Recolonization!
 

You may have already heard this, but Alpha Delta Pi is going to close a chapter in Arizona after this graduation, with the promise to recolonize in the next few years. Both the University and Alpha Delta Pi are COMMITTED to bringing "The First and The Finest" back on campus, recolonizing with what every sister wants - the Best and the Brightest on campus!

There is a strong Alumnae core who will be working with EO towards this goal also, and they are dedicated to the goals of our beloved Creed in seeking new members. While this is hard news at first glance, we have to remember that, if Alpha Delta Pi did NOT want to remain a viable presence in Arizona, this year's convention could have been held in 51 other states or provinces!!

While I haven't had a chance to see any formal correspondance first hand, I've heard some very positive feedback and goal setting already, and frankly, I'm excited!! I've seen what a brief hiatus can do on other campuses (look how strong Theta is; they recolonize all the time!), and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens in Arizona's future! And for those who doubt me, take a look at my own chapter, AI, how a recolonization and wake up call took them from the smallest on campus to Total within three years!

I'm sure that other Arizona alumnae have more information on the actual statement, and, if you ask them nicely :) I'm sure they'll PM the information to you.

Best wishes in all the recolonization efforts!

I hope that someday the SMU chapter will be recolonized!

Oh, I hope so, too!! I just heard of another chapter going on hiatus, with the promise of recolonization. My understanding is that, as more and more NPC sororities are trying the closing/recolonization plan as the best way to maintatin strong chapters, this is the best way for ADPi to keep our values intact.

Since there are so many alumnae here on GreekChat, this could be a MAJOR opportunity for you to show your support of Alpha Delta Pi and all we stand for! If a chapter near you is recolonizing, and you have the chance to give them a hand, please inquire as to the best way you can show your support!!

My chapter (Eta Sigma at San Diego State U) was just closed down on Monday. :(

What exactly is recolonization?

Technically, recolonization is when a chapter was on a campus, and for one reason or another (adminstrational problems, risk management problems, size, etc). After a period of time, a team comes in from EO and restarts the entire colonization process, just as if this was a new chapter at a new school. In the past, there was a stigma attached to recolonization, but as more and more NPC sororities are doing it to "go back to their roots" (or in our case, fulfill the standards of our Creed), there isn't quite the onus that it once was.

My chapter recolonized three times; once right after WWII, and twice in the past 20 years. Decorators are brought in (if needed), teams of TCCs work to select PNMs, and workshops are held to ensure that the skills necessary to keep a chapter alive and healthy. The last time my chapter recolonized, they went from twelve members to Total in three years.

While it hurts - really hurts - for those who are new Deltas, they get the chance to enjoy life as an alumna (t*p, I'm sure you can add something here!), and see the benefits of the new chapter!

sdsuchelle, I completely understand how you feel. My chapter is the other chapter that is closing. And while it hurts my heart so much that my chapter is closing, I know in the end it is for the best. Now if only my heart would listen to my head.

I am just looking so forward to the point where we will begin getting the house ready for recolonization. (is it 2009 yet, oh wait that means I'll be 30 AAAHHHHH).

TP did your chapter close? If so when?

Ugh. I hate this. I hate feeling this way. I am just so bummed. In less than a week two chapters have closed and that hurts my heart. I hate hearing about chapters closing.

Is it weird that I really haven't cried yet? I'll probably break down at convention when I have Jennie to give me a hug. :) I just feel like I'm having to put on this strong front when I just want to break down in tears. I'm ready to break down now but I can't, I'm at work.

((((((((sdsuchelle and ASUADPi))))))))

I wish I knew what to say to you two. :( I know its hard, but you can make it through. You have all the sisters behind you right now, and they want nothing more then for your two chapters to succeed someday down the road. I hope that is a small consolation... :

sdsuchelle,

Glad to see you've found this board! I know right now it's tough, but these are some of the greatest sisters to have on your side - they're always here with a comforting shoulder whenever things are tough, and are your biggest cheerleaders when things are going great.

I'll see you Saturday at Founders' Day!

L&L,
Your finance advisor :)

I would love the SMU chapter to recolonize. It has produced so many great leaders in adpi! But ZTA has "dibs" on recolonizing first at SMU since they closed before we did. I hope that everything does fall into place to recolonize that chapter. I was told that we are recolonizing next year somewhere in Missouri? I can't remember exactly where, but I was told this by Kathryn Goddard. Yeah for going back to closed chapters!!

Thanks sweetie.

Like I said it still hurts.

I was kind of bummed though b/c I got my letter on Tuesday and I guess on Monday they had the closing ceremony and alums were invited. I was really upset on Tuesday b/c I got the letter the day after.

It just sucks.

What I would give to be talking to my Delta Gamma girlies right now.

i'll answer for her, no. it's the chapter i'm currently a delta in. i think honeychile was refering to T*P because she was an upperclassman when she joined and wasn't a delta for much more than a year before becoming a pi, so she has experience with becoming an alumna sooner than most.

I can relate to that.....I, like t*p, joined later in my college career, with only 2 years left (should have been less, but I was on the 4 1/2 year program!). While my chapter hasn't closed, I moved back home, and it is still hard sometimes to not be around my chapter sisters, even after 2 years almost of being out of school. However, I have enjoyed my time so far as an alum, and am looking forward to what comes next.

Side note: I'm going through Jewel Degree tomorrow, and the TVAA alum association has a meeting too---I'm thinking seriously of taking an office! I'll let you guys know what happens!

I believe one of our Denver Alums is from your chapter. She had the same thing happen to her. She received the letter about the closing ceremony too late. She is disappointed about it all, as well.

^^ lyrica got it right.

I didn't get much time as a Delta because I was a transfer and joined the second semester of my junior year. While my time was short, I really did enjoy it, and being part of the alum. association, I enjoy knowing that things we do directly helps both my home chapter and the other chapters in the area.

I think one common misconception about alumnae associations is that they are all function the same, and that the entire membership is composed of women not in your age group (a few years right out of college), but if you and your sisters join the local alum groups, things can change dramatically. I think "new blood" is exactly what alum associations everywhere could use because with that comes fresh ideas and ways of thinking. My alum. association has women of all ages and in addition to officer meetings, and regular meetings, we do try to meet for happy hours sometimes, and we have fun events and even (*gasp*) date parties!

I'm so sorry to hear about the closing chapters. I honestly could not imagine what you could possibly be going through. I would definitely recommend staying involved as an ADPi, because the more alum help we get, the better the chances of a successful re-colonization for your chapters down the road.

Im so sorry to hear this on all three chapters that are closing. I hate to see any chapter close. I really hope this will help us become stronger and get back in there on those 3 campuses. I teared up reading about this.

Bri~
Sorry I havent been there for you hon. I havent been online in forever and Im training my new secretary and she isnt the best secretary so Ive been pretty stressed. I seem to be working from 6am to 4 or 5pm and I come home dead. Im sorry I havent been there hon. HUGS from me.

3 closing? I thought it was just 2?:confused:

To my knowledge, it IS two: Delta Gamma and Eta Sigma Chapters.

It is three chapters: Sacramento, SDSU and U of AZ, per the memo sent from Grand Council.

Is Delta Gamma the only one right now we (ADPi) is looking at recolonizing in a couple of years? I hope that Sacramento and SDSU will eventually be recolonized also. :D

From the discussion I had with someone at EO, Alpha Delta Pi would like to recolonize at ALL of the closed chapters. Whether or not it's feasible is another story.

They are completely committed to Delta Gamma, though, no two ways about it.

Eta Mu
 

My chapter, HM, is closing as well. While it is heartbreaking, I do believe it is for the best. I have worked very closely with struggling chapters and after a while, it just isn't a positive experience anymore. It's draining. It just goes to show how hard we all need to work at keeping our chapters strong. Someone mentioned that we are recolonizing in MO...actually, it's a new chapter. We did just recolonize in Florida, though.

I'm a little confused by this closing with a committment to recolonize soon. If ADPi plans on a major effort to revamp a chapter in just a few years, then why the wait? Could someone fill me in?

Going off on a bit of a tangent and falling under the heading "Wow isn't it a small ADPi world". Eta has an incredible alum named Dr. Ben Avis Orcutt. She recently retired as our House Corp Pres at the young age of 90+ only because she broke her hip. She founded the University of Alabama's College of Social Work and has been incredibly active in practically every service organization there is.

Here's the small world part, Dr. O lived in Arizona for a while and she was one of the alums who helped found that chapter. I'm sure she's heartbroken to say good-bye even temporarily. She may not be around for the recolonization.

FYI - Dr. O will be travelling to Convention this summer and will be awarded the Joan Perry Boatwright Award. She is a wonderful woman and I am so happy that Grand Council has seen fit to honor her. Dr. O is the truest definition of a "Steel Magnolia" I've ever witnessed. She's the only person I've ever seen chew somebody out so politely. She's amazing and I can only hope to someday be like her, even just a little bit.

The decision to wait is to allow some of the current classes at the university to graduate so that the chapter can begin again with a fresh start. That way anyone who was around when the chapter closed will no longer be in school at the time of reconolization. This is to pretty much help dispell the stories/rumors/stereotypes that may or may not have been going around which may have caused or furthered the chapter's problems. 4 years is the average time since the now freshmen will have graduated.

PS Zillini I stayed a night at your chapter house in Illinois and I must say its one of my favorites sooo beautiful and I think if I could do the college process all over again I would have applied to Univ of Illinois.

SDSU is such a new chapter, though. Ok, I guess I'm just getting old - but it was colonized in 1991 so it's only been around for 14 years.

I know we aren't supposed to post anything negative on here, but frankly, closing down chapters, waiting four years, then recolonizing is sort of like saying "hey, you're craptastic. Let's start over again after you're gone.":rolleyes: Thanks a lot, EO. Why do they wait for the chapters to so bad they have to close down?

First off, thanks for the info it makes sense to wait. Too bad it had to come to that though like JH124 said.

As to UofI's house, thanks...although obviously I can't take any credit for it. I always thought it was beautiful and very unique.

I haven't been there for almost 20 years. I read in the alum newsletter that they've put in alot of money and work into remodelling/restoring the house. A few years back House Corp was able to have the house declared a historical landmark due to it's age and architechual design with the copper roof. The bonus in that is not only the prestige but also all donations for house maintenance are now tax deductible.

I think it's just harder on smaller chapters. When their small and struggling EO really has their eyes on them. I know the girls at Delta Gamma were just really stressed. There were rumors going around about ADPi. They had only about 35 girls and totals around 150. I think they were so stressed that they just got so tired, they just gave up. And you know their only human. I know when I get super stressed out my first inclination is just to give up. Their last two formal recruitments weren't the best and that is a HUGE blow to your self-esteem (can't spell here). God, as much as I don't want to admit this, closing Delta Gamma was for the best.


You know we're just going to come back to that campus. We are going to kick some Greek A$$!!!! And we are going to show them that we are the First and the Finest and a force to be reckoned with!!!!!

(I should be a motivational speaker. :D)

Bye Bye Eta Sigma
 

So as most or all of you know Eta Sigma was closed this past May. It is a very sad topic even now for the new alumnae. I went Alum a year ago and even now it is hard to think of what to say to these collegiates, yes they are now Pi's but they lost so many Delta years. I just feel so sad for them and International has no intention on recolonizing.

Grand Council and the IO Team will never just "close" a chapter. All of our chapters have international resources, trainings and help available to them. For whatever the reason- a track record of inefficient leadership, inability to keep up with the other chapters on campus in terms of numbers and total, a major and unforgivable standards issue (thankfully none of our recent closings are due to hazing or hurting one another!), etc.-- the decision to close is made by several teams and only after the chapter has been given ample opportunity to work toward and attain specific goals set by the IO Team.

A lot of people gripe about totals and quota-- but if a campus total set and the majority of the chapters meet that number -- then the problem lies within the chapter that can't make that number. A sorority is an organization, yes, but it is a non-profit organization-- a business. If we don't make total at our chapter, we can't pay the bills for our chapter-- that trickles "up" as well as down. And sadly, we may want to be smaller, but if your members pay the highest dues and have the least to show for it in activities and honors... what are you paying for other than a street address on Greek Park? Is it worth it to the current collegians?

The system DOES work--- but where there are chapters constantly having to recruit, where members must double up on offices and hold multiple terms, when your chapter house sleeps more members than the number on your attendance roster-- and the IO teams have made every effort in onsite and offsite report, goal setting and ultimatums-- it isn't fair to the existing collegians to live the day-to-day reality of failure. These women are in college to get an education and to enjoy being college students. Where the Alpha Delta Pi chapter has failed, the chapter closing can allow these members to regain a sense of themselves-- they will always be ADPi's and the alumnae of these chapters have no reason to feel shame or loss. Our closed chapter at SMU has brought us some of greatest current sorority leaders-- including our current Grand President!

A chapter that closes isn't instantly able to reopen. In many cases, the sorority must go back into the expansion queue and wait for the university to advertise its interest in expansion. And then we must present our expansion recommendations at that university all over again, even if we once had a chapter there. In rare cases, like with Delta Gamma chapter, we have already been guaranteed a return.

Sisters, a closing is a very serious and emotional event. But remember-- we are more than a string of chapters-- we are a 150+ year old tradition-- with sisters all over the globe. Take pride in the strength of our numbers.

Well said, adpiucf!!!:D

Although I've never experienced what some of you have gone through with your chapters closing, I'm sure it is a very emotional and trying period of time. It has got to be extremely difficult for those still within the chapter. Although the chapter may be closed and some may have not gotten to have the full collegiate experience in ADPi, become active in your local Alumnae Association. I am 300 miles away from my collegiate chapter, but have found many great sisters and a "new chapter" per se by joining the local Alumnae Association. Yes, I do miss my sisters from my chapter, but the sisters I've found here - still have the same bond with me as those who were in my chapter. The first 2 years after I graduated, I did not join an AA and I regret not doing that. I went through ups and downs during that time and I know that I could've counted on any of my sisters I've met through the AA. I'm sure it is different still being in college and be a Pi, but there are plenty of opportunities to have a similar collegiate experience in the Alumnae Association.

I'm a young alumnae so to speak and so are several other sisters in our Alumnae Association. We (young alumnae) have all stepped up and taken offices. 4 of the 6 positions on the Board of Directors are sisters b/w the ages of 23-26. We try to cater our activities to all age groups and have a variety of events that sometimes appeal to our older sisters more than our younger sisters and vice versa.

I'm sure having your chapter close is not easy to deal with and you have mixed emotions running about, but like adpiucf said, "....we are more than a string of chapters-- we are a 150+ year old tradition-- with sisters all over the globe. Take pride in the strength of our numbers."

Does anyone know why Delta Gamma was guareented a return? Is it because we own the house? What I do know I was told by a sister, I probably shouldn't know, but she was nice enough to keep me "in the loop" because DG is my chapter. That wasn't a question I thought of asking. I might of asked her but I don't recall.
I know some of the specifics behind the closing and recolonization but I never asked why we are guareented a return? Anyone?

Brianna, I don't know the specifics of the UA chapter's recolonization-- but know that the timed recolonization is specific to the UA campus and this ADPi chapter at this time.

Typically, when a chapter (any sorority chapter) closes, they go right back into the hopper with the other NPC's hoping to present for expansion at the next expanision solicitiation opportunity, without guarantee that they will be selected for a presentation or final consideration.

Some campuses, however, depending on the Greek adviser and the campus Panhellenic, and the reasons for the chapter closing, can work together to bring the chapter back at a defined point in the future.

For example, on my own campus "ABC" sorority closed one semester after years of their national office working with them to help them grow stronger -- all members granted alumna status-- and immediately reopened and rechartered the following semester with a completely new membership. This was due to the campus climate, the Greek adviser and the receptivity of the Greek Community to supporting this effort.

So it just depends on the campus. For specifics regarding this chapter recolonization, you'd probably get the best information by consulting a member of ADPi District 6 Team. But for the sake of discretion, I would ask that we all refrain from posting specifics of the closing/reopening of our chapters until it is officially greenlighted with an email from HQ or an Adelphean article. There's so much general speculation on the internet these days-- best not to add to the rumor mill just in case. What do you think?

ETA: I changed the name of "ABC" sorority to make then anonymous... no one needs to know their specific business.

adpiucf- thanks for the info.

I have to agree, (with the keeping the specifics to a minimum). I've been told stuff that I probably shouldn't know, but just because I know it doesn't mean I should tell everyone it. :)

What I can say, the Tucson AA is so ready to get to work on the recolonization effort and the effort has to start now so we can raise some money!!! :)

I was so lucky that being one of the few Delta Gamma's at convention (there was only 3 of us total) that sisters in the district were willing to give information to me and say "we can't wait to do such and such" and "we need to get money" and so on.

2007 will be here before we know it (although the chapter isn't supposed to be recololnized until 09 a bunch of stuff needs to be in place by 07).

I'm ready for it to be 07 (because I'm actually thinking of moving down to Tucson then) and DEFINATELY ready for it to be 09.

I think right now the hardest thing for me is going to be when recruitment season comes around and we're not there.

But on the other hand each day hurts less and less. :)

SDSU ADPi
 

Ok, sorry to crash, but since I graduated from SDSU in '04 I know a little about the SDSU ADPis.

First of all, let me say that Eta Sigma had some WONDERFUL women! I got to know three of them when I was on Panhellenic in Fall of '03.

I also could relate to ADPi because SK has struggled a bit for the last few years as well. We had about 55-65 girls, when most of the chapters had 80-90. But, we always managed to stay "afloat."

I think it was hard for ADPi becuase they never had a permanent house that was like all the other chapter houses on campus (anyone from that chapter can correct me, I am just making some comments as an outsider). The first house they lived in was a single family home with apartments in the back of it. It was unlike all the other sororities which had HUGE houses (not apartments) that housed anywhere from 25-40 girls. They eventually moved out of there and then were kind of in limbo with no where to call home. They did end up moving into an old fraternity house and they made it look sooo cute inside, but I think all of the moving and uncertainty created some hardships.

I would love to see ADPi come back, but I know that there is a local (Alpha Epsilon) that is trying to merge with AEPhi and SDSU panhellenic (at least in 03-04) was highly against bringing on another national NPC group. But, that was before ADPi left, so I am not sure of the current status of that.

So all in all, my heart goes out to them. I don't know what I would do if SK closed. I hope maybe they can find a way to get a new house in sorority row and come back on next fall. Much love to ADPI from a SK!!

(edited for my horrible spelling)