WTF is dynamic recruitment? That sounds like some sort of horrible corporatespeak.

Yeah. Like when I had one job but 5 bosses that didn't report to one another or even to the same C-Suite.

Phired Up refers to their style of recruitment as "dynamic." It basically promotes what you've said here regarding the fostering of more "normal" conversations and relationships.

I would guess it's not some weird kind of recruitment style that groovypg's campus Panhellenic created.

But I could be wrong...

Truthfully, I have yet to figure it all out. Last fall for informal recruitment, it meant my chapter and one other, who only had 2-4 openings, recruited by meeting PNMs for lunch, coffee, etc. (hanging out with sisters) and then extending bids to fill the spots. The other two chapters, who had graduated large senior classes and had more spots, held open houses. There was still a bid day.

I didn't like this method because, even though it was only open to sophomores and above, I felt like it put my chapter at a disadvantage because, even if freshmen couldn't attend open houses, they'd at least be seeing the fliers/posters/Facebook invites and it would put a chapter's name in their heads. With my chapter not doing open houses, their name wasn't getting out there as much. Now, they had the rest of the semester to get to know freshman PNMs but still... first impressions.

Also, my chapter lost out on some great PNMs because they wanted the "experience" of going to open houses.

To me, it was too much of a free-for-all. I've been told by my chapter members who are Panhel exec members that it will be more coordinated this year. We'll see.

That's wrong to hogtie the chapters by not allowing them all to do the same thing and call it any sort of organized effort. With truly open COB, not coordinated in any way by Panhel, it's up to the chapters how they want to rush. If ABC wants to have huge open houses and skits to fill 3 spots, they can. If XYZ wants to fill the 20 spots they have with the 20 girls on the softball team without throwing a single party, with just walking over to practice and giving the girls the bids, they can.

But if Panhellenic is coordinating an effort, there should be AT LEAST one night where ALL the rushees meet ALL the chapters, regardless of their current size. To do otherwise isn't very Panhellenic.

Frankly, I'm not a fan of Phirred Up in the first place. It was designed for the mens' groups and I don't think they've gotten the hang of the womens' groups.

I agree. Yes, get rid of the ridiculous silence restrictions that some campi have had, but that doesn't mean a free-for-all, all the time. If a rushee complains about one round-robin night of rush where God forbid she might have to talk to women she has nothing in common with, that to me says she isn't a very good prospect for Greek life (or just life, period).

If you have a chapter that has no clue how to rush outside of formal, yes, PhiredUp can open their eyes, but that doesn't mean they can make it the be-all and end-all. You need to be skilled at both types of rush to truly succeed.

Agree 100%

I've actually seen it work for highly competitive chapters/schools. It would take forever to explain here, but they do cater to those environments and they alter their generic rules and lessons for such a group.

Ironically, if just this was done, a program like Phired Up could help immensely. It's not just about COB, but rather, they encourage "real" connections and relationships outside of a quick 20 minute conversation at a recruitment party.

Somebody posted a couple of days ago on the Class of 2017 Facebook page asking "What sororities/fraternities are you guys rushing for?" Said somebody isn't rushing a Panhellenic sorority and probably doesn't know better... but there are plenty of people rushing for ABC and XYZ Panhellenics who are saying which one or two they're there to rush. Uh oh.

Recruitment starts for me tomorrow. I have heard these sort of comments all over the place. I can't tell you how many times I've been asked, "Which one are you rushing for?" When I try to explain that that's not how it works, they say, "No, no, no. I mean, which one do you want to be in?" And I'm like, "That's not how it works." Then I get confused looks as if I'm the one who doesn't know what I'm talking about. I think most of it stems from people's misperceptions about Greek Life. Some people could be confusing the formal recruitment process with the informal recruitment process (where you rush for a sorority who needs to meet quota).

Soomie, they may mean "Even though you have to go to all the parties, which one do you want?" Even some NPC alumnae use this terminology incorrectly.

A PNM I wrote a rec for this year is a legacy to a chapter and her sister just graduated 2 years ago. She told me that her own sister advised her to "only rush for the ones with a good reputation." For Pete's sake this is a recent alumna of a chapter at Oklahoma State. People say things wrong all the time.

Soomie, you are ahead of the game because you get it! I just heard of a young woman who will be rushing spring semester and several of us alums from different sororities volunteered to write recs. for her. She very politely thanked us, and then told us she would get in touch later after she decides which ones she wants to concentrate on ! :-0

My daughter already had her recs sent for winter recruitment by this time last year. I'm afraid that young lady is in for a wake-up call. Having recs now will help the members know which PNMs they'd like to concentrate on this fall!

Ding. Ding. Ding.

Our alumnae chapter's rec board will be mailing ALL spring recs in this Friday. You hit the nail on the head- the PNM must get on the chapter's radar.

ALL National GLO's have 'elite' chapters and 'struggling' chapters. There aren't any that are more exclusive than another. ABC is terrible at Everyday University and strong at Nearby University. There is pride in all the organizations, and some GLO's will claim they are stronger because of numbers, founding date, prominent members, or their 'manufactured image'. Go with your heart open and trust that you will learn something from everyone. Be sure to give something of yourself to every woman you meet. It can be a smile, a compliment, an inner appreciation and respect that is shown in your manner or by the twinkle in your eyes. We are all lucky to be a part of this fabulous experience. Panhell love…..

I've heard that once again, there are Facebook groups in which PNMs from certain schools discuss their preferred groups and run down others. Ladies, I don't care if these are secret groups, sorority members DO manage to see them. Pllleeeaase be discreet.

The summer before my daughter's freshman year many of the PNMs at her school were doing exactly that. "I'm only interested in ABC", or "If I don't get a bid from DEF I'll just die" or even worse, "I hear that GH dirty rushes". The dirty rush story was a mean rumor, and guess what else? The girl only interested in ABC joined another sorority and the girl who said she would die if she didn't get a bid from DEF? Did not like them in the least and ranked them last.

Women in the chapters who have younger sisters may see those posts. Chapter advisors who have daughters in the group may see them. PMNs who are appalled at the sh*t talking may show their friends in the chapters being disrespected, etc. You get the idea. As I am fond of telling my students, "Nothing about the internet is truly private, they don't call it the world wide web for lack of better name."

Bumping for fall PNMs--

PNMs read this... serious food for thought!

TTT for 2017!

I have to say - the Panhellenic where my daughter is going through deals with references very well. And by all accounts it is not a competitive Greek system. I do not understand why SEC schools would not say something similar:

"A potential new member recommendation form, also known as a rec, reference or RIF, is a form that a sorority alumna completes for a potential new member introducing her to a chapter.

Recs do not guarantee that you will receive a bid from a chapter. Panhellenic does not have rec forms available and cannot obtain them for potential new members. An alumna may find a rec form in her respective sorority’s magazine, or on the national organization’s website. She can also call the headquarters of her sorority to obtain the form.

Recs are not mandatory for every sorority. However, potential new members are encouraged to secure a rec for each of the chapters participating in recruitment. Recs for each sorority should be sent directly to the chapter, unless otherwise specified on the recommendation form.

All rec letters/forms can be sent to the address below. Please specify to which sorority it should to be delivered."

Obviously you haven't checked out any SEC schools. Alabama's Greek Chic is excellent on this topic and all things Alabama recruitment. Please see page 24. http://www.uapanhellenic.com/greek-c...ruitment-guide

Sorry - I didn't mean to offend. I was talking about some of the conversation earlier on this thread, like here http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/sh...=134607&page=7

And my niece's experience when she went through at USC several years ago, prior to deferred recruitment. So my knowledge was dated. But they are still downplaying references.
​
From: https://www.uscpanhellenic.com/2020-spring-recruitment
Do you need them?

No! They aren’t necessary, and not having them isn’t a problem. They are intended just a way for chapters to get to know you a little better before they meet you!

​So I did look at one SEC school.

So six years later, I am wondering how this panned out.

Me too.

Me too!!!

Hmmmm...this link is to the University of Southern California (USC) not the University of South Carolina (also USC)....

Fortunately, (FOR HER), she did get a bid to A D Pi but THAT IN NO WAY MEANS YOU, PRECIOUS PNM OR MOM OF A PNM, SHOULD COUNT ON NOT NEEDING RECS!

Yikes. Sorry about that. https://www.sc.edu/about/offices_and...ylifeuofsc.pdf

Here is South Carolina- I don’t see any mention of references. Eight or so years ago the brochure (printed) I saw at my in-laws house specifically said references were not needed - I was SHOCKED. I was reading it right before my niece was heading off to USC.... with only one reference. Once home, I wrote one for my sorority and secured two more sororities for her. Less than a month before recruitment.

You can guess how her recruitment went. Heavy cuts. Did not pledge. Later her freshman year she pledged COB and had a wonderful Greek experience. The girls were super sweet when we went to graduation.

But I was left disturbed by the communication coming from The Panhellenic to the PNM. I think her formal recruitment would have gone differently if her family had any idea about securing references.

We have seen this before. That line that says “It is the sorority’s obligation to find a recommendation for you”. Um.....no, that isn’t going to happen unless you are super-duper awesome, with tippy top grades, and a patent or cancer cure to claim. And that will happen toward the end of the process, not at the beginning when a rec might be crucial in order to advance to the next round. Bottom line-girls, do yourselves a favor and work real hard )it is work and it can be hard) to get one rec per house. Network with neighbors, relatives, teachers, you parents friends, your friends parents, girls from your HS who graduated before you, etc. Notify your contact list via FB that you are looking for recommendations. Have your parents and close relatives do the same.

That booklet isn’t from Panhellenic- it’s from U of South Carolina Greek life. I hope to goodness that Panhellenic (either the school or the nearby alumnae Panhellenic chapter) puts out one dealing with NPC rush only, because while I applaud their effort to be inclusive and show ALL the Greek organizations, it is also super confusing and not nearly enough specific information for ANY of the councils.

I feel like that was put together by someone who says “we don’t see color at all!” Which of course is a ridiculous and harmful thing to say.

Several things I see: the booklet is for ALL Greek councils at Carolina. I can see why they wouldn't put anything there about recs. There is a very cool online tutorial for the women. Since we can't see that because we can't sign up for recruitment, I bet something about recs is covered there. $5 on that one,BB?

Florida State’s Panhellenic Recruitment FAQ page still says recs “are in no way required and do not impact the recruitment process in any way.”

I promise you. About 8 years ago, I saw the glossy Panhellenic brochure in my brother-in-law and sister-in-laws home during a summer trip to Tennessee. NPC sororities only.

My niece told me she was going through recruitment. I asked her what references she had, and she only had one from her best friend's mom. Then she and her mom said that you do not need references at South Carolina and pulled the brochure out to show me. It plainly stated that you did not need references to go through recruitment at USC.

This then became a source of a marital argument between my husband and me. I kept whispering to him that they were wrong, that USC was very competitive and references were most likely a must. He said "they wouldn't write that in the pamphlet if it wasn't true." Oh and "things have changed since the 80s when you were in a sorority." And USC is different from the school you went to. Me: "Yeah, USC is COMPETITIVE, my school was not!"

But I asked for my niece's resume - and once we flew home I wrote a reference for my sorority and secured a KKG and I believe a XO. These would have come in about a week or two before recruitment. Way, way late.

Recruitment was brutal - from talking with my non-greek SIL - I don't know if she dropped out after heavy cuts or if she was actually released. My niece is a super outgoing, popular kid with great grades in HS. (She was in the honors program at USC and only made 1 B her entire college career - so grades were not a factor). But she learned most PNM - had tons of references.

My husband then told me "What the hell kind of system tells you one thing and then expects another?"

I know right after formal recruitment - the girls from the chapter she ended up pledging reached out to her and she went through an informal process to join.

I FINALLY found their current wording:
Letters of Recommendation
Letters of recommendation are not required but if submitted, are strongly encouraged to only be submitted electronically. If you have a coach, teacher, counselor, or mentor interested in writing you a letter of recommendation, they can make their recommendation electronically through the USC Sorority Recruitment Letter of Recommendation form by Aug. 4. The letter of recommendation form will open on May 1 and close on Aug. 4.

https://www.sc.edu/about/offices_and...ecruitment.php

It was under the legacy notification and letter of recommendation form section.

That’s a SCHOOL recommendation form. It’s completely pointless as far as being the form that is preferred/required (depending on the GLO) by the sorority to offer a bid. Plus people who aren’t Greek - not to mention people who have zero to do with USC - not to mention men - can use it. What a confusing waste of time!! I can’t imagine what happens when these chapters get dozens of forms from Joe Schmo the science teacher from Walla Walla High. (Actually I can imagine - they go in the wastebasket) Plus the legacy section above makes it seem like the only time you need to use a form from a national sorority is when the rushee is a legacy. Gahhh, if you can’t do it right, don’t do it at all.

I can only hope that people who know better super-spam their Facebook and Instagram pages with the correct information.

THIS times a zillion. Thanks once again, 33.

Here's the bottom line: many NPC chapters require a letter of recommendation as part of the membership intake process.

SO? Get the (insert adjective/expletive of your choice here) recs/letters. Just get them. There are so many excellent threads here on GC about how to secure recs. I have even written "informational recs" for pnms that I do not know personally, as a courtesy to my NPC sisters who ask for help with PNMs. It's no skin off my fingers to do it and I do not want to stand in anyone's way when it comes right down to it.

/swerve: BlueBayou I had breakfast this morning with my Tri Delta buddy (the one I already told you about) and one of her pledge sisters was also at the same restaurant. :D You guys are everywhere! My friend also has a pine sticker with "alumna" on her car (don't ask me to take a photo, I won't, I was in the generation that didn't photograph anything! thank GOD for that!!!). About the sticker - envious, so I ordered a really cool kite decal for my rear windshield. I ordered some extras for my GC Theta sisters, too. I may mail them before Christmas. Don't hold your breath.