Hey...sorry for the delayed reply. This has been the most intense part of the semester so I've been studying like crazy.

As one of our advisors pointed out, we really need to fix the inside before we fix the outside. I am trying my hardest to be friends with everyone, even if they are not in my clique. The hardest thing is that over the course of the semester, gossip about me has gotten back to me. It's horrible cos how am I supposed to respect those girls who say crap about me?

Despite that garbage, I'm trying to emulate an older sister who projects a positive image. I want to do my best to create a happy atmosphere for the new girls so that they won't feel completely overwhelmed by the dramas that go on in our group.

I'm just going to keep my head up, wear my letters, and do my best to project as postive image as possible so that I know I am doing my part. As far as recruiting girls to take on a similar role...crossing my fingers :)

I didnt read everyone elses' posts so Im sorry if this was already said.

Do you guys have paired events? Like do you pair up with a fraternity for homecoming or any other philanthropic events? A lot of times if you pair there will be get to know eachother events. (Pi Phi doesnt have mixers-I-national rules) If there are not planned events, plan one and invite the other chapter and encourage your sisters to go. I guess the way I've made friends in other orgs is just through class and when i lived in the dorms. I didnt really party with them until after I knew them. I personally would rather have a friend that's a friend when Im sober than a friend that's only a freind when I'm drunk. But anyway, and the new pledge class will determine where the chapter goes, I agree. When I pledged our image and chapter in general was a lot different, now I'm like one of the oldest in my chapter and the younger girls really do guide where you're headed in terms of what kind of chapter you have. I think all chapters kind of move in cycles, like some times they're the party girls and sometimes they get the best grades, and sometimes they're the prettiest, etc. I would bump your image for recruitment. make sure all of your sisters look nice, and be more selective when chosing the new girls. For some reason, I've noticed that no matter what the chapter is like, if it seems really hard to get into, the girls get more interested in being there. Probably b/c they dont want to end up in the sorority that just "takes anyone."
One thing that I would keep in mind ALL the time, this is something our social chair said just a few weeks ago b/c some of our sisters are upset that we aren't doing more events with other groups and getting to know people better.
You can look around and see what XYZ is doing when it comes to who they hang out with and how they get to know other orgs, but remember, you are not an XYZ, you're an UV and you do things the UV way, not the XYZ way. If you want to do things another way then maybe you joined the wrong house.

Another tip: talk to your social chair and see if she can plan an event that will envolve other orgs, or if other greeks come to your philanthropic event, make them feel like you guys arent closed off, make a good impression on everyone outside of your sorority.

You should do a blood and gore goth mixer with an abstract noise band and sell mason jars of pigs fetus' to raise money to send poor kids on tour with Slipknot.

Totally agree with this!

I was always frustrated with this as an active because at Bama, every chapter has a stereotype, and quite frankly, it sucks.

I knew to look past it and get to know girls and guys individually, but a lot of the pledges out there will just listen to what their pledge director has to say about a certain chapter and it will stick with them.

My chapter is (still!) the youngest sorority chapter at UA, so we've had to deal with a lot of stereotypes over the years. But starting around the time I pledged (in '01), the girls started getting really active on campus again and representing themselves really well. It's been a mountain to climb, but the results are definitely starting to show.

I think if you just get your girls to basically throw themselves out there, you'll get the results you want. Whether it's coming up with a fun philanthropy project that involves all the Greeks on your campus, scheduling a joint party with another sorority, holding a president's roundtable, getting some of your most outstanding members in campus leadership positions.... you'll get the results you want.