There are a variety of options to choose from, and no right or wrong way to host an online new member induction ceremony. The Ceremony and Rituals are adaptable and can be customized to fit your needs. If you’d like to talk it through with ALD Headquarters and let us help you determine what works best, please make an appointment with Executive Director Eileen Merberg here.

Option 1
Rather than plan your own, feel free to sign up for one of the Virtual Induction Ceremonies and we will host and facilitate for you. Click here to view the dates and register for a Spring 2024 online ceremony. The registration link is for chapters, not individual students. These online ceremonies can replace or supplement an on-campus ceremony.

Keep in mind these are group ceremonies with multiple chapters participating in each one. If you’d like Headquarters to host and facilitate a ceremony just for your chapter, contact eileen@nationalald.org.

Option 2
Advisor or officer(s) set up a camera at home or in a room on campus. Can be live streamed and recorded for future viewing, or record it first then post online. Read through the main sections of the Induction Ceremony Rituals, including the reading of each student’s name. The camera can also point to a staged table with the insignia cloth and candles (or any material you’d like).
Example from Chowan University, live streamed on Facebook

Option 3
Host a live online event and be sure to record it for future viewing. Advisors and officers can narrate a PowerPoint presentation that includes key components of the Rituals, including the pledge, and list each student’s name. Example from North Carolina A&T State University

Option 4
Prerecord advisor and officers reading the ceremony, reading off all names, then send new members a link.  Example from University of Missouri-St Louis; Example from UMASS Boston

Certificates and Pins:

Many of you have asked if certificates can be shipped directly to students. We were not in a position to handle that in the past, but we’d like to be able to offer it, especially as the pandemic continues to impact colleges and universities and in turn ALD chapters. Two major factors need to be considered: cost and timing. There would be an extra cost for us to ship to students (approx. $10 s/h, per student), which you could either build into your spring invitation fee or have chapter funds cover. Depending on how many chapters want this service, we would not be able to process and ship as quickly as we are able to when all certificates go to the advisor. BOTTOM LINE: contact us before you make any plans. We can discuss the logistics and help put together a plan. Call Christine at 585-364-0840 or email christine@nationalald.org.

Resources We Can Offer:

• Use of our Zoom account, as long as scheduling works out and we can be present to get the session started. Chapters may use whatever online meeting tool they are comfortable using. WebEx, Zoom, or Google Hangouts have been successfully used.

• Post videos on ALD’s YouTube Channel that you can then use to send a link to students.

• PowerPoint template, custom backgrounds and invitations (see right column on this page).

• If scheduling allows, a national representative can be present and help facilitate a customized ceremony.

Again, please make an appointment with Executive Director Eileen Merberg here if you’d like us to assist.

Customize Your Online Induction

Induction PowerPoint

Use this PowerPoint to guide your ceremony. Not only does it offer the structure of the Rituals, but it also allows you to customize for your chapter. Click here to download the PowerPoint.

Board of Directors Welcome Video

Feel free to add the Board of Directors (formerly National Council) Welcome Video to your online or in-person induction ceremony!

Customized Backgrounds

ALD Headquarters is happy to offer backgrounds for you and/or your officers to use during the online induction ceremony. One option is to use a “step and repeat” background - you can either use the ALD one, or send Trish your institutional logo for a more customized approach. A second option is to use a “formal stage” background - if you send your program/agenda to Trish, we will customize it for your ceremony. For customized backgrounds, please email trish@nationalald.org. Please allow one week for design.

Customized Induction Ceremony Invitations

If you are interested, ALD Headquarters will design a PDF or JPG invitation ceremony graphic for you. We would include your date, time, and online method instructions. This can be sent in an email as the invitation to the online ceremony and/or on your website and social media channels to invite members. For a customized invitation graphic, please email trish@nationalald.org. Please allow one week for design.