Fraternity Alumni Initation?

[Tom Earp]

Does your Fraternity persue After Graduate Intiation how or why?

[Firehouse]

Our chapter seeks out outstanding men who had some affiliation with the fraternity but who were never initiated, and invited them to become officially initiated at one of the two annual alumni reunions (fall and spring). Last year we initiated the baseball coach (older brother was a Pike at N.C. State), a well as members of the "Firemen", a group of uniniated colony members and sub-rosa affiliates from 1994. We reach out to pledges who were never initiated and try to close that circle.
Generally, we would not invite someone to be initiated who had no previous affiliation with Pi Kappa Alpha.

[Senusret I]

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., performs membership intake on the alumni level.

[Firehouse]

In Alpha Phi Alpha, do the alumni new members have to serve any sort of probationary period before initiation?

[Senusret I]

Originally Posted by Firehouse

In Alpha Phi Alpha, do the alumni new members have to serve any sort of probationary period before initiation?

Yes. The intake process is identical for both alumni and undergraduates. All aspirants strive to prove themselves worthy, no matter how old they are or how far removed from college.

[Firehouse]

Very interesting. I've noticed that the black fraternities seem to benefit from the support of exceptionally loyal alumni. Impressive. You must place a great deal of emphasis on alumni relations.

[Senusret I]

Originally Posted by Firehouse

Very interesting. I've noticed that the black fraternities seem to benefit from the support of exceptionally loyal alumni. Impressive. You must place a great deal of emphasis on alumni relations.

Our organizations were established at a time when there were very few social and civic opportunities for educated black men and women. All we had was the Lodge and BGLOs, where our counterparts had many more opportunities for fraternal association.

Emphasis is therefore placed on a lifelong committment, and programming focuses on all phases of a member's life: collegiate, young alumni, married with children, and retirees.

[PhoenixAzul]

RE: Closing the circle.

My grandfather was initiated only a few years ago. He had been a social member of his fraternity in college, but could not afford the dues/initiation fee. It was special because my (bio) brother got to be there for it. I know initiation really made his year.

[Tom Earp]

Originally Posted by PhoenixAzul

RE: Closing the circle.

My grandfather was initiated only a few years ago. He had been a social member of his fraternity in college, but could not afford the dues/initiation fee. It was special because my (bio) brother got to be there for it. I know initiation really made his year.

Thank you for sharing. It is a special story.

Would you mind saying the Fraternity?

[Kevlar281]

Originally Posted by Tom Earp

Does your Fraternity persue After Graduate Intiation how or why?

We do.

[tunatartare]

A recent alumni of one of the fraternities at my school passed away from leukemia last December. After a memorial service for him at school, the guys initiated his younger brother (not in college) to the fraternity so that he could have that in common with his brother.

[KSigkid]

(Posted with the disclaimer that this is not official Kappa Sig policy, merely my understanding of what has been done in the past)

Kappa Sig in the past has initiated alumni/those out of college, but I believe it is only in very special circumstances. It is by no means something that is advertised. I'm not sure of the exact process.

Personally, I would only be in favor of alumni initiation in VERY special/specific circumstances. Personally, the simple fact that someone wanted to join would not be enough to extend membership to an alum.

Originally Posted by tunatartare

A recent alumni of one of the fraternities at my school passed away from leukemia last December. After a memorial service for him at school, the guys initiated his younger brother (not in college) to the fraternity so that he could have that in common with his brother.

That is so sweet

[LaneSig]

Sigma Chi also does it under special circumstances. The alumni initiate has to be approached about it, they cannot ask to be initiated.

[Kevin]

It is done under special circumstances. It requires a vote of our high council.

That said, I've directly participated in the process twice.