Yes, Really Forever!

Robin Beltramini, Iota (U of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign), Rituals, Traditions, and Jewelry Committee

Respect. Dignity. Service. Loyalty. . . forever! Really?

When a new member hears this during her education period, “forever” may seem only two to four years. Then she is initiated and finds that the commitment is for the rest of her life. Actually, she has been given clues that this is the case by observing advisers to the chapter, alumnae volunteers at recruitment and other events, or sisters who have graduated and make appearances without reservation during Homecoming celebrations or individually as a family vacation brings them back.

How does this happen? How does this happen with every chapter? Stella George Stern Perry explained it this way when discussing the whys of our founding, “Above all, we wanted a high and active special purpose to justify existence, a simple devotion to some worthy end, some object of living kindness that should make our organization to its members an enduring bond of happy mutual labors and to the environment an enrichment.”  It’s an all-inclusive vision—to be of value through kindness, service, mutual friendship, and respect—labor and love. How do we learn that so consistently?

We all share the same Ritual. It doesn’t matter whether the initiation is in Canada or the U.S., in 1898, 1973, or 2024. The same stressing of those values is present. Chapter individuals learn to model and share those values with each other through things like assisting with a presentation or just being that person who sits next to a sister on the stairs while she cries or rants. Particularly, service and loyalty are often shown in campus or job-related actions such as being part of another group’s charity event or a student union activity. Dignity and respect may go hand-in-hand and may be the easiest to share. Be honest, calm, and respectful of oneself and others.

As we move away from our collegiate years, we still carry AOII’s values. We assist and mentor recent graduates, or AOIIs new to the area, regarding everything from where to shop and eat to how to manage the job or housing market. We are community volunteers. We still spend time with our sisters through alumnae and/or collegiate gatherings, or over a meal or cup of coffee to catch-up, maybe “vent” and refresh. We explore new situations with calm and positive expectations.

Because of our Ritual and AOII education and exposure throughout our lives, we carry into the world about us that “active purpose” Stella spoke about. We know how to engage in happy mutual labors. We are there for each other. We each enrich the environment.

The world is a better place because of the vision of four young women in the nineteenth century.

You may contact the Rituals, Traditions, and Jewelry Committee (RT&J) about anything Ritual-related at RT&J@alphaomicronpi.org