Yea!!! We are back on a very important topic for all of us!!

This is so much better a question. I haven't seen enough turn arounds to say, but I am eager to read the answers.

I think alumnae advisors who weren't actives on the current campus bringing fresh perspectives and new ideas can have a tremendous impact.

It is so easy for chapters to get into the "we've always done it this way" mindset, and not realize what needs to change in their rush (better conversation, better ability to "sell" themselves, new skit ideas, etc). Sometimes groups need to be awakened to their way isn't the only way, as they may not even be aware of other ways to do things.

If it is a numbers issue, not bidding anyone or everyone. All it takes is the element of questionable behavior, grades, or risk management issues to make things a lot worse. Not only can it mess up reputation and other issues, but if these new members are particularly heinous, older members who are not problems may bail because of it. Sure you may have made quota, but those women may also be your downfall.

Also advisors and collegiate officers need to be willing to get rid of problem people. I don't mean in the DePauw way :rolleyes: but if there is a member putting pictures of herself snorting coke off random fratties while in a lettered thong all over Facebook, she doesn't participate, and her grades suck, better to drop her fast and not worry about one person as a number. She could actually be causing more problems and driving potential members away.

I agree with strong alumnae involvement - fresh ideas, new ways of thinking. Encouraging and funding for members to become involved in national leadership institutes, national and regional conventions, etc can also be a help.

From a real life perspective, I have also seen a really positive turnaround occur when the house becomes super involved and visible on campus - showing up en masse at pep rallies, blood drives, etc. This is impressive and shows commitment, pride, enthusiasm for their sorority. It makes people say, "wow, those girls are really a closeknit group. They must not be as bad (weak) as I thought. I want what they have."

And, I apologize for letting the negative comments get to me so much that I chimed in...I usually just sit back and watch. I guess it just hit too close to home...

I also believe alumnae are the key. The important thing is that the local alumnae have the heartbeat of the campus they are serving. Also important, is a HQ that doesn't give up on a chapter. Quality instead of quantity. This may take several years to develop the leadership needed for success. Quota is not always the answer nor is total.

Based on my experience in turning around a struggling chapter - you need alumnae who are committed, actives who are willing to roll up their sleeves and get to work, and nothing beats a consultant from HQ who can come in and inspire the girls.
Conversely, alumnae can demoralize a chapter. After my mother and I had worked with this chapter for years, local alumnae decided they wanted in. My mother (I had dropped out when my first child was born) was asked to step down, and the local alumna became the advisor. She quit IN THE MIDDLE OF FORMAL RUSH. Just left the girls high and dry. Yes, it is a lot of work, and yes, it is frustrating, but there is NO EXCUSE for doing that to a chapter. Yes, the chapter ended up folding - and I am somewhat bitter, because it was unnecessary.
If you are going to volunteer to help a chapter, you need to be totally committed to doing the hard work. Those girls deserve your best efforts.

I missed something good here! i just read through this thread in it's entirety and it took my breath away! I just need to interject ( a little late) that EW knows enough about Beyonce to know that she can be found on MTV. Sorry to digress after you have done such a great job getting this back on track but I just had to say it.

DITTO to a T. While alums are important, the school sees the chapter members and their actions. I think it's up to the chapter to be involved in order to turn around a bad reputation.

I think it's important for chapters to have good relationships with not just the fraternities but also the sororities. It's harder for people to talk crap about you when they like you. So, mix with as many fraternities as possible, and maybe even have "girls night" mixers with other sororities - no boys allowed.

the collegiate members need to be willing to try something new and they need to be willing to listen to their advisors.

Support from the campus - a Greek system that wants all the chapters to be at the best they can, not one that delights in having a "bottom chapter" or two to pick on.

This is far more important that anything else, IMO. Even if one chapter does manage to "turn around" by taking a great pledge class or getting more involved on campus, it just means another chapter will go to the bottom and the cycle will start all over again.

Alumnae, advisors and HQ can be beneficial if they 1) offer CONSTRUCTIVE criticism and 2) don't try to make the chapter into something it's not. It is possible to improve your reputation without compromising your standards.

A well trained, dedicated alumna advisor who connects with the chapter but knows that her role is to advise, not re-live her collegiate experience is invaluable to any solid chapter. Support from HQ and input from consultants are also important parts of the recipe.

But in order to have a real turnaround, you have to have a core group of women within the chapter who decide that they will take responsibility for their own chapter's success: they must decide that they will not let anyone else define them.

It comes down to a real lesson in personal responsibilty and understanding that every area of chapter life (scholarship, finances, risk management, creative and meaningful programming, social experiences and sisterhood) all matter. The national officers, supportive alums, an enthusiastic advisor and the consultants are great, but they aren't going to represent the chapter for you 24/7, 365 days a year. That's up to the actual chapter members to do for themselves.

Although I wouldn't wish it on any chapter - I'd love for them all to be thriving - I think actives who are able to turn a chapter around gain some invaluable insight and experience on all kinds of levels.

I agree with this, but colleges that primarily draw from concentrated areas have an additional challenge. The university that I am familiar with draws the lion's share of PNMs from two metropolitan areas. Everyone knows who the homecoming queens, cheerleaders, and other "popular girls" in those cities' high schools were. PNMs almost invariably want to pledge the houses that those identified upperclassmen are in. Even if middle/lower tier house does a great job during rush, not having the "popular girls" from the big high schools as actives is a tough hurdle to get over.