Curious

[rebelgirl]

I appreciate everyone's responses. As for Beta Sigma Phi, I'm glad that you enjoy your experience with them but I neither want to charter a chapter or feel as if they are something I would be interested in joining. Even the women I have met expressed that on the National level they were antiquated so they are out of the questions.

Also, I do volunteer A LOT. I also have joined the Junior League and will be starting my provisional year so maybe once that gets going I won't feel as if there is so much missing. Part of what I would like to do is work with girls on the college level. I would love to be an almost mentor or big sister without specifically focusing on my career field or some religious affiliation. I look back and wish I had had someone to better help me transition from being a teenager to being a young woman. It cost my parents a lot of many as I bounced around in college and me much time to finally gets things figured out. I only explain all this so you all could see where I'm coming from with my interest.

I'm definitely not trying to shop. Just wondering if someone had any advice. I'm sure it will all work out for the best.

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by rebelgirl

Part of what I would like to do is work with girls on the college level. I would love to be an almost mentor or big sister without specifically focusing on my career field or some religious affiliation.

Something to think about:

Working with collegians does involve serving as a mentor of sorts, but for the most part, advising a collegiate chapter involves you being the "responsible adult" figure and monitoring chapter's activities and such. It's also not always easy or full of "warm fuzzies." The collegians don't always love, agree with, or look up to you like a "big sister."

[BlueCarnation]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

Something to think about:

Working with collegians does involve serving as a mentor of sorts, but for the most part, advising a collegiate chapter involves you being the "responsible adult" figure and monitoring chapter's activities and such. It's also not always easy or full of "warm fuzzies." The collegians don't always love, agree with, or look up to you like a "big sister."

This is so true. While some may want to be bffs with the members, that is not the purpose of the advisory positions, and it is often a very frustrating, time consuming pursuit. I would encourage you to continue to your involvement in the Junior League, and possibly pursuing something like tutoring opportunities. I tutored a student when I was in college and it was very rewarding. You just need to be open to the opportunities that are out there and if AI is meant to be, it will come to you, not vice versa.

[VandalSquirrel]

Originally Posted by rebelgirl

I am yet another person with somewhat the same questions as TexasRose. I'll pose a stronger point in this thread. I know that it is something "special" yet I know in my heart that I want to give myself in time, philanthropy and heart to a sorority. My mother is a Beta Sigma Phi and I've met with a few chapters but they are so aniquated that it doesn't work for me. I have such a strong respect for NPC's that I know these are the only sororities that will fulfill what I am looking for in a group. I know I won't get the "college" experience but I want to be part of something great. I do have a degree and am curious if there is any way I might join a sorority even though I have long since graduated. What is there for some of us to do?

Originally Posted by rebelgirl

I appreciate everyone's responses. As for Beta Sigma Phi, I'm glad that you enjoy your experience with them but I neither want to charter a chapter or feel as if they are something I would be interested in joining. Even the women I have met expressed that on the National level they were antiquated so they are out of the questions.

Also, I do volunteer A LOT. I also have joined the Junior League and will be starting my provisional year so maybe once that gets going I won't feel as if there is so much missing. Part of what I would like to do is work with girls on the college level. I would love to be an almost mentor or big sister without specifically focusing on my career field or some religious affiliation. I look back and wish I had had someone to better help me transition from being a teenager to being a young woman. It cost my parents a lot of many as I bounced around in college and me much time to finally gets things figured out. I only explain all this so you all could see where I'm coming from with my interest.

I'm definitely not trying to shop. Just wondering if someone had any advice. I'm sure it will all work out for the best.

I'd wonder why you didn't join in college, and hearing a grown woman with a degree say "there is so much missing" and that a sorority would fulfill her, but only an NPC, I would really question what her intentions and issues were. If you want to mentor and work with college aged women get a job in higher education, as there are plenty of women in college who never have an opportunity to join a sorority and need help. You could work on campus in Student Activities & Government, be a director of a dormitory, teach and connect with female students, be a house director, or work on campus and be involved in women's groups and issues as an advisor and mentor. The sort of woman I would consider to initiate as an alumna is already giving and is satisfied with what she is doing, and gives of herself freely. She compliments the sorority with who she is, it is not a means for her to feel complete or whole.

The majority of sorority alumnae are not directly working with collegiate chapters due to geography, time, and personal lives. There are instances where women are initiated to assist with a chapter, but they've served as advisors, house directors, and so on, they've already given freely without the intention of joining. We have alumnae groups and chapters far from college campuses, and alumnae are involved with each other through life long bonds.

[ThetaPrincess24]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

Something to think about:

Working with collegians does involve serving as a mentor of sorts, but for the most part, advising a collegiate chapter involves you being the "responsible adult" figure and monitoring chapter's activities and such. It's also not always easy or full of "warm fuzzies." The collegians don't always love, agree with, or look up to you like a "big sister."

As a recruitment advisor for my chapter who just finished a weekend retreat, I agree with that statement 110%. Advisors arent there to be buddies with the college members. That is not their purpose. We are there to advise them and be a mentor.

[kddani]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

Something to think about:

Working with collegians does involve serving as a mentor of sorts, but for the most part, advising a collegiate chapter involves you being the "responsible adult" figure and monitoring chapter's activities and such. It's also not always easy or full of "warm fuzzies." The collegians don't always love, agree with, or look up to you like a "big sister."

Absolutely. I'm standards advisor, so I have to play responsible adult and be the bad guy. When I'm called upon, it's never for something good!

[indygphib]

Originally Posted by rebelgirl

Even the women I have met expressed that on the National level they were antiquated so they are out of the questions.

[ThetaPrincess24]

Rebelgirl:
Have you tried contacting the International office of Beta Sigma Phi on your own rather than by going on the opinions of a few?

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by ThetaPrincess24

Rebelgirl:
Have you tried contacting the International office of Beta Sigma Phi on your own rather than by going on the opinions of a few?

Or have you looked at P.E.O.?

[dreamseeker]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Or have you looked at P.E.O.?

i never heard of that org until you linked it, but it looks like a good thing to pursue instead of AI. lol.

[ThetaPrincess24]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Or have you looked at P.E.O.?

There is also Epsilon Sigma Alpha (ESA)
http://esaintl.com/

[33girl]

Originally Posted by rebelgirl

I appreciate everyone's responses. As for Beta Sigma Phi, I'm glad that you enjoy your experience with them but I neither want to charter a chapter or feel as if they are something I would be interested in joining. Even the women I have met expressed that on the National level they were antiquated so they are out of the questions.

Also, I do volunteer A LOT. I also have joined the Junior League and will be starting my provisional year so maybe once that gets going I won't feel as if there is so much missing. Part of what I would like to do is work with girls on the college level. I would love to be an almost mentor or big sister without specifically focusing on my career field or some religious affiliation. I look back and wish I had had someone to better help me transition from being a teenager to being a young woman. It cost my parents a lot of many as I bounced around in college and me much time to finally gets things figured out. I only explain all this so you all could see where I'm coming from with my interest.

I'm definitely not trying to shop. Just wondering if someone had any advice. I'm sure it will all work out for the best.

Reading is fundamental - I never said I was a member of Beta, rather I was asking the members for clarification.

And yeah, like KSUViolet said, for a lot of collegians, the advisor is the buzzkill who ruins all the fun plans - not someone they want to be mentored by or think of lovingly. If you go into anything concerning young people with the "what they really need is ME" mindset, it frequently backfires.

You're in Junior League. Stick with that and see where it goes. I'm sure that they would appreciate you putting your all into your provisional year rather than trying to pursue AI at the same time.