If you could design an AI program.........

[navane]

Originally Posted by RaggedyAnn

I speculate part of it could be that it is possible most alum groups do not have all of the ritual equipment needed, since it is such a rare occurance-but I could be wrong.

I think that's one logistical consideration; but, I agree that it would only be a part of the reason.

I personally would feel uncomfortable if we allowed alumnae groups to just alumna initiate women at will without the permission/endorsement of a collegiate chapter.

As SWTXBelle mentioned, Gamma Phi Beta AIs have to be recommended by an alumnae chapter. However, they are also initiated under the designation a of sponsoring collegiate chapter. So, the two entities needs each other. If the alumnae chapter wants to AI someone, they have to ask nicely of the collegiate chapter....and if the collegians want to AI someone, they have to ask nicely of the alumnae chapter.

But what about the point breathesgelatin brought up? Her chapter members were confused about AI, the purpose of AI, didn't know the candidate, etc. Part of this could be alleviated by education. Though, I like what her chapter did, they trusted their alumnae sisters' judgment, based on a strong recommendation and the candidates connection to Pi Phi, and approved the request.

I'd like to think that, if my girls asked us (the alumnae chapter) to sign off on AI for a well-liked faculty member or mother of a member, etc, that we would take the time to learn why they thought she was a deserving candidate and then trust their judgment. If we didn't feel entirely comfortable, I suppose we could invite the candidate around to an event; but, at the end of the day, it would be discourteous to the collegians to not approve her.

.....Kelly

[honeychile]

Originally Posted by navane

But what about the point breathesgelatin brought up? Her chapter members were confused about AI, the purpose of AI, didn't know the candidate, etc. Part of this could be alleviated by education. Though, I like what her chapter did, they trusted their alumnae sisters' judgment, based on a strong recommendation and the candidates connection to Pi Phi, and approved the request.

.....Kelly

I think Kelly hit the nail on the head. Many Executive Offices are still not exactly sure how they want to handle AI, or just have only the basics of a program started. Because of this, most alumnae aren't sure if they should be proactive with AI or not. If a collegiate chapter needs to be involved, they are the most clueless at AI.

We all need to be educated on the Alumnae Initiation process: either told how AI works for our own GLO (ie: how rare or open it should be), or why our GLO doesn't involve itself in AI.

There are some really good reasons to develop an AI program, such as the previously stated need for Advisors on rural campuses. There are also some bad reasons to do so. Personally, I would rather know my EO's point of view prior to posting my own agenda - and the first part of this is educating ALL members, from EO down to New Members on the GLO's policy.

[tinydancer]

Originally Posted by honeychile

We all need to be educated on the Alumnae Initiation process: either told how AI works for our own GLO (ie: how rare or open it should be), or why our GLO doesn't involve itself in AI.

I agree. This could be very helpful to both the sponsors and the PNAMs. I know it would have helped a lot in my case. I had a sponsor who knows me well. She was very excited about my interest, but she had a very difficult time in getting anyone in FW to respond to her.

She played phone tag for a long time with both of us getting discouraged. A GC member of Gamma Phi suggested we contact the Dallas Alums and see if they could get the ball rolling. They were very helpful and after an appropriate time, I was initiated at SMU.

I would encourage alum groups to be educated about the process and PLEASE RETURN PHONE CALLS from ladies who want to sponsor someone.

[tld221]

Originally Posted by cutie_cat_4ever

IMO, I think organizations should request a "resume" from each potential AI, with a list of college orgs or leadership positions they have participated in the past (if they attended college). That way, you can tell who is willing to put in an effort in the sorority, and who are coming in just for the letters.

Also it would be nice to have them go through a series of interviews (like why you didn't join a sorority in college and what can you do for the chapter etc) , anywhere from an Alumni Chapter President to high ups. That way, you can effective see who is a good potential AI and who is not.

wait, so this isn't done already?

[OPhiAGinger]

I'm intrigued that so many of the NPC posters emphasize that PNAMs must have been actively involved with a collegiate chapter before they could be invited into the sisterhood. In my hyothetical AI program, that would rule out way too many potentially great sisters who have a lot to add to the org but aren't not conveniently located to a college campus. If you truly believe that sisterhood is forever, that should mean that sisterhood opportunities abound in every corner of the world, not just in the vicinity of a collegiate chapter. So instead of using AI to honor women who have already made an impressive contribution to the sorority, I would more commonly bestow it on those whose contributions to the sorority are ahead of them.

And who is in the best position to make that decision? The alumnae chapters. These sisters, who are leaders in their individual communities, routinely interact with other women leaders and are best equipped to identify kindred spirits who might make wonderful sisters, vet them to ensure their interest is true and lasting, educate them in the sorority's history / policies / traditions, and even initiate them.

Rather than implement this program on an invitation-only basis, I would welcome PNAMs who made the initial contact. Why? Because then I KNOW she's truly interested in joining, rather than accepting an honor as a courtesy when she doesn't have the time to commit to sorority membership over the long term.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by tld221

wait, so this isn't done already?

It all depends on the group.

Originally Posted by OPhiAGinger

I'm intrigued that so many of the NPC posters emphasize that PNAMs must have been actively involved with a collegiate chapter before they could be invited into the sisterhood. In my hyothetical AI program, that would rule out way too many potentially great sisters who have a lot to add to the org but aren't not conveniently located to a college campus. If you truly believe that sisterhood is forever, that should mean that sisterhood opportunities abound in every corner of the world, not just in the vicinity of a collegiate chapter. So instead of using AI to honor women who have already made an impressive contribution to the sorority, I would more commonly bestow it on those whose contributions to the sorority are ahead of them.

And who is in the best position to make that decision? The alumnae chapters. These sisters, who are leaders in their individual communities, routinely interact with other women leaders and are best equipped to identify kindred spirits who might make wonderful sisters, vet them to ensure their interest is true and lasting, educate them in the sorority's history / policies / traditions, and even initiate them.

Rather than implement this program on an invitation-only basis, I would welcome PNAMs who made the initial contact. Why? Because then I KNOW she's truly interested in joining, rather than accepting an honor as a courtesy when she doesn't have the time to commit to sorority membership over the long term.

If a woman is going to be involved in the alumnae chapter only, that's one thing. But many of the women we've seen on here who want to AI also want to get involved w/ collegiate chapter advising immediately. If you've never gone through sorority rush at a collegiate level, IMO you have no business being a rush advisor. It's not something you can just learn from a manual, and the "AIing to have an advisor" is probably my least favorite thing. If you don't have the alumnae support someplace, maybe you should rethink opening a chapter there - or ask why the alums in the area aren't getting involved.

And I can think of women who were super duper gung ho to be AIed, got AIed, and then became virtual GHOSTS a few years later, not participating in their sorority at all. Just because they seek membership doesn't mean they are going to stay active.

[OPhiAGinger]

Originally Posted by 33girl

If you've never gone through sorority rush at a collegiate level, IMO you have no business being a rush advisor. It's not something you can just learn from a manual....

I completely agree. No one is qualified to consult on a topic that they have never "lived" personally. Obviously, those are not the people I'm talking about. And I'm confident that the AI situation described earlier in the Michigan UP was not the GLO's first choice for filling those vacant advisor positions. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

Originally Posted by 33girl

And I can think of women who were super duper gung ho to be AIed, got AIed, and then became virtual GHOSTS a few years later, not participating in their sorority at all. Just because they seek membership doesn't mean they are going to stay active.

True again. I'm just playing the odds here. Everybody's life goes through cycles where they have lots of time to give, and then later they are consumed by career and family commitments. Hopefully during those periods when they are focused on other parts of their lives, the GLO bond will be tightly formed so they are comfortable getting reinvolved when they have more available time. My point is that I think the odds of someone staying involved are greater for someone who went through the trouble to seek out sisterhood than for someone to whom it was given as a courtesy.