Has the tradition of Legacies outgrown its usefulness?

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by violetpretty

I truly believe that if an alumna wants to be active, she can, in some way. She can:
-donate to the foundation
-advise a collegiate chapter
-help out with a collegiate chapter's recruitment
-be a member of an alumnae chapter
-be involved with the local Alumnae Panhellenic

I think distinguishing between alumnae who are involved in at least one of these areas would create plenty of separation between legacies of active alumnae and legacies of alumnae who haven't done a thing since graduation. How can you say it's so important for your daughter/sister/granddaughter to be in your sorority if you've done nothing since graduation?

Not having an alumnae/collegiate chapter or Alumnae Panhellenic nearby certainly does not prevent an alumna from donating to the foundation, nor should it prevent an alumna from advising a collegiate chapter if she wants to. I know an alumna who lives in Texas who advises a chapter in rural Pennsylvania because they have a need for advisors.

I don't think the amount donated to the foundation should matter, just that the alumna donates regularly. People have different financial situations. I'd rather an alumna donate what she can consistently over the years rather than "Helga von Heli" try to buy her daughter's way in right before recrtuitment after years of nothing. Everyone can afford to donate something.

Being a busy mom doesn't prevent involvement in one of those areas, particularly, donating to the foundation. If her nearby alumnae chapter doesn't have a "mommy" niche, she should advocate for that. Plus, helping with recruitment once a year isn't a terribly huge time commitment, but still shows you care.

If there is a sorority alumna who lives more than 2 hours away from a collegiate chapter, an alumnae chapter, and an alumnae Panhellenic, and is in dire financial straits, working 2 jobs and caring for her kids, etc. that can be noted on the RIF. But I think alumnae who truly have no time, no money, and live far away from any chapter are in the minority. For the most part, if an alumna wants to be involved, she can.

You can add Life Loyal membership to that list for organizations that have that option.

I agree with what you said. There are numerous ways to give back if your sorority really means something to you.

[33girl]

As I mentioned in the other thread...what about the rushee whose mother passed away? Phooey on her?

I honestly believe this should be a chapter by chapter decision, rather than alienating alumnae with "tiers" of alumnae "importance" for a matter that many chapters never even have to deal with. If XYZ at Texas wants to say that because of the huge amount of legacies rushing, the only women considered legacies (with the special consideration that entails) are those whose mothers or sisters were in the chapter at Texas, fine. Spell it out and publish it in the magazine/online so there's no one who can scream clueless. And so they know that if they're a Penn State XYZ alum sending their daughter to Texas, there's a good chance that she won't get a bid.

I mean, this is kind of the way it works anyway...I think there would be a lot fewer hurt feelings if it was spelled out. Yeah, there will be women pissed at Texas XYZ, but maybe not so much at XYZ as a whole.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by 33girl

As I mentioned in the other thread...what about the rushee whose mother passed away? Phooey on her?

I honestly believe this should be a chapter by chapter decision, rather than alienating alumnae with "tiers" of alumnae "importance" for a matter that many chapters never even have to deal with. If XYZ at Texas wants to say that because of the huge amount of legacies rushing, the only women considered legacies (with the special consideration that entails) are those whose mothers or sisters were in the chapter at Texas, fine. Spell it out and publish it in the magazine/online so there's no one who can scream clueless. And so they know that if they're a Penn State XYZ alum sending their daughter to Texas, there's a good chance that she won't get a bid.

I mean, this is kind of the way it works anyway...I think there would be a lot fewer hurt feelings if it was spelled out. Yeah, there will be women pissed at Texas XYZ, but maybe not so much at XYZ as a whole.

I think for PNMs who have mothers who have passed away, they get a pass. It would be too hard to keep up with whether or not their mothers were active before they died, etc. Of course, none of this will ever happen, but wouldn't it encourage members to cherish their lifetime memberships a little more?

[33girl]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

I think for PNMs who have mothers who have passed away, they get a pass. It would be too hard to keep up with whether or not their mothers were active before they died, etc. Of course, none of this will ever happen, but wouldn't it encourage members to cherish their lifetime memberships a little more?

That's exactly it. And then the girl whose mother was hiding out with the SLA gets a pass and....yadda, yadda, yadda.

I also could see it possibly being used as an excuse to cut legacies who the chapter may not particularly love at first sight at schools who don't have the "too many" excuse at all.

"We have too many legacies going through rush" is NOT an organization-wide issue. It is a CHAPTER issue. Therefore, let the chapters use autonomy in how they deal with it.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by 33girl

As I mentioned in the other thread...what about the rushee whose mother passed away? Phooey on her?

I honestly believe this should be a chapter by chapter decision, rather than alienating alumnae with "tiers" of alumnae "importance" for a matter that many chapters never even have to deal with. If XYZ at Texas wants to say that because of the huge amount of legacies rushing, the only women considered legacies (with the special consideration that entails) are those whose mothers or sisters were in the chapter at Texas, fine. Spell it out and publish it in the magazine/online so there's no one who can scream clueless. And so they know that if they're a Penn State XYZ alum sending their daughter to Texas, there's a good chance that she won't get a bid.

I mean, this is kind of the way it works anyway...I think there would be a lot fewer hurt feelings if it was spelled out. Yeah, there will be women pissed at Texas XYZ, but maybe not so much at XYZ as a whole.

It's no phooey on her any more than it's phooey on Suzy awesome who's not a legacy at all. And odds are it would be noted, one way or the other.

I actually agree with v_p. I don't think it should be multiple tiers, or chapter legacies only, or anything like that, just "active alumnae" and "alumnae." And maybe the difference is only really taken into consideration at chapters that are so competitive that the distinction needs to be made. However it would still be an (inter)national policy as we are (inter) National GLOs.

I don't want to see anything like chapter specific legacies only given official sanction as I don't want it ever to actually be OK. I'd rather that be done way with altogether.