Mutual selection?

[VandalSquirrel]

Originally Posted by OPhiAGinger

My GLO doesn't offer an AI path to full membership, so I've been fascinated by the divergent and very vocal opinions on AI offered here at GC. I believe the unwavering support and mature leadership of a sorority's alumnae are its strength, so the idea of attracting new members at the alumnae level seems like a good idea to me. Granted, it's critical that the new members who join in that way understand the difference between membership as an alumna and membership as a collegiate -- that they're not trying to revive a missed collegiate experience -- but if they are ready to embrace the alumnae experience, that sounds like it would strengthen the sorority.

But there's one thing I'm still confused about. I'm completely addicted to the collegiate recruitment stories and can't count the number of times the PNMs were advised to keep an open mind and consider every chapter in their search for their new home. But when a PNAM comes along and mentions that she is researching three different sororities, she is lambasted for sorority shopping.

It seems like if you support the concept of mutual selection, it should apply at the AI level as well as the collegiate level.

It just makes me sad to think of strong, smart professionals being turned away from an organization that they want to devote time, energy, and money to....

Originally Posted by AOEforme

IMO, it the fact that during your collegiate years, you're looking for a group of women who you most mesh with based on their personality. As an alum, you join an organization whose ideals and objectives you most identify with.

I'd almost compare it to the NPHC: you DON'T openly examine several groups. You research, choose the one with whom you most identify, and pursue membership only in that organization. Not multiple.

That's how I feel about it anyways. As an alum, you're not having sisterhoods and fraternity mixers. You aren't living with a bunch of your BFFs. You're choosing a group to volunteer with and programs to further. So, I think it's kind of a different story.

Just my two cents.... as far as I know, Alpha Ep doesn't allow AI either, so I haven't personally experienced this, so I may be far off. It's just how I view the topic.

Neither of you are members of an NPC sorority (If I am wrong I apologize) so I don't think you completely understand how we do things, and why. You may have been on campus with or rushed NPC groups, but each chapter, of each group, varies and since we only agree to certain unanimous agreements, we decide on membership for collegiate and alumnae members on our own terms. This also varies from chapter to chapter, and year to year. An AI or PNM may not have a snowball's chance in hell when certain people are involved, or depending on the dynamic at that time, but that can change completely for whatever reason. I respect (but not necessarily agree) with the membership choices made with my own chapter and sorority, let alone with all my NPC sisters, but unless there is something that violates our values or is outright wrong, I need to respect those decisions.

Also your generalization about how we pick groups is wrong. I know women in every sorority and wouldn't have joined based on personality of the group. I made a choice that had to do with Alpha Gam, and in fact there are sisters who are my bffs, my two bffs in the world are not Alpha Gams. There are people who have touched my life and other reasons I became an Alpha Gam, and I know other women (not just on GC) chose a group for personal reasons that have nothing to do with the personality of the women at rush. A lot of women see the "big picture" and that's how we operate.

Originally Posted by Senusret I

Unpopular opinion: Are NPC orgs really doing that much for humanity that women would rather join a sorority as an alum over the Junior League, the Order of the Eastern Star, or as volunteers and board members of their favorite nonprofits?

In the District of Columbia I don't see it.

That said, I do agree with OPhiAGinger in that there is inconsistency in the NPC messages about the paths to membership that goes beyond each NPC having their own alumnae or honorary membership process.

It wouldn't kill an NPC or two to have an AI process which was structured more like an NPHC sorority -- and it wouldn't kill an NPC to have no AI process at all.

Take it to the convention floor, ladies! Some of the gates are wide open.

I can see AI happening in an area without those organizations, but with a college, for example where I live there are two land grant universities, and the nearest Junior League and Eastern Star are about 90 miles away. Some places are hard to find advisors and involvement, and I've even advised a group that isn't mine due to there not being a lot of people who have the want or understanding to do it.

I think what you are perceiving as inconsistencies has to do with all 26 groups doing their own thing, but since we're all NPC members who agree to certain standards, we fall into a strange space. I really like that each group can do what they want as long as they follow the unanimous agreements. I know NPHC groups have some similarities in structure, and they are all NPHC members, but I'd never assume they had anything similar in membership intake, standards, or anything else.