SkeeWee, Soror! Welcome to Greekchat. It is always nice to have sorors join us.
I understand your concerns because I have been in this type of situation before. When I first went over in the spring of '95, a week later I attended regional in Atlanta. As a neophyte, quite naturally I was excited. I would speak to sorors with a simple hello and some would respond and some would not. During the past five years, this same scenario has happened several times. However, I don't let it stop me from approaching sorors and acknowledging our bond.
However, some people tend to think that all AKAs act a certain way. Whenever my undergrad chapter went on road trips, people from other schools were amazed at how friendly we were. They assumed that because we were AKAs we must be snobs. That is because that was the impression they got from other AKAs or the sorors on their campus.
People must first not buy into the stereotype. Then, they must realize that not all of us are the same. They have to keep an open mind.
Also, I find that some people take confidence and self-assurance as arrogance and are intimidated by us. In turn, they think of us in a negative way. I had several friends in college who honestly thought I was "stuck up" but discovered I was simply a shy person. I kept to myself a lot and only my close friends and sorors knew what I was really like.
But I will agree with you that it is disheartening when some sorors do not acknowledge their own, but fortunately it doesn't happen very often. Most of the sorors I encounter will take the time to chat for a moment or respond in some other way. Even when I'm driving down the street, sorors will spot my decal in the window or AKA plate on the front of my car and hold thier pinky in the air.
I love my sorors.