AI Update

rebakins · #1 09-19-2003, 06:42 AM

Hi all,

I just wanted to give you all an update as to where I stand in my AI journey

After I wrote a message on this board asking for advice when I hadn't heard anything back from any local Alumae chapters, I wrote a message back to headquarters restating my interest in AI.

Then......about a week later, I received an e-mail from the Philly Alumnae Chapter of AOPi! I was so excited...I spoke with the President and she was so nice. She invited me to their first event of the year which was this past Wednesday. I went to their get together and had an awesome time! I really enjoyed meeting these women and getting to know them. AND the BEST part about the whole evening is that I got to meet the newly elected AOPi International President because she's from the Philadelphia area and belongs to that chapter. How cool is that???

Anyway, I think things went well on their end as well as they all seemed to like me. I'm not going to get my hopes up, but I am keeping my fingers crossed

I wrote a thank-you note to the hostess for her hospitality. Is there anything else I should be doing?

Thanks to everyone who responded before with advice for helping me through this process

-Rebecca

AlphaFrog · #2 09-19-2003, 09:13 AM

Congrats on that! Meeting the Inter/National President is so awesome.

I think you're taking just the right steps for AI (although I'm not an expert, it sounds like exactly what you should be doing). The only other thing I would suggest is if you clicked with a spesifc woman (or women) and they gave you a phone number (not sure if this is allowed or not with AI, although I'm assuming it is), I would follow up with them and have lunch or something (but I wouldn't bring up AOII unless they do first, as it could look like you were just using them to get in).

Lots of luck!

MelodyCat · #3 09-19-2003, 09:39 AM

Wow! That's great!

I think you're making the right moves right now. Maybe send the president an email saying how much you enjoyed meeting with her, and you'd like to attend future events if possible? That's assuming she didn't mention any future events. . .

nhpgator · #4 09-19-2003, 10:33 AM

Make sure you tell your contact that you would like to become an initiated sister - i know this may sound silly and obvious - but sometimes sisters don't want to be too pushy and may not be aware that you are as interested as you are.

I am an AOII (use 2 capital i's not pi) and the AI process is very simple. We are always excited about new initiates.

feel free to email me if you have any questions.

aopirose · #5 09-19-2003, 10:54 AM

I am glad that you enjoyed yourself. That Philly chapter is a top notch group and claims a few AOII bigwigs among her members. The only other things that I would do at this point are to 1) write a thank you note to the chapter president and 2) contact HQ and let Sherry know that you met the ladies. If someone gave you her phone number, I would follow up with a casual lunch or coffee in another week or so. If no one gave you her phone number, that's OK too. The first meeting of the year is always such a worldwind and sometimes a little thing like that can get overlooked.

Sending you good thoughts...

CutiePie2000 · #6 09-19-2003, 11:02 AM

Rebecca,
It sounds like you are doing everything so well, that you could give Miss Manners a run for her money! All of the advice given is great, so I really have nothing to add.

To echo what nhpgator said, it's correct to write "AOII" rather than "AOPi".
The AOII website explains it all here:
------------------------------------
http://www.alphaomicronpi.org/conten...cies/term.html
"Name - Greek Letters
"Alpha," "Omicron," and "Pi" are the Greek letters standing for our motto. Alpha Omicron Pi also has a shortened form of its name by which it is known: AOII. This is written in the form "AOII" using the Greek symbol "II" and not "Pi." To do otherwise would be grammatically incorrect in mixing styles of letters."

I don't think you've committed any big mistake in the least, but from here on in, I would write "AOII", particular in your correspondence with AOII women....it just shows that you know the correct terminology and in the end, that is all the most impressive! (I'm sure that you are doing a great job already impressing them).

I'm so happy that it is going so well for you!

rebakins · #7 09-20-2003, 11:27 AM

Hi all,

Thanks for the advice

I didn't receive anyone's phone numbers of contact information but several ladies said that they hoped to see me at another event.

Sooo..hopefully I will be invited back to get to know these ladies further.

Also, thanks for the tip on proper usage of the letters "AOII." I didn't realize that the other way was improper and I'm glad I found out it was before accidentally writing it that way elsewhere.

I guess it's kind of a waiting game now...I'm still really excited, though! For any of you who have been through this....what are the next steps, generally speaking?

-Rebecca

Jill1228 · #8 09-20-2003, 01:28 PM

Hmmm I was wondering. Sometimes I see it as AOTT. Which is correct?

Rebecca, it seems like you had a promising meeting. One of the things I would do is definitely send a thank you letter or card.

Trust me, if they like you and there is promise, WORD gets around!

AOII_LB93 · #9 09-20-2003, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jill1228
Hmmm I was wondering. Sometimes I see it as AOTT. Which is correct?

Rebecca, it seems like you had a promising meeting. One of the things I would do is definitely send a thank you letter or card.

Trust me, if they like you and there is promise, WORD gets around!

At my AAC (Alumnae Advisory Committee) meeting it was told to us that it is AOII, not TT.

aopirose · #10 09-21-2003, 05:57 PM

You may see "TT" instead of "II" because that is the way it is done in math sometimes. However, "II" is the correct form. I know that my GC name is not correct but I had few options. I wanted a lowercase name so that I could remember it and "ii" just looked too funny.

ETA - Regarding the next steps... basically, you just wait for an invitation to the next event. I know that it's hard when you are excited.

That event could be an informal coffee with just you and a couple of members or a non-business meeting. It really depends on how the chapter wants to handle it.

In my case, I had gone to a few AOII events with absolutely no intentions of joining. A good friend, who visits these boards but rarely posts, just never gave up on me. It was after one event that I realized that this was the place for me. Once I decided to move forward, my paperwork was processed in less then two weeks. Timing was everything because the Alumnae Network Specialist was just about to go out of town and the International Executive Board was meeting 2 days later. I was initiated 3 weeks after that! It was all a big world wind of events. My mother died and my great-grandmother died on the way to her funeral. Less then two weeks later, I was initiated. (Try to find a white maternity dress in November! Thank goodness my MIL is a seamstress.) Two weeks after that I had my son.

Good luck.

rebakins · #11 09-21-2003, 09:33 PM

Ackkk! It's so hard to wait

Even though the last event was just a couple of days ago, I'm so anxious to hear from this group.

I keep checking my e-mail account like 10 times a day....

I have another question about the AI program and AOII.....is it somewhat similar to the collegiate program in that potential members must be offered a bid? Or is a unanimous vote by the AC? I'm just curious and wondering what to expect if in fact I am able to continue pursuing AI....

-Rebecca

ps -- anyone else reading this message in my position....I would love to talk....so we can worry together

LouisaMay · #12 09-22-2003, 09:05 AM

aopirose....that's quite a story! So many ups and downs.

Rebecca...I'm definitely feeling the "I can't wait any more!" I know that my search has been relatively short (only a little over a month), but I just want it so badly. Too be truthful, I am sort of enjoying the ride. It's kind of like Rushing again. Even though my college rush didn't end happily, I loved every minute of it! I also check my e-mail obsessively, but since our internet ties up the phone line, I worry that I am missing a call. At least we can be pathetic together

LM

tinydancer · #13 09-22-2003, 10:53 AM

I keep telling myself that this is teaching me patience; but honestly, I am going CRAZY waiting!!! I'm also one of those compulsive check-the-email types, cause I surely don't want to miss the message!!!

A new set of paperwork should be going out today to the membership vp, so maybe I will be in the home stretch!!

rebakins · #14 09-22-2003, 06:44 PM

LM & tinydancer --

so glad to hear that I'm not the only one going nuts!

The next event is in early October.....I'm hoping that I hear from the President soon! At the first get-together, several women said that they hoped to see me at future gatherings...sooo....I hope I made an ok impression.

it *is* like rush week...however, rush week was only 7 agonizing days....and it's been 3 months for me already

haha...I'm sure in the end it will be worth it, though!

-Rebecca

adduncan · #15 09-25-2003, 01:45 PM

Hi folks--I'm sneaking on in the middle of work for an update.

Did you ever notice how time slows down the closer you get to the goal you're working for?

I know my sig has changed a few times, but the fact is I know where home is. I've met a wonderful chapter who have supported and encouraged me through the AI process--with the help of a GC friend who invited me to meet her chapter after I posted online of why I'm pursuing Greek affiliation as a post-collegiate.

The most recent chapter meeting was earlier this month, the first of the year, when I got up in front of the entire group and explained why I wanted to be a (insert letters here). There's always a little bit of trepidation when you speak in front of a new group, but being at this meeting was like being in my own home. Some members and officers (even those I met that very night) were talking about my membership as if it were a done deal already.

As far as I know, there is a ton of paperwork on my behalf sitting in the national office, waiting for a final, official "thumbs up" vote from the chapter officers. So....we wait........

I am absolutely exhausted. It's getting close to one year since I found out AI was a possibility and I timidly started reaching out to orgs and finding my way home. There were a lot of unexpected twists and turns along the way and what I thought was home at first, ultimately wasn't. I'm sure of this one. If national votes "no", then I'll be supporting Greek life as a "Roman"/GDI because I can't see myself anywhere else but this org and chapter.

I am grateful every day for the support of GC. Whatever walk of life people are from, whatever discussions come up, when the talk turns to finding a Greek home, everyone pulls together. There are some blood relatives that could learn a few lessons from that kind of solidarity. And to credit some of you, no matter how hush-hush I've kept this final phase of my journey, a few of you hit the nail on the head and figured out where I want to be.

Please cross your fingers for me in the next few weeks.

Adrienne