I Don't Get AI

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by AGDee

The new grads are always totally shocked when they come to a "meeting" and it's social, not business. We are a social organization, sisterhood is the main goal. We do philanthropy. Some reporting is necessary, but certainly not to the extent that it was for collegians. We are different from the NPHC.

We have three different types of alumnae groups. Alumnae Chapters have specific requirements and are dedicated to assisting a specific collegiate chapter. Alumnae Clubs are primarily social (and that's what I choose to be in because I work hard for the Fraternity in my Volunteer Services Team position and need "just sisterhood" from my alumnae experience) and Junior Circles are affiliated with a chapter or club but are focused on women below the age of 35 (and are social in nature). Chapters have to have business meetings more often than Clubs. They have more extensive newsletters and a lot more to manage. All of the groups do some community service/philanthropy, but the main focus is most definitely social

That's an interesting division, but at least it lets sisters know what to expect going in. My prior post described the average AOII alum chapter...we do have very active chapters with very active schedules that make me wonder how they get so much done with 50 members. It's not the norm, however.

[RedRover]

A friend went through what was called then called sorority rush at a university where sorority recruitment was competitive. Unfortunately for my friend, the three houses that invited her for the preference round were the three houses for which she felt no affinity(one house disbanded after a controversy, one house had a reputation as a hard core party house and the last had a major falling out its national organization and had it charter revoked).

A few years after graduation, some friends asked if she might be interested in joining ABC sorority as an alumnae initiate. My friend said thank you but no thank you. When her friends pressed as to why she was dismissing their offer out of hand, she said explained she went through rush with disappointing results and she told her friends "If I ain't good enough to enter by the front door, I ain't gonna come in by the side door."

[33girl]

I take it the friends were from one of the sororities that didn't invite her back? More than likely they were from a different chapter. I understand what she's saying, but that's kind of a harsh way to put it to them - they might not have been invited through the "front door" at that school either.

[myopicsunflower]

Originally Posted by RedRover

"If I ain't good enough to enter by the front door, I ain't gonna come in by the side door."

I'm with 33girl that this sounds harsh. That woman's friends didn't have to offer alumna initiation to her, and the fact that they did indicates that they found her to be exceptional, wanted her for a sister, and thought she would bring good things to their sorority. The woman's response is harsh and, really, just plain rude. She could have declined her friends' invitation in a more gracious manner.

Alumnae initiation isn't the back or side door into a GLO. Sure, there are people who pursue alumnae initiation (there are many opinions on that, and I certainly have mine on the matter), but I believe the vast majority of alumnae initiates are invited by their respective GLOs. If the GLO is doing the asking, alumnae initiation is hardly the back or side door to membership. It's an honor, and you'd better believe that sororities aren't handing out AI invitations like Halloween candy.

[ThetaDancer]

Originally Posted by RedRover

A few years after graduation, some friends asked if she might be interested in joining ABC sorority as an alumnae initiate. My friend said thank you but no thank you. When her friends pressed as to why she was dismissing their offer out of hand, she said explained she went through rush with disappointing results and she told her friends "If I ain't good enough to enter by the front door, I ain't gonna come in by the side door."

Your friend sounds really bitter.

Originally Posted by myopicsunflower

If the GLO is doing the asking, alumnae initiation is hardly the back or side door to membership. It's an honor, and you'd better believe that sororities aren't handing out AI invitations like Halloween candy.

Agreed.