Recolonizing - how soon is too soon?
 

There was a good discussion going on about this in another thread but it got too org-specific.

If a group needs to recolonize, how long should they wait?

NPC has a rule that if you recolonize within a year your spot on Panhel can be held for you. Is it worth it, or should you "take a breather" and let the dust settle (and risk never getting back on campus) before you do so?

I think it depends on the climate of the greek system. Is the greek system at the school supportive or more competitive? At Southern schools, groups tend to wait a while to recolonize. Reputation is a big thing and it's not something that can be fixed after a year. People still remember and may not want to join because of the old stereotypes the group had.
There are some schools where the greek systems are incredibly supportive. At these schools, recolonization tends to work out very well.
Each group needs to take into account the way they think their greek system will react to the recolonization before they do.

Seems like a year is the minimum.

Two years seems to me to be an often used number if the chapter has shut down for lack of numbers, money, grades, etc.

If the chapter lost it's charter due to rule violations, some GLO's seem to want to wait four years, so there is a better than average chance that all or most of the problem members have graduated and/or moved on.

All of the above is based on my impressions from experience and from reading about recolonizations on GC and on our Delt Webpage.

OK, let me ask you all a question...it's sort of related to this, so that's why I didn't make a new thread. Say there are two chapters that recolonize on the same campus, but about 2-3 years apart. Both chapters wait the same amount of time between closing and re-opening, let's say about a year. One chapter succeeds, but the other fails. Why? Discuss. :)

I recall this happening twice at Pitt; once while I was still in school and once immediately after I graduated.

Both sororities, Kappa Alpha Theta and Sigma Sigma Sigma were very small (I think they each had 10 or so girls) and not very well regarded on campus. I don't know specifics, per se, but I do know that it was less than a year from the time both of their HQs "cleaned house" to the new members being given bids.

Theta was fabulously successful right from the get-go. I don't know where they found 55 fantastic girls that hadn't been scooped up by the other sororities, but they sure did. They've since left Pitt, but that had nothing to do with lack of numbers as far as I know.

Sigma Sigma Sigma was also very successful and they remain that way today. If we're going by the dreaded tier system, I'd put them at the lower top tier or very top middle tier. Students at Pitt now are surprised to hear that they ever struggled. I have a huge amount of respect for Tri Sigma's Nationals for not just giving up on the Pitt chapter. I think many other sororities would have just given up and yanked the charter.

I think the time thing all depends on how much time, money and personnel National is willing to devote to the recolonization.

I know what you are asking here and the groups you are referring to. The group that suceeded suceeded most likely because that group has lots of alumnae support in the area, not just from that school, but there are other chapters of that group within the state and surrounding areas. Because of that people know of that group and their reputations on other campuses thus helping them out. The other chapters of this group that are close by also were able to come and help recruit girls during rush (so i was told).

The other group may have some alumnae support, but not enough local alumnae support being that that is the only chapter of that group in the state and in surrounding areas. Because of this, people do not know much about this group and dont really have much to go on except what they hear (sad but true) and what they can get from the group's national website, which isnt always enough especially at a big school. I dont know if they brought in outside chapters from where ever to help recruit girls for rush or not.

That's my theory anyway. Alumnae support and involvement play a large role in the survival and well being of a chapter, ESPECIALLY when the chapter is new, or "new."

I wasn't really referring to any specific campus or groups...it happened at UK, yes, but I've heard of lots of instances of this happening at other schools, too, which made me wonder why it's so common. :confused:

But I think you're right, alumnae support does play a big role, I think. If you don't have anyone helping behind the scenes to sort of "guide" a new chapter, it's tough.

actually, from what I heard thru alum Panhel, that was the reason.

Sheila, I PM'd you :)

In all honesty, if the reputation is poor, I really think you need to give it 4 years. Only because by then the university will have "flushed" most people out of it's system who were around when the former chapter was, and the majority of people won't have any impression of XYZ, therefore giving them as fresh a start as they can.

Re: Recolonizing - how soon is too soon?
 

And here is Reason #578 why Panhellenic always annoyed the living crap out of me. Dumb dumb dumb rule. Forces chapters to choose between losing the right to ever be on that campus again or desperately scrambling to reestablish themselves with little time and the high possibility of clashes with former members.

...I think I'm going to keep myself and my opinions out of this thread except to say that I don't think sororities should EVER recolonize within the 1st two years after they close a chapter. Never, ever, ever. I have NEVER seen it done where it wasn't disrespectful, if not downright cruel, to the former members.

Re: Re: Recolonizing - how soon is too soon?
 

What are the rules in regards to Alumnae becoming active again?

The "cleaning house" thing seems really odd in my opinion. If it happens in that year time, I'm sorry, it's going to be "same shit, different year." Their rep on campus has already taken a beating and how many would be willing to forgive and forget despite taking out the troublemakers/"undesirables" and bringing in better members? I would personally be very cautious in joining an org like this.

I think it should be a good four/five years. Let the campus climate change, let those who were affliated graduate, as well as those who were familiar with the house while it was in operation.

Re: Re: Re: Recolonizing - how soon is too soon?
 

I think it depends on the sorority and on the individual alums. We haven't tried a "old members are still there" type recolonization since like 1997, and unless it's a situation where the "old" members voluntarily leave and everything is happy & shiny, I personally doubt we will ever do it again, no matter how big the school.

The thing is if you're at a HUGE school (like UF) where a lot of people want to be, if you don't take advantage of the year thing more than likely you will lose your spot - sorta like musical chairs - and probably for good.

I think you need to let the reputation die, and that could take any number of years. I do think that you should at least wait until all of the members have graduated from that school. As has been said, it seems cruel to reorganize a chapter but intentionally leave out (the whole definition of "reorganize") your own members who are still undergraduates. That seems like a sure fire way to create extremely bitter alumnae.

I think it is cruel if international just comes in and forces them to go alum. But in many instances, it's the chapter that votes to go alum to save them from closing. I don't believe it's cruel if it's what they chose to do. And since this has happened quite successfully in the past, I think the one year rule is a good one to have.

I was part of a recolinization of the Delta Sigma chapter of Delta Gamma. The first DS left in 1988 and it was rechartered in 2003. I heard that DG tried to come back earlier, but didn't until 2003.

Another sorority that was at Auburn, Kappa Alpha Theta, left in 1999. I have heard they have plans to come back soon, because they are still paying rent on their chapter room. I think it's good to let the "reputation" die before bringing a group back on campus. In the 1980's, many not so nice things were said about why DG left, so it's good to let those die first.

This just took place at my alma mater...A chapter "reorganized" last spring, and planned to start again in the fall. Rumor is that not ONE girl showed up to this chapter's COB events.

I posted that I thought recolonization so soon was a bad idea, and many GCers jumped on me, but I just don't think that the chapter had a fair chance to compete so soon.

Now, on the other side of the coin, if a Chapter was cleaned out for misdeeds and tried to stay or come right back on with the attitude of We as ABC do not condone these certain transgressions and want to Have A Soroity run the the full Values of the National, then why if the Name is big enough would women not want to join?:confused:

I am sure, a lot depends on the Campus and the Named Soroity.

This just happened at My Alma Mater with SPE, down to 3 Actives and 1 Associate memer.

Now, my question would be, is their National going to give them the support to rebuild??

We already have Chapters in trouble including mine (Numbers and no House) and very few Soroities!:( (3)!

I'm bumping this thread because I have questions about recolonizing a chapter that closed less than a year ago as per the new NPC rule. How successful is this new policy? Has anyone seen this happen and succeed? Is it realistic to hope that a chapter that closed less than a year ago due to low numbers will be able to recolonize successfully? Thanks for any responses.

This just happened on my campus, but I have yet to hear how it turned out. XYZ took a break from FR last year, and spent the year "recolonizing" with heavy involvement from Nationals, and participated in FR again this year.

I guess it would depend on why said chapter left. Example: as AUDeltaGam said, it was 15 years before the Auburn DG chapter was re-established. But in '93, ZTA left in March and returned that October. 15 years for one, 7 months for another. Kinda makes ya sit and scratch your head for a second.

I guess a lot depends on the circumstances of closing the Chapter.

Usually for Major Violations, it is 3-5 year period to get the old wood out and start anew.

If it is numbers, and I just Love IHQs for doing this, lets close down and re-open in a year.

BULLSHIT! Where was National when they were needed???

I was and am still envolved with 2 Colonies and backed them to the hilt and will continue to!

Work with what you have unless there is a major risk problem. If they do not listen, then they need to be cut.

Time element, then that is the big question to be answered isnt it?

AFAIK it's not really a "new" rule - it's always been around, it's just that before when chapters recolonized right away it worked because so many people wanted to be Greek.

Thanks for that clarification, 33girl. For some reason I thought that it was new that the campus panhellenic would hold the sorority's spot for a year.