Your thoughts on AI: discussion goes here.

[ReachTheLimit]

Originally Posted by tinydancer

I'm afraid I'll be sorry for getting into the middle of this:

Tom, I don't think it is that those of us who have done AI are now anti AI. I think many are against the way the information is spread, or the way incorrect information is being given.

That is all from me....

Tiny, I understand your point, but to me, there is already a ton of misinformation about sororities in general floating around on the internet. The way it's sometimes portrayed in the media and so forth.

GC isn't a part of NPC, and a sticky at the top of the AI Forum should clarify that, and it's already there that the best place to contact for information is the National.

I agree with all of that.

But, on the other hand, if someone wants to look up information on GC and it's wrong information, I don't feel sorry for the person that chooses to not follow directions. Some people are just going to insist on doing it their way.

I don't think it looks bad on the organization, at all. I mean, what are they going to say? Call National and say, "hey, I read on GC that _______ about AI was true, and you are telling me it's not?"

I'm sure they are going to get told that they can't control the content on other websites, and they should have contacted national to start with. They'll also be told, as is mentioned many times on this website, that it is not affiliated in any way with NPC or GLO.

[texas*princess]

Originally Posted by ReachTheLimit

Tiny, I understand your point, but to me, there is already a ton of misinformation about sororities in general floating around on the internet. The way it's sometimes portrayed in the media and so forth.

And last time I checked, the media normally doesn't cover membership stuff. Unless you count Alexandra Robbin's book which is 150% true.

[AlexMack]

Originally Posted by ReachTheLimit

Tiny, I understand your point, but to me, there is already a ton of misinformation about sororities in general floating around on the internet. The way it's sometimes portrayed in the media and so forth.

GC isn't a part of NPC, and a sticky at the top of the AI Forum should clarify that, and it's already there that the best place to contact for information is the National.

I agree with all of that.

But, on the other hand, if someone wants to look up information on GC and it's wrong information, I don't feel sorry for the person that chooses to not follow directions. Some people are just going to insist on doing it their way.

I don't think it looks bad on the organization, at all. I mean, what are they going to say? Call National and say, "hey, I read on GC that _______ about AI was true, and you are telling me it's not?"

I'm sure they are going to get told that they can't control the content on other websites, and they should have contacted national to start with. They'll also be told, as is mentioned many times on this website, that it is not affiliated in any way with NPC or GLO.

Your point is excellent, but look at it from this angle:

A sister is walking around in her letters (for the sake of argument, we know for a fact she is initiated and a member in good standing with her GLO), drinking alcohol, smoking, badmouthing other GLOs and spouting out ritual information.
This is the first time you have ever seen a member of this GLO, and you assume that everything she does is what her GLO stands for.
Now NHQ (or IHQ) cannot control what she does personally. They cannot be everywhere at once. What they can do is lay down boundaries for representing the GLO.
The rule of thumb is 'when in doubt, don't.'
NHQs and IHQs cannot control the content on this website. They can tell members to exercise extreme discretion. Following this logic, this forum should not exist. 'When in doubt, don't.'
Let's say Suzie XY says, 'AI with my sorority is a snap.' You have just heard of AI and you're excited to hear this. Then Jane XY says, 'no it's not, don't listen to Suzie XY.' Who do you believe? Who is correct? Would there be any confusion if the information wasn't on the internet in the first place?
No one's trying to prevent AI here. But getting information from GC is like citing wikipedia for your doctoral dissertation.

Did that make sense?

[ReachTheLimit]

Originally Posted by centaur532

Your point is excellent, but look at it from this angle:

A sister is walking around in her letters (for the sake of argument, we know for a fact she is initiated and a member in good standing with her GLO), drinking alcohol, smoking, badmouthing other GLOs and spouting out ritual information.
This is the first time you have ever seen a member of this GLO, and you assume that everything she does is what her GLO stands for.
Now NHQ (or IHQ) cannot control what she does personally. They cannot be everywhere at once. What they can do is lay down boundaries for representing the GLO.
The rule of thumb is 'when in doubt, don't.'
NHQs and IHQs cannot control the content on this website. They can tell members to exercise extreme discretion. Following this logic, this forum should not exist. 'When in doubt, don't.'
Let's say Suzie XY says, 'AI with my sorority is a snap.' You have just heard of AI and you're excited to hear this. Then Jane XY says, 'no it's not, don't listen to Suzie XY.' Who do you believe? Who is correct? Would there be any confusion if the information wasn't on the internet in the first place?
No one's trying to prevent AI here. But getting information from GC is like citing wikipedia for your doctoral dissertation.

Did that make sense?

I completely understand what you are trying to say, and fully agree with the spirit of it.

I don't know, maybe it's just me. I was looking at the GC boards to get an idea of how the AI process, not a "How To" manual. I mean, there really isn't much to it (in regards to complexity), call or send an e-mail, state your case, and wait.

However, I would fully support the deletion of any posts where someone is trying to solicit sponsorship from members online, or where someone posted too-specific details, mentioned their GLO before an invitation was extended, or made any reference, no matter how slight, that AI was "easy".

[texas*princess]

Originally Posted by ReachTheLimit

I completely understand what you are trying to say, and fully agree with the spirit of it.

I don't know, maybe it's just me. I was looking at the GC boards to get an idea of how the AI process, not a "How To" manual. I mean, there really isn't much to it (in regards to complexity), call or send an e-mail, state your case, and wait.

However, I would fully support the deletion of any posts where someone is trying to solicit sponsorship from members online, or where someone posted too-specific details, mentioned their GLO before an invitation was extended, or made any reference, no matter how slight, that AI was "easy".

I agree with your points, however, it has been stated several times, that AI is not meant to be pursued.

If a group approached you and you are invited to join, the process is quite easy. You fill out a form, order a badge, learn all you can, and wait until initiation.

[ReachTheLimit]

Originally Posted by texas*princess

I agree with your points, however, it has been stated several times, that AI is not meant to be pursued.

If a group approached you and you are invited to join, the process is quite easy. You fill out a form, order a badge, learn all you can, and wait until initiation.

I don't disagree with you on that, at all.

But, I do think that there is room for successful, career women, who may have, for whatever reason, not joined a sorority earlier in life, who would like to contribute and would like to for that particular organzation.

Texas, I guess all I am trying to say, is if the National GLO's are not up for being approached for AI, why don't they just end it there when they receive an e-mail or phone call regarding?

With me, there was a sorority in particular where I didn't know any current members, but did not pick one at random and think, "Oh that sounds good!"

That's all I am trying to say.

[adpiucf]

Originally Posted by ReachTheLimit

But, I do think that there is room for successful, career women, who may have, for whatever reason, not joined a sorority earlier in life, who would like to contribute and would like to for that particular organzation.

There is. They're invited through their connection by a relative or friend. And you can contribute your time by calling up a collegiate chapter or the local arm of the philanthropy the sorority supports to offer your services at any time.

Originally Posted by ReachTheLimit

Texas, I guess all I am trying to say, is if the National GLO's are not up for being approached for AI, why don't they just end it there when they receive an e-mail or phone call regarding?

They do. But there's no need to flood our limited office staff at the HQ or our volunteer directors with unnecessary calls from people who learn about AI through GC.

[AlexMack]

Originally Posted by ReachTheLimit

I completely understand what you are trying to say, and fully agree with the spirit of it.

I don't know, maybe it's just me. I was looking at the GC boards to get an idea of how the AI process, not a "How To" manual. I mean, there really isn't much to it (in regards to complexity), call or send an e-mail, state your case, and wait.

However, I would fully support the deletion of any posts where someone is trying to solicit sponsorship from members online, or where someone posted too-specific details, mentioned their GLO before an invitation was extended, or made any reference, no matter how slight, that AI was "easy".

Good, I rewrote some parts a few times just to make sure I was expressing my point clearly.
I think PenguinTrax made an excellent call for compromise earlier in the thread, something I could absolutely get behind.
I used GC when I was considering recruitment and then going through, so I can see using this website as a sort of reference, like 'what do I do if...'. But not 'how do I...?' On the other hand, you could probably use one of the other subforums to procure the information. Additionally, it's not fair of me to compare undergrad recruitment to alumni initiation. They're apples and oranges, though in the end it's all fruit salad

[ReachTheLimit]

Originally Posted by centaur532

Good, I rewrote some parts a few times just to make sure I was expressing my point clearly.
I think PenguinTrax made an excellent call for compromise earlier in the thread, something I could absolutely get behind.
I used GC when I was considering recruitment and then going through, so I can see using this website as a sort of reference, like 'what do I do if...'. But not 'how do I...?' On the other hand, you could probably use one of the other subforums to procure the information. Additionally, it's not fair of me to compare undergrad recruitment to alumni initiation. They're apples and oranges, though in the end it's all fruit salad

Well, Penguin's sticky does give very clear instructions. The only thing that I wished had stayed was the list of which sororities do AI versus ones that do not or under very specific circumstances.

I wouldn't bother contacting XYZ if they only do AI in special circumstances, but if I had previously been a pledge and couldn't complete initiation, I might.

[AlexMack]

Originally Posted by ReachTheLimit

Well, Penguin's sticky does give very clear instructions. The only thing that I wished had stayed was the list of which sororities do AI versus ones that do not or under very specific circumstances.

I wouldn't bother contacting XYZ if they only do AI in special circumstances, but if I had previously been a pledge and couldn't complete initiation, I might.

I'll say it before anyone else gets to it.

The difference between undergrad recruitment and alumni initiation is that undergrad recruitment is the main mode of intake for the GLO and alumni initiation makes up a very small percentage of new sisters each year. Therefore, collegiate recruitment is a unanimous agreement and policy among all NPCs. Because AI is so individualized and circumstantial, no uninitiated person should be or needs to be privy to that information.

I am beating a dead horse when I say this, but the sorority approaches you, not the other way round. If a member thinks you're right for their org, they tell you, they start the ball rolling. That's how you come into knowledge of AI policy.
The point of removing the list is so that people don't go through the list and think 'hmmm, I'll only pursue these GLOs because it's easy.'
If they want you, they find you.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

I am going to make the following assumptions:

1. AI is a good thing when done properly, i.e. a woman is invited by women in a sorority to pursue membership.

2. Most women in sororities know nothing about AI.

Therefore, I think that eliminating the forum entirely eliminates a tool for raising awareness AMONG EXISTING SORORITY MEMBERS.

I support PT's suggestion to post the sticky and delete anything that sounds like sorority shopping.

[ReachTheLimit]

Originally Posted by centaur532

I'll say it before anyone else gets to it.

The difference between undergrad recruitment and alumni initiation is that undergrad recruitment is the main mode of intake for the GLO and alumni initiation makes up a very small percentage of new sisters each year. Therefore, collegiate recruitment is a unanimous agreement and policy among all NPCs. Because AI is so individualized and circumstantial, no uninitiated person should be or needs to be privy to that information.

I am beating a dead horse when I say this, but the sorority approaches you, not the other way round. If a member thinks you're right for their org, they tell you, they start the ball rolling. That's how you come into knowledge of AI policy.
The point of removing the list is so that people don't go through the list and think 'hmmm, I'll only pursue these GLOs because it's easy.'
If they want you, they find you.

But I think that is where individual members of GLO's and their HQ's policies are inconsistent. If the sororities didn't want qualified women to contact them about AI, then they would refuse to set up introductions with the local AA, but we all know that doesn't happen in all cases.

I never thought that the list of which GLO's did AI's in any way, referenced that it was an easy process. In fact, I think there was something printed specifically to tell readers to NOT make that very incorrect interpretation. I don't think the forum should be dropped b/c people can't read and follow given directions.

[adpiucf]

Originally Posted by ReachTheLimit

I was looking at the GC boards to get an idea of how the AI process...

That is exactly why we don't want an AI Forum. To become an AI, a sorority should approach you of their own volition and not because of your pursuit of them. Having an AI Forum unnecessarily advertises AI to people "seeking" alumnae membership. The women who have joined through AI are welcome to share their stories with their sisters and the GC community, but an AI board isn't necessary.