Invited to be an AI, but...

[stelladoro]

Originally Posted by 33girl

What she would like is not necessarily what the alumnae chapter, the collegiate chapter whose name you will bear (if this particular sorority doesn't have a special designation for AIs), the regional directors or the national council of the sorority would like.

Quite frankly, she should have sounded this out with all those people I mentioned above and given them a rundown on your life, accomplishments, background, yadda yadda before bringing it up to you, and seeing if any of the things you mentioned (like not pledging in college) would be a negative factor. Has she introduced you to any of her sisters? Has she asked you to any of the events they have?

I might be completely off base, but it almost sounds like she's at sea in an alum chapter full of unfamiliar women and wants someone in her corner.

Thanks everyone for your great replies!

She and I live a couple of hours away from each other, but she is very active and well-liked in hers and has been for many years and so wanting someone "in her corner" doesn't seem to apply. I do know that there are local collegiate chapters in my area and she already checked and there is an AI chapter here too, which would work.

My friend's reasoning was this: she says she always thought of me as someone who is (sorority) material, and this way we really can be sisters. I don't know to what extent she discussed this with her local sisters, but she did say that her chapter is considering two other AI candidates right now and so I believe she has a pretty good handle on what it entails.

I'm happy to hear that it doesn't matter so much where I've been but where I'm going.

[ree-Xi]

Originally Posted by stelladoro

Thanks everyone for your great replies!

She and I live a couple of hours away from each other, but she is very active and well-liked in hers and has been for many years and so wanting someone "in her corner" doesn't seem to apply. I do know that there are local collegiate chapters in my area and she already checked and there is an AI chapter here too, which would work.

My friend's reasoning was this: she says she always thought of me as someone who is (sorority) material, and this way we really can be sisters. I don't know to what extent she discussed this with her local sisters, but she did say that her chapter is considering two other AI candidates right now and so I believe she has a pretty good handle on what it entails.

I'm happy to hear that it doesn't matter so much where I've been but where I'm going.

The sorority has a physical chapter just for Alumnae Initiates (and not just a chapter Letter designation for initiation)? Or do you mean Alumnae Chapter?

Forgive me, but I have never heard of this.

[33girl]

Ohhhhh boy.

So she wants you to AI, but the chapter you'll be active with (ree, I'm guessing she meant alum chapter and just mistyped) is not hers? She wants to just kind of plop you down into a chapter where you won't know anyone and where she may not know anyone either?

UNLESS she knows the women in the chapter you would be active in fairly well (through national volunteering or something), UNLESS she's been corresponding with them about this for a good while, and UNLESS the women in the chapter you would be active in are very, very, VERY open-minded about the idea of AI (and want to take some time to get to know you) I would tell her to drop it.