-state school) and lost touch over the years. Now I'd like to contibute to an organization I wish I had been part of from the beginning.

blueangel · #4 04-19-2006, 11:10 PM

It sounds like your heart was in the right place when you went through rush.

I'm not sure if you read my story-- but I was a pledge at ZTA in college. I was competing nationally in my sport and was offered an athletic scholarship elsewhere. I left for another university (which didn't have ZTA) while I was still a pledge. Although I eventually returned to that first school, I was training so hard, I couldn't continue in Zeta. I had a hole in my heart all those years-- and still can't believe that I eventually got to do what I couldn't do the first time around!

Sounds like your story is somewhat similar in a way. I wrote a heartfelt letter telling my story to the local alumnae chapter. At the time, though, I didn't even know there was such a thing as AI. I only wrote it because I wanted to reconnect in some way-- to volunteer with that chapter as an "outsider." Never in my wildest dreams did I ever expect to be initiated! Who knew it was even possible? But sure enough, as a result of my letter, I received a phone call from our regional representative who got the AI ball rolling for me.

I think under the circumstances you just explained, the sorority you're interested in would be touched that you still want to be a part of them years later. But, this is only my opinion. This is a decision you must make, and you must really think about it carefully.

CatRabbit · #5 04-20-2006, 03:36 PM

Thanks for the reply, blueangel. I'll do the same thing you did and write a letter to the sorority letting them know I would still be proud to be a member. I know in the "Read this thread first" thread, it suggests we contact Nationals. I found the name of the president of the local alum chapter on the sorority's website, is it okay to contact her? I read on here that someone else did that. Nationals is just going to forward my name to her anyway, right?

My main concern is that this sorority is pretty big at several of my state's schools, so I'd imagine they have plenty of active alumnae and may not need one more! Oh well, never know unless you try...

33girl · #6 04-20-2006, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CatRabbit
I found the name of the president of the local alum chapter on the sorority's website, is it okay to contact her?

No.

Contact nationals first and then let them take it from there.

Not all alumnae chapters are well versed in AI and contacting an alum chapter president directly may give them the incorrect impression that you are already an initiated member - which can lead to misunderstandings that could be detrimental to your AI pursuit.

blueangel · #7 04-20-2006, 05:47 PM

I agree with 33girl. I would contact the national headquarters first.

I did it the other way around because:

1. I didn't know any better.

and

2. I wasn't looking for AI.. I didn't know it existed!

I just wanted to help out the local alumnae chapter. Fortunately, the president of the alumnae chapter was smart enough to forward my letter to the right people. It was the district president who called me and first told me about alumnae initiation. I remember nearly fainting when she suggested it to me!

Good luck to you, and let us know how things progress.

LouisaMay · #8 04-21-2006, 09:33 AM

Hi. I haven't been around here in awhile.

I am in the same situation. Back in college, I was offered a bid to the organization that I am interested in, and I decided not to accept the bid because of a number of factors (other commitments, finances, and pressure from others).

I hope that this will not be a detriment for me, but I suspect that the members of "Little Women" (as I call them) will understand that I was honored by the bid.

LM

lake · #9 04-24-2006, 05:58 PM

I wasn't offered a bid by Tri Delta when I went through rush/recruitment, but I attended Preference there and at another house. I knew I liked Tri Delta the best and had I not dropped out of rush I hoped I would end up there. So even though I wasn't offered a bid (due to dropping out of rush after Preference), I hoped that my prior "relationship" with Tri Delta (at Preference all those years ago) would hold some weight.

I never even considered contacting someone in Tri Delta at the local level. I always figured contacting someone on the national level would be best because I assumed there would be some sort of hierarchy in place and it was just a matter of finding someone in-the-know who could point me in the right direction. And that was definitely the right decision. Finding the person to contact wasn't difficult at all after some research.

I remember right before my initiation the AI Coordinator for Tri Delta told me that she would contact my initiating chapter to explain AI to them. And luckily, when my sponsor was initiated, she was initiated with an AI so she also knew what it was and since she is an advisor she also was able to offer some of the undergrads more information.

lake · #10 04-25-2006, 02:16 PM

I wanted to add that when I was pursuing Tri Delta for AI, I was kind of wishing I HAD been pledged to Tri Delta as an undergrad, because contacting them "cold" about AI felt strange to me. I felt there would've been more of an established relationship than just having Preferenced there (and hopefully being extended a bid!).

But at the same time there's no guarantee that having once pledged an organization (and never initiating) means automatic approval as an AI, as I understand. I think this very situation happened to someone here on this board??

CatRabbit · #11 04-28-2006, 10:10 PM

I sent the organization an email today and haven't heard back yet. I'll keep you posted!

CatRabbit · #12 05-11-2006, 04:33 PM

Still haven't heard back. But good things come to those who wait.

CutiePie2000 · #13 08-13-2006, 02:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lake

But at the same time there's no guarantee that having once pledged an organization (and never initiating) means automatic approval as an AI, as I understand. I think this very situation happened to someone here on this board??

That is correct. You can read that story here.
http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/sh...ad.php?t=34362

She was a pledge and then when she tried to AI into that group where she'd previously been a pledge, she was denied. But she had a happy ending in the end.

adpiucf · #14 08-13-2006, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CatRabbit

Still haven't heard back. But good things come to those who wait.

Greek Life tends to operate on the normal academic calendar. Most GLOs have low activity over the summer, especially if they are holding a summer convention or training camp. I would try again in the fall after Labor Day/before Thanksgiving if you haven't heard.

mkgirl · #15 08-18-2006, 10:56 PM

I actually did receive a bid from Phi Mu when I was in college. My dad wouldn't let me join due to finances. Yes, I should have ironed that all out with him on the front end, but it was one of those "hoping it would work out" things. Later, I think he would have let me, but by that time I had met my future husband and had other priorities.

I can't tell you how much it meant to me to become a Phi Mu member five years ago, 26 years after my first introduction to my future sisters.