Yes. That's usually how it works.

Yes, of course it makes sense. I just wonder how the PNMs...the Alabama ones, at least...are going to find an Alpha Phi in the state when the only chapter in the state shut down 40 years ago. Their youngest alumnae from that chapter would be in their very late 50s now...and in their era, big chapters meant 85 to 100 members. And Alpha Phi at that point did not have a big chapter. And there are very few chapters in the region.
I'm sure Alpha Phi will have a way to do this, but it seems like a huge burden to place on the PNMs.
I do wish Alpha Phi every success, though!:D They have a beautiful Web site and seem to be doing a wonderful job preparing the way.

As a Bama native, I can attest that I did not meet (or at least identify) an Alpha Phi till I was in grad school in NY.

Well I can attest that I didn't meet members of a LOT of GLO's until LONG after school so your point would be completely irrelevant.

Indeed. I never met a Delta Gamma until law school but I was still pretty sure there were some out there. :rolleyes:

I think Alpha Phi knows what they are doing - they seem to have a very strong expansion team and have gone onto quite a few "competitive" campuses lately and been very successful. It looks like what they have set up at Bama will work quite well for them. They seem to understand the Greek system there quite well.

What's funny is that I had a few high school teachers who were Alpha Phi's from LSU when they had a chapter there. So I think they do have lots of alumnae in the South, or at least they did at my high school in New Orleans! I agree with GeekyPenguin, Alpha Phi knows what they are doing. :)

Exactly! El Paso has many Alpha Phi alumnae and we've never had a chapter close. The closest chapter is in Lubbock (yet as far as I know, none of the alumnae members are from the Tech chapter). So just because there isn't an Alpha Phi chapter close by doesn't mean there aren't alumnae.

I know that Alpha Phi knows what they are doing, and I seriously doubt they are going to say "you don't have a rec? Sorry, you're SOL."

Maybe you can leave it up to the A-Phis to deal with the issues of expansion at Bama, and you can be concerned with what the DG chapter at Bama does.

I think putting out there that recs are required has quite a bit of genius.

The names given to the colonization team will have been vetted by members, no need to waste time interviewing women who may not be what they are looking for. There are many students at Bama who are from other states where APhis may have more alumnae as well. There may be a woman from Kamloops who was uninterested or unaware of the Greek system at Bama and didn't go through, and therefore she may receive a rec from Viper Tongue who used to babysit her and become an amazing founding sister.

I find it absolutely fabulous that it asks girls to supply their own recs.

Why NOT ask girls to do a little leg work? You assume that women are too stupid to find their own recs. Just because you had to spoon feed your colony their recs doesn't mean every group of girls needs that same assistance. Perhaps APhi's standards are just higher than some.

And, kudos to the girls that take the initiative to supply themselves with the tools to succeed. Those are the kind of women I would want. The ones who sit back and feel sorry for themselves and don't try -- to hell with them.

1. The alphaphialabama.com and alphaphialabama.blogspot.com sites are amazing. Alpha Phi is doing a great job of getting the word out.

2. I think we're all trying to help, even though we may approach that "helping" from different directions. Here's the deal... if every one of us who have connections to the system could tap into Alpha Phi alums we could all contribute to the success of this re-colonization! I emailed two Alpha Phis I know today asking if they are willing to write recs for girls from our local area, and have already gotten a Yes from one of them. I'm not an Alpha Phi, but I am an AGD with daughters in two different sororities, and I want to do what I can.

3. In 2010, I am on board to grow up a DG chapter too! Many hands make light work, and together there is no limit to what we will accomplish.

To both of you...can I say "I freaking love you"? http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y13...inkies/bow.gifhttp://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y13...inkies/bow.gifhttp://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y13...inkies/bow.gif

I think it is awesome that you reached out and did this. I wish more people would have Panhellenic spirit http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y13...inkies/bow.gif

owww, my eyes though - seriously the blue with the bright pink background :( Hard to read without squinting...

Other than that, I think it looks fabulous.

Not sure if this applies to SDT since they don't participate in FR, but according to several GCers, there's a moratorium on COR bids until Alpha Phi's Pref.

Do you have an SDT contact email for the sisters at 'Bama?

Yes, this included SDT. No npc chapter may cob during this time.

www.cw.ua.edu/1.611521

Here is an article in the Crimson White about the recolonization of Alpha Phi.

Thanks, Bamamom13. Interesting article; a couple of things stood out as I read it:

As of Wednesday, 300 women had already signed up to be part of the interviews, which will be held this weekend.

“We’re basing the amount of people we induct on the number of applicants, but we will be selective,” Educational Leadership Consultant Kat Jenne said. “Regardless of anything we want leaders ready to jump in and get involved.”

SDT at 'Bama
 

I believe our contact's name is Stacey Dubin. This is the e-mail address that is on our website to reach Rho chapter at 'Bama:

skbama@hotmail.com

Paula M.
Sigma Delta Tau
ΣΔT
Patriae Multi Spes Una One Hope of Many People

Can I butt in?
 

I discovered GC over a year ago. I just finished reading all the postings about Bama's rush, and hope y'all don't mind if a I cut in and post my 2 cents!

First, I'm just a Bama girl who knows someone in every house. I can truthfully say that every house at Alabama is a good house. There are sweet and friendly girls in all, and there are not so nice or friendly girls in all. Bama is an incredibly strong, competitive Greek school. Anyone who can score a bid here is very lucky.

Personally, I'm excited about Alpha Phi coming on campus, and a second coming in a couple of years. With the huge numbers of girls going through rush each year, Bama needs more sororities.

In reading these postings, I was a little disappointed with people's comments or perceptions about one of the houses--Gamma Phi Beta. I know girls in that house. They are a great group of girls--sweet, cute, smart, involved on campus, and they have a lot of fun. They look for and invite girls who they know they will enjoy having as a sister. Isn't that what sisterhood is supposed to be about? I pledged a "top tier" sorority, and I've been embarrassed at times by our snobby attitude and reasons for recruiting a girl or cutting her.

I didn't know anything about Gamma Phi when I came on campus, but have gotten to know several of their members very well. I'm sorry their final numbers were not as high as last year, but I know they worked very hard. I think it was hard for them to put on a happy face during recruitment. Maybe some of you don't know that they lost a member in a plane crash this summer. I know my friends are having a hard time coming back to school without her. Lauren was a very cute girl.

Moms (at least I think a lot of you are moms), please be careful what you say about ANY house. The girls in your daughter's second or third choice houses love their sisters and everything about being in a sorority. They're excited about their new members, and the new members are excited about being a part of them. When you say anything that is even slightly critical or demeaning, you hurt feelings. No sorority is "the best."

I didn't think anything negative was said about any of the sororities at Alabama!! If anything, everyone has been very panhellenic and also very encouraging about Alpha Phi!!

I know of one negative post that was deleted in the last 24 hours. I know there have been several that are no longer here as well.

Some moms were the culprits, and I really do think they didn't know they were causing more harm than good and some of them were kind enough to delete those posts on their own

...none of the deleted posts were about Alpha Phi.

My2cents, great post.

My2cents, thank you for your honesty. Your post should give everyone something to think about.

My2cents= True Panhellenic Spirit

Thanks for your post 2cents!

I PM'd that one mom whose post was removed in the last 24 hours. I told her - among other things that I shared in a nice way y'all - that her post made me very sad. :( I asked that perhaps instead of jumping on the bandwagon and perpetuating unhelpful comments about Gamma Phi Beta that maybe this mom could prevail upon her daughter to take the panhellenic high road.

I have not heard anything back.

I know that some of the negativism about Gamma Phi is entrenched with some of those who have only been in the south (old south?) and don't realize that perhaps in other areas of the country their groups are possibly in the same position as Gamma Phi is at Bama....or worse. :rolleyes: It sounds cliche to say but it's true -- ALL the NPC sororities are GREAT and to put one down is to bring your own down as well.

That's my 2 cents.

I don't know if your mom is the same mom that PMed me, but I did get a really nice PM from a mom who left a post that promoted rumors -- very un-Panhellenic rumors.

She was very apologetic and really didn't realize that her post caused more harm than good.

I often find that people seem to think that sororities are the same nationwide... my northern friends certainly have negative things to say about groups that are "top tier" at my alma mater but are not as strong up there... but I think we all have to remember that every group has chapters with fabulous numbers and groups that struggle with numbers.

Along the lines of what my2cents has said, my sister is not a Gamma Phi but has several friends in Gamma Phi at Bama. She has commented to me on several occasions that they are a group of cute girls with a great sisterhood who are just taking time to build up their numbers. I think that if PNMs would take the same view instead of being so focused on things like "old row" or houses with the largest pledge classes, Gamma Phi would be able to close in on the numbers of the other houses much quicker.

My2Cents:Thank you for your candor. I think it is good to hear that from someone who is in a top tier house as well as those who may not be.

Re: Gamma Phi Beta: the sorority has a great national reputation and they have done very well at many southern schools where they started new chapters, UGA included. Being a very southern girl myself, having relatives all across the southern states and cousins who were in sororities at Bama, I think it is very ignorant for anyone to speak badly of a house. I hope GPhiB continues to thrive there and surpass the expectation of any naysayers. As for some of the houses having some snobby attitudes toward newer sororities. I learned this from being at a big SEC school in a very well established sorority: we had advisors and juniors/seniors speak to girls in our chapter who started to talk negatively about other sororities. They explained how such behavior perpetuates stereotypes, rumors and is just very unpanhellenic. In addition, they wanted the girls in our house to be more ladylike and humble, and be secure enough in themselves that they did not feel the need to bash others. To be above that type of behavior, if you will.

Gamma Phi at Bama is growing at a very comfortable pace for the chapter. It's true that the sisterhood is beyond compare.

They're the next big thing... well, other than APhi, of course. ;)

WOO HOO:D YOU GO GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By the way, you guys got an absolutely AWESOME girl I wrote a rec for.....of course I know her name but for privacy's sake on this board, ;) she is the blond holding the Gamma in the pledge class photo!:D

I have no idea if its the same mom since she has not replied to the PM I sent her. I am sure she was nice and apologetic....but I find it hard to believe that she was clueless about the ramifications of what she posted.

True. For all I know, she could have been sincere about it, but maybe she was really one of those moms who have nothing better to do than spread gossip.

Whipping out my digital camera to take a look. Woohoo! We got a LOT of Georgia girls this go-around. A lot of Alabama, Texas, Florida and Virginia as well.

my2cents, you rock my socks, girl! :D

I just wanted to post a quick update...over 400 women attended our first open party. Interviews are happening and will keep happening.

There is definately interest in Greek Life at Bama.

Go phi's go!

Sounds like you are off to a fine start. Good luck to you in the Alpha Phi colonization

I have a quick question - for colonizations...PNMs who went through regular formal recruitment, but got cut completely, or dropped out without signing a bid card, are eligible, but those who received a bid and did not accept are not eligible, correct?

Did Bama have alot of girls purposely drop out to go for APhi this year? I'm just curious if that happens alot or if it's pretty rare...

If they signed a bid card, then got a bid to SororityIDidn'tReallyWant and turned it down, then no, they are not eligible - they are bound to SIDRW for one calendar year.

Alpha Phi recommendations
 

I know a couple of girls interested in Alpha Phi at Alabama. Does anyone have suggestions on a contact for recommendations?