AIs: "First meeting, now what?"

My views are that why would someone WANT to join after college? I mean the sisterly bonds start early in college and the AIs won't feel the same bonds since they didn't pledge while a collegeiate. They won't have the same memories nor will they truly feel the same strength of sisters because as a collegiate one leans on their sisters much more so than an AI would. We have much more stress than an AI. They have never paid $330 per semester out of pocket. With us, alumnaes pay $10 per year whereas collegiates pay $660. To me it's a little unbalanced especially with dues.

[adduncan]

scpiano,

Your questions are already answered in the threads that CutiePie2000 posted earlier in this thread.

Please do a search, or browse the Alumni Involvement forum if you are interested in understanding the mindset behind AIs and PNAMs.

Adrienne (PNAM-2003)

[CutiePie2000]

Originally posted by scpiano211
In my sorority we just don't do it very often unless this person will absolutely make a difference in the alumnae world.

I don't think ANY sorority will initiate anyone who will just sit there doing nothing, but wear letters. FWIW: I was approached to be the Panhellenic Advisor at my local campus, as DG is not there and therefore, I will be "unbiased". If my work does not take me to a different city by September, I will DEFINITELY be doing just that. I love this quote from the Delta Gamma website:
"We have many outstanding alumnae initiates serving as chapter advisers and PROs, or leading Foundation projects and alumnae groups. They have taken their pledge of lifetime commitment seriously. It is an honor to be a Delta Gamma, not an honorarium. " The DG AI women that I know DO take their commitment to Delta Gamma very seriously.

Originally posted by scpiano211

My views are that why would someone WANT to join after college?
Networking, friendships. I have met and befriended DGs all over my country and also in Australia. I've been pretty mobile these past 2 years, living in 4 different cities. The constant throughout? My Delta Gamma sisters and friends!

I mean the sisterly bonds start early in college and the AIs won't feel the same bonds since they didn't pledge while a collegeiate. They won't have the same memories nor will they truly feel the same strength of sisters because as a collegiate one leans on their sisters much more so than an AI would.

I have to respectfully disagree with you there. Many women do not continue to live in the same cities where they attended college; they move around to different cities, take jobs, etc. and join an alumnae chapter in different cities. Consequently they meet other Alumnae Women who would have pledged the same sorority, but a different chapter. Even though they would be sisters in the same sorority, they would not have bonded with each other during the college years as they were in different chapters, different campuses. I do feel that the bonds can occur in the alumnae arena.

We have much more stress than an AI. They have never paid $330 per semester out of pocket. With us, alumnaes pay $10 per year whereas collegiates pay $660. To me it's a little unbalanced especially with dues.
I can see what you're saying, but I know women who were initiated as collegians who do not pay their alumnae dues now. I was an alumna initiate and I plan to pay my dues faithfully until the day I die. I think it will all "balance out" in the end!

[aopinthesky]

>>>We have much more stress than an AI. They have never paid $330 per semester out of pocket. With us, alumnaes pay $10 per year whereas collegiates pay $660. To me it's a little unbalanced especially with dues. <<<

So, are you saying that since an AI has not paid their dues, both figuratively and literally, they should not get the experience? I can understand your outlook on this issue since your sorority is not one that supports much alum initiation. However, the groups that do support it have good reasons for doing so - most of which have been enumerated above. I don't think that your mind will be changed by debating the issue in this thread. Please don't continue to rain on the parades of those groups and individuals who found each other after college and are so happy about it.

[CutiePie2000]

Well said, aopinthesky.
I also wanted to say that alumnae initiates are not going ANYWHERE, so the detractors best get used to it.
Thank you.

I also do not appreciate someone calling out my letters when I specifically did not include them. These are my personal thoughts and opinions and not those of my sorority. So, do not rain on my sorority's parade, OK?

[aopinthesky]

Originally posted by scpiano211
I also do not appreciate someone calling out my letters when I specifically did not include them. These are my personal thoughts and opinions and not those of my sorority. So, do not rain on my sorority's parade, OK?

What?

[CutiePie2000]

Originally posted by aopinthesky
What?

What you said!

aopinthesky posted this:

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Originally posted by scpiano211
In my sorority we just don't do it very often unless this person will absolutely make a difference in the alumnae world. And when we do initiate this person she is usually a legacy that never joined a sorority.
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This is probably why you don't realize that other sororities have very active Alum Initiate programs and do it regularly. Some groups encourage it, others do not. There was a recent thread (as was pointed out) that left me with the impression that ZTA does not do it very often. However, AOII (for one) actively seeks out women who are past college age and who can contribute to local chapters or be of service some other way. We have had two articles recently in our magazine regarding this very issue and how important those initiates can be.
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I don't call out your letters so don't call out mine.

[aopinthesky]

If I have offended any ZTA members out there, I certainly did not intend to. I incorrectly assumed, I suppose, that the reason scpiano did not comprehend AI is because she had not been exposed to the idea. As some are aware, a previous thread went into some detail about how ZTA does not regularly do AI and only in specific circumstances.
The reason that I see AI favorably is because AOII does support it and I often read things in our magazine and on our website that illustrate the benefits on both sides.
I believe that we form our opinions where we live - I live in the AOII world of AI, scpiano lives in the ZTA world where it isn't really done. That doesn't mean that one of us is right and one is wrong. However, when I read these AI threads and see the sheer glee in someone's post when they are intiated or when they get a hoped for bid, it is very hard to find the negative in it.

thank you. I just didn't want to drag MY specific letters in it. Even if I weren't in my particular sorority I would probably see it the same way because I know lots of people not join because they didn't join in college. I didn't even really know it existed until we initiated a lady as an alumnae and I didn't agree with initiating those out of school. To me, people can see it as an "easy in" if they don't join while in college and they'll in turn pay much cheaper dues. Also, I just don't see it as fair to people like myself that had to go through Recruitment 2 times to get into a sorority. I mean I have to work a job, maintain 15 to 17 hours worth of school, volunteer, and do things with my sorority. Whereas someone that's an alumnae, they will just deal with a possible career and a possible family.

[adduncan]

Originally posted by scpiano211
thank you. I just didn't want to drag MY specific letters in it. Even if I weren't in my particular sorority I would probably see it the same way because I know lots of people not join because they didn't join in college. I didn't even really know it existed until we initiated a lady as an alumnae and I didn't agree with initiating those out of school. To me, people can see it as an "easy in" if they don't join while in college and they'll in turn pay much cheaper dues. Also, I just don't see it as fair to people like myself that had to go through Recruitment 2 times to get into a sorority. I mean I have to work a job, maintain 15 to 17 hours worth of school, volunteer, and do things with my sorority. Whereas someone that's an alumnae, they will just deal with a possible career and a possible family.

I'm sure you're speaking in hypothetical terms.
After all, no one with any manners would come on a chat board, jump into a thread, hijack it, then insult the people who are looking at AI as a way of contributing themselves and their resources in a way they couldn't have in college.....RIGHT????


Adrienne (PNAM-2003)

Excuse me I have manners and no my friends I did not hijack your thread. Can I not join any threads on this stupid chatboard thing? I mean it'd be pointless to be a member and not join a thread and respond to the statements on the thread. Also, I am not a rude person I was just trying to understand why someone would want to join an organization after college when they had full access to Greek Life in college. Maybe you guys should learn how to answer questions without mannerless and rude responses.

And no I am not talking about anything in hypothetical terms. I really do have to work, maintain 15-17 hours, volunteer, and do things with my sorority. I do not think it's fair for us collegiates to pay such high dues and AIs can go in and not pay such high dues. I mean once I graduate I will have invested over $2000 in this thing and it's just not fair.

[aopinthesky]

Originally posted by scpiano211
Maybe you guys should learn how to answer questions without mannerless and rude responses.

AIs can go in and not pay such high dues. I mean once I graduate I will have invested over $2000 in this thing and it's just not fair.

I did not see where you asked any questions and I believe that your position (uncharitable as it is) is very clear.

[SmartBlondeGPhB]

Sorry, but I personally find that statement offensive.

Yes, we do pay cheaper "official" dues - ours are $35 a year I think. HOWEVER, a number of alumnae (myself included) give a good amount of money voluntarily to our sorority (through the Foundation). I know for us, the money pays for many things that benefit our collegians.

We have a number of very active AI's in our organization (and especially in our Foundation) who are doing a number of wonderful of things that benefit the collegians more than the alumnae.

I also will echo what has already been said. Most of the women I was active with in college now have nothing to do with Gamma Phi (probably 90%+) so a college experience is not a big endorsement in my book. But, our newest AI (as of a few weeks ago) was contributing to our alumnae chapter before she was even initiated.