It depends on the group, FSUMom. Some groups are fine with active members providing recs. Other groups are ok with active members providing recs, but they must be from a different school. Still other groups, you must be an alumnae in good standing. It would be best to start with those you know and are closest with.

Current collegiate members of some sororities are able to write recommendations. For some, the collegiate member may write a rec. as long as it is not to her own chapter. Other sororities only allow alumnae members to write recs., or the collegiate member rec. must be endorsed/cosigned by an alumna.

The colonization process generally follows this trend(please understand this is how my sorority does it, others may have a different method):

Semester prior to colonization, traveling leadership consultants(TLCs-what ZTA calls them), who are newly graduated members employed by the sorority's (inter)national office to work hands on with collegiate chapters and colonies, arrive on campus to lay the ground work for the colonization process.

The semester of colonization, national officers, former national officers and local alumnae as well as the TLCs work together to form the colony. If a colony is founded during the semester that formal recruitment takes place, the colonizing sorority usually participates in the first round of recruitment, holding an information session in place of a party, so that the PNMs will learn a little about the sorority and the process the sorority will use for colonization. At anytime during formal recruitment, PNMs interested in participating in the colony recruitment, may withdraw from formal recruitment. If the PNM continues on to the end of formal recruitment and attends Pref. parties, as long as she does not sign a membership agreement, she would remain eligible to participate in the colony recruitment.

Other girls who were not interested in formal recruitment, but were interested in the colony may choose to sign up specifically for the colony recruitment. Everyone who signs up for colony recruitment will not be extended an invitation to join-it is not an easier route to take to gain sorority membership, but it is well worth it. Only a handful of women can say that they helped found/re-establish their chapter, and have their names appear on their charter.

FSUMOM2012, as long as your daughter does not sign a membership agreement, and does not accept a bid, she will be eligible to rush in the fall. Perhaps someone with access to the current NPC recommendations can answer how long she would be obligated to a sorority if she accepted a bid, but dropped her membership before she was initiated.

I would encourage your daughter to attend Winterfest and attend any sorority rush events that she may be invited to. While these events are much more casual and laid back than formal recruitment, it will give her some insight into what questions she might face during formal recruitment and/or the colonization recruitment. If she finds her home this spring, she starts creating friendships a semester earlier than she thought. If she doesn't, she has a bit of an idea what sororities are about and how to conduct herself during formal recruitment.

Before I address FSUMOM2012, a few words for soflogirl: 1) KEEP AN OPEN MIND. 2) Your tone in print comes across at times as somewhat defensive or yes, snippy, like Old Row said. Like it or not, I'm telling you to edit more carefully - and your statement about being the first in your family to go to school in America gives me a context clue that your pragmatic style may be different, as may be your interpretation of what people are saying. Context is everything. So don't go blowing up at me, or anyone else. We are trying to HELP you. We really are. 3) Good luck - I hope you have a successful recruitment!

The recs question has been answered. As for bids, we've had this discussion on GC and I've asked this very question re: when does the bid "expire". I know my NPC Green Book Recruitment experts will answer this.

See my response, above. I would NOT "accept for the experience" for multiple reasons. There are lots of threads on GC about this. It's really a personal choice. However, going through recruitment a second time to attempt to "get a better offer" isn't likely to yield a positive result. And taking a spot from someone who truly wanted it is not a good idea. Further, the PNM may accept the bid and then fall in love with the "second choice" sorority. Like I said, it's really a personal choice. But no one ever gets to know the outcome of the horse race before placing a bet.

Yes, colonizing is opening a new chapter. Every sorority will have its own way of opening a colony. Alumnae (plural of alumna, which is singular female form) may well be active in some fashion.

Hope this helps. Looks like you have lots of questions and this is a good place to get them answered. The Greek Life Office will also have information that you should find helpful.

ETA: amended my first answer to FSUMOM.

SIgning a bid card at any time and accepting a bid during informal without signing one both restrict the PNM for one calendar year. So if she accepts a bid and then decides it is not for her and terminates her pledgeship, she is ineligible to accept another bid for one calendar year - give or take a day or two. So, no, she would not be able to go thru this fall's formal recruitment IF she accepts a bid.

Thanks for all the wonderful information. I will keep watching this thread and explore others to be as well versed in the process as possible. :)

FSUMOM, maybe your daughter should be doing all of this research? Joining a sorority should be as important to HER as it is to you... I promise that I am not being critical! I just know that she has to be invested in the process. You should not do it all for her. Encourage her to find her own answers.

I need to correct myself. The committment period for a COB issued bid is until the particular school's next formal recruitment period. So in the case of FSU, it would be until the subsequent fall formal recruitment.

Sorry - see page 115 of the MOI.

You are absolutely right and she is - on campus and through friends. We are comparing notes to make sure the I's are dotted and T's are crossed. :)

Good luck to her! Please come back and let us know how everything goes.

It turned out the Winterfest was held on a week night that my daughter had class. While she was disappointed to miss it - she has set her sites on fall. She is going to use the time to secure additional recs and solidifying her resume. Again - thanks for all your insight!

I am sorry that Winterfest did not work with her class schedule but am excited for your daughter to participate in Fall Formal recruitment. Best wishes to her for a successful recruitment and please let us know how it goes!

FSU Fall Recruitment 2013
 

My daughter was disappointed to have to pass on Fall Recruitment due to financial constraints. We were simply not able to commit to the fees when the time came and she saw no reason to meet and potentially fall in love with a sorority and not be able to join. As it turns out, a week into classes the money situation turned around and a colonization opportunity was still available. Although the process is extremely abbreviated - she really enjoyed the women she spoke with and the philosophy of the group as a whole. She is over-the-moon happy to be a brand new member of AOII! :) Just goes to show that things really do happen for a reason.

What great news!! I know two of her sisters!! I know they will all have a wonderful experience. Congratulations to your daughter!