Chapter meeting secrecy

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

Helping an active sister is not the issue. Nor is lending an ear to an active who is having a problem.

I believe she's referring to the negative sort of involvement, such as:

*getting involved in any drama/gossip that's going on with the active girls.
*taking "sides" in said drama.
*discussing the drama with other alumnae.
*causing more drama.
*meddling in collegiate chapter issues (i.e. attempting to get involved in/control Membership Selection).
*generally not growing up and behaving like an alumna (and having "I think I'm still an active syndrome.")

This.

Originally Posted by Kansas City

My chapter doesn't really have alumnae (outside of advisers) interested in hanging out with the collegiate chapter during formal business rituals. I believe that most alumnae would prefer to attend the less serious and fun events.

This is the problem. They're not going to meetings. But active sisters will leave the meetings, talk to the alumnae about things that happened, and then it causes issues.

For example: Changing the mascot. Our chapters each have local mascots in addition to our national one. The chapter wanted to change it. There was a lot of discussion about it, and people said they wanted it to MEAN something to them. Then sisters would bring in ideas and they had discussions that weren't.. well thought out? I don't want to go into too much detail, so we'll leave it at that. Some of the active sisters relayed what they considered to be "ridiculous discussion" to alumnae. Some alumnae were mad and "offended" because they were changing the mascot that they knew throughout college, and it appeared they were doing it "just because".. even though they have the right to do that, no matter what the reason.

Alumnae can still attend business meetings (not that it happens often), so where is the line drawn?

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

This.


Alumnae can still attend business meetings (not that it happens often), so where is the line drawn?

I'm probably going to get a little flack for this, but my opinion:

Unless an alumna is an advisor/house corp member or is approved by Exec to attend the meeting for a reason (Ex: You are doing Race for the Cure and you want to do a presentation and get the actives involved), they shouldn't be attending chapter meeting.

[tri deezy]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

I'm probably going to get a little flack for this, but my opinion:

Unless an alumna is an advisor/house corp member or is approved by Exec to attend the meeting for a reason (Ex: You are doing Race for the Cure and you want to do a presentation and get the actives involved), they shouldn't be attending chapter meeting.

I second this BIG TIME. Alumnae can be as bad a helicopter parents, especially if the chapter has changed and they don't approve of how things are going. Advisers are one thing, because they do have the right to be there at the meetings, but even that can come off as overbearing and even make it seem like they don't trust the chapter to do it themselves. My sisters and I would have thought it very strange and out of place if alumnae started showing up at chapter... Even our alumna adviser was like a helicopter mom and it got really bitter by the end.

[honeychile]

Originally Posted by lawgal

I actually give a lot of credit to the college students today who exercise discretion. I think it is harder by far, with facebook, email and chatrooms to be discreet because you do not always remember how public it is.

Back in my day, when you went on Spring Break, for instance, that momentary lack of judgment would not appear on the internet, someone's phone vid - or Girls Gone Wild.

Hear, hear! We were taught while new members that the D in Delta stood for Discretion.

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

I'm probably going to get a little flack for this, but my opinion:

Unless an alumna is an advisor/house corp member or is approved by Exec to attend the meeting for a reason (Ex: You are doing Race for the Cure and you want to do a presentation and get the actives involved), they shouldn't be attending chapter meeting.

We have a similar rule, but I was surprised to find out that some GLOs don't have it.

[Thetagirl218]

It should go with out saying to any member of a GLO that is a meeting is closed, than things that occur within its doors are private! Unfortunately, as some other have said, people just don't have the common sense anymore to understand this!

[Kansas City]

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

Alumnae can still attend business meetings (not that it happens often), so where is the line drawn?

It is going to be difficult dealing with alumnae that still feel connected to the collegiate chapter but somehow I'd communicate to them, maybe through an alumnae chapter or association, that they are now alumnae members and as such really don't have any voice or vote on how the collegiate chapter chooses to operate. To satisfy the alumnae, perhaps your collegiate chapter can allow the alumnae chapter or association to petition their opinions on such controversial subjects as a mascot change as a group but in reality, the collegiate chapter needs the leeway to make their own decisions. Good luck with such a tough situation.