Dual Memberships

[Sciencewoman]

I think the OP and her daughter have a right to be upset, and grieve. I was a fifth year senior when the chapter I transferred to/affiliated with was closed to due to low numbers. I felt badly for the younger women who had initiated that year. I also felt guilty for recruiting new members, knowing the writing was probably on the wall as far as the chapter's future was concerned. I will never forget sitting in the living room, listening to our International President share the bad news. It was awful. At that stage in your life, you're not thinking about long term alumnae involvement. My little and and another young member transferred schools and affiliated elsewhere.

At our Convention in 2012, I spoke with our then-International President about it, and told her I was there. We both had tears in our eyes remembering this occasion...because that was the worst part of her position. Frankly, I don't think too many women who experienced this kind of thing go on to be super active alumnae. It never affected my commitment to the Sorority, but there's no way around it:

this situation really does suck.

[33girl]

When we had our last rush, we were straight up with the girls after they signed their bids that we were having some issues, and told them if they wanted out we'd release them then and there. That was our choice, not a directive from hq. If this was the Chi O chapter at Penn State (who does not have pre-freshman rush, it's delayed) as much as it sucks, I do have to kinda say caveat emptor.

[AnchorAlumna]

Originally Posted by Sciencewoman

Frankly, I don't think too many women who experienced this kind of thing go on to be super active alumnae.

Oh, I don't know about that. A number of women from my chapter, which closed after I graduated, remain highly active on the regional and national level. These are women who were there when it closed and women who graduated long before I did. Many of us agree that we got active because we didn't want to miss any opportunity for our chapter to return.

[Titchou]

Originally Posted by AnchorAlumna

Oh, I don't know about that. A number of women from my chapter, which closed after I graduated, remain highly active on the regional and national level. These are women who were there when it closed and women who graduated long before I did. Many of us agree that we got active because we didn't want to miss any opportunity for our chapter to return.

And put me at the top of that list! That's exactly why I signed on as a province officer 2 years after we closed. I wanted to be there in case we came back and I wanted to help other chapters that were struggling.

[WhiteRose1912]

I think there's something to be said for the type of women who join a struggling chapter, though--that even if their collegiate experience is short or less than optimal, they might be more committed and willing to work for their organization as alumnae than women who join a chapter that gets removed from campus for behavioral issues. Just a theory.

[33girl]

Supermods - can you please move the posts that have gone off on a tangent into a new thread? The original thread topic is one that needs to stay active.