Why is AI so long???

SmartBlondeGPhB · #1 08-21-2003, 12:03 PM

I started to hijack another thread then thought better.

This isn't directed towards anyone in particular, I would just really like to know the answer from another GLO. If you want to just PM me, feel free.

Why does this take so long???????

Is it because the PNAM is looking at more than one group (which is perfectly understandable, we all did that during recruitment) or do some GLO's make them go through more than we do? Is it the alumnae chapters not knowing what AI is? I can understand summer getting in the way (no events) and the fact that most chapters only have initiation twice a year (assumes formal and informal recruitment).

I guess I'd really just like to know how the GLO's could do better.......

We took about 9 months with our last AI (my alumnae chapter) but we had the initiation issue mentioned above. But the woman knew after only a few months that she was going to be initiated and then it was just waiting for the date.

I really just don't understand what makes it take a year or more........

Jill1228 · #2 08-21-2003, 02:09 PM

Well I think with some is if you are pursuing AI in the summer, you pretty much have to wait until the school year starts.

With some chapters, you have to have recs from 3 sisters and then get hooked up with the Alum chapter. If the Alums don't meet that often that could be a problem.

And then again some are clueless to AI

Thoughts?

CutiePie2000 · #3 08-21-2003, 02:14 PM

It also depends on if you are corresponding with someone who has a tendency to, uh..."drop the ball".

You can also meet "pooh pooh'ers" who do not support the idea of AI, so you have to win them over as well, which could take some time.

Also, some alumnae chapters don't meet that often.

And....some chapters only initiate once a year. The AI might have to wait for that initaition to "come round" again, if they missed it.
In DG, initiation date have to be lodged and approved with EO, so it's not easily done if someone missed an initiation date.

Sistermadly · #4 08-21-2003, 04:00 PM

It didn't take me that long, well, not as long as others. From start (first contact) to finish (initiation), my process was just over 4 months. I knew that I would be invited to pledge Alpha Phi only three weeks after I first contacted them.

Like Jill said, if you contact groups during their inactive period (like summer) or during holidays, it might take a little bit longer. Also, while some (inter)national organizations are very supportive of and open to alumnae initiation, the final decision rests with the local chapter -- and they might not want to do it (and leave the PNAM hanging)

.

I can understand being cautious about who you bring in as an alumna initiate, but c'mon -- during recruitment, you're supposed to know everything about a woman in a week or 10 days, and at the end of that she's given a bid. Sometimes it seems that alumna initiates have to "earn" their letters, especially if they're coming in as unknowns.

bruinaphi · #5 08-21-2003, 04:44 PM

I think that comparing Formal Recruitment to AI is like comparing apples to oranges. When someone goes through FR they go through an arduous multi-round mutual selection process. I find the insinuation that going through FR is "so quick and easy" really insulting. I think both processes have their own challenges.

With AI it can take quite a while before the alum group members know the candidate well enough to recommend her for initiation. If the candidate is already friends, family or works with members it is a different story. I think that Navene said something in her thread about "Exclusively for Everybody." Every organization wants to get to know people to see if they meet the standards and ideals of the organization and to see if they will "fit-in" with the area alum group.

adduncan · #6 08-21-2003, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by lauradav
I I find the insinuation that going through FR is "so quick and easy" really insulting.

You're right. It *would* be really insulting if anyone said formal recruitment was "quick and easy."

It's a good thing that no one did say or insinuate it, esp in this thread.

The discussion was about length of time, not the amount of relative effort or ease.

Adrienne (in her 10th month of AI pursuit)

CutiePie2000 · #7 08-21-2003, 04:55 PM

I'm going to chime in and say where Collegiate Recruitment IS "more straightforward" is that there are formally designated intake dates and times to meet the members......you *KNOW* that if you register for recruitment, pay your fees, and show up to the first round, you *WILL* meet the members. (you may not get a bid, but at least you'll get "face time")

With AI's, they have to work to CREATE the opportunity to EVEN MEET THE MEMBERS TO BEING WITH (they have to work hard to even get the "face time"). This is not so easily done, when alumnae chapters are not that active, or meet infrequently.

Sistermadly · #8 08-21-2003, 05:43 PM

I'm not exactly sure what can be done to make this process a bit shorter for PNAMs. The way that the system is currently structured works very well when it works, but it seems that it's a toss up -- no one knows for sure from start to finish how long the process will take because it totally depends on the local chapter.

I don't think that centralized control from the (inter)national offices is the answer.

Sistermadly · #9 08-21-2003, 07:48 PM

I just got off the phone with my cousin who is a member of an NPHC sorority, and became a member after she graduated from university.

She told me that every year, her organization places "membership intake" on their calendar of events. All of the current members of the chapter know ahead of time that intake takes place in October (for example), and that if they know any unaffiliated women that they want to introduce to the sorority, that is the time to do it.

She also told me that one of the groups in her town even advertises their intake period in the local newspaper, but in her organization, you must know and be recommended by a member in good standing before you can be invited to membership.

Would something like this work for AI? Say if national organizations took a more active stance toward the process, and encouraged local chapters to set aside a certain period on their calendar of events for introducting PNAMs to the chapter? That way women who don't know current members of the group they're interested in can have an opportunity to meet the group without having to go through such a challenging process that many of our PNAMs have had to endure.

Any thoughts?

Edited to add: another thing that would make the process take less time would be if the actual initiation ceremony could be carried out by the local alums, rather than only by the collegians. My cousin's group handles the initiations at the graduate/alumnae level.

SmartBlondeGPhB · #10 08-21-2003, 08:44 PM

This is exactly the type of conversation I was hoping for..............

Yes, the process works, some of the time. But it seems it could work better and I'm sure there are groups who do it very well and others who would like to do it better.

I'm not sure if a stronger national stance is the answer or not. In some cases it would take an attitude shift away from the "it's only for collegiates" view.

I know in my own org, the answer a PNAM gets from an alumna chapter is sometimes going to vary depending on the chapter she approaches. A stronger program might help that situation.

navane · #11 08-22-2003, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by CutiePie2000
It also depends on if you are corresponding with someone who has a tendency to, uh..."drop the ball".

For those of you who don't remember my original AI thread, this was often the case with me. Some people I contacted were extremely swift. One of the HQ's sent me an info packet of sorts right away. However, when it came to actually getting a hold of the alumnae members, that was a different story.

I don't know what caused them to take so long. It's not as if it just happened to be summertime every single time I e-mailed or something. Plus, when I did get in touch with people, they appeared to know what AI is and seemed ok with the idea. So it wasn't as if there was any confusion about AI, nor was there any "pooh-poohing" attitudes. It was simply a "drop the ball" situation.

.....Kelly

navane · #12 08-22-2003, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sistermadly

She told me that every year, her organization places "membership intake" on their calendar of events. All of the current members of the chapter know ahead of time that intake takes place in October (for example), and that if they know any unaffiliated women that they want to introduce to the sorority, that is the time to do it.

Ah now here's a clever idea. This might work for NPC groups as well. Though, I know *I* would feel bad if I contacted a group and they replied with, "Oh, I'm sorry, our membership intake was last month. You'll have to wait until next year." However, I still think having a luncheon afternoon at least once a year where PNAMs can come is a good idea.

.....Kelly

SmartBlondeGPhB · #13 08-22-2003, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by navane
Ah now here's a clever idea. This might work for NPC groups as well. Though, I know *I* would feel bad if I contacted a group and they replied with, "Oh, I'm sorry, our membership intake was last month. You'll have to wait until next year." However, I still think having a luncheon afternoon at least once a year where PNAMs can come is a good idea.

.....Kelly

Oh god, I would want to be able to do both if it could work. I wouldn't want to have to TELL a PNAM she had to wait, that definitely wouldn't be the answer.

CutiePie2000 · #14 08-22-2003, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sistermadly
She told me that every year, her organization places "membership intake" on their calendar of events. All of the current members of the chapter know ahead of time that intake takes place in October (for example), and that if they know any unaffiliated women that they want to introduce to the sorority, that is the time to do it. many of our PNAMs have had to endure.

This could get a little sticky because really, all the NPC groups should get a have a "fair chance" with the prospective alumnae intiates (a la Collegiate Recruitment)? I say this because, from what I have learned about the NPHC groups (via GC), you really should know the one that you want (i.e. "do your research") and pursue that one only.

With NPC, we're a bit more forgiving about "shopping around" to find "the right fit". Also, one of the things about my fraternity, is that they take pride in that in the majority of members invited, collegians choose collegians for membership, and that was what was originally intended when the Fraternity was started. I think if there was a formal "intake" period...now you're getting into a grey area, because do all the alumnae groups have a "fair shot" at Prospective Alumnae Initiates? In the collegiate arena, all the collegiate chapters get a "fair shot" at the PNM. If there was one group stating a formal intake period....it could "ruffle" the feathers of other alumnae chapters in the city...hard to say.

Sistermadly · #15 08-22-2003, 11:33 AM

I think that would totally depend on the PNAM. If the PNAM knew that there was more than one group she was interested in, then she would have to make that decision about how to handle it. My cousin missed the intake period for her sorority, so she had to wait another year... when you consider the 25 years that passed from when she tried to join as an undergraduate to when she finally became a member, it's worth the wait.

Re: ruffling the feathers of other alumnae groups -- it's a possibility, but then, it's a possibility when you contact more than one group at a time. *shrug*

Edited to add: Woo-hoo! 1000 posts!