Defense of Alumni Initiation Sub Forum

[Tom Earp]

Is the viciousness over now?

We all have our opinions about who does and who doesnt.

If I was an IHQ member/director and looked at some of the Posts By GLO Members, I would be ashamed for the Name calling and in things that were being said by some GLO Members!

As I stated, LXA Did Not Have an AI Process Statement until I questioned them. They then came out with one.

So, Your GLO doesnt, that does not give anyone of you the right to climb onto some posters back and belittle them

You make Your GLO Proud and I hope some of Your National Officers look at what You Post. Mine do watch the Boards and ask questions.

This Site is Not a Panacea for wanting AI, it is just a conduit for people looking for many reasons.

As some have said, it is a small % and will always be.

Keep being a Cannot Understand Normal Thinking and I will either Edit or Delete a post.

Remember, I can Do it!

Good To Be The Co-King!

Leave the PNAIs alone and let them do their Thing. They will make it or they wont!

It is only Some Opinions.

And actually some dont mean anything but to be mean!

[jharb]

Originally posted by Tom Earp
Earp Speak

[Tom Earp]

[pixell]

Originally posted by GeekyPenguin
I find the fact that you have been a ZTA for about five minutes and yet you think you know everything there is to know about being in a sorority everywhere at any time disturbing. You have a lot to learn.

Thanks for saying this, I know that had been bugging me for some time now. I just didn't know how to phrase it. Yes, I'm a newer member of my sorority but I don't act like I know everything on here.

[kddani]

I honestly haven't seen anyone belittle anyone really for the most part in this thread, or belittle AI in general or say that they think AI sucks and shouldn't happen, etc.

Some posters are making it a point (hell, from all of the posts on here that happened today is seems that some are making a full time job out of it!) to try to get offended by something and to try to turn everything into an insult. It's not. So don't try to play victim b/c no one said the things you're twisting the posts into.

[ASUADPi]

Originally posted by ariesrising
Imagine you are an international officer, you're reading the AI forum here on GC and you're reading someone's story.

You have recently been contacted by someone (or your organization with someone's information) who is interested in AI and you've emailed them and they seem nice. You start thinking - hmm, maybe it's the same person.

You discover it is - then you read in their thread that they have contacted 5 groups at once.

So now you know that this woman is likely going to be meeting with 4 other sororities in your area. If she doesn't stand out in a big way after your first meeting or email contact - whatever - what in the world would consider you to continue meeting with her?

She obviously has other plans. Back up plans...or maybe your group IS her backup.

This woman might be a good person...she might be someone, that if she had contacted only your organization, you might want to put the time and energy into meeting. She isn't Mother Teresa, but she's nice and might be a good fit.

But when all these other groups come into the equation, there's a BIG chance she might go elsewhere, because obviously she isn't too clear on what kind of group she wants, she doesn't totally love YOUR group. Since she's just "good and nice", it may not be worth it to go through all the trouble - if she was super and amazing and loved your group, it might be. But with all these other groups in the mix, it might not be worth fighting for her.

So I think GC could have a negative impact on someone's AI process.

I guess it is just me but I would give her the benefit of the doubt. I would understand that she is looking at other groups "trying to find her home and where she fits".

Now this is not to say that later on in the relationship I wouldn't point blank ask her about it.

But in the intial stages I can understand that she is looking for the place she fits in the most. In that sense, it's like formal recruitment. First round girls go to a bunch of houses, they eliminate half of them. Does that mean we stop recruiting them and talking to them because they are interested in 5 or so other houses? No, in fact we recruit harder.

I get that AI is different but in some aspects (emphasis on some) it is the same.

But then again if I were reading her AI thread and she stated that she started talking to five groups and now she was only talking to one and I knew we were that one, cha-ching I know with almost 100% certainty that we are the one that she is interested in joining.

So GC can work both ways. Just like it can work for and against a PNM.

[SmartBlondeGPhB]

But the thing is that we, the GLO, don't NEED an AI (I am saying in general - don't flame me because you think I'm insulting AI's). Yes, AI's can be wonderful and they can add MUCH to a chapter (however not all of them do) but if a woman isn't 100% interested in only us then I have absolutely NO reason to be 100% interested in her. Tell me why I should be? She might be the greatest woman alive and able to add much to greek life, but if she's not interested enough in my chapter then it's irrelevant. I have over 2000 women in this area, who are already members of Gamma Phi Beta, my energy is better spent convincing THEM to get involved.

Now, as AI's on this board can attest to, I will bend over backward and attempt to walk on water for them if they prove they are committed. I am actually probably one of the easiest people to get on the side of a committed AI and I am very pro-AI but I also think that it's the responsibility of the PAI to convince me, not the other way around.

[valkyrie]

It would be awesome if a woman was pursuing, say, five organizations in her search for a lifetime of joy that only sorority membership can provide, and attended an event with a local alumnae chapter and the women meeting with her said, "Okay, well, it's been swell, but we're going to go hang out with four other women to see if they're better than you KTHXBI."

[honeychile]

Originally posted by SmartBlondeGPhB
But the thing is that we, the GLO, don't NEED an AI (I am saying in general - don't flame me because you think I'm insulting AI's). Yes, AI's can be wonderful and they can add MUCH to a chapter (however not all of them do) but if a woman isn't 100% interested in only us then I have absolutely NO reason to be 100% interested in her. Tell me why I should be? She might be the greatest woman alive and able to add much to greek life, but if she's not interested enough in my chapter then it's irrelevant. I have over 2000 women in this area, who are already members of Gamma Phi Beta, my energy is better spent convincing THEM to get involved.

Now, as AI's on this board can attest to, I will bend over backward and attempt to walk on water for them if they prove they are committed. I am actually probably one of the easiest people to get on the side of a committed AI and I am very pro-AI but I also think that it's the responsibility of the PAI to convince me, not the other way around.

This bears repeating. I think the majority of GLOs have a niche for the Honorary Member - the Housemother who spent her life taking care of her boys, the Dean or Professor who made the path to a colonization easier, etc. Alumnae Initiation becomes somewhat controversial due to many people thinking that either their GLO still ONLY does the Honorary Membership thing, or when the members feel that many other WORTHY organizations can fill the same void.

What I would like to see (picture me in a Miss America pagent, with my sash, "Mah platform is...") is a LIST such as:

1) ABC GLO: AI by Alumnae Invitation only. Do NOT contact HQ! Make a contact through GC or through a Real Life Alumnae Association.

2) DEF GLO: Contact HQ (address), and ask the following questions: 1/2/3.

3) HI GLO: Make a contact with an alumnae in good standing, then contact HQ.

etc.

Does that make sense to anyone else?



ETA: If a list such as the above is made, and it's unknown how one GLO or another does AI, then SAY "Unknown"!! That is SO much kinder than letting someone make a fool of themselves by making a wild guess as to which method to use!

[GIJANE]

Originally Posted by honeychile

This bears repeating. I think the majority of GLOs have a niche for the Honorary Member - the Housemother who spent her life taking care of her boys, the Dean or Professor who made the path to a colonization easier, etc. Alumnae Initiation becomes somewhat controversial due to many people thinking that either their GLO still ONLY does the Honorary Membership thing, or when the members feel that many other WORTHY organizations can fill the same void.

What I would like to see (picture me in a Miss America pagent, with my sash, "Mah platform is...") is a LIST such as:

1) ABC GLO: AI by Alumnae Invitation only. Do NOT contact HQ! Make a contact through GC or through a Real Life Alumnae Association.

2) DEF GLO: Contact HQ (address), and ask the following questions: 1/2/3.

3) HI GLO: Make a contact with an alumnae in good standing, then contact HQ.

etc.

Does that make sense to anyone else?



ETA: If a list such as the above is made, and it's unknown how one GLO or another does AI, then SAY "Unknown"!! That is SO much kinder than letting someone make a fool of themselves by making a wild guess as to which method to use!

As a member of a BGLO Alumnae Chapter (Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.), I find it interesting that so many GLO members are averse to AI. We have Alumnae Initiation and it is just as serious as joining the Sorority in undergrad. You have to go through the same process as a collegiate chapter and you have specific requirements that have to be met before you are considered for membership in an alumnae chapter. There is a process outlined by the National Chapter of the organization and you are not a member until it is completed (no sorority pin or badge will be mailed to your home to signify you are a member). In a nutshell, the process for joining a NPHC Sorority is stringent and only those who seek out the Sorority are provided with information as to how they could potentially become a member. With that said, maybe NPC orgs shoud review their Alumnae selection process and make the requirements harder to become a member at that level.
It's like working a part-time job being a member of a NHPC Alumnae chapter because you are more exposed to the community and you are charged with carrying out the mission of the sorority on a higher level.

"Intelligence is the torch of wisdom"
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Dayton Alumnae Chapter

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by GIJANE

As a member of a BGLO Alumnae Chapter (Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.), I find it interesting that so many GLO members are averse to AI. We have Alumnae Initiation and it is just as serious as joining the Sorority in undergrad. You have to go through the same process as a collegiate chapter and you have specific requirements that have to be met before you are considered for membership in an alumnae chapter. There is a process outlined by the National Chapter of the organization and you are not a member until it is completed (no sorority pin or badge will be mailed to your home to signify you are a member). In a nutshell, the process for joining a NPHC Sorority is stringent and only those who seek out the Sorority are provided with information as to how they could potentially become a member. With that said, maybe NPC orgs shoud review their Alumnae selection process and make the requirements harder to become a member at that level.
It's like working a part-time job being a member of a NHPC Alumnae chapter because you are more exposed to the community and you are charged with carrying out the mission of the sorority on a higher level.

You are missing what we are saying - none of us (ok, maybe one person) is opposed to Alumnae Initiation. We are opposed to discussing the particulars of the process on GC...just as most NPHC members are opposed to discussing membership particulars for undergrad OR AI on GC.

[tunatartare]

Was there really a need to bump this fine thread?

Also, I'm surprised that a Delta would misspell the acronym NPHC twice in one post.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by GIJANE

As a member of a BGLO Alumnae Chapter (Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.), I find it interesting that so many GLO members are averse to AI. We have Alumnae Initiation and it is just as serious as joining the Sorority in undergrad. You have to go through the same process as a collegiate chapter and you have specific requirements that have to be met before you are considered for membership in an alumnae chapter. There is a process outlined by the National Chapter of the organization and you are not a member until it is completed (no sorority pin or badge will be mailed to your home to signify you are a member). In a nutshell, the process for joining a NPHC Sorority is stringent and only those who seek out the Sorority are provided with information as to how they could potentially become a member. With that said, maybe NPC orgs shoud review their Alumnae selection process and make the requirements harder to become a member at that level.
It's like working a part-time job being a member of a NHPC Alumnae chapter because you are more exposed to the community and you are charged with carrying out the mission of the sorority on a higher level.

"Intelligence is the torch of wisdom"
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Dayton Alumnae Chapter

If you haven't, read the thread. NPC AI is not at all like NPHC AI. NPC groups do not expect to bring in non-collegiate members on any sort of regular basis.

[AlexMack]

Originally Posted by GIJANE

"Intelligence is the torch of wisdom"

So is spellcheck

Originally Posted by GIJANE

As a member of a BGLO Alumnae Chapter (Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.), I find it interesting that so many GLO members are averse to AI. We have Alumnae Initiation and it is just as serious as joining the Sorority in undergrad. You have to go through the same process as a collegiate chapter and you have specific requirements that have to be met before you are considered for membership in an alumnae chapter. There is a process outlined by the National Chapter of the organization and you are not a member until it is completed (no sorority pin or badge will be mailed to your home to signify you are a member). In a nutshell, the process for joining a NPHC Sorority is stringent and only those who seek out the Sorority are provided with information as to how they could potentially become a member. With that said, maybe NPC orgs shoud review their Alumnae selection process and make the requirements harder to become a member at that level.
It's like working a part-time job being a member of a NHPC Alumnae chapter because you are more exposed to the community and you are charged with carrying out the mission of the sorority on a higher level.

"Intelligence is the torch of wisdom"
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Dayton Alumnae Chapter

Do you discuss NPHC membership intake online?

That's right, I didn't think so.

Again, the issue here isn't whether or not we support Alumnae Initiation. Most of us (with the exception of one) support it. Many of us do not support Alumnae Initiation discussion.

Please take the time to read through some of the threads when you have the time.