Rho Chi Point of View
 

Hey GCers...

I thought it would be fun to post about my experience as a Rho Chi at EMU. Sorority Kickoff is tonight (tuesday) followed by Potential New Member Kickoff tomorrow and Recruitment officially starts on thursday. I am so excited and have been busy calling my girls (I have about 30 in my group).

More later!

Now THIS is a Story
 

Salience, did I miss your rush story somehow? If so, I'm sorry you are down and that things didn't work out!

Last night was the Sorority Kickoff. It was the first time we've been able to talk to the sorority members in public, but I got stuck sitting with 4 girls I didn't know, two of whom were some of the rudest girls I've met in a long time!!! Anyway, they just discussed the rules, the code of ethics, sisterhood and retention and then they introduced Panhel E-board and Rho Chis and gave us roses and picture frames. After the ceremony, we were supposed to do house tours but we were all so tired that we just forgot about it.

After Kickoff, I came home and continued calling my girls and reminding them about their Kickoff. Some were really sweet and excited, other kinda blah about it, but I'm still pumped up! I also made my Rho Chi bag with iron-on PX letters and a rose decal and printed my partner's and my fact sheets on pretty butterfly paper...they both looked so adorable!!! (I'm a dork sometimes, I know ;) ).

I'm really looking forward to meeting my girls tonight!

Good luck! Having never been a Rho Chi(which I always thought would be soooo cool) I love hearing your side. I am curious though, how do you go about becoming a PX? I am an alum now, so I know I cant but I was always curious how they got chosen.

but anyway-Have fun!!!!

Angel...

On my campus, Panhellenic will come out in, like, early february and offer applications to anyone interested in being a Rho Chi. I think the application was just about your experience in leadership positions and the reasons you would like to be a Rho Chi/why you think Rho Chis are important. Then, if you are chosen for an interview, you meet with the Panhellenic VP for Recruitment and the Greek Affairs Coordinator/Advisor, who ask you about different scenarios you might have to face and how you would deal with them. After interviews, they sit down and say, "okay, we need X amount of Rho Chis" and choose the most qualified people, usually taking 2-4 per sorority. They usually accept 2-3 extra Rho Chis in case someone drops out or gets asked to resign (usually happens if you miss too many training session). Finally, we spend the rest of the semester, all of the summer and the beginning of the next fall training, fundraising, and basically becoming the best representatives of Panhel that we can possibly be.

It's a WHOLE LOT of work, but you really come to appriciate your sisters (since you can't spend time with them or any other sorority members) and your fellow Rho Chis. You also break down alot of the stereotypes/animosities you may have about/for other chapters. It's been an amazing experience so far and I just hope that this week keeps with my expectations.

I can totally feel you when you say you realize how much you appreciate your sisters. I too, am a Rho Chi this semester, and I never realized how hard it could be. Its especially hard because we cant be seen with people from ANY house, and Im the kind of person who doesnt like to go places alone. Luckily i have non affiliated friends too :)

Its different at Pitt, because where we do have some people fill out forms for PX's, most of us come from J-board or other E-board positions from Panhell. Im a sophmore justice. Also recruitment is kinda scatterbrained this year beccause we are going back to formal recruitment after 4 years without, so no one knows what they are doing. I meet with my Rho Chi group tonight for the first time ever, and Im not sure how good Ill be at answering their questions. AHH!!

Well, good luck!

If you didn't have formal recruitment, how was it done? Good luck to you!

TPA rose, I know how you feel! I need to take a sister with me just to run to the grocery store and now I can't...Good Luck as a Rho Chi at Pitt!

Have fun! I really look forward to hearing the Rho Chi's point of view on rush!

Nichole

Well people, Rho Chi work is exausting!!! Kickoff didn't exactly go off without a hitch...there were over 260 girls signed up but only about 180 showed up! :eek: I started out with 33 girls in my group and only about 20 or so came. Most of my girls that I called after Kickoff just got the times confused or had major homework/papers that they had to finish but will be there tomorrow. Unfortunately, about 6 of my girls have MAJOR scheduling conflicts which is going to keep them away from parties and most likely get them dropped. :( I do, however, love my group! They are really sweet and, I know this is bad but, I kinda have a favorite (she is such a doll).

The highlight of my evening was being told that I HAVE to come meet this girl...she is someone who I had spoken to on GC and she told my Rho Chi partner to come and find me because she said I was the one who convinced her to go Greek. I loved sitting down and talking to her and she made me feel so good about being a Rho Chi! :D

Aww that's so sweet I hope i have a good Rho Chi like you when I rush!

Nichole

Thanks for the PX info ladies! Sounds LOOOONG, but worth it!!! And I love hearing your stories, its great!!! Thanks again ladies!

keep up the good work
 

marvelous reading...
keep up the good work.
cheers
mmcat
:D

Open House Round
 

I was really excited to see my girls today! They were anxious and ready to go and I was so proud of my "kids" (as I like to call them).

First party was Sigma Kappa...I only got a peek into their room but it looked great! They had this archway thing covered with lights (kinda like walking into prom or formal). The girls all LOVED Sigma Kappa.

Next up was Sigma Sigma Sigma... My girls really liked them a lot. They're one of the bigger chapters on our campus so I hope they don't ALL get attached to the Sigmas because they always make major cuts 3rd party and pref.

Third was Alpha Gamma Delta...Unfortunately, AGDs got stuck in the smallest room and I guess it was REALLY stuffy and crowded in there but my girls seemed to find them friendly and really enjoyed their skits.

Then we went to Alpha Sigma Tau... They had some really cute anchor banners up on their walls and my girls enjoyed their "circle game."

Fifth up was Alpha Xi Delta...at this point, my girls started to get a little tired and didn't have as much to say but most of the feedback was positive. Although, I think the AZDs had a bubble machine or something and a lot of my girls were getting bubbles in their mouth when they walked out, YIKES!

After that we went to Delta Zeta...most of my girls liked them a lot, but at this point they were more concerned with what GLO we were in.

Seventh was Phi Sigma Sigma...this was the only party that my girls weren't really feelin'. They said that the girls were okay, but it just wasn't for them.

Finally, we went to Sigma Delta Tau...my girls seemed to like them too but, as this was the last party, we talked more about expectations for tomorrow than their impressions.

My girls think I'm an Alpha Gam, a Delta Zeta, or a Sigma. They think my partner is a Sigma, a Delta Zeta, or a Sigma Detla Tau. They really think we are in the same sorority because we seem very close. ;)

Leslie,
How exciting! I can't wait for your next installment. ;)

Well, "post office" was this morning, and it's really hard to watch your girls drop your organization. Luckily, all but three of my girls were invited back to every sorority. One was invited to seven, the other six, and the last one only five. They have to go to six organizations and I can already see that a lot of them are going to get their hearts broken if they don't broaden their horizons. My partner and I are going to have "the talk" with them tonight about quota and how part of recruitment is seeing past the facade that the chapters put up.

More after parties tonight...

Leslie(thats my name too!)--thanks for such a good post. I have really enjoyed reading from the Rho Chi side. And just wanted to give a little side bar that my aunt was a Sigma Sigma Sigma at Eastern Michigan and she LOVED the greek life there. I am glad to see it has continued! Good luck and keep writing!
Lesley

I love reading this side to the story, and I'm also anxious to hear which GLO you belong to. Keep us posted, and I hope things continue to go well. :)

Invitational Round 1
 

Two of the sororities took major cuts today! During the afternoon, my partner and I were stationed outside of the Phi Sigma Sigma Party, taking attendance. At the beginning of the day, our group had "the talk." It seemed to go over really well and by the end of the day I could see that they took what we said to heart. We asked them if any opinions changed and they all nodded their heads. I think the true test will be at "post office" tomorrow morning.

I really love the girls in my Rho Chi group! :)

This is great. I really enjoy hearing your story! I cant wait to see how it goes.


Nichole

LeslieEMU-One day the girls may realize how lucky they were to have a Rho Chi like you. If only all the girls could be so lucky! Take care of their tender hearts... Somehow, I KNOW you will.

Justamom, thank you for the kind words. How's your daughter doing?

This morning's "post office" went pretty well. They had to narrow down the sororities to only four parties. Only one of my girls didn't get invited back to the four, she was invited to three and her favorite wasn't on there so she was a little bummed but handled it pretty well. I'm really worried about on of my other girls though. She's going back to some of the more "popular" chapters and I just know they're going to drop her tonight before tomorrow's preference and I don't want her to get her heart broken.

My favorite girl dropped my GLO the first day, but she's like "you guys are the best Rho Chis...can I still hang out with you even if I'm not in your sorority?" I'm like, "of course"...we made plans to go to the Lambda Chi party together next week. ;)

great job
 

your posts are terrific.
it sounds like you are having a good time and doing a terrific job.
keep up the good work.
cheers
mmcat
:p

I am loving this post. Keep up the good work!

Nichole

You are such a great Rho Chi!!!! I just know you are going to be so heartbroken if some of your girls get dropped or don't get the bid they wanted. That is just the kind of person you are! But that is what makes you a great Greek Life rep. I totally agree with justamom!!!!

Well, I didn't get a chance to post last night because things were so crazy!!! One of our girls didn't get invited back to any parties :( ...but, she was such trooper and told us that she is a strong believer in the fact that if you can't do something one way, there's always another way and that she'd be Greek eventually and everything would be fine. I don't think I would have had that kind of attitude if it were me. Three of our other girls only got invited to one chapter and they were okay with that, thankfully! Some of our other girls got dropped by their 1st choices, but they were cool too...I love my Eta Girls!!!

So today at Preference things went pretty well. My girls had a great time at their ceremonies. They were all really happy with the sororities that they got invited to join. Two went Sigma, two went DZ, two went SDT, two went AGD, one went AZD, another went AST, another went Phi Sigma Sigma, and three went Sigma Kappa.

At new member presentation, I broke down and started crying because I was so happy to be going home. I looked over at my chapter and my lil sis was smiling at me and I couldn't stop shaking! When my time came, I went up to the microphone and said..."Hi, my name is Leslie, I'm the proud Rho Chi of Eta Group, and I am so so happy to be going home to ALPHA GAMMA DELTA!!!" My two roommates, my lil sis, and about four other sisters attacked me and I went back to my chapter bawling and hugging everyone! My two Eta Girls were pretty suprised and they are sooooooo happy that they are now my sisters.

We went back to the house (which I hadn't seen because it's new this year), had pizza and cake, and took pictures and tours of the house. I am so happy to be back with my sisters, wearing my lavalier, and I plan to sport letters for the next three weeks!!! I am also returning to my other GC screenname, LeslieAGD. ;)

I thought I remebered you being AGD, but I wasnt sure!!! I am so glad you enjoyed it! I started to get goosebumps just reading it!! Thank you for sharing the Rho Chi point of view!!!!

Awww i just loved that your posts! You're are such a sweetie! I hope my Rho Chi is just like you! Have fun with your new sisters!


Nichole

Leslie--

You did such a fantastic job as Rho Chi, and your posts were so great! I'm sure you're so glad to be back to wearing your letters and all that! Have fun with your new sisters!!

bravo
 

super job sweetie....
you did well...
:p
enjoy the future
mmcat
:rolleyes:

Yay Leslie! So glad you're back in our fold! And welcome to our new pledges! (Can't help it, I'm old-fashioned. :p )

You're so sweet Leslie!!!
 

awwww. I'm glad that was the highlight Leslie. I was so happy to finally meet you too. You are such a good person. I only wish there were more people like you. And thank you so much for letting me cry on your shoulder the night before preference. It meant so much to me. I got my first choice though. So now I'm very happy as a new member of Sigma Kappa. We really need to get together sometime and hang out. My e-mail address is xtac_gemini@yahoo.com . I don't have very much time to come to the GC website anymore, but if you e-mail me your phone number I'll be sure to give you a call. And thank you again for how wonderful you've been.


---Jackie

Welcome to SK Jackie! :D

congrats
 

jackie, we're proud for you
mmcat
:)

Congratulations Jackie!! I wish you the best!



Nichole