Real Merit and Worth: Lesson 2
Please read the following items to prepare for lesson two of Real Merit and Worth: The New Member Program.
- 9 Characteristics of a good mentoring relationship
- Welcome letter from our National President
- What is Fraternity?
From the National President
Alpha Xi Delta is thrilled to welcome you as a new member of our Fraternity! We invite you to share our enthusiasm as you discover the rewards and responsibilities of fraternity membership.
Founded in 1893 by ten devoted friends at Lombard College (now Knox) in Galesburg, Illinois, Alpha Xi Delta has grown to be a National Fraternity of more than 175,000 cherished Sisters. Friendship for life continues to be a tenet of our Fraternity, one that may provide greater joy after college than you perhaps realize today.
As a new member you will, with the help of your Sisters, have the opportunity to learn about Alpha Xi Delta as well as yourself. Developing your potential, a sense of responsibility and intellectual interest are key elements of college and sorority life. To be successful, you will need to allocate time and talent in working toward the established goals.
Upon completion of new member orientation, you will become an initiated member for life. We are delighted you have chosen Alpha Xi Delta as your home away from home!
Fraternally,
Megan Crouch
Alpha Xi Delta National President
What is Fraternity?
People seek the companionship of other people. We join together to perpetuate goals, share happiness and comfort one another. We are attracted to another person because of mutual interest, friendship and personal values. Fraternal organizations provide a basis for lasting friendships.
Phi Beta Kappa, today an academic honor society, was established on December 5, 1776, as a secret organization at the College of William and Mary and became the first Greek letter society. Similar organizations for men were established during the 1800s. As more educational opportunities opened to women, it was natural that similar organizations for women be formed. These groups satisfied the needs of women for recreation, college and community service, social interest, intellectual development, personal growth, and friendship just as they do today.
The first women’s Greek letter organizations came from these women’s societies. As women began transferring between campuses, they wanted additional branches of their societies on other campuses to retain the close ties which they had formed. These branches of the organization came to be known as “chapters,” meaning one segment of that organization on one specific campus. The term “National” came to be used to designate an organization composed of more than one chapter.
“Fraternity” originally meant a men’s organization. “Sorority” came into use to distinguish the women’s groups from the men’s. “Fraternity” now is a general term referring to both women’s and men’s organizations, and Alpha Xi Delta is formally and legally chartered as a fraternity.
You have been chosen by a chapter, and your initiation will bring you lifetime membership in the National Fraternity. Participation in fraternity work continues through alumnae associations and volunteer opportunities throughout the nation. Throughout its 200-year history, the fraternity system has continued to be an integral part of the educational system and has contributed to the growth of its members.
Fraternity and fraternity spirit are something that must be experienced rather than defined. Alpha Xi Delta Fraternity is whatever you make it. The more you give to Alpha Xi Delta, the more you will receive.