Why did you go...
 

Just wondering... what cinched it for you to join the group you did? When did you decide and what made it your final decision? I am sure that for some this was after recruitment. I'll tell you my story.
I rushed as a sophomore and wasn't sure if I even wanted to in a sorority. The girl I talked to at preference knew a friend of mine that had been killed in a car accident the year before. It was the first friend I had lost. At preference the ceremony meant nothing to me, but we didn't talk about sorority stuff, we talked about my friend. I knew he had a lot of good friends that were AGD's and I knew that they were the most "real" girls that I met. The girl I talked to cried with as we talked and I knew that if I were to ever have a reason to cry that these girls would definitly cry with me, and laugh with me too. That is when I decided I, too, wanted to be an Alpha Gam. I have never looked back!

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If your going to go greek, why not be a goddess?

http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif That's the sweetest thing I've ever heard.

I chose my GLO because they are an awesome group of women who do more than just drink beer and meet boys. I know that sounds rough, but some sororities on our campus had that one mission. My group did so many other things, like Habitat for Humanity, and fundraising for our philanthropies and had tons of sisterhood stuff. It just felt like a place where I could really fit in and make a difference. And it is http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif Even now as an alum, I get to help other chapters make a difference on their campuses.

In my sophomore year of college I met a girl who was already in AGD. Despite several attempts to get me to go to some of the AGD events, I decided to pledge a local sorority.

Boy, that was the worst decision I made. I was subjected to forms of hazing, and one night, after a pledge meeting, I broke down and cried at our campus commons.

Lo and behold, the AGD chapter meeting had just adjourned, and 6 AGD sisters immediately came to my aid and wanted to know if there was anything they could do to help. I was at my lowest of lows, I felt like crap because these local sorority girls disrespected me. But the AGDs took me under their wing and made sure that I made it back to my dorm okay.

After that night, I called my friend and I told her what had happened. I was ashamed that I turned down AGD for this local sorority and I apologized to her (she was Recruitment chair at that time). I didn't want anything to do with the Greek system anymore, but eventually I got to know those AGD angels better, and I decided to give it another try at their next formal recruitment.

I share that experience about my AGD angels at every Preference and Presents ceremony because I want the new girls to realize how special it is to me to have my sisters in my life.

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*I'm an Alpha Gam...Yes I am, Yes I am!*

I chose ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA for so many reasons

The great tradition of service to "all mankind"

The great women of AKA..
Eleanor Roosevelt (1st Lady of US)
Maya Angelou (poet)
Rosa Parks (mother of civil rights movement)
Coretta Scott King (wife of MLK Jr.)
Mae Jemison (1st African American woman in space)
My mom

Most of all I felt most at ease and at home with the programs (both nationally and on the local level



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IVY in my HAND-- AKA in my HEART

I chose my professional because I was going to do it for the rest of my life http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/wink.gif

I chose my social because their philanthropy is to aid the hearing impaired. Because I was a music major I wanted to help bring music to people who otherwise can't participate in it's soothing, educational, challanging, and beautiful properties.

When I started the local, I had beenballed from another Fraternity. I wrote letters to many of the Large and Old line Fraternitys. I was turned down by all of them even though they did not know I was the only member. I had a TKE advisor tell me to contact LXA. I said who and looked them up. They were relatively new in the Fraternal world. I contacted them and they sent a TS to talk to us. In the mean time, another Fraternity had a TS come and give a presentation to us.
We had a 14 hour meeting to decide who we would affiliate with. Thank God I won the fight. We were colonized at the end of the next semester by LXA. I have never looked back and said damn why was I not in another Fraternity. I have been a LXA for 35 years and will be a LXA until the day I die.

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Tom Earp LX Z#1
Pittsburg State U. (Kansas)

I had signed up for rush first semester freshman year, but it started on the first day of classes and wasn't up to it. I was going to transfer schools, but when I knew for sure I would stay, I went through rush as a sophomore. I had a good friend in DZ, but I told myself I wouldn't make a final decision until I went through rush. The girls were diverse, some much different than me but a lot were simliar. I thought I'd find a home in DZ, and I did...

Hi! I posted this response in another chat a while back:

The main reason that I joined Delta Zeta was because the sisters seemed to be so genuine during Rush. I was a little shy and didn't know hardly anything about sororities when I went to college. It was actually my mother's suggestion that I go through Rush so that I could meet people.

At the Rush parties, the DZ girls made me feel extremely comfortable. It wasn't that I didn't like the other sororities - I did. I was actually a little torn between DZ and one other house right up until Pref Night. But after the preference party, I knew that I was going to be a DZ or nothing.

It's hard to describe how I knew that DZ was the right choice for me. I think that what impressed me the most was that the sisters were all individuals - they each had their own interests. Some were athletic and outgoing, some were shy and reserved, some were brainy, some were social butterflies. I knew that I wouldn't have to "conform" in order to feel welcome in Delta Zeta. That's what did it for me! And I've never regretted my decision! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

Carrie

Carrie, http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

you posted under my thread!! Thank you!! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif Your story is really sweet http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

BTW, I just visited; your website! Very cute! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

Thanks for the compliments, Newbie!! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif I'm glad you liked the webpage - it's my first (and only) attempt at building a site. Feel free to e-mail me if you ever have any questions about DZ!

Thanks DZRose!! I will if you don't mind! Look for one in a few days (prolly after Friday)! BTW, I like those turtles http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif They are cute. Thanks again!!

Edited to ask: I couldn't see your email address! If you want, you can email your email addie to my addie, LOL!

[This message has been edited by newbie (edited April 02, 2001).]

Hi newbie!

I just e-mailed it to you! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

Thanks Carrie, I got it! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif I was wondering, what was the image you sent me? It didn't show up on my screen--just a tan background http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif Have a good rest of Monday!!

Hmmm, I'm not sure. That's weird. I didn't put an image on there. My company's e-mail is set up differently than most e-mail addresses, so maybe that's why it looked strange.

Oh, wait! I know what happened. I just sent you a new e-mail. See if that's better! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

Thanks! I will check!! Hehe, i'm so addicted to GC...I have an essay (actually, historical fiction about the Japanese Internment in WWII) due at 10:00 AM (Pacific Time) so I better start my writing after I check my mail! Look for an email upcoming! Thanks again Carrie! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif

http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif Carolyn


[This message has been edited by newbie (edited April 02, 2001).]

Those are real friends, they were there even after you rejected them. That's awesome!



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*selah*

when i went through fall rush i was dead set on a certain sorority and really didnt give the others much thought. But as i began my house visits, I began to find out what an awesome bunch of girls the Alpha Phi's were. I felt so comfortable there! That fall it seemed like everyone wanted them and I was sure the numbers werent going to work out and I wouldnt get them. I cried during thier skit night...it was so touching and felt so right! When i went to pref night I knew thats where I had to be...and thats where I am

Rochelle, Alpha Phi

"Greener grows our ivy with you"!

I posted a response on another thread similar to this issue, but I'll post again http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif I entered George Mason U. in the Fall of 1994 as a transfer and was a rugby player. One of my hallmates invited me out to a PKA event where we met the brothers. It was pretty cool, but new to me because I was all new to greek life and was unsure about it. The next week I went to another PKA event, a pizza party and had a good time. Although the rest of the week I never heard from them. So I was a little dismayed and I didnt look at other Fraternities. Well, I decided after that experience I was going to do some research, check everyone out over the course of the semester, and go for it the next semester. Well, during that fall semester I had this great guy in one of my Government classes and we always ran into each other at this local bar(fat tuesday's) and he always offered me a ride back after last call. I never brought up the fact he was greek. The next semester I came out for Spring Rush. I went to a few KA events and they were pretty cool, but I wanted to check someone else out so I went to one Beta function. When I went to that Beta function I knew it right then and there thats what I wanted. The guys were so friendly, geniune, classy, lots of fun, athletic, sharp and the ladies there had many nice things to say about Beta too. Well, that next week I got a bid from the President and I was so estatic. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif Then during my pledge period my big brother turned out to be the guy who I mentioned from the previous semester in my government class. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif I had many great times with my Brothers and made many life long friendships. Looking back on it I would never have wanted to go for any other Fraternity. I will be a Beta till I die http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

Kevin
Beta Theta Pi Alum
Epsilon Mu Chapter
Sigma Class 1994
George Mason University



[This message has been edited by Miami1839 (edited April 03, 2001).]

I chose Kappa Sig because the guys were just really genuine and they seemed like good guys to hang out with. I didn't feel like I was being sold something during rush - I felt like they were just talking to me like I was one of the guys, and that made a big impact. Plus, I'm kinda a quiet shy kid in some ways, and the brothers made an effort to come over and talk to me, which made me feel so much better. I wanted to go with someone I felt comfortable with, and Kappa Sig ended up being that chapter.

My university didn't allow freshman to rush until their second semester. I was never very interested in greek life, so when my roommate and some of our friends decided to rush, "just to see what it was like", I didn't join them (I didn't even consider it!).

When I came back in the fall of my sophomore year I began noticing an awful lot of people in a particular co-ed GLO. Some were friends of mine, many were acquaintances.

I did't talk to these friends and acquaintance much about their GLO, I just observed them. They all had great personalities, were friendly, "real"... people I (and most people) enjoy being around. And this was a professional GLO, which meant it had other benefits aside from brother/sisterhood.

Then I saw it: their Rush banner hanging in our Campus Center (The Student Union, where all campus information was shared on giant banners that hung in front of the mailboxes).

I was trying to decide if I really wanted to join a GLO. I didn't have a very enlightened view of them at the time. That's when a very good friend of mine asked if I was going to their rush party. (Neither of us had mentioned that we were thinking about it for some reason). I decided to go.

During the beginning of that rush party I remember thinking that I couldn't believe I was thinking of joining a GLO. But by the end, I couldn't imagine not becoming a part of Phi Beta Fraternity.

Needless to say, I attended rush functions for the next 2 weeks (yes, our rush was 3 weeks long!!). There were 4 other girls on my hall rushing Phi Beta as well. Well, the last night of rush the GLOs extend their bids to rushees, who have to turn in the one they accept to the Student Activities Office the next day to begin their new member period (pledging).

There were a lot of people rushing Phi Beta that semester, and we were sitting out in the hall with our doors open (because they told everyone to be in their rooms, close to a phone). All of a sudden about 6 or 7 Phi Beta actives came onto our hall, they were our bigs and other new sisters! All five of us had gotten bids!

Later that night, our bigs snuck back on the hall and decorated all of our doors with "Welcome to Phi Beta" signs and violet and gold balloons (our colors). (Decorating doors was a big thing on my school... the halls reminded me Open House in elementary when all of the artwork was up for parents to see!)

People still can't believe that I am in a fraternity. But, like most of you, I just knew that Phi Beta was something I had to be a part of. Even though I primarily rushed because of the professional benefits, I have learned (and continue to learn) that the biggest benefit is the brother/sisterhood. It's something you have to experience to understand.

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SilverTurtle@greekchat.com
http://www.plaudersmilies.de/tiere/turtle.gif
Phi Beta Fraternity

[This message has been edited by SilverTurtle (edited May 02, 2001).]