Why are you NOT involved in an Alumni/ae Association?

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

I just don't really see a reason to be active in the local alum chapter. I see all of my friends from the sorority anyway, so why pay additional money to socialize with them?

Do you and your buddies do community service, programs and initiatives, assist collegiates, and attend conventions together, too?

Most alumnae/alumni/graduate chapters are much more than ways to socialize with your friends. I know that some alum chapters only get together to hang out but people can change that if they want their alum chapters to actually do something significant.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Do you and your buddies do community service, programs and initiatives, assist collegiates, and attend conventions together, too?

Most alumnae/alumni/graduate chapters are much more than ways to socialize with your friends. I know that some alum chapters only get together to hang out but people can change that if they want their alum chapters to actually do something significant.

Well, my point is that the local chapter isn't offering those things, so it doesn't appeal to me much.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

Well, my point is that the local chapter isn't offering those things, so it doesn't appeal to me much.

Do you and your buddies offer those things? Is the alum chapter receptive to offering those things (are you sure they don't offer those things?)? Have you all tried to join and see what happens?

The local alum chapter is most likely offering the things that the chapter members want. They won't offer things that nonmembers want.

[rhoyaltempest]

There are so many women's organizations out here and community based sororities that don't even have collegiates and do great things (not just socialize) so I just don't get the whole, "I don't see a reason to be active in my sorority after college" or "What reason is there to do AI?" thing. Sure, you can join one of those other women's organizations to do community service and make a difference but why not do it with your sorority sisters and keep the committment you made in college? And as far as being too busy, I have seen women in the alumnae chapters of my org and other orgs go to school, take care of a family, work, and still find time to contribute something to their organization year after year, so I think people make time for what they choose to make time for. I think what some are not admitting here is that some/many only see their sorority as a college thing; hence, the popular "I used to be a _______ in college." Let's be real.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by rhoyaltempest

Sure, you can join one of those other women's organizations to do community service and make a difference but why not do it with your sorority sisters and keep the committment you made in college?

Depending on the area of the country you are in, it may be that those other women's orgs carry more weight as far as professional or social associations than being in a sorority alumnae chapter does.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Depending on the area of the country you are in, it may be that those other women's orgs carry more weight as far as professional or social associations than being in a sorority alumnae chapter does.

What does this mean?

[rhoyaltempest]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Depending on the area of the country you are in, it may be that those other women's orgs carry more weight as far as professional or social associations than being in a sorority alumnae chapter does.

That's the point. And why doesn't their sorority carry as much weight? That's the question. It's nothing to be ashamed of if that's indeed the case but let's not lie about things. If it's true that after college, your sorority experience is over and the committment is not in fact lifetime as many claim, than people need to own up to that.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by rhoyaltempest

That's the point. And why doesn't their sorority carry as much weight? That's the question. It's nothing to be ashamed of if that's indeed the case but let's not lie about things. If it's true that after college, your sorority experience is over and the committment is not in fact lifetime as many claim, than people need to own up to that.

You misunderstood what I meant. Sorry I wasn't clear. I meant that even though you may want to be involved with XYZ alumnae, it will help you get much farther in your career or where you want to be socially to be an active member of the Women's Professional Alliance, or Junior League, or whatever. Some women have time and family constraints and need to make a choice. (I'm speaking completely hypothetically, not personally.) In other words, the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.

I know someone said farther down the thread that they felt like if they weren't involved in EVERY meeting, EVERY activity, their involvement was not welcome. IMO this occurs because chartering an alum chapter is too easy and requires too few members, so those members have to do everything or the chapter will flop. From what I can see, the NPHC is smart and doesn't have this problem. If chartering an NPC alum chapter was as hard as chartering a collegiate chapter is, I think more women would value it more and want to do it more.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by 33girl

You misunderstood what I meant. Sorry I wasn't clear. I meant that even though you may want to be involved with XYZ alumnae, it will help you get much farther in your career or where you want to be socially to be an active member of the Women's Professional Alliance, or Junior League, or whatever. Some women have time and family constraints and need to make a choice. (I'm speaking completely hypothetically, not personally.) In other words, the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.

Sorry but I consider this to be a horrible excuse. The spirit isn't willing if this is the case. People need to not only claim they don't have time, they need to admit that they honestly don't want to do it because they have already ranked the organizations in their life.

Plus, it is a little anti-sisterhood/brotherhood and a bit condescending. But, I can only speak for the NPHC. In many areas with NPHC alumnae/alumni/graduate chapters, even the smallest of chapters, one of the best ways to find "who's who" and get access to some professional and social outlets is to be a member of the chapter/get to know the members of the chapter.

I know people who wanted to climb to the highest of professional and social ranks in an area and didn't realize that their sorors and frat were already in those ranks waiting to lend them a hand and lift them up. Then some of them get asked by their sorors and frat in these nonGLO organizations "are you financial and active in the sorority/fraternity?"

[33girl]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Plus, it is a little anti-sisterhood/brotherhood and a bit condescending. But, I can only speak for the NPHC. In many areas with NPHC alumnae/alumni/graduate chapters, even the smallest of chapters, one of the best ways to find "who's who" and get access to some professional and social outlets is to be a member of the chapter/get to know the members of the chapter.

I know people who wanted to climb to the highest of professional and social ranks in an area and didn't realize that their sorors and frat were already in those ranks waiting to lend them a hand and lift them up. Then some of them get asked by their sorors and frat in these nonGLO organizations "are you financial and active in the sorority/fraternity?"

For some regions, mega x ookabillion difference between NPHC and NPC/NIC.

[rhoyaltempest]

Originally Posted by 33girl

You misunderstood what I meant. Sorry I wasn't clear. I meant that even though you may want to be involved with XYZ alumnae, it will help you get much farther in your career or where you want to be socially to be an active member of the Women's Professional Alliance, or Junior League, or whatever. Some women have time and family constraints and need to make a choice. (I'm speaking completely hypothetically, not personally.) In other words, the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.

I know someone said farther down the thread that they felt like if they weren't involved in EVERY meeting, EVERY activity, their involvement was not welcome. IMO this occurs because chartering an alum chapter is too easy and requires too few members, so those members have to do everything or the chapter will flop. From what I can see, the NPHC is smart and doesn't have this problem. If chartering an NPC alum chapter was as hard as chartering a collegiate chapter is, I think more women would value it more and want to do it more.

Actually our alumnae chapters can range from having just 10 people to over 100 but you're right that the process to charter is quite similar for undergrad and grad. It's a serious committment and if you are chartering with a small group of people, you already know that you will have to be involved in everything and should have the time for this.