ever felt left out???

Katey Alpha Gam · #1 08-27-2001, 01:51 AM

Has anyone ever flet like they weren't a part of their chapter? I love my GLO with all of my heart and I have been what I would consider a good member of the chapter for 2 1/2 years now, but I still really sometimes feel like I am not a part of my chapter. I love them so much and I want so bad to feel a part of it the way I did when I joined. A lot of the sisters I was close to are now alumnae so it's really hard for me to not have that closeness with some of the younger girls. I was just wondering if anyone else has felt like this and what you did to get out of it or how you handle it???

TexasPhi · #2 08-27-2001, 02:11 AM

I know how strange it can be when your friends graduate and suddenly the chapter doesn't feel the same as it did before.

I'd advise you to move into your chapter house if you have one--that is a wonderful way to get to know sisters you might not know as well (we had 32 girls and two decent sized bathrooms, but in these situtations you get to know your sisters!!).

I loved living in our chapter house. It was so much fun and most of the friendships I have to this day were cemented during those years in the house.

If that is not an option, run for an office, or volunteer to head a committee. Both are great ways to get involved and make new friends. We had a large chapter, so very often you'd get to know a whole different group of people that you might not have otherwise.

You could talk to your chapter president or social director about organizing sisterhood events--offer to be in charge or help out if a committee already exists. The possibilities are limitless!

Finally, you could take on a little sis (or whatever your group calls them). This might help you to bridge the gap between the younger girls and yourself.

Good luck! :-)

greeklawgirl · #3 08-27-2001, 02:30 PM

Katey, have you thought about assisting the New Member Educator? Even if that isn't an official title, I know that the pledge moms need all the help they can get! That is an excellent way to get to know the new members.

Also, if your sisters have joined a Junior Circle, there's nothing to stop you from attending their social functions. Its a great way to keep in touch with your sisters that have graduated. Goodness knows, we younger alumnae miss our chapters and we love to see our undergraduate sisters!

And Katey, when you feel that you're not a part of the chapter, just remember that you are a part of a giant international organization. All of us Alpha Gams here on GC love you to death! You'll always be a very important part of THIS chapter.

LIEP,
GLG

LeslieAGD · #4 08-27-2001, 02:36 PM

Kates, I know our chapter has changed a lot since we initiated but you can always talk to me!

L.

damasa · #5 08-27-2001, 07:15 PM

I'm not sure on how significant the differences between sisterhood and brotherhood are, but I felt the same way at one point in time. I initiated three semesters ago, and most of the ppl that I grew close to in the fraternity, were either my pledge brothers, or some of the older members, because I wanted to learn, and be guided as soon as I could. Now, I'm considered and old schooler in my fraternity. Yes, I'm a Junior, and after this semester, there will be a mere handful of members that are older than me. Most of the members I got to know really well, graduated. It's a long story about our history and how we almost went undera few years ago, but I won't get into that. The suggestions that I've read are great. Move into the house, if that's not possible, get involved, do anything and everything. Invite the members you don't know as well out to do things, to get to know them a little more, even if it's a cup of coffee, a beer, or what not. That's what I began doing, and considering that we have a gizillion younger members running around, I was doing this a lot. Then I realized that how can it be a brotherhood if there are "brotherhoods" or "cliques" within the brotherhood. So we reinstated our weekly brother nights on top of all the other hoopla going on. IT WORKED, and I think everyone is getting to know everyone again. We are all beginning to become close.

damasa

penguintpa_lady · #6 08-27-2001, 11:00 PM

Katey,
I know how you feel when it comes to feeling like you are been left out. I was initiated in DST the end of last fall, winter qtr my big sis decide to go on inactive status ( then went away to Florida for 6mths for a intership) here all of my pledge sister were getting closer to their bigs & mine was never around. some of the others whos big sister was not around @ least had some one else within "thier family" but again i had no one

(everyone within my little fam. had graduated)
but spring qtr one of the sisters (who i have become VERY close to) asked me how i would feel about her "adopting" me. @ the end of spring qtr we made in offical & she is now my big sis

although i feel bad because i changed my big sis, i think i made the right decsion. & im looking forward to growing REALLY close to my "new family" this qtr.( & the rest of my life)

PM_Mama00 · #7 08-28-2001, 12:56 AM

I felt outa the loop when I was on probation for my grades. Now I'm back in full swing, but I still feel like I've missed out on soooo much!!! ps...Katie....I think my friends best friend is an EMU AGD...her name is Allison last name starts with a W. Do u know her?