I Don't Get AI

[Nanners52674]

Like I know what it is and I understand in the rare cases where it's a woman who has done exceptional things for an organization.

What I don't understand is the desire for post-collegiate women to join an organization whose foundation starts in college. Maybe I just don't know enough because I'm still active and in college but part of me feels like alumni life is more volunteering at chapters, advising and such. Things that seem like it would help to have gone through active collegiate membership.

I guess my ultimate thought is there are so many other ways to volunteer if that's what you're looking for why AI.

[KSUViolet06]

You're not the only one. It wasn't something I knew alot about until I came to GC.

I'm of the general opinion that AI is not the solution for not having joined in college, because as you have said collegiate and alumnae membership are very different.

However one may feel about AI, I think anyone who is interested in joining a sorority post-college should realize that the 2 are not the same and those who are seeking the collegiate sorority experience are likely to be disappointed.

AI is a hot button topic here on these boards, so you may have opened a large-ish can of worms.

Duck and cover.

[dreamseeker]

i thought that ppl who were interested in AI were mistakenly thinking it was a good substitute?

[baci]

AI will never be a subsitiute! How can it be?

Let the AI seekers think that and because they do - it will never matter what they read here. They are not the people needed for AI! That is why it is up to orgs to be ever so selective in the AI process.

I think what we need to do is encourage all of the young ladies presently in orgs and also alums to keep on the mentality that membership does not end when you graduate. If we do that the topic of AI will probably vanish over time. Maybe programs need to be put into place during membership about retention after graduation and why it is so very important to the future of our orgs.

It is all about numbers of alums, volunteering, and of course money that keeps these organization strong. They can't make it without all of that and just the collegiates can't keep it strong enough. We need to retain "active" members upon graduation on all levels. I believe this is why AI has come into play these days. (Just my opinion)

So, IMO, if we do better and support more in numbers on all levels I do not feel we would need AI.

I mean take a moment to google for an alum group near you that can help future PNMs out. If you can't find one easily or there isn't one near you we need to step it up. If you seek a group out and they don't contact you back something is really wrong. We all need to do what we can and gather other amazing women to carry on the greatness of the orgs. Ask yourself how many sisters in your house your four years of college are really involved in the org now? This creates a picture of how much support an org may have nationwide. I know orgs need post collegiate help and they need funds. This is the key to stay strong and it opens the door for AI.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by Nanners52674

Like I know what it is and I understand in the rare cases where it's a woman who has done exceptional things for an organization.

What I don't understand is the desire for post-collegiate women to join an organization whose foundation starts in college. Maybe I just don't know enough because I'm still active and in college but part of me feels like alumni life is more volunteering at chapters, advising and such. Things that seem like it would help to have gone through active collegiate membership.

I guess my ultimate thought is there are so many other ways to volunteer if that's what you're looking for why AI.

I disagree about the majority of alumnae activity centering around volunteering for collegiate chapters. I think more women are members of their alumnae chapters than are members of their local collegiate advisory panels. That's just all you see as a collegiate member.

[Senusret I]

Alumnae initiation is SO DIFFERENT for every NPC organization.

It's funny to me that we excuse ourselves for lane swerves on nearly every other topic, but when it comes to AI, many GreekChatters often assert themselves with authority on what AI is and is not, and try to speak on behalf of every org in the NPC.

For some orgs, AI is honorary membership. For others, it is not. For some it's rare, and for others, you can start seeing movements toward a more formalized AI program that might one day look more like NPHC alumnae intake.

Nanners, what I'm saying is you should ask real-life people in your own sorority because there are so many different reasons for and approaches to AI that most people on GC ignore when it comes to providing their opinions on the topic.

[OleMissGlitter]

My mother is an AI of AOII. To me AI has a different meaning. Do I think every person who wasn't in a sorority in college should do this, of course not. But for my mom it was special since both of her daughters are AOIIs. She wasn't in a sorority at LSU. She helped with recruitment at Ole Miss for 5years as a mother's club member. She attended her first Convention event this summer too. So, I think it's a case by case situation.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

...and for others, you can start seeing movements toward a more formalized AI program that might one day look more like NPHC alumnae intake.

I actually want to read some NPC posts like this.

[aopirose]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

I disagree about the majority of alumnae activity centering around volunteering for collegiate chapters. I think more women are members of their alumnae chapters than are members of their local collegiate advisory panels. That's just all you see as a collegiate member.

I agree with that. It is a completely different world then collegiate membership. We don't have an active collegiate chapter in our city and the one that we adopted is at least 4 hours away. That collegiate chapter does have an advisory board and certainly none of those women are members of our alumnae chapter. Alumnae Chapters have activities and goals to meet the needs of their members. If it involves being more hands on with a collegiate chapter, fine. If it involves minimal involvement with a collegiate chapter, fine.

So, no, AI is not a vehicle to try and relive old college days. However, it can be a way for a member to reach out to that "sister without a badge" who shares the organization's values, ideals, and goals. I would never advocate throwing out a sign-up sheet in front of Wal-Mart, but if it is a woman who has demonstrated her faithfulness, it can be a great thing. One of AOII's International Presidents is an AI and we do have many more who have faithfully served the Fraternity and still do. Are they overflowing our ranks? Nope and never will. It is a special honor for a select few.

[AXOrushadvisor]

Originally Posted by OleMissGlitter

My mother is an AI of AOII. To me AI has a different meaning. Do I think every person who wasn't in a sorority in college should do this, of course not. But for my mom it was special since both of her daughters are AOIIs. She wasn't in a sorority at LSU. She helped with recruitment at Ole Miss for 5years as a mother's club member. She attended her first Convention event this summer too. So, I think it's a case by case situation.

Personally, I think that is the perfect situation to do AI. Yea for your mom.

[honeychile]

Originally Posted by OleMissGlitter

My mother is an AI of AOII. To me AI has a different meaning. Do I think every person who wasn't in a sorority in college should do this, of course not. But for my mom it was special since both of her daughters are AOIIs. She wasn't in a sorority at LSU. She helped with recruitment at Ole Miss for 5years as a mother's club member. She attended her first Convention event this summer too. So, I think it's a case by case situation.

Perfect example!

Again, it's a case to case situation. Our Housemother (who was gone before I pledged) was initiated after years of service, and I'm sure she wasn't an exemption to the rule.

[DubaiSis]

This is the kind of situation where AI makes sense, but unfortunately it seems that many women interested in it are after a social life type of involvement. I think when people say it's only done in rare scenarios (like a mother with 2 daughters in the same house) that we mean it's difficult. It's not that it's difficult; there's just so little point if you're not directly tied to a sorority in some real way. A once per month hour long meeting with women who could be 40 years older or younger than you pretty much loses the point if you don't have the collegiate background to draw from. Using your Mom as the example, would she have any interest in doing this if not for you?

I had typed up a whole theoretical scenario that turns out pretty similar to your Mom's when my computer crashed and I lost it. Real is better than theoretical anyway.

The thing is it's so hard to explain what alumna membership is because it does vary a great deal around the country and from GLO to GLO. But I don't think there are any that are going to fill the void of wishing you were in a collegiate chapter.

[OleMissGlitter]

Originally Posted by DubaiSis

Using your Mom as the example, would she have any interest in doing this if not for you?

I had typed up a whole theoretical scenario that turns out pretty similar to your Mom's when my computer crashed and I lost it. Real is better than theoretical anyway.

The thing is it's so hard to explain what alumna membership is because it does vary a great deal around the country and from GLO to GLO. But I don't think there are any that are going to fill the void of wishing you were in a collegiate chapter.

I don't think my mom would have joined any NPC group via AI without some type of personal connection. She does have friends in other NPC groups but since she has a different type of connection with them (lifelong childhood friends) I don't think that is something that ever came up in their conversations. For my mother it was not a way to "redo" her college years in any way. It was a way for her to experience AOII on a different level from just serving punch and cookies during recruitment. Her continued support of AOII through me and my sister allowed her to want a deeper connection. Plus, it's something the 3 of us share together. It was a wonderful experience to have my sister, my mother, and me altogether at AOII Convention this year. It allowed them to see AOII on a bigger picture. Plus, as an international volunteer for AOII they can see how much it all means to me. (Must have rubbed off my sister is a new adviser for her local collegiate chapter down in FL!)

I would also like to share another example. When I was a collegian our financial adviser was a local CPA and Accounting professor on campus. She had been helping the chapter and tutoring members as well. She had gone to a small private college where there was no Greek Life. We alumna initiated her since her hours of service and her dedication to the chapter were outstanding. She was overwhelmed with joy and accepted the invitation.

So, I think the best point of all of this is it is a case by case situation. There are some outstanding alumnae initiates in my own sorority and they have really done wonderful things for AOII whether on the local level or international level.

[ASTalumna06]

I completely agree with the idea of "needing a connection" in order to fully appreciate joining a sorority after graduation.

I am currently in the process of starting an alumnae chapter, and there are about 6 people who, right now, are fully dedicated to attending meetings, taking positions, and getting this thing off the ground. A couple of us are older, some are younger, and one of them joined my chapter a year after I did. We even had a dinner where more alumnae attended, including a member who just graduated last year, and another who was well into her 60s.

As you talk, you find that the one thing that ties everybody together is your collegiate experience. Granted, everyone has different stories, but usually someone will say, "I remember when we did this..." and someone else will chime in with, "We did that, also, but we instead of doing it that way, we did it this way..." Or we would talk about the fraternities that were cool to hang out with when we were in school, or about strange things that happened during ritual, or about the styles of hair/clothes that were in at the time.. whatever!

Not everyone is married, not everyone is deep into their career, not everyone is a grandparent... your time as a collegiate member of your sorority is the one common bond that you all have. If nothing else, it's something to break the ice and get the conversation going. Don't get me wrong, you can definitely be involved if you don't have that experience, but coming in with no connection at all to that sorority would probably make for a difficult adjustment... no matter what kind of involvement you choose to have (alumnae chapter member, collegiate chapter advisor, etc.)

[SmartBlondeGPhB]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

I disagree about the majority of alumnae activity centering around volunteering for collegiate chapters. I think more women are members of their alumnae chapters than are members of their local collegiate advisory panels. That's just all you see as a collegiate member.

Thank you! My thought exactly. Only a couple of the women in my alumane chapter help out a collegiate chapter.