Plegdes wearing letters???

[ladygreek]

Originally Posted by ForeverRoses

let me see if I understand:

New Member- NPC-- formerly called a pledge
NPHC-- someone that has just been initiated

Correct for NPHC

Pledge- NPC- someone that is not yet initated but has pledged themselves to join that organization after they have finished a pledge period
NPHC- I remember being told once that NPHC orgs no longer pledge. So I am not sure what someone that is on-line is called. Neo?

No, a neophyte is another name for a new member in the NPHC. Inductee, i.e. they have been inducted on the line, little sister, etc. In Delta we still use the group name from before MIP.

For NPC, once you accept a bid, you are considered to be a member of the organization to a certain extent. For NPHC, are you not considered part of the org until you are initiated?

You are considered a part of the organization in that you have been invited to membership and are going through the process. But you are not a member until you are duly initiated. In fact no secrets are revealed until after initiation. Things like the meaning of the colors are not considered secrets, but rather historical information taught during the process. A person could de-pledge and not know anything more than could be found by reading certain books.

I am not trying to offend anyone, so if I am asking questions that cannot/shouldn't be asked, sorry!

No offense taken.

[PhiLove83]

Originally Posted by HofDori

I am a sister of AEPhi. I guess definitions got misconstrued over the years. I'll double check my constitution and bylaws but I may be mistaken. That was the way it was described to me though.

I am an AEPhi as well, our nationals changed their policy and our new girls are no longer called pledges, they are new members, and newly initiated girls are referred to as new sisters. I believe that this changed in the late nineties.

[ForeverRoses]

Ladygreek- thank you for the clarification!

[CULater]

for us, a pledge (inductee/candidate) is referred to as orientee in the general term when referring to someone who is undergoing the process but have yet to be initiatied.

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by CULater

for us, a pledge (inductee/candidate) is referred to as orientee in the general term when referring to someone who is undergoing the process but have yet to be initiatied.

So the "interested lady" process is different from an actual pledge process in LTA? Some of your sisters at my school use the terms interchangeably.

[HofDori]

Yes I agree which is why the way I interpretted it made sense. the term "member" means to be a part of. And I do not like to consider these ladies a part of my family especially knowing they can drop or be dropped at any moment.

[cuteASAbug]

Originally Posted by HofDori

Yes I agree which is why the way I interpretted it made sense. the term "member" means to be a part of. And I do not like to consider these ladies a part of my family especially knowing they can drop or be dropped at any moment.

Reasoning like that is why the NPC chose to switch over from pledge to new member- to show that the girls are basically sisters from the moment they accept their bids and are almost guaranteed to be initiated.

[HofDori]

That makes sense on paper, but it doesn't feel right, to call them members. But I guess rules are rules and they are there for a reason. Thanks for the insight it was very helpful.

[When Doves Cry]

one of our new members got her letters today.
she pledged 2 days ago

[LainaIsPHIMU]

I recall being told not to were stiched or embroidered letters as a pledge, but there was several girls who did, I didn't that whole time, but they didn't do anything if you did. The only think we couldn't wear at all where badges. but basically they really don't enforce it too much here

[When Doves Cry]

Our pledges are allowed to wear whatever they want, except the membership quill pin

Though I kind of wish we had that rule where only initiated members can wear letters.

[atomicflowers]

Every chapter is different, but at mine new members aren't allowed to wear letters until big/lil. We were told that they wanted our "first set of letters" to come from our big because it's more meaningful and special that way. And of course they weren't allowed to wear our badge or anything with our crest on it until after the initiation ceremony.

[Tom Earp]

I guess there are different ways to handle the wearing of letters.

But, if a new Recruit/Pledge is allowed to wear letters, it does promote that chapter or GLO. I always thought that if they were good enough to be recruited then they should be able to say so.

Hi, I am a pround new associate of so and so GLO. Talk to me and see if I can interest you in joining us.

Wearing the Badge/Pin without being initiated of course is something differet all together.

[GammaPhi88]

In my sorority they can't techincally tell you that you are not allowed to wear stiched letters, but they strongly suggest we don't. My pledge class may wear spelled out letters (we can have a t-shirt that says Gamma Phi Beta), but we can't wear the greek letters in any form until initiation, when we've earned it. We can own them...most of us have the letters in our closets, but we wouldn''t dream of wearing them until we are full sisters. This is basically the norm for the campus.

[NutBrnHair]

Originally Posted by GammaPhi88

...but we can't wear the greek letters in any form until initiation, when we've earned it...

IMHO, you should "learn" sisterhood, not "earn" it.

I'm in favor of all members...new and old...wearing letters.