I really hope everything works out for you. My chapter right now is going through something simliar, so I can relate to your fustration with other chapter members and the stress of thinking your chapter might not stay active.

I've decided that its time for me to also to step up and do something...everyone wants things done, but its hard to get everyone to help out. Keep focused and don't give up...right now your sisters need you to be the motivated one so they can follow. Just remeber you can't do everything yourself or you will get burnt out fast and start to resent your sisters for you doing all the work.

Let us know how everything works out.

My advice would be to go through rush and see what happens before you decide on a final plan. I think I agree with your choice to take yourself out of formal rush -- maybe its not right but I think most pnm's will write you off because of your numbers. With COB'ing emphasize the fact that your chapter is rebuilding, new members have a chance to get in on the ground floor, there are more chances to have leaderships positions right away and they will have more of say in the direction of your chapter than they would in the national chapters.

As for affiliating with a national I would say you should give it a try even if your small. One of the benefits is support you can receive from having a larger almunae base, which I think you have seen the disadvantages of not having. My guess (though I guess I don't really have anything to base this on) is to approach the smaller nationals. I would think they probably have a greater hunger for expansion and might considering yor smaller numbers better than starting off with nothing.

YAY!!!!
 

Not only are we staying on campus, but we're rushing in a few weeks! We already have some great theme party ideas and I am SOOO excited! I'll keep you all posted on how things go!

Greek to Greek,
That1LoudChick

:D Glad you guys are staying. Good luck at Rush!! Let us know how it works out

Yay!! If you guys ever need help, I'm just around the corner!! :)

Short Update
 

I met a friend of a friend's tonight and she told me how she wasn't invited to the last party of recruitment. I felt really bad for her and then started telling her about the fact that Phi Gamma Pi will be rushing in a few weeks. Not only did I get her interested, but I also got my friend and her other friend (who was with us) interested in rushing! They all said they couldn't wait for our rush to start! Yay! A few weeks before we rush and we already have three PNMs! I can't wait until we start chalking and putting up flyers!

it all sounds good...
with any luck at all, things should be on the road to better after your recruitment.
hang in there.

Somewhat Worried
 

So here's the latest update on Phi Gamma Pi's rush: we're not sure if we're allowed to have it. We first need permission from our Greek advisor. Since the day after our meeting, our president has been trying her best to meet with our Greek advisor. We were supposed to rush this coming week, but we obviously are not due to the fact that our Greek advisor has not had a meeting with Phi Gamma Pi's president. Anybody have any suggestions on how we should approach this matter?

Greek to Greek,
That1LoudChick

P.S. On a better note, I keep spreading the word about Phi Gam and am getting some great girls, who just happen to be friends of mine, interested.

New Update
 

Hey! I know I haven't been around the message boards a lot lately, but I've been EXTRMELY busy! I'm now one of our Panhel reps and officially Rush Chair as well. Phi Gamma Pi intends on rushing in a few weeks and we are SOOO excited! Anyway, I have to run! Thanks to everyonhe for your support!

Greek to Greek,
That1LoudChick

Good luck on your upcoming rush!

Best of luck to you! :)

Taking a turn...
 

Okay, so I said a few weeks ago that we'd rush, but you'd be amazed at how much stuff has come up within that time! It got to a point where it wasn't a sisterhood, it was an on-going catfight! So tonight we sat down and had a meeting where I stated "We can't rush without a sisterhood to present to these ladies and I don't think we have one right now." The next thing I know, we were scheduling each and every one of our meetings to be sisterhoods.

I can't wait to really get to know my sisters and bond with them for the next few weeks! Phi Gam's president and I have some really good ideas for sisterhoods starting off with playing "Pretty, Pretty Princess" (her favorite game) next week! Thank you all for your support! On behalf of Phi Gamma Pi, it means a lot to us!

Greek to Greek,
That1LoudChick

When times are rough, people tend to either bond together, or get into the nasty mode you just mentioned. It's usually the latter. I'm glad that you realize the importance of needing to stick together and to be a true sisterhood. Your sorority is very lucky to have you.

Ack!
 

Okay, so as MUCH as I love the fun and games (and tons of inside jokes produced last week), I week to Panhel tonight and couldn't vote on the exec board at all because we don't have an advisor yet and therefore are not an official sorority on my campus. The not getting to vote didn't make me mad, however the whole realization that we need to get our butts into gear did. We haven't gone to IGPB since some time last year and now I'm just really worried! I love the fact that we're doing fun stuff, but we have one LAST, nearly impossible-feeling, task to do and I can't seem to do it! Anybody got any advice?! I could really use it about now!

Greek to Greek,
That1LoudChick

I think I missed something, what is your big task you need to fulfill? Finding an advisor? If that is it you can do it. As a group, make a list of profs, or whomever meets your school's critera. Include a number of women that you'd love to get but also know. Our first advisor was not someone who'd i have ever pictured being into a sororoity, but she came to a tea because she knew one of the women and saw her as responsible, intelligent and the type of woman who changed her ideas about sorority women. Have sisters talk to the potential advisors about phi gam.

~advice, don't forget about the women you got excited about phi gam. you don't always need to have a formal event, when you ladies go out to dinner, or a movie, invite them. Even if it is only two sisters and three rushees, the continous interaction in imperative. We fail sometimes in this regard, don't loose wonderful women cause you get busy. :)

Yay!!!
 

My Big Sis found us an advisor!!! Just as I was at the end of my rope having no patience and feeling extremely burnt out, my Big came through and found us an advisor! :D :D :D When she called me and told me I asked her "Do you know how much I love you?!" and she responded with "Probably just as much as I love you!" :D

Also, I have better news! (Like you didn't think it could get any better!) FGP wanted to start helping with Habitat for Humanity. We had been planning to do it for weeks and we finally did! It was SO much fun! My sisters and I really got a chance to bond and (to quote our president) we "really felt like we did something that day!" We came back sore, but with this feeling of goodness inside us as well as a closer bond! FGP can't wait to go back and help after Thanksgiving break! :D :D :D

Congrats, I'm glad you feel like you made some progress! Keep it up and Good Luck!!

yay for Phi Gam and yay you!!

Congrats on everything! :)

probably already been said
 

someone has probably already said this but i did not have time to read all the replies. new members can breath life into a dieing chapter. you must lead by example though. be enthusiastic and take charge. obviously you care alot and that is admirable. you must do things others are not in rush to get the people who dont think it is for them. go dorm storming and meet the people who wont come to meet you. girls dont usually do this but i can promise it is very effective. most importantly even if you are the only one who cares dont give up. you could easily be the winning factor in your chapters turn around. good luck to you. i hope everything goes well. it looks like you have a lot of support. thats got to give you some inspiration.

YAY!!!
 

I am SO excited! Come the next meeting FGP holds, I will be president! I am SO excited and ready to take on the my new position! :D I have so many ideas! Okay, so there's my happy update on Phi Gam!

Greek to Greek,
That1LoudChick

P.S. We're trying to set up a bowling/iceskating night with DLF for next semester! :) They're so cool!

Woo hoo! Congratulations hun, that's great! :D

I'm sorry to stick my nose in, but I didn't realize all of this was going on right under my nose at good old KSU! That1LoudChick, you sound tireless! Good luck to you and to your sisters!

Not tireless, stubborn and determined! :cool:

Wow! Congrats on being elected president! You seem to have so much enthusiasm and I hope you can pass that on to your sisters! But remember, don't try to do everything yourself, or you'll get burnt out, too...delegate, delegate, delegate! ;)

congratulations...and all the best.

So Excited!
 

YAY! Tonight was great! We planned rush, reserved a display case in our student center (CaitieQT- I suggest you look out for it next semester ;)), AND I signed my very first papers as president tonight! I was SO excited to put my name next to the word president on our change of officers forms for the office of campus life! :D

First Semester Update
 

So far things are not going very badly. My pledge sister de-activated, but she promised to stay on the roster. Otherwise, things are good- we will have a display case up in the student center all next week and rush will be starting the 29th! :D

wow
 

ok- i am so mad i didn't find this thread sooner... but i know EXACTLY what you are going through- my local chapter was down to 4 girls last fall.... and we were completely dying off.... then slowly but surely.... word started to spread about us- i pledged last spring with a pledge class of 11- the largest they had had in 7 years..... we are up to 23 now.... and still working on it. We have been around for 75 years- with our own house and we were the strongest sorority on campus for quite a long time. however, around the mid 90's and recent years we got a bad rep for having "fat, ugly lesbians" no lie- it was so mean... The stereotype is so bad- and on our campus with about 5000- its pretty small and there are 4 national sororities.. no other locals. Honestly- Rush is the biggest- most important thing to focus on. and as a local COB is usually the way you get your numbers- from one sisters roommate getting like 7 girls- thats how it happens- start participating in everything- and wear letters! i don't know how the rules on your campus go- but if you wear letters- i'm serious- do it every possibly chance you can--- make shirts- order sweatshirts- its advertising in every way possible- get involved- do dinners with sisters and sit in front of everyone wearing letters- during rush ( like us- you might not of had a big budget for decorations) but use pictures- symbols (we have a big banner with our crest on it) we used old composites- paddles- everything- celebrate your history..... All of the sororities on our campus are unique and have their own nitch.... we are fun but you ahve to get to know us- so draw in girls by playing games (board games- name games- ice breakers) have sisters "assigned" to each pnm and make them feel welcome- invite them out later for parties- wahtever.... wehn you see them on campus- make a note to go up to them and see how they are- introduce them to your friends- i'm ALWAYS recruiting- when you go to a party- talk the girls up- just go up and introduce yourself- its daunting at first but you get used to it-
alumni is also a big huge help- and sometimes you get 2 alums at first- but its soemthing! lol so have them come- teach traditions- help get stuff set up- our alumni have been a huge help....
also GET THE FRATS INVOLVED i know i'm playing a little dirty here some may say- but if you get really close to a frat- and they start talking you up- its even more great advertising- hanging out at their parties- seeing htem at the bars- they tell their friends etc etc- TKE was a big party in our comeback- soo i'm just rambling at this point- but PLEASE pm me b/c you are really determined- and you can do this:) i have advice up the wazzoo (i was rush chair and part informal social chair) good luck and i hope to hear from you:)

p.s. i prob repeated myself and other people like a million times- sorry for being redundant:p

Almost time...
 

We are starting our recruitment parties in less than 2 days! I'm so nervous and excited! I hope we get some great new girls in! I have been chatting up a lot of girls and someone e-mailed our VP so it's looking good! Anyway, I'll update more on Thursday and Friday nights!

Greek to Greek,
That1LoudChick

Re: Almost time...
 

Good Luck, Neighbor:)

Good luck! :D

1st Party
 

Only one girl showed up, but my sisters really loved her and the the decorations were great. :) She got along really with the other sisters so I was happy. Also, for tomorrow night we have 3 girls coming who could not make it tonight and I hope to see my friend there as well. I'm extremely tired so I'm gonna pass out. Bye everyone! More tomorrow!

Good Luck and hope that you all get some amazing girls!

2nd Party
 

I know I didn't post Friday night, but I've had an extremely busy weekend so forgive me! My friend made it to Friday night as did one of the three girls. All I can say is that 2 great girls are better than 6 horrible girls so we're excited. Anyway, there's the short version of it.

Greek to Greek,
That1LoudChick

Bid Day!
 

Unfortunately, out of the two girls that came the other night, only one made grades. However, she accepted her bid so we're pinning her tomorrow night! :D :D :D Everybody loves her and we all intend on spoiling the girl rotten! We love our little Alpha Beta! :D

I am so happy for you! One is always better than none! Being here in Akron I wish I could help somehow, but being an alumna of ADPi at The University of Akron I do not think there is much I can do other than support you and your chapter verbally.

I heard of your chapter when I was an undergrad because I was dating a Sigma Nu at Akron and so was one of your sisters...that was over 5 years ago so I cannot remember her name. I do remember at that time your chapter was thinking of going national...but I guess that did not go through.

I give you and your sisters all of my support! Best wishes and contact your Alums...as being a very active ADPi alum...we spread the word even better than the collegiates!! Contact your alums and have them look for women to recommend. We get some of ours when a former sister is a teacher and there are seniors getting ready to attend Akron...also younger siblings....I recommended my cousin and my younger sister's best friend from HS (my sister goes to Miami of Ohio) a few years ago...they are both members now and are chapter VPs!!

Get the word out...its the best you can do and it seems you are doing an excellent job at that!!

Congrats on your new member!

Good Job.:)

Hey, Im having the same problem here. My sorority has only been on campus-well this would be our second semester. Well this semester the girls that were remaining dropped leaving everything, pledging, bid day, all that stuff, to me. I have three girls thus far and I am kinda afraid of losing them. Its hard being all the chairs and getting to things and all. I do need help with getting girls in. Two of the now locals are going national by like April I believe and I know its going to be hard competition getting freshmen in the summer. I am pretty worried but I won't give up. Also, we do not have an advisor....PLEASE GIVE ME SOME POINTERS ON GETTING ONE!!! I am so desperate I'd even ask a janitor, if they are allowed, to be our advisor...help me out!