Why AOII … Our Ritual
Over the past few months, the RT&J committee has scheduled Zoom meetings with the Directors of Ritual Education and/or VPPE within our Networks. And what an incredible pleasure this has been! The goal is to assist our chapters with any Ritual needs. I have learned so much during my time on these calls. One unexpected highlight has been learning about the impressions AOII made on each officer as she went through recruitment.
I’ve had the privilege of meeting with 27 chapters in two networks. I begin every Zoom asking the sisters a little about themselves. I always ask why they chose AOII, and why they chose this office. I love getting to hear their “Why AOII” responses. It has warmed my heart to hear so many say they felt something different in AOII. They felt comfortable, they felt they could be themselves, they felt a strong sense of sisterhood, and they felt the women were being friendly to them, and to one another. One shared that when she asked a member why she should join AOII, the member told her, “If you have a weight you can’t carry on your own, you have 100 sisters to carry it with you”. What an incredible description of our sisterhood. This is how it should be, always supporting one another, building each other up, loving each other through the good and bad! Isn’t this what our Founders wanted for us? This is what sisterhood is all about, and I am glad so many felt this when they were going through recruitment.
It is recruitment season for many chapters. What impression will your chapter leave on the Potential New Members (PNMs) who visit your room? How can you utilize our values and Ritual as you meet these PNMs? How will you utilize those same values in choosing the best new members, who embody our sisterhood! Look to our Ritual. Let these words be your inspiration, or your chapter’s mantra, through work week. Give them small bites to read, hear, and hold close to their heart. The purpose of AOII is always there to guide you. Let it help you feel closer as a chapter. Let it lead you as you choose new sisters. Let it help you show the PNMs what it means to be an AOII through your kindness and your actions.
I hope our Ritual is at the forefront of our thoughts any time decisions are being made in our chapters. The Zoom calls have been great reminders of why our Ritual is so important in day-to-day chapter life, especially in times like Recruitment. Our DREs are doing incredible work helping their chapters build a stronger connection with our values. Let our Ritual shine as you recruit the newest members to our sisterhood.
You may contact the Rituals, Traditions, and Jewelry Committee (RT&J) about anything Ritual-related at RTandJ@alphaomicronpi.org.