Your thoughts on AI: discussion goes here.

[macallan25]

Is this alum. initiate thing very big at big Southern schools? I have to think most of the sorority girls I know would think it was really odd for an older, graduated, working woman to want to get initiated/join a sorority.

[greekalum]

Macallan, they would not be joining the collegiate chapter (I think we all agree: that would be weird.) And the way it usually actually works, despite what GC may tell you, is that there is a wonderful woman who has a daughter or a mother or a sister who is a member, and who has given a lot to her community as a professional or volunteer, and who the sorority's alums think, "wow, she would make a great XYZ" and they approach her. It's not usually something for women who missed their chance to join in college and have been dreaming of nothing else ever since- it's for women who have fulfilling lives and something to offer.

[SoCalGirl]

Originally Posted by greekalum

Macallan, they would not be joining the collegiate chapter (I think we all agree: that would be weird.) And the way it usually actually works, despite what GC may tell you, is that there is a wonderful woman who has a daughter or a mother or a sister who is a member, and who has given a lot to her community as a professional or volunteer, and who the sorority's alums think, "wow, she would make a great XYZ" and they approach her. It's not usually something for women who missed their chance to join in college and have been dreaming of nothing else ever since- it's for women who have fulfilling lives and something to offer.

Quoting because it's so TRUE!

[irishpipes]

Originally Posted by macallan25

Is this alum. initiate thing very big at big Southern schools? I have to think most of the sorority girls I know would think it was really odd for an older, graduated, working woman to want to get initiated/join a sorority.

You are correct that a lot of people think it is weird.

When I was a NM, I knew about AI because it said that we did AI in my Frat Ed manual. I also knew about it because my chapter AI-ed women from my community when the chapter was installed.

However, after reading up on different chapters/orgs here, I know that not all people are aware that their GLO even did AI (if they even do). I don't know if the other NPCs has even addressed the issue to their members, but the Quarterly article Alphagamuga mentioned earlier pretty much explained to the Fraternity that a) yes, we have AI; and b) many AIs have gone on to do marvelous things for the Fraternity, even hold the office of International President.

[aopirose]

Originally Posted by OTW

I don't know if the other NPCs has even addressed the issue to their members, but the Quarterly article Alphagamuga mentioned earlier pretty much explained to the Fraternity that a) yes, we have AI; and b) many AIs have gone on to do marvelous things for the Fraternity, even hold the office of International President.

AOII did a very nice article a few years ago too. I also agree that many of our AIs have gone on to do good work for the Fraternity. Like AGD, AOII has had an AI become International President.

I think that an AI can bring great value to an alumnae chapter. If a women has a close tie to the chapter and is around pretty much anyway for open events, why not invite her to join if she meets or exceeds the qualifications? AIs that have joined my AC were not looking to relive college days. That's not what our AC is about. We concentrate on our roles as active alumnae and being about AOII's business and developing freindships.

Currently, we have AIs of Alabama, Southeastern La., and one soon-to-be of Ole Miss.

[ReachTheLimit]

I'm curious about something, so I'll just throw it out there. If so many sororities don't want AI discussed on Greek Chat, then why doesn't someone from higher up in the individual GLO's not post on here from time to time making the wishes of the individual GLO known.

I'm only asking this b/c many having posted the GC is affecting AI policy of many sororities.

Any thoughts?

[SoCalGirl]

I don't know how far reaching the affect of GC really is on sorority AI procedures but most if not all the sororities (and fraternities) try to keep an eye on things here. The "higher ups" don't post here due to many reasons. (I'll take a stab that the #1 reason is to not to make GC a legit place to get membership info.) If it's important enough to be said they'll do it through their existing communications with members (newsletters, websites, etc).

[midwesterngirl]

Originally Posted by ReachTheLimit

I'm curious about something, so I'll just throw it out there. If so many sororities don't want AI discussed on Greek Chat, then why doesn't someone from higher up in the individual GLO's not post on here from time to time making the wishes of the individual GLO known.

I'm only asking this b/c many having posted the GC is affecting AI policy of many sororities.

Any thoughts?

There have been a few national officers on this board who have asked that the information be limited. Unfortunately their concerns weren't taken very seriously by the former mod. That has been part of the problem from the beginning. Incorrect and unneeded information was being allowed to circulate and wasn't being stopped like it should have been. From there other problems arose and were blown totally out of proportion. I personally wish the forum to be deleted all together but if it isn't going to be,there needs to be a much much tighter reign on it.

[SoCalGirl]

So I just thought of an excellent reason that an AI forum isn't needed!

For all the lovely women who have successfully AI'd are FULL MEMBERS! They don't need a seperate forum. If they get to keep a seperate forum then we should also have one for NM/pledges.

[Tom Earp]

Originally Posted by midwesterngirl

There have been a few national officers on this board who have asked that the information be limited. Unfortunately their concerns weren't taken very seriously by the former mod. That has been part of the problem from the beginning. Incorrect and unneeded information was being allowed to circulate and wasn't being stopped like it should have been. From there other problems arose and were blown totally out of proportion. I personally wish the forum to be deleted all together but if it isn't going to be,there needs to be a much much tighter reign on it.

If there is a disagreement here about this, then I will step in and say BS

For your information, I worked my rear off on this thread when I was Mod and do not forget it. navan and I worked on this together and now Her Post was deleted which I find distastful for the choice.

Whether some Female GLOs do not want to publicize it, that is fine.

But it has been seen by many and of those who AIed into what ever Sororitys.

I think the statement that someone made above that many AIs are now against the thread are incorrect because I can think of only one who is adament about it and if it was not for AI, she would not even have a voice.

AIing is a fact of life now and will be more in the future.

Snide remarks about those that do AI as shopping and looking for the easy way out are very wrong. Look at how long it took some very fine ladys to AI who I am sure feel degraded by the way it has been bantered about and with all of the name calling to go along with it.

Are these AIed members second class, not hardly, are they full fledged members, yes.

Why do not some of You snarks appologize the Ladies who have AIed.

They desearve it!


Oh, from the former MOD who is glad I do not have to put up with the crap that the two new MODs are getting now and wrongfully so!

[KSUViolet06]

I am not against AI. I am against people seeking it. I am a collegian of a sorority that does AI. My HQ is well aware of the discussions going on in this community and (like I believe Alpha Phi has done) removed all AI info from the website and such. They are also restructuring the process.

In short, I am pro AI, but these are the only circumstances I think are acceptable to be considered:

*A woman was a member of a local sorority which affiliated with an NPC, and they are seeking membership with that NPC group.

*A woman pledged an NPC, but due to extenuating circumstances, had to depledge and later seeks membership with the same sorority.

*A woman has a daughter in a sorority. She assists her daughter's chapter for a number of years. Her daughter then recommends her for membership.

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by macallan25

Is this alum. initiate thing very big at big Southern schools? I have to think most of the sorority girls I know would think it was really odd for an older, graduated, working woman to want to get initiated/join a sorority.

Expanding on this, I think it's interesting the lack of knowledge that us fraternity guys have on the subject. I had only heard of it in Kappa Sig for VERY specific circumstances: for example, a close relative (grandson I believe) of one of the fraternity's most important members was initiated as an alum. He had given a lot of time and money to the fraternity to that point. I can think of a couple other examples of people who gave an immense amount of their time to the fraternity in other capacities who were initiated.

I still can't completely wrap my head around the reasons for doing it, on either side of the coin, but I'll defer to think it should be left off the board (because of membership discussions, etc.).

[macallan25]

Originally Posted by KSigkid

Expanding on this, I think it's interesting the lack of knowledge that us fraternity guys have on the subject. I had only heard of it in Kappa Sig for VERY specific circumstances: for example, a close relative (grandson I believe) of one of the fraternity's most important members was initiated as an alum. He had given a lot of time and money to the fraternity to that point. I can think of a couple other examples of people who gave an immense amount of their time to the fraternity in other capacities who were initiated.

I still can't completely wrap my head around the reasons for doing it, on either side of the coin, but I'll defer to think it should be left off the board (because of membership discussions, etc.).

Yeah, I have really never heard much about it. I know of several men who have been given special recognitions by various chapters of SAE, but I dunno if they were actually initiated or not. Barry Switzer is one that comes to mind.......I have heard from a couple people that he is an "honorary" initiate of Oklahoma Kappa........but I dunno if that is the same thing as an alumni initiation.

Originally Posted by macallan25

Yeah, I have really never heard much about it. I know of several men who have been given special recognitions by various chapters of SAE, but I dunno if they were actually initiated or not. Barry Switzer is one that comes to mind.......I have heard from a couple people that he is an "honorary" initiate of Oklahoma Kappa........but I dunno if that is the same thing as an alumni initiation.

I can't speak for the other NPCs, but an AI into my organization is not an honorary member, as she receives all the same privileges and benefits entitled to members initiated as collegians. We don't have honorary members, period.