Getting Married While Currently Being an Active Member in GPB

madison.reed23 · #1 04-20-2016, 02:28 PM

Hi! So my boyfriend is in the military and we've been thinking about getting married for financial reasons and such but I am an active member in Gamma Phi Beta and I didn't know if I would have to become an alumnae if I got married now while still in college. Does anymore if I would have to become an alumnae or could I still be an active member? Thank you!

AST-AI2007 · #2 04-20-2016, 02:42 PM

We have had a few sisters over the years in this situation. Some have chosen to go alum early and some have stayed active. It was up to each one to see what would work best for them and there family. Advisors might have to approve the early alum depending on your bylaws.

AZTheta · #3 04-20-2016, 02:49 PM

Ask your chapter advisor! Every sorority has its own bylaws. Doesn't matter what any other sorority permits. Only GPhiB bylaws apply for you.

honeychile · #4 04-20-2016, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AZTheta

Ask your chapter advisor! Every sorority has its own bylaws. Doesn't matter what any other sorority permits. Only GPhiB bylaws apply for you.

AND, check both the (inter-)national and the local bylaws.

33girl · #5 04-20-2016, 04:20 PM

Is he on active duty or stationed near you or what's the living situation?

madison.reed23 · #6 04-20-2016, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 33girl

Is he on active duty or stationed near you or what's the living situation?

He's active duty and I'm going to school while he's on his base training to be an aircraft mechanic.

joliebelle · #7 04-20-2016, 05:00 PM

Hi! I would speak to your chapter advisor about this, if your chapter has one.

KSUViolet06 · #8 04-20-2016, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madison.reed23

Hi! So my boyfriend is in the military and we've been thinking about getting married for financial reasons and such but I am an active member in Gamma Phi Beta and I didn't know if I would have to become an alumnae if I got married now while still in college. Does anymore if I would have to become an alumnae or could I still be an active member? Thank you!

Off-topic, but you're getting married for financial reasons?

Kevin · #9 04-20-2016, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

Off-topic, but you're getting married for financial reasons?

Spouses of military members get great health insurance and other benefits.

joliebelle · #10 04-20-2016, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

Off-topic, but you're getting married for financial reasons?

This probably isn't what you're getting at, but he would make more money if he had a dependent. Hopefully, she meant that they are getting married *early* for money and not just for the bigger checks...because that's not allowed.

Sciencewoman · #11 04-20-2016, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madison.reed23

Hi! So my boyfriend is in the military and we've been thinking about getting married for financial reasons and such but I am an active member in Gamma Phi Beta and I didn't know if I would have to become an alumnae if I got married now while still in college. Does anymore if I would have to become an alumnae or could I still be an active member? Thank you!

Thanks for posting your question in the Gamma Phi Beta forum. I can give you a definitive answer, from page 2 in the Membership section of the 2015 Rules and Procedures manual available on the www.gammaphibeta.org website, after you log in as a member.

In a nutshell, being married has no effect on your membership status. The chapter I advise has had two women get married in the past 5 years. One was Chapter President...in fact, she was excused from Pref for her own wedding (the date was set before she joined). On Bid Day, she welcomed the new members and apologized for not having been there the night before, but she was kind of busy getting married.

jenidallas · #12 04-21-2016, 08:56 AM

We had this topic come up more than once when I was a chapter advisor and no, international Gamma Phi Beta has no provisions that would prohibit a married woman from becoming a collegiate member. The chapter in question had a decades-long history of having an occasional married sister or two.

On a (not always) related note, women with children can also be collegiate members.

These are both situations where it's a good idea to loop both the chapter advisor and regional coordinator into discussion as the requirements for membership do not change.