sorority expansion
 

So, I was looking around our area as far as colleges go. And I spotted a campus that has nothing but local sororities. I emailed the assistant director to find out why the sororities were local. I asked questions like 'if the opportunity to become a NPC organization was presented to them', 'if the campus was closed to NPC', and 'if given the opportunity, would any local sororities be interested in learning more about becoming a member of an npc that not only present the collegiates with the ability to be known as PHI SIGS but also, the alum of the local could be known as PHI SIGS'. I hope I took it in the right direction because I have a friend at this college and she said that she won't join a local because she thinks that they don't offer anything like a national group does.
i'm praying that maybe one of the locals has been asking GOD to send them a NPC organization because as soon as a door opens, i'm going down to her school and begging them to contact phi sigma sigma's expanson committee.
i would love to have another functioning indiana chapter. and since those already have a house, they might have better luck at keeping members.

Hey Good Work there!

So what's the news from greek life forum? phi sig expansion at Shawnee college i think it read? gimme details :D if you have em... please

Aiming Highlights
 

This is information I got in an email from Sandy Grossman. there is a new newsletter/email that will be coming out from CO to volunteers, Alum, and I'm assuming Collegiate Advisory Board members etc. I'm happy for Lynn Coffey but will miss her as Director of Extension

"As you may recall, this fall Director of Extension Lynn Coffey announced that she was expecting twins. Lynn is stepping down from her office, and we wish Lynn and her husband Derick the best of luck with their new arrivals this spring.


Please join me in welcoming our new Director of Extension Michelle Kahya. Michelle received her Bachelor of Arts degree in History from West Chester University, where she served at the president of her college Panhellenic Council. Some of her alumna roles include Chapter Key Advisor, Division Collegiate President, Extension Committee member, Programming Facilitator, Regional Programming Chairman, and Alumnae Panhellenic Coordinator. Michelle recently relocated to New Jersey from Toronto, Canada. We are sure Phi Sigma Sigma will continue to grow with Michelle’s leadership in extension.

We have been selected to colonize at Shawnee State, which will happen this spring! Three collegiate members have been appointed to serve on the extension committee."

Yeah for us!!!! I hope we can get some women from Shawnee State to start posting on here soon.

Carolyn

Wow, Congrats to Lynn! twins, that'll be fun!

I met Michelle two years ago, she was a vision facilitator for our chapter. She seemed very enthusiastic and energetic. Good Luck to her in her new position!

LITP

so, some of the girls came down and i asked them how things were going
initially, their school said no but decided that they could at least look into it

the girls didn't want to do a formal rush(i don't blame them)
they didn't want 'girls signed up and being herded into the room like animals'
so, we talked about the fun sisterhood events and philanthrophy projects

i figured that rush can follow later

Expansion?
 

Every time I look up, someone else's sorority is expanding
I don't understand why there's a 2000 chapters of one sorority and sororities like ours who don't even get a chance.

Does NPC have a limit number that chapters that a sorority can have?
I don't think it's fair that they put total and quota on a campus when they won't even cap the number of chapters that a sorority can have.

Re: Expansion?
 

I know how you feel-- ADPi's last expansions were to recolonize and newly colonize at two places in 2000!

But when I see the expansions, for a lot of them, there's already an ADPi chapter there. Maybe the reason we aren't seeing more colonizations is because a) there aren't closed chapters at those places, b) there already are active chapters at those places or chapters that closed too recently to recolonize, or c) our nationals feel that there wouldn't be enough alumnae support in those areas.

Who knows? I wish I knew more about the whole process. As far as total and quota, aren't those set by local panhellenics, not by national panhellenic council?

[Hope you don't mind me crashing your board!]

I think most of our closed chapters closed quite a while ago... I know all the ones that closed in Cali at least (UCLA, Berkely, USC) were almost all single letter chapters.. so they would definitely be closed long enough to re-open. BUT we have opened a new chapter this year :) It would be nice to open two a year, and maybe at some bigger schools, but we do have some expansion going on. I agree maybe NPC should put some sort of "cap" nationally on number of chapters... but as of now it doesn't exist... so we're stuck. I think a lot of it is alum support... but I know that many girls woudl go help colonize if given th4e opportunity.. they just need to ask and I don't know why they don't it is frustrating... that's why I WANT TO BE DIRECTOR OF EXTENSION !!!!!!!

once you get it, put me on your committee. . .
i love trying to talk people into going phi sig

but yeah, we do need to get at some bigger schools
so we can get recognized
down here, if we say we're phi sigs. ..people are like 'is that an npc?'
but last year at derby, i was at this bar and talking to a gorgeous guy from michigan. ..and when i said i was a phi sig. . .he was like, 'i love you girls. you all are so cool.'

and that felt really good. . .

Hey Glitter! I'd vote for ya! And don't forget me on the committe too...

actually i emailed the volunteer form the other day and checked "extension", Phi sig emailed back saying there were no extension efforts in my area but to know that alum, esp those who express interest, are always contacted when opportunity arises....

I just wished the opportunity came more often...

i'm still on the committee, and i can assure you that the new director of extension is doing an amazing job. there are lots of new leads and exploratory visits coming up, quite a few at larger schools too (you guys know how i feel about those!)

seeing the expansion process from the inside definetly gives you a different outlook on everything -- it's a lot harder than it looks. but dont worry, i have absolute faith that things we'll go well and i'll be able to report to my sisters soon about new colonies!

pm me if you have any questions.

litp,
kristen

also, about the idea of "capping" the number of chapters... it would be interesting to see but i dont think it would really help us much - the problem is that phi sig has as many chapters as many other NPC groups. it's just that they are all heavily clustered in the same regions and at smaller schools with less prominent greek systems.

but hopefully we'll score some big new colonies this year and get our name out there!

will you be able to tell us the new leads and places?
i'm so wanting more chapters in the dirty south. . .i'm talking Ol' Miss and Auburn and Bama. . .

IF we could get some at big schools, period. . .

i wish i could but i dont think i'm allowed... i'll double check though - we have a conference call at the end of this month which I am VERY excited about, because i think we finding out about one campus which I would very much like to expand to.

i'll find out and let you know - it's definetly not something i'd want to post in public though -- i'll PM you and let you know if i'm allowed.

i want to help as much as i can
please let me know what i can do
i'm all about having at least 3 chapter in eveyr state


wish we could get a hawaii chapter
that would be cool

New Colony
 

We have a colony at IU-Kokomo. . .


*screams and jumps around*



ROAD TRIP!!!

When do they start the colonization process. Is that Illinois or Indiana? I'm going to post it on my chapter links. Also, does anyone know if the Colony got off the ground at Shawnee State (from what I understand they were having problems getting the numbers)

This was in Indiana.

I thought they were already there. They got a paddle at Founder's Day last year from Gamma Tau.

hmmm, I'll have to check CO's homepage to see what chapters come up. Wonder if they've installed already and the email didn't go out about it.

That is great that we have a new colony.
How do we go about establishing a colony. I know of three schools that want to start a Phi Sig chapter.

LLCF,
Cynthia

Cynthia -

I PM'ed you.

So, we can get a colony but not get them establisihed???

Interesting.

They are in the process of being established - there were some initial kinks numbers-wise with the original interest group, but when fall comes they should be able to get things rolling.

Article on Shawnee State University group becoming PSS.
(ETA May past)

http://www.shawnee.edu/offices/pr/PressRelease/Archives03/SSU%20sorority1.14.03.html

Article on Phi Sigma Sigma to colonize IU Kokomo chapter

http://www.iuk.edu/external-relations/ocm/news/jun03/sorority.html

Links
 

for some reason, those links don't work:(

here, try these...

Shawnee State

and

IU-Kokomo

*does the Elaine dance*

I can't wait to bug them
I know that Shawnee State is in our division

Wooo Hoooo! That is awesome news. Best Wishes to the new colonies out there.
*Btw, it makes me all warm and fuzzy inside to know that we are getting new sisters out there.*

:) :) :)

Expansion Updates
 

Hi ladies!

Just wanted to keep you guys in the psuedo-loop. We have been invited to present at two schools that I have heard of in the upcoming months. One is a school with HUGE greek life where I personally think we have a great shot at being invited to colonize.

The other I haven't heard much about but everyone is very excited!!

Keep the feedback, suggestions, and news coming ladies, I think this year is going to be a very exciting one for our sisterhood!!

LITP
Kristen

ARGH
Pirepresent- clean out your PM box!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Or can someone PM me her email addy????? We've been corresponding about expansion ideas and I was giving her some advice about my campus. I have a big long thing typed out and can't send it cause her PM box is full and she doesn't have a link to email through GC.
Thanks !
:)

Danielle -

It's clean! Sorry about that - I'll PM you my email - easier to get in touch that way!

But by the way... I always wanted one of those "your mailbox is too full" messages! I feel so special and important!!! :D :D :D

so, why is it that people say 'our presentation' isn't that good and that's why we don't get chosen to colonize at certain schools?

i'm kind of upset when people say that. . .
is it because we don't send atypical sorority girls who are blonde and size 2?

actually, they've heard quite often that our materials and presentations ARE very good and right on par with the other organizations. they're about to get even better.

the problem usually is that at the bigger schools you need more $$$$$ (for housing, start up costs, etc) and more alumnae to support the chapter. money is money, and it's always kind of an issue (i think that's the case for ANY glo), but it's mostly alumnae. since phi sig is highly regionalized, it's sometimes tough to find a large group of alumnae who can help out. Last year, for example, University of Arizona (i think) was opening for expansion. They thought our materials and presentations were great. It was just that the org they selected had a better alumnae base. It's a bummer, but we'll get there!

they are working and making a ton of progress on it, don't you worry!! (think about the sisterhood for a lifetime campaign... getting alums more involved financially and personally.... it's alllll coming together). i am super psyched about all the possibilities for phi sig in the next couple of years, and you guys should be too!!!

good

i was getting kind of worried there
i think that if they ever have an opening on the expansion committee. . .i want to apply

Thats great news for us. I know I passed on information about a campus her in Cali that's only about an hour away from us and from what I heard at LTS it sounds like they are checking into the info. The school is small and has no greeks yet and it seems like what we're looking for. I hope something does come of it.

Also, I've heard that we're recolonizing at the University of Findley OH - can't remember the chapter name. We're colonizing at University of Minnesota Duluth this Fall, reorganizing the Nu chapter at U Penn. I was told that Shawnee state fell through - they couldn't get a large enough interest group. bummer.