A bid doesn't guarantee initiation, though.

Hence why that attitude is discouraged.

This really makes no sense at all.

That is what jazing is saying.

Even with a bid it is still "if and not when (as though it is a definite)." That is why jazing says the attitude of "I have a bid card and therefore will definitely be initiated" is discouraged.

It makes sense because you are both saying the same thing.

Yea, I see that jazing and I agree about the "bid =/= initiation" thing, but the reasoning behind it doesn't make sense to me.

That is like saying "My company doesn't do job interviews because we don't want candidates thinking that an interview guarantees employment."

We really don't know why jazing didn't receive a bid card.

But, if an analogy is necessary, it is more like "my company doesn't do post-interview calls or emails to say 'congrats on making it to the interview stage, expect notification of your status...' because we don't want candidates thinking our follow-up guarantees employment."

Actually it's like saying "I didn't take a bath before this date because I don't want him thinking he's going to get some just because I have clean lady parts."

LOL

Or like saying "I didn't brush my teeth because he may assume I want to kiss him."

This is a fun "it's like saying" game.

LOL

this is my new siggy - thanks 33!

The bids we used when I got mine were about the size of a thank you note, on really good paper with a golden crest on the front. It read: "The Sisters of Alpha Iota Chapter of Alpha Delta Pi extend their bid to Honey, in the hopes that she will meet the requirements of being initiated into membership."

So it was clear from Day One that you didn't dare slack off and still get initiated!

Then, for a few years, the Panhellenic issued bid cards, with fill in the blanks - very tacky. Enough people must have complained because they're back to the ones our EO issues again (or, when last I asked).

At USC, every sorority I've dealt with gives the same bid card. They read:

"The sisters of the [GLO] chapter at the University of Southern California invite you to join them in the bonds of sisterhood and the joy of lifelong friendships. Welcome to the Greek community! Fight on!"

The crest is on there as well.

Thanksgiving
 

My mother handed me a box of "stuff you might like to have" when I got to her house for Thanksgiving weekend.

In it was my bid card!

No scanner here at her house; I'll post a photo another time. It's a simple white card, with the sorority name handwritten on it. There must have been a separate reply card, though it was a loooonnnnngg time ago.

my bid was a cardstock card with the Chi Omega crest on it and said "Chi Omega has cordially invited [name] to become a New Member of the [chapter] [school]" then signed by the president and recruitment chair
and as far as I've seen all the chapters at my school have a very similar bid

At UF, Panhellenic dictates that all bid cards are identical. You can't even use ink that isn't black or blue if you want to follow all the rules. So you write in the woman's name, the chapter and sign the cards. Its kind of sad. I would have loved one with my chapter's emblem(s) on it!!