Statuses

arrowgirl · #1 10-01-2002, 02:28 PM

Hi, I was curious about this anyway, and my curiousity was rekindled after I read the thread about deactivating.

Someone said that if they needed a break from their sorority they should go onto alum status.

My question (and I've asked sisters about this, but no one knew for sure) had to do with statuses.

I am not currently going to school where my chapter is. And I am not sure if I will go back. Right now, I think I am on temporary leave with them, but... I had a choice as to whether or not I wanted to go on alum status, but no one could say for sure whether or not I could go back to active if I came back. That is, I am an alum until I go back, and then switch back to active.

I don't know if I'm explaining it right, but... basically I want to know if I can become active again or if I will be on alum status forever.

Thanks!

arrowgirl

HONOR! FRIENDSHIP! LOYALTY!
Hail the best fraternity!
PBF for life!

sororitygirl2 · #2 10-01-2002, 02:43 PM

I am sure it varies from organization to organization, and I am not sure what is in the Constitution/Bylaws of Pi Beta Phi, but that would be a good place for you to try to find an answer to this question.

From my experience, most organizations I have seen have three acceptable statuses: Active, Inactive and Alum. I am assuming you are inactive right now... In my organization, inactivity is rarely granted but when it is, that person can become active again. However, if someone goes alum., they can't become active again.

33girl · #3 10-01-2002, 04:37 PM

I think one of the Sigma Kappas on here had a similar situation - she left her school, went alum, then came back to school and was active again.

One of my roomies dropped out for a while then came back and became active again. She was "alum" in the sense that if she wanted to come to bid day, mixers etc., she was welcomed in the same way an alum would be, and didn't have to pay for it.

I've definitely learned this is different in every sorority - not to mention chapter/campus customs and such - so check with your nationals or some older alumnae who might know.

MooseGirl · #4 10-01-2002, 08:59 PM

Phi Sig has three or four statuses:
active
chapter
Limited
alum

and also disaffiliation.

From what i can tell chapter and limited status always seemed the same to me...you were still financially obligated, but otherwise you could go on leave. this worked usually for sisters on co-op or study abroad, etc. I think they're phasing out one of these statuses now...

I know sisters can go back active from alumna status but it is rare. You have to petition national to receive permission. we had one sister do this while i was active.
and of course, once disaffiliated you can't come back....although I think one girl tried to a couple years ago...she disaffiliated on good terms and wanted to come back, but she never followed up on it (in that case we were told she'd need to write a letter to national in addition to letters from the chapter archon and the chapter advisor)

aephi alum · #5 10-02-2002, 08:43 AM

We have three statuses, I believe: active, inactive, and alum (aside from things like new member, disaffiliated, etc).

Active is obvious - you're a member of a collegiate chapter, you pay dues, you go to meetings and vote, etc.

Alum is also obvious - you've either graduated, dropped out of college, or transferred to a school that doesn't have a chapter, with no intention of transferring to a school with a chapter. Once you're an alum, you can't go back.

Inactive status is most often used by people doing JYA, but under some circumstances can be used by people who are, say, very ill, or on academic probation and curtailing their activities for a semester to bring their grades up. "Just needing a break" isn't enough. You don't pay dues, you don't have to go to meetings or rush, you don't get a vote, and if you want to go to anything the sorority subsidizes (formal, retreat, etc) you pay full fare. When you're back from your JYA or whatever, you become an active sister again.

sarahDG · #6 10-04-2002, 02:25 AM

I am not taking classes this semester, and from what I've been told, I have been put on automatic alumn status. I f I decide to go back to school somewhere with a dg chapter soon, then i can affiliate with the chapter there and become an active again. That's what I've been told about my chapter. Hope that helps

axotiger · #7 10-07-2002, 10:25 AM

We (Alpha Chi Omega, Clemson U) have a few status' that I can think of. Currently, I am on 'status' .. which is either 'education status' or 'chapter status', man I don't even know what it is. But I am not paying local social dues because I am co-oping... (ie not going to classes and working at a job in my major) but I will be back next semester and taking classes and back to regular active status. I don't go to chapter, mixers, crush parties, formals, etc (which I hate, cause I love my sorority). Then I'm assuming we've got alumni and stuff.
See we have to go before our 'board' and they get to decided if you can go on 'status' because only a certain percentage of girls can go on 'status', I think we declare this % in our by-laws.
As for going on alumni status... I'm not sure how that would work.. sorry I'm not much help!
in the greek bond,
stevie

Optimist Prime · #8 10-07-2002, 10:29 AM

In theta chi you are one of three things: Pledge, Undergraduate, or Alumnus. No inactive at all. Its too important to be situational. If yo ahve problems then you can be suspended and then restated, or go on probation but you will still owe money, be accoutble for votes, etc.

Kevin · #9 10-07-2002, 10:31 AM

We're the same as Theta Chi in that respect. You can't go inactive while still at school. If you're enrolled you're active (at least you're required to pay insurance and dues to HQ). We're not like clubs where you can just quit when you get tired of 'em.

arrowgirl · #10 10-07-2002, 07:45 PM

I'm not "quitting because I'm bored". My school and chapter is in Illinois, I live in Michigan. For personal reasons, I can't be at that school right now.

And I was just wondering.

In any case, I will be active again when I return there in the Spring.

AOX81 · #11 10-10-2002, 07:18 AM

Alpha Theta Chi has five levels of membership: Pledge, Active Member, Inactive Member, Senior Alumnae Status (SAS), and Alumnae.