Alumnae initiation

[Shawndalynn]

I was just wondering if Pi Beta Phi did alumnae initiation. I have looked in the Alumnae initiation thread and it says that you do but that is about it and the link does not give much more info. I am interested in ai and was wondering what I needed to do or where I could get more information about it.. Thank you!

Shawnda

[carnation]

I've been told that it's extremely rare.

[breathesgelatin]

I don't think it's really *that* rare. It's definately not as common as in groups as AGD, Alpha Phi, Delta Gamma, Gamma Phi Beta, AOII (just to name some of the common ones I've seen on GC), but I'd say we're a lot more open to it than say ZTA or Kappa. I'm sure as in most things, too, it depends where you're trying to join up with a Pi Phi alum club--I'm sure ideas vary between the Midwest, South, Texas, West Coast, and North.

I know that the specific requirments

There is a link about Pi Phi alumnae initiates from an old issue of The Arrow in the thread "My Advice to Prospective Alumnae Initiates" in the alumnae initiation forum. I recommend that thread highly as it details each NPC sorority's alumnae initiate program (if any) and gives the specific requirements for each one. From there you might begin to judge how difficult it is to enter any particular group.

From our website:

What is an alumna initiate?
Eligibility for membership of a woman in Pi Beta Phi is similar to that of a collegian:

The woman has an affinity to Pi Beta Phi through a Pi Phi relative or some other close connection.
The woman exhibits a desire to offer leadership skills to the Fraternity.
An alumnae club wishes to honor a woman for her ideals and accomplishments. As with all collegiate members of Pi Beta Phi, each prospective alumna initiate must have sponsorship before being offered an invitation to join. That sponsorship originates within an alumnae club that sends the recommendation to a collegiate chapter. When both the alumnae club members and the collegiate chapter members have unanimously approved the woman for membership, Grand Council reviews the recommendation and makes the final decision. Because the initiation ceremony is special, it is conducted only by a collegiate chapter.
These Pi Beta Phi alumnae initiates represent the ideals of noble womanhood first set forth by our Founders.

I hope this helps answer your questions. It does appear very helpful to have Pi Phi connections. Perhaps others could advise you; I do not know if it would be appropriate to contact a group yourself as I am still a collegian!

My chapter will be initiating a alumna into our chapter in March with the rest of our pledge class. We are very excited about this. She will be a fourth generation Pi Phi and is the daughter of our Collegiate Province President!

[Shawndalynn]

So should I maybe look into another organizaion? I don't know any Pi Phi's and I wouldn't know where to start.
Thanks again.

[Txsurfinwaves]

Warning: Slight Hijack/

Originally posted by breathesgelatin
I don't think it's really *that* rare. It's definately not as common as in groups as AGD, Alpha Phi, Delta Gamma, Gamma Phi Beta, AOII (just to name some of the common ones I've seen on GC), but I'd say we're a lot more open to it than say ZTA or Kappa. I'm sure as in most things, too, it depends where you're trying to join up with a Pi Phi alum club--I'm sure ideas vary between the Midwest, South, Texas, West Coast, and North.

Sus- I thought it was really funny that you seperated Texas and the south...sorry, i laughed at it for about 5 minutes.
/end hijack

[breathesgelatin]

Originally posted by Txsurfinwaves
Sus- I thought it was really funny that you seperated Texas and the south...sorry, i laughed at it for about 5 minutes.
/end hijack

They are definately separate!

It's so funny to me that you call me Sus because all my chapter sisters do.

[breathesgelatin]

Originally posted by Shawndalynn
So should I maybe look into another organizaion? I don't know any Pi Phi's and I wouldn't know where to start.
Thanks again.

Hrm. I don't want to totally dissuade you. Here's what I think (granted I am only a collegian):

1. It will probably vary a LOT depending on your specific region and alum club.
2. It definately won't hurt to contact someone. It might be more comfortable to just email one of our directors (available on our website) just to ask more about the process. Her response should be able to steer you in the right direction. I honestly don't know what she would say, and I don't know that any of us do on GC. Obviously I think Pi Phi has a lot of great qualities and I don't think it would hurt anyone if you just dropped an email to an officer. This would also prevent any awkwardness that might occur if you just contacted a local alum club directly. A national officer could provide info that is 100% accurate and would probably be more comfortably approached. If her reply is negative, then you are spared any local weirdness!

[localsister]

I'm an alumni of a local that was founded by 6 women (3 of them transfer students that were pi beta phi's). I met one of them at the last homecoming where I found out about the pi beta phi link. She said the local was formed in a way to have its own identity from pi beta phi and the founding sisters who were pi phi didn't want a replacement but something new. I know my local is no pi beta phi, but I think we have a lot of the same values and qualities in our members even 40 years after founding. I miss being part of my local. I would be interested in any AI info you would be willing to give me. Based on the national website, I think pi beta phi is a wonderful group.

[erniegurl00]

I don't know a lot about AI, but I would simply advise you to try to contact a local Pi Phi alum club. Like Susan mentioned earlier, national officers don't mind emails. I've emailed some from time to time with questions, and they are always very helpful and speedy with their replies.

I'm happy that you appreciate Pi Phi values, and I wish you the best of luck in your journey.

[breathesgelatin]

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What she said!

Just to reemphasize, AI is not as common in Pi Phi as in some groups, but it is more common than in others. I know some alum clubs are very used to AI (we will be doing an AI initiation next month for our sponsoring alum club, for example) and others have probably never done one.

I would advise all interested parties to

A) Contact a national officer FIRST. They can provide you with more information than we can. Clicking here will take you to a link where you can find the emails for all of the Pi Beta Phi Directors.

B) If you already have a close connection to an alum of Pi Phi, speak to her to find out what she knows about AI in your area.

C) If you do not have a local connection I would not advise contacting the local alum club.

If any alums know more about this than I do, feel free to correct me.

[localsister]

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction. I'll keep you posted on what happens.

[dakareng]

While Pi Phi may not be one of the organizations frequently mentioned on the AI board here on GC, it IS being encouraged on an international level. Officers, clubs and chapters are, indeed, receptive to discussing AI with interested women. It does help to have a Pi Phi connection but the only firm requirement is that the woman has studied in a 4-year, accredited university.

The process is as follows:
1. Approval of the sponsoring alumnae club
2. Approval of the chapter of initiation
3. Approval of Grand Council

I had the pleasure of participating in an alumnae RLR (regional leadership retreat) this past weekend and heard stories of AI being done across the country (even here in Texas, which, by the way, is very different from the deep South in some ways, very similar in others). Some of those women have stated that they had Pi Phi friends and acquaintances that they did not know were Pi Phi until they began discussing AI.

I would encourage Shawndalynn and localsister to not give up on the wine & blue. Contact the APP (alumnae province president) and she can put you in touch with clubs in your area and facilitate that contact. If there was a Pi Phi chapter at your alma mater, you may know Pi Phis of your ‘era’ who can also give you a reference. You can also choose to be initiated at that chapter. The woman pursuing AI may choose to either be initiated in the closest university, or her alma mater, or truly the chapter of her choice. Chapters are honored and excited to participate in the AI process and include them in their regular initiation ceremonies.

Just FYI—that is the general process. Once a woman is approved by GC, she may be initiated with the next new member class. AI is generally not done separately (the exceptions to that being the convention initiate and when Barbara Bush was initiated, I believe it was a private ceremony)

Feel free to PM me if you’d like to discuss your specific circumstances.