Legacy's Parent at Pledging/Initiation?

[Griffins&Quills]

My chapter never had alumnae come to pledging, I suppose it is possible though. But there were several years where alumnae (moms) came to initiation to pin their daughters. I always liked that.

[DubaiSis]

We always loved when we had alumnae participate in initiation, for all of the reasons noted above. I don't recall alumnae ever participating in/observing pledging.

I have 2 eligible nieces (legacies for Alpha Xi Delta, at least for now) and if either of them pledged, I would absolutely plan on attending the initiation. And I'd be buying her a rockin quill! And probably her first set of letters, a laveliere...

[naraht]

The reason is that "X's Parent" is me. My oldest is currently rushing Alpha Phi Omega (co-ed service fraternity) at University of Maryland (about 30 minutes from hom). He didn't want to rush his first semester, but this semester seems lighter to him so he decided to rush (We found out when we wanted him to come home this weekend and wanted to get picked up after the rush event). When he was asked by brothers how he found out about Alpha Phi Omega, he told them that it was how his parents met.

If he gets a bid, neither my wife or I feel that going to pledging is quite right, but initiation would be.

Just curious as to whether most people thought that combination was about right from the chapter standpoint...

[Sen's Revenge]

Originally Posted by naraht

The reason is that "X's Parent" is me. My oldest is currently rushing Alpha Phi Omega (co-ed service fraternity) at University of Maryland (about 30 minutes from hom). He didn't want to rush his first semester, but this semester seems lighter to him so he decided to rush (We found out when we wanted him to come home this weekend and wanted to get picked up after the rush event). When he was asked by brothers how he found out about Alpha Phi Omega, he told them that it was how his parents met.

If he gets a bid, neither my wife or I feel that going to pledging is quite right, but initiation would be.

Just curious as to whether most people thought that combination was about right from the chapter standpoint...

I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS MOMENT SINCE 2002!!!!

[aephi alum]

Originally Posted by naraht

Should the chapter invite/welcome the parent to the pledging ceremony? Should the chapter invite/welcome the parent to the initiation ceremony? On both, should it be up to X?

I don't see why not. TBH, I'd be very annoyed if I had a daughter and she pledged AEPhi and I weren't invited to her pledging/initiation. I might or might not go to her pledging ceremonies (as others have said, it's a good idea for the NM to start her journey herself, bonding with her pledge sisters), but I'd absolutely want to be at initiation and have her pinned with my badge.

One of my pledge sisters has an aunt who is an AEPhi. She was invited to our initiation as a surprise. It was awesome to be there at that family moment. (AEPhi does not consider nieces to be legacies, but none of the aunt's own daughters went AEPhi, so while she did not get to share the bonds of sisterhood with any of her own daughters, she did get to share those bonds with her niece.)

My chapter also had an in-house legacy a couple of years after I became an alumna. Obviously, the older sister was at her younger sister's ceremonies - she was required to be there as she was an active member of the chapter.

[BPDG]

Just my two cents. My daughter was a legacy and pledged my GLO, but at another school. I wrote a recommendation and thought that everyone knew I was an alumnae. However, as initiation grew closer, I didn't hear anything about attending. Friends from my alumnae group told to contact the president and ask to come. It was lovely and they kept it a surprise. So, if you don't get invited, remember to ask if you can attend. Collegians aren't always focused on that.

[shellylou]

I was thrilled to not only attend my daughter's initiation but I also got to be involved in the ritual. I will never forget that night. I was so proud to pin my badge onto my daughter who was now my sister!

[robinseggblue]

naraht congratulations! What a special experience this will be.

[naraht]

Originally Posted by robinseggblue

naraht congratulations! What a special experience this will be.

Yup, I expect so. Note, he was up front about being a Legacy, when asked how he found out about Alpha Phi Omega, he said that that was how his parents met.