Thanks, NutBrnHair. I always cite my sources, too, so if I copy from somewhere I will be sure and let you know.

From now on, you are to me SWTXBelle, Ph.D. -- Doctor of Phabulousness. :D

I agree that being offered a bid is an honor and not a right. For many orgs, though, the pledge period is a time both for the pledge to learn about the org and demonstrate that he is worthy of the honor, and for the org to get to know the pledge better and satisfy itself that he is worthy of the honor. That's the sense in which I would use "earn."

And ditto on learning at GC a lot about how different groups approach things differently. Did you have to mention skinning a cat, though?! http://www.smilieshq.com/smilies/animal0003.gif

No worries - the cat referenced in the idiomatic expression is actually a catFISH, so you needn't worry for your mystical black pelt!

I see what you mean, 33, but I don't know if I would be more insulted by the idea that I can't be articulate, or that if I seem to espouse the party line I must be quoting from a membership manual. Both ideas seem to buy into stereotypes - the one that sorority women are ditzy airheads, the other that HQ is the only place that fervently believes in anything other than PARTY PARTY PARTY. :cool:

Is that what you gathered from my post? :rolleyes: I am no stranger to writing and publishing.

My post was about the tone and the "official correspondence-ish" message. I don't give a damn about her penwomanship.

Right and it's interesting that "earn" is often reduced to hazing. Not just on GC.

Good grief.

For the record, my handwriting is terrible. ;)

Mine is great and I knew I chose the wrong word, smarty. ;)

Earn your letters! They shouldnt be simply handed over on the first day of your pledge process.

Have you even bothered to read the whole thread?

What might work for you may not work for everyone. Thank goodness for that.

As an NPC woman, I'm glad that we don't put an emphasis on "earning" letters. I don't, however, begrudge anyone who thinks it's an important part of their groups rites (as long as "earning" really doesn't mean hazing.) For AOII (and I presume the other NPC groups) the women we choose to invite for membership are felt to represent the ideals of our organizations before being taught them. The new member period is really meant to educate the member so she can decide whether or not to make that lifetime commitment not to determine whether or not she is worthy of initiation (no need to comment on our lower than stellar alum involvement rates, we're well aware of them!) Turning down a new member for initiation is an almost unheard of event. We let them wear our letters because even without being initiated, they are MEMBERS of the organization. It's also really good advertisement, which in the cut-throat world of NPC recruitment is extremely important. If other groups do it differently, that's their prerogative. We like the way we do it.

i know my chapter of SAE is strict on not allowing pledges to wear letters of anykind. We see it as they have to earn the right to wear our letters.

teehee :)

Well said.