Legacy Policy

[chi-o_cat]

Originally Posted by PinkSkyAtNight

Not all legacies and all alumnae are considered equal in my mind. If a PNM's mom, sister or grandma has been loyal to the organization, contributed to building campaigns (even if just a small amount), and participated in her alumnae organization, I would give that a lot of weight. It shows a family commitment to the organization, and I would believe that she would be far more likely to stick with her membership for 4 years, than say the woman whose relative hasn't done anything since she graduated 25 years ago.

It seems like that would lead to a lot of time spent “ranking” legacy PNMs based on factors beyond their control. Legacy A‘s older sister, a much-loved chapter president, graduated the previous spring and moved to an area of the country that doesn’t have an alumnae chapter, and hasn’t been able make financial contributions. Legacy B’s mother just got involved with a very small alumnae chapter last year, made a sizable donation to the national foundation, and was elected secretary of her alumnae chapter 6 months later. Legacy C’s mother lives in a big city where she’s been a member for years of a large alumnae chapter but never held an office, and has made small but consistent donations to the national foundation for the last 20 years. Legacy D's mother has pretty much been MIA since graduating, but has an aunt and grandmother who have been extremely involved at various levels. Which Legacy would receive priority?

And not all organizations have alumnae dues. Chi Omega does not.

[PinkSkyAtNight]

Originally Posted by chi-o_cat

It seems like that would lead to a lot of time spent “ranking” legacy PNMs based on factors beyond their control. Legacy A‘s older sister, a much-loved chapter president, graduated the previous spring and moved to an area of the country that doesn’t have an alumnae chapter, and hasn’t been able make financial contributions. Legacy B’s mother just got involved with a very small alumnae chapter last year, made a sizable donation to the national foundation, and was elected secretary of her alumnae chapter 6 months later. Legacy C’s mother lives in a big city where she’s been a member for years of a large alumnae chapter but never held an office, and has made small but consistent donations to the national foundation for the last 20 years. Legacy D's mother has pretty much been MIA since graduating, but has an aunt and grandmother who have been extremely involved at various levels. Which Legacy would receive priority?

And not all organizations have alumnae dues. Chi Omega does not.

Agreed, it could definitely lead to ranking of legacies, but don't we already do that anyway with non-legacy PNMs?

If I were having a say in the process, I would try to consider that it isn't necessarily the amount that a person contributes, but rather they have contributed what they can. Also, there are ways to be involved in your organization remotely. Or, you can start an alumnae association or at minimum, continue to volunteer with your sorority's philanthropy and wear your letters while doing so. There are lots of ways to be a supportive, active alum even if you don't have a lot of money or time to give. And while it might be beyond the control of a legacy PNM about how her relative has been engaged with the organization, simply just being a legacy and knowing about the greek system is often advantage that those from non-greek families don't.

I guess I'm just speaking because it really irritates me when alums come out of the woodwork and presume that their legacy will be automatically invited, yet she when her daughter isn't invited back she starts running her mouth on the national Facebook page yet she isn't even part of the local alum Facebook group, despite repeated invites. Sometimes, I think these types could benefit from someone asking them, what have you done for your sorority that should entitle your relative to an advantage over a woman who has more to offer?