Yay!

Great to finally hear from another member of NBO! Everyone here on GC has been rooting for y'all since day one. And I am practically biting my fingernails off waiting for the next "installment" of the NBO/AXiD saga! Good luck with everything. You all have already come so far in only a year. I am sure the next will have just as many great developments!

Hi everyone,

No word from AZD yet. They received our invitation and were presenting the option to their National Council. That was almost a week ago I believe...I'm not sure how long it's been. Hopefully we will hear from them soon! I have no idea how long it will take for them to get back to us, does anyone have any ideas? I'm just now realizing that we haven't planned for fall rush at all, and I'm stressing out! Like seriously we have no plans whatsoever. I can't figure out if we should put our efforts on hold until we find out what's going with AZD, or try to proceed as usual, or what. Any thoughts?

Corina

Corina,

Typically an Executive Council for a sorority meets once a week by phone or monthly in person (each organization is different, but this is something similar for each). They will meet as a Council and probably take a vote.

Hope this gives you some insight into the process. Good luck.

I would keep proceeding with recruitment as normal. You want women to join you whether you are NBO or you become AZD. Increasing your membership is never a bad thing.

Good Luck!

Corina,

Don't let the delay get you down... as you may know, my local sorority was in a similar situation to NBO's, and it took some time before our application to AEPhi went through. So, I'd advise you to hold a fall recruitment as you normally would, and then see what AZD says... don't put everything on hold just because AZD hasn't said anything yet.

Good luck :)

I agree...
 

...do rush as you would have done anyways...that will be good for all you NBOs (future AXiDs?) and is just another good mark in y'all's favor when AXiD gets back to you -- how impressed would they be if you said that rush was underway as opposed to ...well we wanted to see if we were gonna be AXiDs before we did anything more....
I know that AXiD will be coming back with a YES to NBO -- how could they not??? You Corina are awesome (Gamma Phi should have snatched you way back when they had their chance!!!!!) and so is NBO!
:)

Amazing and Inspiring Story!
 

I just got done reading this whole story and I must say, I'm so in awe of all your hard work and dedication, Corina! Best of luck to your chapter and its future. I'm crossing my fingers for AZD to realize what an amazing group of women you are, and how much you all can accomplish because of your strong belief in yourselves. I applaud everything you've done and ever will do to keep this chapter growing. Corina, you're an amazing girl...you will go far :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*~*KD For Life*~*

I think that NBO ought to procede with recruitment. I hope that everything works out with AZD. :)

Go ahead and do recruitment, Corina! Imagine how impressed AZD will be if they call you wanting to colonize and find out that you have a bunch of new members!

I agree; move forward with your recruitment process. You could quite possibly have a fairly large turnout if women hear about your probable upcoming colonization by AZD because it would be another option to join a national GLO on your campus besides GPhiB, and because of the exciting opportunity to be a charter member of the chapter. Good luck! :D

Corina,
Totally move forward with NBO rush. I know that AZD nationals may be a little hectic right now with the start of the school year, the colonization of 3 new chapters, and all the new members from already exsisting chapters coming in. So just be patient. I am sure they have not forgotten about you at all.
If you need help with rush stuff, we are all here for you. Also, PM me if you would like, I was a Rush chair for my AZD chapter in 1999.
-Maggie

Corina,

I vaguely remember you stating the other local on your campus was also wanting to affiliate with a nationals. Do you know how they are doing?

Definitely do some kind of rush! Keep the members comin in! It can only help to get more women.

As usual keep us posted on your happenings. Maybe you could post your rush???

Good luck!

Corina,
If you need help with RECRUITMENT this year, just let any of us know, we're all here willing to help :)

I sure hope you have an answer soon so you all can proceed.
Love ya!!!

keep moving forward...
 

just roll ahead and recruit like crazy. when you get the call, you are carrying more neat new members. otherwise, nbo is still carrying neat new members.
no losses my friend.
no fear...
:rolleyes:

anything new?
 

bumpity bump bump...
keep us up to date on what's happening.
cheers
:)

Hi everyone,

It's been a crazy couple of days for us. We had to get all of our stuff prepared for the OPERS festival- essentially a big gathering out on one of the atheltic fields, and every student org has a table and we pass out info, let people know what we're all about, etc. All the greeks were in a sort of square in one row, so it was nice for all the students coming through to be able to see the whole of greek life at UCSC. We panicked because we thought we had it planned out, but then at the very last minute (the festival was yesterday afternoon, we started planning the night before at like 11pm) we had nothing done. But I think the time pressure really worked well for us, and our booth was really cute. A bunch of the new organizations and old came up and told us that they wanted to do socials or rush events with us, and that was pretty cool. We had sheets where interested women could put down their names and telephone numbers, and we got 40 names! I'm sure not all of them definitely wanted to rush (we had free candy at our table and I think that drew in a big amount of people) but that's still a decent number. Now we're facing a couple new problems. One, how to plan an entire rush in the next few days- we had to make a tentative plan so we would have something to distribute flyers about at the festival, so we planned it for next week, the same week that most of the other orgs are doing rush. We desperately desperately need a good rush slogan and t shirt idea! Both Gamma Phi and Alpha Psi had awesome, super cute shirts, and we need something comparable to them, plus we actually have the money for them, so we're searching. Our basic rush theme is Starry Nights, and we need a really really really wonderful shirt and slogan to go with it. Our brains are fried and we can't think of anything! The only other concern is waiting and waiting to hear from AZD...the suspense is killing us! But hopefully we'll hear from them soon, and besides, I'd rather not hear from them then have them call and say they're not interested. More later, please, if anyone has any suggestions, let me know! I've already checked out tons of websites (greek101, greekgear, grafcow, etc) so I'm a little stressed.
Corina

I'm swiping this from something I read here I think, but it was a Panhel theme, not a specific sorority's, so I feel it's ok! :)

On the front left they had their house and the rush date or school or something, and the back had two girls laying on the ground looking up at a starry sky with all the houses letters in them. The slogan was something like why wish it when you can live the dream or something like that. So maybe you can do something like, "wish on a star, and your dreams can come true - NBO" and make a starry sky and have 'constellations' in the form of your letters? Or something to that effect?

And maybe at a rush event do something with rushees astrological signs, or decorate like that or something? Just a thought...

Good luck, Corina! We are all rooting for you and NBO!

Hootie had a great idea. I've also seen similar shirts with a girl gazing up at the sky saying, "If I had one wish ... [sorority name]."

corina--

check out joetshirt.com. They have more of those little slogany ideas than ANYONE, and you can get designs to go along with them. Even if you don't use them for the shirts, you can still use their artwork and such.

Good luck! You're doing great :)

Heather

i saw an alpha phi wearing this the other day....
"starlight, starbright, I got the only wish, I wished last night"...
it was a navy blue t-shirt with a giant silver star on the back and the words were written in brite green! Very cute!

Ps. im pming you with an idea!

This year Chi-O had these really cute shirts. They were red fitted shirts with pink, white, and black detailing and they staid..."Make a Wish. Make it Chi-O"...It was really cute, and that goes along with the star theme, you could have like a star in back of the words or something like that....

Some random ideas...

Navy or black t-shirt with stars... constellations forming the N and the B, and then a crescent moon or a full moon for the O... or a comet with NBO written in the tail. I can't come up with a cute slogan tho' ...

If you're going to do name tags, make them star-shaped. You could do black with names written in gold or silver metallic pen, or gold or silver with names in black. Building on xo_kathy's idea, how about putting people's zodiac signs on the name tags?

Keep your room relatively dark and crisscross the ceiling with a bunch of Christmas lights to simulate starlight. (I know you didn't ask for decorating ideas, but I thought this might help :) )

Good luck with rush! :)

for skit round, we used to do our little performance in black light. you don't have to buy them, just ask around.
all the sisters who weren't in the skit were wearing all black, except for white writting across their chests that said "ALPHA XI DELTA" and white gloves...it looked really cool.
If you aren't planning on doing a skit, you could just decorate the entrance in blacklight, have all your sisters where just plain all black except for their name tags and play really cool music (like a techno futuristic song) as the PNM"'s come in. After everyone is seated or something and you guys introduce yourself and a little about NBO, then you can turn the lights back on!

just a comment...
 

...there have been a lot of great starry starry night ideas but one I think you should steer clear of is using a Crescent moon as that is Gamma Phi Beta's symbol -- not that we have any rights to it or anything, you just want to be original! Do a full moon -- one smiling down on the two girls looking up into the starry night...the astrological signs are a fun idea but could put off girls who are more religious....just my two cents worth!...maybe you could even weave in a little AXiD theme and have the two girls looking up into the starry night and holding teddy bears -- one blue and the other gold ;)
By the way, I think you can buy individual black light bulbs to use with maggieaxd's idea which sound adorable!!!

Good Luck! With your track record Corina, I know that WHATEVER you end up doing will be Fabulous!!!!

Whoa, this thread has me hooked!
 

Way to go, ladies of NBO! Like everyone else, I've just been mesmerized by this thread! Corina, you're amazing! Keep up the good work, doll, it seems at this point, AZD would be lucky to have you girls, but the sisterhood of NBO seems like something quite special in itself!

Anyway, like a previous poster, a sorority at my school (AZD, actually ;)) had bid day shirts that were adorable--black baby tees, that said "Alpha Xi Delta" on the front, and on the back it said in white lettering:

"Starlight, starbright, I got the wish, I wished last night"

With all these glittery silver stars around it. I just think that sounds adorable!!!!! Would be a great pair with the rush shirts someone else mentioned--"Make a wish. Make it to NBO."

Just a suggestion! :) Good luck with your recruitment process. I look forward to reading more about your organization as it grows and develops--you have something great on your hands, congrats! :D

Bump!!
 

Soooo....any news yet from AZD???

Even better....how is your rush coming along!!??

Hi everyone,

Rush starts tonight! Here's our updated schedule:
Mon, 9/23: Info night
Tues: Bonfire with AEPi Jewish fraternity
Wed: Social with DOC local fraternity
Thurs: Dinner at our house
Fri: Interview evening

We decided not to go with t shirts because we didnt have enough time, but that's ok. We have an absolutely awesome idea for our winter rush t shirts, once we have it developed more I'll let you all know. I'm especially excited about the event with aepi, because they're newer than we are and for once we had more knowledge about greek stuff then someone else! They have I believe 13 active members, so it should be fun. When we did that festival, we had 45 women sign up on our info sheet, and we've gotten in touch with all of them via phone messages or email. Several of them seemed really really interested, so I'm happy about that. After tonight I'll let you all know how many people showed up, how things are going, etc. Still havent heard from AZD :( Hopefully they'll get in touch with us soon. More this evening or maybe tomorrow!

love, Corina

Good luck!! I'm sure you will get lots of great new girls and AZD will call you and fall in love!!! :) :D :) :D

Wow, I'm really sorry, and still new around here. I just finished reading this thread, and I want to congratulate you on all your hard work (and your sister's of course!), and I want to wish you the best of luck on recruitment, and with everything else.


Pi Phi Love and Mine,

Emily

I am feeling morose about rush. Gamma Phi Beta and Alpha Psi and us all met girls in front of the bookstore. Gamma Phi and Alpha Psi each had about twenty girls, and we had a total of four. This is so hard. And AEPi canceled for tonight, so now we have no event at all, and I just feel like crap. We still haven't heard back from AZD, I'm losing hope, and I'm beginning to feel like we have no chance of ever achieving the numbers or strength that the other orgs on campus have. Sorry to sound so depressed, but I'm bummed.....

Corina, remember that Rome wasn't built in a day :) I hate to say it, but it just may take time to hear anything at all from AZD. I'm sure AZD is still busy with campuses conducting formal and informal recruitments. I'm sure they haven't forgotten about UCSC or NBO though, not one bit!

It's going to take some time to get established and to grow. Just keep your faith in yourself and in your sisters. You CAN do it, I know that the sisters of NBO can do it. Go back to the list from the info sheet and contact all those women again. One thing I thought of that may help--offer to arrange transportation for as many of them as you can. Even if one or two of the NBOs meet a bunch of PNMs at a dorm and walk to the meeting place together, it can really make a difference having that extra personal attention. Also, have someone confirm tomorrow night's plans now so you don't have any other last minute cancellations.

GOOD LUCK tomorrow night! I'm pulling for ya'll!

Hugs,
Christin

an inspiration
 

Wow.

I just have recently stumbled upon your story, wishinhopin. An you have inspired me finally act on my desire to re-colonize AXiD here at the Univeristy of Wisconsin. Up untill this semester, I attended UW-Eau Claire and was a member of the chapter there. I transfered to my current university because I changed career paths and UWEC did not offer what I needed. There is no AXiD chapter here to affilate with; sadly, within the past decade it was erradicated....why or how I have yet to find out. I would love to revive it here in Madison, to share it with a new generation of speical women. I am definately indimated by the process but reading your story has made my desire greater than my apprehension.

Thanks for being an inspiration!
:D

info?
 

Wow... ok 3 days later, i'm FINALLY done reading this thread....

It's been a long journey for you and all of NBO...

Couple of questions:

First, of course, how has the rest of rush been going? Have you made sure to mention that you may be national very very soon?

Also, you mentioned a house for NBO's together, then said you moved into a house... do you all actually have a *house* now?

Keep on truckin... thinks will work out after all your hard work.

Melissa
KD-Alpha Psi

Rush is still stressful. The best part about it is honestly really really great- the girls who have showed up are awesome and I feel like we're developing wonderful connections with wonderful women. The bad part is that there's only like 4 of those girls total. I know we shouldn't feel like we have to compete with anyone, but its frustrating when I see the sheer number differences between our organization and the others on campus. Marissa from AZD emailed me and asked for our address...I don't have any clue whether that is indicative of something good or bad, so I've given up trying to guess. I just am whining because I want things to be easy for once...I know that isn't logical, and nothing I'm doing is even THAT difficult, but rush reminds me of how much we have left to do and it stresses me out. Tomorrow we're having dinner for the rushees at our house- which is, by the way, not an official chapter house, but 4 of us live here and we have meetings and events here, so maybe it is the chapter house, I dunno. More later.

I just wanted to say that I think you are doing an awesome job- I'm so proud of you and all your sisters for being strong and sticking together- good luck w/ everything!!

Well, asking for your address means that they're going to send you something, so it'll probably either be an acceptance of your invitation to colonize or a formal letter of regret. So either way, you'll know.

Good luck!

PEP TALK!
 

There is an old saying.....nothing worth having is ever easy!
Corina -- you are a strong & fantastic woman who has done an awesome job that many many many women could never hope to achieve -- so keep focused on your goal & be proud of that! It is natural to feel like you want things to be easy 'just once'...and perhaps one day they will be...but don't give up hope! I am praying that the reason AXD is asking for your address is to send you an official welcome in their sisterhood! I have all my fingers & toes crossed!!:D

Re: PEP TALK!
 

Funny that you mention that, its actually one of our open mottoes. "Kalepa Ta Kala" Translated means: Naught without labor. Roughly translated means, nothing that is worthwhile is easy.

Justy had to share. :)

More bad news: we apparently have no rushees at all. We had a meeting tonight and worked out alot of internal issues, but I'm still really unhappy about the state of our organization right now. I'm very disapointed. More later.

You're doing the right thing!
 

I have been a "silent cheerleader" of your efforts for quite some time. So I know that no one needs to tell YOU to stick with it. Giving up just isn't your style, girl!

You're right...working from the inside out is the best approach! Look at everything you love about NBO, and make those things stronger and better. Those are the things that you want the rest of the UCSC world to see! Don't worry about trying to compete, and focus on giving other ladies the opportunity to share in the wonderful sisterhood that YOU created. Instead of fancy T-shirts and spiffy advertising, you can make NBO visible by doing some on-campus community service that will be noticed by the whole campus. Show everyone that NBO is a supportive, fun-loving group that works together and plays together.

Best wishes for you, Corina...

Erica

:)