Adapting For The Times
By Karen Hickman, Theta (DePauw University), Rituals, Traditions, and Jewelry Committee
As 2020 and Coronavirus/COVID-19 have challenged everyone, the Rituals, Traditions, and Jewelry Committee met these challenges head on by adapting the Pledge Service, Service to Welcome Seniors to Alumnae Status, Ritual for Initiation, and post-initiation workshops into online formats. As fall descends upon us, RT&J is pleased to announce the availability of many new online Ritual resources for both collegians and alumnae. These online Rituals, Ceremonies, Services, and workshops allow sisters who can only meet virtually to continue to share Ritual at meetings and other AOII proceedings.
Keep in mind that these online offerings are to be used only when chapters cannot meet in person. Groups may meet via an online platform OR in person – please do not attempt to hybridize online resources and in-person versions simultaneously as there may not be a combination of online and in-person Rituals. Once chapters can meet in person, use of online resources must cease and chapters will revert to using resources for meeting in person.
Under the Keeper of the Ritual section of Fulfilling the Promise, you can find the following collegiate resources:
- Collegiate Chapter Letter from RT&J
- Basic guidelines for respectfully using online Ritual resources
- Guidelines for Collegiate Chapters
- Additional information for using online Ritual resources
- Initiation Training Video
- A must see! It demonstrates how to conduct initiations online
- Ritual for Formal Meetings of Collegiate Chapters Script and PowerPoint
- Ritual for Installation of Collegiate Chapter Officers Script and PowerPoint
- Ritual to Welcome Seniors to Alumnae Status Script
- Ritual for Initiation Script and PowerPoint
- Post-Initiation Workshop Script, Handout, and PowerPoint
- New Member Workshop Script and PowerPoint
- New Member Meeting Opening and Closing Script and PowerPoint
- Pledge Service
- Ceremony for Chapter Business Meetings
- Ceremony for Presentation of Badges
- New optional ceremony written in 2020
- Tapping into Ritual during Trying Times
The alumnae resources below can be found in the Alumnae Chapter section of Fulfilling the Promise:
- Alumnae Letter from RT&J
- Basic guidelines for respectfully using online Ritual resources
- Guidelines for Alumnae Chapters
- Additional information for using online Ritual resources
- Ceremony for Chapter Business Meetings
- Ritual for Installation of Alumnae Chapter Officers
- Ritual to Welcome Seniors to Alumnae Status
- Service to Welcome Seniors to Alumnae Status
- Tapping into Ritual during Trying Times
Currently, RT&J is adapting the Candle Lighting Service for Founders’ Day. This service will be available later this year in time for use at Founders’ Day celebrations. Additionally, pending needs and demands, RT&J will add more Rituals, Ceremonies, Services, and workshops.
Until collegians and alumnae can resume meeting in person, RT&J hopes that these online offerings will provide ample opportunities to celebrate our AOII Ritual and additional proceedings, and not only preserve, but continue to strengthen the bonds of sisterhood during these chaotic times.
You may contact the Rituals, Traditions, and Jewelry Committee (RT&J) about anything Ritual-related at RT&J@alphaomicronpi.org.