Yet another question about AI

[Equus73]

I didn't mean to crass, just the opposite, actually. I know zero about the Greek community and came here for insight. I appreciate the help.

I reached out today to my alma mater to get some volunteers for a group that I work with. We had some girls from a local sorority there before, and I wasn't able to get to know them because I work in a different capacity. They did wonderful work, though, and I admired their strong bonds.

Kudos to all of you who found your sisterhood in college. It must have been a lovely experience!!!

[ree-Xi]

Originally Posted by Equus73

I didn't mean to crass, just the opposite, actually. I know zero about the Greek community and came here for insight. I appreciate the help.

I reached out today to my alma mater to get some volunteers for a group that I work with. We had some girls from a local sorority there before, and I wasn't able to get to know them because I work in a different capacity. They did wonderful work, though, and I admired their strong bonds.

Kudos to all of you who found your sisterhood in college. It must have been a lovely experience!!!

I understand the novelty and potential excitement the thought of becoming an alumna member of an NPC sorority, but there seems to be a common thread among "seekers"- the woman's great interest in expanding her own, or improving the current breadth of, the service performed within the alumnae chapter - both feeling a bit off the mark.

Every alumnae chapter/association of every NPC organization may operate differently, but in my local alumnae association of my NPC organization, perhaps 15% of our "usual" activities fall under "community service" or National philanthropy, compared to maybe 50% social (usually a meal is the major part of just about every event), and the rest "business"/ritual/Panhellenic/etc.

It sounds noble to seek membership with a strong personal commitment to service, but it's not necessarily what such groups are all about. There are so many great groups out there who DO focus on that sort of thing.

I just wanted to give you (collectively) a heads up. I do hope you find what you are looking for.

[pbear19]

I agree with you, ree-Xi, to an extent. But I think it depends on what your definition of "community service" is. I don't do a lot of true community service with the Junior League, but I still consider my work there to be volunteer work. I'm currently serving on a committee that is focused solely on internal operations, but I find the same value in that work as when I've been ladling up food for a meals-on-wheels type of program.

With Gamma Phi, I do a lot of volunteer work, as opposed to purely social. So it is definitely possible, if that is what the alumna member wants to do. For the seven day period of last Monday through tomorrow, I have done or will do the following: attend a chapter meeting and speak to the members, attend alumnae exec meeting and give my officer's report, meet one on one with an advisee to go over an upcoming event, attend a social dinner, pick up a t-shirt I bought to support a chapter's philanthropy, attend an advisory board meeting, and send a bunch of emails to recruit alumnae volunteers for an upcoming chapter event. Admittedly, this is a *much* busier week than normal, because of the time of year and the positions I hold, but it's a good example of what an alumna initiate can do that is volunteer work rather than purely social. Even if it isn't traditional "community service."

OP, I wish you the best of luck!

[LouisaMay]

I agree 100%, pbear19. I am not a member of an alumnae chapter at this time, but I am very active as a volunteer for Alpha Sigma Alpha. I put in several hours a week of "service" to my volunteer team, my District, alumnae, and alumnae chapters.

I expect my alumna experience to evolve throughout my life, offering opportunities for social and service activities as part of an alumnae chapter and as an individual, but at this particular season of my life, I am not participating in any social activities and many service opportunities. Every alumna is going to have a different experience, and at least in Alpha Sigma Alpha, a woman has many options and can make an appropriate choice based on her needs, desires, commitments, and talents.

I also see what ree-Xi is saying though. You probably aren't go to join the sorority and immediately jump into a Special Olympics event. (Although I do know a terrific ASA who has made the Special Olympics that absolute passion of her life.)