My AI adventure

[WhiteRose1912]

I seriously don't get how we can go on and on about how sorority membership is not just a four year commitment, and how the most rewarding years are the alumnae years, and then scoff at women who want to join as alumnae.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by WhiteRose1912

I seriously don't get how we can go on and on about how sorority membership is not just a four year commitment, and how the most rewarding years are the alumnae years, and then scoff at women who want to join as alumnae.

This is like saying why is an apple not a potato.

We are talking out our butts if we say it's a 4 year commitment and then instead of impressing on our large alumnae bases that they need to fill that commitment, we initiate new women because we can't engage the ones we initiated to begin with. If women don't pay alum dues, don't volunteer, etc etc....let them know their membership is revoked and they're not an alumna any more. NPHC members value their membership more as adults because more is expected of them. Simple as that.

Also, regarding the NPHC (and please, any NPHC member rap my knuckles if I'm wrong about any of this), ALL 9 ORGS - the fraternities and the sororities - admit members at a graduate level. The AI policies of the 26 NPC groups are all over the board. If the NPC really wants to promote AI as an alternate form of joining its member groups, they need to get together and make some rules on it - the same as with sorority rush for collegians.

[Sciencewoman]

Originally Posted by 33girl

If the NPC really wants to promote AI as an alternate form of joining its member groups, they need to get together and make some rules on it - the same as with sorority rush for collegians.

That won't happen until everyone wants to AI Susie the Hot Tropic manager and alumnae groups are mad because there's no fair process to decide who gets her.

In other words, when Hilo freezes over.

[WhiteRose1912]

Originally Posted by 33girl

This is like saying why is an apple not a potato.

We are talking out our butts if we say it's a 4 year commitment and then instead of impressing on our large alumnae bases that they need to fill that commitment, we initiate new women because we can't engage the ones we initiated to begin with. If women don't pay alum dues, don't volunteer, etc etc....let them know their membership is revoked and they're not an alumna any more. NPHC members value their membership more as adults because more is expected of them. Simple as that.

I'm not saying it should be an either/or scenario. Yes, we should be more proactive in keeping alumnae engaged. (As an aside, I don't think threatening to revoke their memberships would do that; they're of the mindset that their membership is over when they graduate, so what do they care?) But also we should be welcoming qualified women into our sisterhoods who wish to pledge a commitment to our organizations but are older than teenagers. I imagine they'd be more committed alumnae, although I have nothing to back that hunch up, and alumnae associations or sponsoring chapters could take all the time they need to get to know the PNAM and vet her. It's not like there's a rush period.

The common bond between sisters should be the shared ritual they've all experienced and the values they strive to uphold, not a collegiate experience which is going to vary wildly from sister to sister anyway.

[DubaiSis]

Originally Posted by WhiteRose1912

I'm not saying it should be an either/or scenario. Yes, we should be more proactive in keeping alumnae engaged. (As an aside, I don't think threatening to revoke their memberships would do that; they're of the mindset that their membership is over when they graduate, so what do they care?) But also we should be welcoming qualified women into our sisterhoods who wish to pledge a commitment to our organizations but are older than teenagers. I imagine they'd be more committed alumnae, although I have nothing to back that hunch up, and alumnae associations or sponsoring chapters could take all the time they need to get to know the PNAM and vet her. It's not like there's a rush period.

The common bond between sisters should be the shared ritual they've all experienced and the values they strive to uphold, not a collegiate experience which is going to vary wildly from sister to sister anyway.

I think there's room for both kinds of alumnae. And I think there are places where an alumnae chapter might like to take on NPHC-style recruitment, in places where alumnae involvement is really high and there would be interest from the community at large, or in a smaller community where a collegiate chapter has just colonized (a new chapter in Montana, for instance). But there would have to already be a solid alumnae chapter in place for this to work. God knows I wouldn't want headquarters cramming alumnae recruitment down our throats, but I could see some scenarios where it could be very successful. I don't like the idea that a woman missed out on an opportunity at 18 and she's just outta luck for the rest of her life. But I also don't think we should be out there desperately trying to double our alumnae population either. I'm all about compromise these days, and I think there's plenty of room for it here.

[als463]

Originally Posted by DubaiSis

I think there's room for both kinds of alumnae. And I think there are places where an alumnae chapter might like to take on NPHC-style recruitment, in places where alumnae involvement is really high and there would be interest from the community at large, or in a smaller community where a collegiate chapter has just colonized (a new chapter in Montana, for instance). But there would have to already be a solid alumnae chapter in place for this to work. God knows I wouldn't want headquarters cramming alumnae recruitment down our throats, but I could see some scenarios where it could be very successful. I don't like the idea that a woman missed out on an opportunity at 18 and she's just outta luck for the rest of her life. But I also don't think we should be out there desperately trying to double our alumnae population either. I'm all about compromise these days, and I think there's plenty of room for it here.

I love this statement and wish there was a like button for it. Another thing to note is that some GLOs will initiate a woman who is not college-educated. For whatever reason, a sorority may meet a woman who never attended college. We should consider all types of women (college-educated or not).

[DubaiSis]

I don't think it's scoffing, but we more mature members who have served in one or more alumnae associations might have some valid concerns to address. I know my sorority has also recruited AI women in conjunction with a colony, but the last time I heard of it personally was in the 60's. Now I think the only way we actively seek AI is that all mothers of colony members are invited to join. That's not to say we don't have members join in any other method; we do. But it would be in the more commonly mentioned situations above - someone who is a big help through the university, a non-member advisor who has been a big help, close friend of a member who is very involved, etc.

But that being said, I believe I've read here that some NPC sororities while on a big push nationally have also pushed for AI to keep their alumnae in line with their collegians. And if an NPC sorority should get a chapter in BF Big Western State, I definitely could see them actively seeking out strangers to AI. But these again are FAR more the exception than the rule. These examples could serve to help the OP as she works toward this goal. Here's how you can be more appealing as an AI, not just "it can't happen no way no how."

[33girl]

Originally Posted by groovypq

Well, I don't know. I'm a general adviser, and I'm an AI. I always joke that those poor girls had no one else, so they got stuck with me. :-) I think my connections at the university (I was a part-time, later full-time employee) and in my fields (communications and coaching) gave me some perspectives that helped the chapter. But it really was a case of there not being alumnae in the area to serve.

I also had connections to the chapter - my sister was a former treasurer and president, and at the time I was asked, I was coaching one of the sisters. It was at my alma mater, so I was familiar with the chapter as well.

That's a WHOLE different matter than AIing Susie the manager at Hot Topic in Hilo because OMG WE HAZ NO ALUMZ.

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

You forgot 3) has the time/inclination to fulfill the role. Yes, we help women in their careers, but that doesn't always lead to the right alumna in the right place at the right time. I've been active when I could, but when I had small children and was going to graduate school I had to step back. It didn't matter that I was qualified - I couldn't fulfill the role anymore.

With all due respect, I'm sure there were other sisters nearby who could have done a good job too.

[SWTXBelle]

Originally Posted by 33girl

With all due respect, I'm sure there were other sisters nearby who could have done a good job too.

I'm not sure you understood my point - which was that even if you do have qualified alumnae in the area they may not be at a point in their lives when they can serve - thus an AI adviser may be able to fulfill an important role.

In my case, yes, there was a qualified alumna - namely my mother, who was an AI and had been a co-chapter adviser with me to a collegiate chapter.

[33girl]

No, I got your point. But this all goes along with looking at different ways advisors can advise, and more importantly, what we really are using advisors for.

[AOII Angel]

As an adviser to a chapter with only one local alum, I have to say that it does a chapter a DISSERVICE to have no local alum support. Yes, chapters are lucky to get any support that they can, but there is a huge difference between advisers that are in person and advisers that only work with the chapter by email/phone/skype.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

As an adviser to a chapter with only one local alum, I have to say that it does a chapter a DISSERVICE to have no local alum support. Yes, chapters are lucky to get any support that they can, but there is a huge difference between advisers that are in person and advisers that only work with the chapter by email/phone/skype.

Then the national headquarters has to think about that before chartering a chapter there. Yes, I know this can be a chicken/egg scenario but that's life. If the chapter is so remote that no alumnae are there and they need to come about through AI, what happens when the (newly initiated) alumnae have questions? Bank statements are one thing, rush is another.

Our chapter in Alaska got started when one of our recent traveling consultants was living up there. I don't think we would have bitten on it had she not been part of the mix.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Then the national headquarters has to think about that before chartering a chapter there. Yes, I know this can be a chicken/egg scenario but that's life. If the chapter is so remote that no alumnae are there and they need to come about through AI, what happens when the (newly initiated) alumnae have questions? Bank statements are one thing, rush is another.

Our chapter in Alaska got started when one of our recent traveling consultants was living up there. I don't think we would have bitten on it had she not been part of the mix.

I completely agree, but like you said, many times it is the chicken/egg. For NAU, there are 9 NPC groups and FWIW, each group has one alum in town if they are lucky. These groups have been chartered 50+ years. The problem is there are no jobs to be had and everyone moves to Phoenix and many of the college students are from California in the first place. I'm 2 hours from them which is a pretty good distance. The one alum in town does all of the necessary things in person, but she gets run ragged. You can't exactly shut down a 50 year old chapter after the fact.

[pas]

Have you looked into non-collegiate sororities? Beta Sigma Phi has a lot of chapters! There are numetous threads about such orgs.

[AGDLynn]

The Georgia Tech AGD Chapter is initiating 2 AI's tonight. Unfortunately, I won't be able to be there, but hope to meet them soon!