Saving a chapter?
 

Hey all... I need help. I'm an alumnea of my sorority and need some help. Could you all post your stories of a chapter going under and how they turned it around without having to close it's doors for a time.

Thanks!

I think it's alumnae, but I could be wrong.

Thanks... that helps so much.

You're not wrong. Also, for a single female it's actually alumna. And I don't know if you're going to get many serious answers to your question, especially with this being your first and only post.

I'm a life long Greekchatter but to protect the id of the chapter, I've changed my name. I know, this is looked down upon. Just help folks! Thanks.

No one is going to post entire stories here about a chapter turning around... none that have enough details to really help you, anyway. The process can take years, and it wouldn't be worth the time to type (or in some cases, re-type) an entire story of a struggling chapter eventually coming out on top... especially if the story isn't relatable to your chapter. If you have a specific question, ask it. Otherwise, use the search function.

ETA: Sorry if that sounded mean.. But if someone tells a story about how their chapter of 60 brothers struggled because they needed more social events, and wanted to build a better relationship with sororities.. but your chapter of 15 sisters is struggling because you don't know how to recruit.. the first story isn't going to help you much. Just be more specific. You're hiding your identity anyway... what's the difference?

I could see this being Earp's secret way of getting back in.

See that is why I haven't been involved with GC in a while, too many people trying to limit converstations. If someone has a story and they want to share it, then it is worthwhile to one person, me. If you won't get anything out of it, then please bypass the topic.

I am asking for stories because I want/need encouragement. I work with a chapter that is struggling and if there is one story out there about a chapter on the verge of closing that rallied to turn things around then that would be awesome. I don't expect a miracle without work and I've been involved long enough to know that you can't turn things around over night but I know that there are groups that have gone from dreadful recruitment results one year to two years later coming out on top... so let me here those stories.

Please if this thread doesn't get any results that fine... but stop trying to nea-say it.

ETA: I'm not Earp. My username would have given my chapter and school away. I've had it since I was in college 9 years ago and I am active on my groups board.

I just did a search and found well over a dozen threads. What gives? Why won't you do one?

Because I've never succeed in finding what I want and I'm a little crazy at the moment, I just got word about this issue today... sorry. You are right, I should have searched.

My question is why do you all look to point out the wrong or to discourage additional posts?

Forgive me for coming to a place where I thought I would find help and only get errors pointed out and negativity. Thanks.

Moderator you can delete the thread, I'm sorry I asked.

No, this poster write in complete sentences and without excessive use of
:rolleyes::cool::p:o;):D.

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To the OP, how will hearing just one story of how a chapter miraculously fought the odds and turned their wallowing organization into a spectacular specimen of sisterhood help? You are looking for someone to give you an easy answer. What happened in AB chapter of XYZ may have nothing in common with your issues.

In my opinion, what you need to do:

1. Sit down, identify the symptoms - ie. low number of bids accepted, pledge dropouts, actives' apathy, disaffiliation, reputation, low GPAs, risk management issues, etc.
2. THEN take each symptom and figure out WHY it's happening. Problem chapters - and I mean this in the sense that a chapter is suffering - have problems for many reasons. There is no single answer.
3. Communication.
   • Get your chapter advisor (not the campus Greek advisor)involved.
   • Have peer conversations with other chapters of your sorority who are doing well. If you can arrange it, visit them during meetings, assist during recruitment, etc.
   • Look to your members for ideas on where you can focus your efforts. Once you identify your issues, seek out sisters who are skilled in those areas to take charge or steer committees.

It's also important to recognize what your chapter does well. If your numbers are down, but your chapter is close, that is something to be proud of, and to use as a jumping point. For example, if your group is very close, encrourage each member to unofficially "recruit" at least two of her closest non-sorority friends. Wear letters, share stories, invite them to philanthropy events or even a party (be on your best behavior), without overtly saying that you are trying to get them to join. This sort of thing should happen year-round, but that's a whole other conversation.

The answer is within your sorority. If your chapter truly cannot be saved, your nationals may decide that they have to step in, which can either save your chapter on campus, or tear it apart. I have a feeling that if you take an honest and hard look at what's happening, and why, you will increase your chances of turning things around.

In all honesty, there are probably occurances within each organization that alumnae would be willing to share. I would recommend you network within your own GLO.

KSUViolet06.. I "freaked out" because I asked for help and you were the only person to offer anything of value... at the time. I appreciate the additional posts. I know about the solution being within and all that stuff... I'm looking for stories for encouragement.

I'm not an advisor, just a concerned alumna. I am trying to rally other alumnae (you are right EW, I spelled it wrong) into action. We can't do anything, the recruitment has to come from the chapter itself but we can support the girls, throw money at the chapter for parties, cute tshirts, and great pr, and help encourage the advisors (and step up to be one ourselves) but we are a young chapter with young alumnae who are starting our own families... so I am just looking for examples of chapters that have succeeded in saving itself.

I did search for stories and found great stuff about toast songs and one or two threads about struggling chapters but again, I'm just looking for success stories. Just like we like to read about peoples rush stories, I want success stories. That is all.

Thanks for the help KSUViolet06 and ree-Xi... for what it is worth.

PS KSUViolet06, that was one of the few threads I found.

I just want to preface this by saying I'm not trying to be mean... just trying to be helpful.

* If the OP truly is a "life long" Greekchatter, he / she would know that a lot of the older members like for people to utilize the Search function.

* Without specifics as to what problem is (is it a risk management issue that is hurting the chapter? A money problem? A programming problem? A numbers problem?) there isn't much people can say to help. Therefore you won't really get any posts of "value"

Make sure your shit is straight with (in this order) your nationals, your chapter alumnae, and your college - no monies owed anywhere, no risk management issues, no drama, what's past is past. Do this before wasting money on "parties and cute t shirts."

Then stand back and let the women recruit. As you said, it has to come from them - not you. If they decide they don't care if the chapter dies, you really can't do anything about it.

Reading "success stories" isn't going to help if the ways a chapter turned itself around have no bearing on your situation. It's not going to matter a damn if ABC won Greek week and that turned their chapter around, if winning Greek week is not something people on your campus care about or respect.

I am a long time greekchatter but I normally stick to my groups board and sometimes the recruitment board. But this is besides the point...

Don't you all ever like to read or watch encouraging stories about people or groups that aren't "just-like-you"? That is all I am asking about, but maybe you are all right, in that this was a pointless thread. That I won't get anything of value. But atleast I threw the idea out there to ask if anyone had a story to share.

Thanks for all the help.

If you just asked for stories, that's one thing. But this was your first post:

You said you need help. If you were just looking for encouraging stories, then you might have heard some. But you sounded as if you were originally looking to help turn YOUR chapter around. If that's the case, ask a question, and anyone here would be more than willing to answer it.

Not sure you even read my post, but I guess the proper response is "you are welcome". This is why I rarely give advice, because people are not really looking for ways to solve their own problems. They don't want to do the work.

I just read that you are an alum. You really have no influence on the chapter as it exists right now. Next time you ask for help, please be clearer in what you are looking for.

By the way, "throwing money at the chapter", cute t-shirts, and the like won't solve the problem(s), which again, you have yet to detail. It's like putting icing on a crappy cake, just hiding what's below the surface.

Good luck with that.

My only advice (has nothing to do with this thread and the postings, just a general situation) is that if you and other young alumnae want to help the chapter, you work with HQ, the chapter advisors, and even the alumnae chapter that may be assigned to help the college chapter. Working together is what needs to happen to support the women, because if anyone gets hurt feelings or their toes stepped on, it could make things worse for the women and close the chapter.

This is kind of along the lines of what I would have said. As a chapter advisor myself alumnae help with a chapter, struggling or not, is always welcome. However you do have to go through the proper channels. I know if another alumna just started showing up and doing stuff while I would be grateful I would be a bit miffed as well. So contact your HQ and see how you can help with this chapter and just go from there.