How Has COVID Affected Your Org
 

Hi All,

I'm currently writing something on the bigger effects of social distancing on fraternity organizations (namely that they couldn't lobby and cancellations).

Can any of you help and provide some details on what your organization has done in light of COVID?

In the case of my fraternity:
- Social media emphasis on sharing (gaming usernames, workout apps, etc.)
- Webinars (an increase in webinars, mostly related to COVID)
- Leadership Institute Cancellation (our leadership institute was canceled due to COVID but also a decreasing number of applications.)

Has your organization cancelled a convention? changed up its social media routine? etc.

Thanks in advance,
Nik

-weekly chapter meetings but over zoom
-photo challenges to post on social media

National convention hasn't been cancelled just yet but all my campus activities obviously has.

Chi Omega's founder's day is April 5, which normally means special events (Eleusinia) held at collegiate and alumnae chapters, whether it's a banquet, brunch, luncheon, etc. This year there won't be things like that going on. Our national archivist will be hosting a Facebook Live event, and some sisters from my chapter will be holding a Zoom get-together on April 5.

Our campus—Rose-Hulman—is closed for the year with online courses only. Nearly all students were already home for a “four week break” when the school cancelled for the year. Many students from far away still have nearly everything in their rooms and, since they were driven from those states by their parents last fall, who knows when they can get back?

We have only 7 young men in our house who are observing social distancing by spreading out all over. Slowly they are finding ways home except for the international students who will stay. Our cook shops for them and prepares food that they can fix. That way she can keep working (which she likes) but eventually she will draw unemployment which does over the summer.

Like fraternitynik, we are all making use of social media to stay in touch. My greatest fear is attrition—nearly all our young engineering students have had their internships cancelled. Many of them relied heavily on that money for books and fraternity expenses. Also a good number have one or both parents laid off of totally out of work. Rose is an $$$ private school, and I can see lots of them transferring out of financial necessity. I know of at least 2 from 1,000 miles who are transferring “home” because they just don’t want to be so far away.
I also wonder about rush next fall; I’m sure enrollment will be down and money, for many, will be tight. Add in that our groups were in the process of a small spring rush. That ended immediately, so all of us will miss out on the 5-7 new members we normally take.

This whole COVID-19 could drastically change Greek life for many years at a number of campuses, both large and small. I think our experience as advisors will be sorely needed and, most likely, tested in ways we’ve not experienced.

Gamma Phi Beta has launched a "Sisterhood at Home" campaign which seeks to offer fellowship at a distance.

- Virtual meet-ups (webinars) for meditation, trivia, baking how-tos, working from home, tap dancing, and leadership principles

- April's Volunteer and Advisor Appreciation Month celebration to be streamed online

- Gamma Phi Beta themed coloring sheets were made available for download :)

- Social media: we had preexisting FB groups for wellness, moms (motherhood), sisters in the military, and STEM professionals which are being promoted again.

- Convention is not cancelled yet; but they are monitoring the situation.

- Individual collegiate and alumnae chapters are holding meetings online via Zoom or slide show, etc.

AOII has been doing zoom meetings for various officers and the advisors. We then have additional online resources that were just sent out for all members with different topics.

Our International President is going to lead a zoom meeting for all current seniors where she will lead them in the alumnae ceremony.

Edit: a whole slew of virtual programming has been put together for colligates. It is called "Our Promise to You!" which goes right along with our new member experience called "Fulfilling the Promise". It includes everything from Zoom meetings/lectures on all sorts of topics to watch lists and book lists. I'm very impressed as how quickly they put this together!

Thanks for all the replies so far, this is all good to see.

Agree with PGD-Grad, there may be some consequential changes to Greek Life as a whole after all of this, so I am interested to see these early adaptations from everyone.

Not many men's groups represented, and eager to hear more.

Thanks again!
NPJK

I sent you an email or two about my org's responses.

Alpha Gamma Delta just announced the cancellation of our Convention this summer. We celebrate International Reunion Day the 3rd Sat in April and several alumnae groups are doing that virtually.

Cancelled Dance Fundraiser...but still doing all we can !
 

Hi all! COVID-19 has led to the cancellation of one of our biggest fundraisers in Panhel. Right now, the event is being replaced by a TikTok challenge. I would really appreciate it if you could maybe drop a like and show some Greek love in the comments so that we can raise money for our philanthropy ! At the end of the day it’s all for the kids—even if we are in a tough situation right now. PPLAM and stay safe out there :)

https://vm.tiktok.com/nr2pHJ/

My greek council (includoing panhel, ifc, NPHC, and MCGC,) has done this is a great way to keep people involved this time.

Did AGD simply say it's cancelled, not postponed? Will they hold it next year instead or simply wait another two years?

I wonder what happens with elections of national officers if all of these conventions are cancelled or postponed.

Alpha Sigma Tau just held our annual Night to Reunite event last week, and many chapters and sisters met virtually over Zoom.

Two of the Chi Omega chapters I follow on Instagram, UCLA and Tulsa university, are posting inspirational posts each day.

I haven’t heard if our convention has been canceled yet. It’s our 125th anniversary this year. (Sigh).

It's cancelled. The 2022 convention location was announced this week - it's usually announced at convention.

Alpha Gam does elections prior to convention, and the FAQ released stated that officer installation would happen this summer.

So so sad... Kappa Alpha Theta has made the decision to cancel our 2020 Convention, where we planned to celebrate the 150th anniversary of our founding.

It was cancelled. The day after the cancellation announcement went out, they announced the location of our next convention in 2022.
As for international Officer elections...ours are always held electronically before convention and then installation happens at convention. They are figuring out if there is a way to do that virtually as well as announce the awards that would have been handed out this summer.

A neighbor of mine who is a ZTA told me that their convention is moving to a virtual platform.

Just read on another thread that Delta Gamma is doing the same thing.

Alpha Sigma Alpha just announced they are cancelling their convention that was scheduled to take place in July. Not sure at this point if they will be moving to a virtual platform as I'm sure this might be a challenge for many orgs in trying to get business conducted that would have normally been done at convention.

Kappa Kappa Gamma has also decided to cancel their 2020 Convention scheduled for June. Like Theta, this was their 150th Celebration of their founding.

KKG Cancels 2020 Convention

Delta Phi Epsilon has canceled/postponed our International Leadership Forum. We received an email today and the message was shared on social media. Grand Chapter will be held virtually in July and staff is looking into the possibility of having an abbreviated gathering this winter.

While this doesn’t rise to the seriousness of (SADLY!) cancelled conventions, I spoke to one of our house corporation board members yesterday, and he said (providing Rose-Hulman is back in school) that many parents are insisting on single rooms for their sons.

Something else to consider.....not to mention bathrooms, showers, dining, the group study library, etc.)

Yesterday Tri Delta sent out an E-mail saying there summer convention was now going to be virtual.

Gamma Phi Beta has cancelled convention - well, face to face convention. It will go virtual.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TRc...ature=youtu.be

The Alpha Phi Executive Office sent an email informing members that the Alpha Phi Biennial Convention has been cancelled.

Our regional conference cycle (normally taking place May - August) has been cancelled. They are working on something virtual to take their places.

There have been a lot of social media campaigns, ZOOM meetings (business and social), acknowledgement of our organizations essential employees (national, regional and local levels) as well as our college graduates at all levels on social media.

My chapter has delivered “survival boxes,” to our older Sorors, that included gloves, wipes, masks, snacks and cute little items. We also delivered palms to them on Palm Sunday. Most recently, we worked with other organizations to deliver donated drinks and treats to essential workers at local hospitals.

I suppose next steps are to figure how plans A-Z for how we will all be the rest of this year. Everything’s up in the air, but business goes on!

Alpha Sigma Tau just announced our convention will also be in a virtual format this summer.

Our conventions are in odd-numbered years, so fortunately there's no convention to cancel. We do have a summer leadership event in even-numbered years. I have no information on what's happening with that.

Our National Council has recommended to postpone our July 2020 convention until next year. No official announcement yet.

It's Official:

"All three sessions of Leadership Academy are cancelled and, after a motion approved and distributed by the National Council, a majority vote by the Residents Council’s passed, which postpones the 64th National Convention".

As the Pandemic Persists, Is the Party Over For Campus Greek Life?

https://www.edsurge.com/news/2020-05...YYuzYUgBnOtC84

I find the title to be strange considering the content. Either way, a quick read about the benefits of Greek life during these times and how organizations are trying to adjust.

[quote
For example, in addition to adding signs on campus about handwashing and mask-wearing, Perlow envisions colleges developing peer-to-peer campaigns in which students challenge each other to stay safe.[/quote]

How old does she think these students are, 8?

How old does she think these students are, 8?

I am envisioning corny scenarios in which collegiates admonish each other to stay safe. I can't help it.

For instance, my 2 youngest are at the same university so I'm picturing one cheerfully telling the other to keep his mask on. Or the other challenging his brother to see if he can increase his hand sanitizer use.

Not happening.

COVID has now affected my chapter in a way that affects me and other alumnae as well as the actives.

My chapter was chartered in November 1995, so we were going to have a 25th anniversary reunion/celebration this November. The planning committee has decided to scrap the reunion, maybe do something online, and maybe do something in November 2021 instead.

It's a shame. I was looking forward to seeing my sisters, meeting the younger sisters, and visiting Boston/Cambridge (I haven't been up there in years). A Zoom meeting just isn't the same. :(

So, one of the few openings we have right now is for a new Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life -- I'm on the interview team and we're interviewing candidates virtually next week.

In an era of budget cuts and fears, this is literally about the only position we're hiring for. Suddenly, colleges are figuring out we can help provide that real college experience students want, and we have an opportunity to figure out how to do it. Onward! :)