Let's keep the positive, contructive vibe going, please. Good info here, but let's play nice.:)

Stronger chapters in the northern part of the country.

I remember during recruitment we were discussing what to say if a PNM asked us this and I remember one of my sisters said, "Nothing! I love everything about my chapter!" ;)

Looking at things currently I would love if there were more opportunities for leadership training for members who aren't the presidents of their chapters. We have Leadership Academy and lots of really cool Values programming through the Leading/Living With Values program, but I'd really like to see more of these academies for those who aren't on exec. That way more actives could be ready for leadership!

I agree with that for us as well.

I would love to see Beta Sigma Phi's website updated. The current one is outdated, confusing, and (IMO) leaves out important info about joining our organization. I also agree with BetaRose that International should work on recruiting younger women to sorority. They are the future of BSP!

Get rid of struggling chapters and put more time and effort into expansion. It really isn't fair to collegians to spend every day of their lives COB'ing and having to hold multiple offices at one time. College is about academics and having fun.

Make recruitment casual and informal. No ostentatious decorations or skits and songs. Just "getting to know you" type open house events.

The requirements for membership: has good grades (meets the minimum) and can afford dues. You'll get a lot more positive PR when you lessen exclusivity and a lot more members.

Alumnae are lifetime members. But they are only active alumnae members if they pay yearly dues. Too many uninvolved alumnae suck up sorority funds by receiving mailings they don't read.

If alumnae life is to have any value, incorporate requirements into alumnae membership.

Well said!

You might want to ask collegians who experience it how "fun" it is to have their chapter closed and are no longer able to participate in collegiate Greek life. And let THEM decide if multiple offices are truly the stress you make it out to be. What a horrible, callous thing to post.

I'm going to agree with you on this one... The chapter I came from was struggling the whole time I was there, and it actually gave us alot of pride to see the small but important changes that we were helping to make. I would be devastated if my chapter closed. Instead, I think that nationals (and the greek office on campus) should focus on helping the struggling chapters to improve. I can't think of anything worse than having your nationals say, "Well, your chapter is struggling, so we're just going to close it and focus on chapters that have more of a chance."

I would hate to look at our chapter roster and see tons of closed chapters. There are almost always other options.

OK. I'm a 33girl-fan but I'm still supportive of what greencat said. I've seen too many struggling, unhappy chapters that really want to dissolve, but their national won't let them, and I suppose the kindness of letting them go is what I'm applauding. I've dealt with some really, really weak chapters populated by unhappy, negative members. I wish it were true that they can all be turned around but there is a floor below which it's almost impossible to recover with the same membership.
Truth is, a continually weak chapter of only 25 members on a campus where they should have 100 will likely struggle and struggle and never find success. They lack confidence and don't know how to succeed. But, a new colony can come on with new people and new entusiasm and rise to 75+ members almost instantly.
I am not in favor of cleaning out chapters that sincerely want to improve and are trying hard to do the right things. But an ambitious national organization should make assessments. Let the ones go that don't really want to live. Concentrate your resources on building new, enthusiastic chapters which will return tangible and emotional benefits to their members.

I'm your fan too, Firehouse. Feel the lurve! :)

I agree that there are times when the girls are burnt out and honestly, truly do WANT to close - especially if they are under the burden of trying to fill a huge house. I can't imagine the stress of that.

But by the same token, if you don't have a house and are at a smaller school, what your national considers "struggling" you may consider "we just need a little extra help" which the sisters are more than willing to put in. The key is for alumnae and national personnel to keep an eye on chapters, keep an open dialogue and head off little problems before they get to the point where closure is even discussed.

Agreed.

What I would change:

First and foremost, I think our (inter)Nationals needs to put more focus on encouraging all PNMs to rush, not just music majors/minors. I run in to so many people who think you need to be a music major to be in DO, when that is very much not true. (I guess that's just a personal one, since I'm totally un-musical :))

Second: Our website. It's hideous. They redid it about this time last year, but it still looks like it's from 1993.

Third: Better alum structure. It's sad when an alum chapter can meet 4 times a year, not do anything for the collegiates, and still win "Alum chapter of the year" awards.