Offered a bid to colonize
 

Hi.

I was offered a bid to colonize a fraternity. The problem is that I only have one semester left; I'm the oldest and most of the guys are sophomores with a few juniors being offered bids. The guys that I've met so far are nice, but our interests are at different spectrums. I'm wondering if I should accept the bid to colonize this fraternity, and lead the younger guys until I graduate. I have experience in other organizations and I'm familiar with Robert's Rules. It would seem that they would need maturity and leadership (not saying they don't have it) but it would seem this would be an opportunity to start this colony on the right direction - by maturity and guidance. I didn't know the recruiter would be offering bids today, and when he offered me one I was delighted and forgot to tell him I had one semester left.

Any advice would help. Thanks.

I does not matter how many semesters you have left. A group of girls just colonized and two girls graduated the same semester they went through colonizing. They are still very close with their sisters and have come back to several events this current semester. If you want to be a part of the organization and feel you fit with them and you could help them become a great thing do it. Brotherhood, and sisterhood are for a lifetime and your memorize that you make will be priceless. I know that sounds cheesey but its true. Hope that helped :-)

^ I understand. I guess having just one semester left (I'll be graduating this December) would motivate me more to get this colony on the right foot. I have a few events tomorrow with the guys so I'll see how we interact with each other. I wondered if I told the recruiter I was senior if I would still be offered a bid.

^^

Yes, he probably would have offered you a bid. Colonies need upper classmen to help be leaders, and you would be one of their first chapter alumns.

Remember: You would be an alumn for life. Some of the best alumns I have met were members of colonies of Sigma Chi who graduated right after the chapter was chartered, or even graduated before the charter. They became active in alumni groups and have been great.

If you can make the time, I think it might be worth it (in so many ways) if you accepted the bid. First, you have the opportunity to mentor younger members. Second, you will gain a wealth of experience as you navigate the early stages of creating a new colony. Third, you will be part of a legacy - a founding father. Lastly, your participation doesn't end with graduation. You will be part of something that is bigger than you.

There is a multitude of positions and opportunities for a graduated/alumnus of a fraternity or sorority to be involved. If you choose, being newly graduated, you may be able to volunteer with your chapter. You may also choose to volunteer on a regional or national level (on a committee). At some point (ideally after all the members you knew as undergrads have graduated), you might even take on an advisory role. Not to mention the friendships and networking opportunities you will have for the rest of your life.

It is really a win-win for you and the fraternity. Not knowing much more about you, if someone saw enough in you to offer you a bid to colonize - and the powers-that-be from your I/NHQ know what they are doing - I'd proudly accept that bid.

Good luck in whatever you choose.

everyone has given excellent advice.

you have a wonderful opportunity being offered to you. if you want to assure yourself that your bid was not a mistake and that you would still have been offered a bid if the recruiter had known you will graduate in december, tell him you will be graduating in december and see what happens. i bet it won't make a difference.

as to having different interests than the other guys, the fraternity can be your common ground. i did not have the same interests as all of my sisters, but we all had the sorority in common.

on a more practical level, think how it will look on your resume' to be able to list that you are a founding member of abc fraternity.

I would do it. Being in a colony was a great experience. You won't regret joining.

I'll be telling the recruiters about my situation. I would understand if they were upset.

Question: What is the usual length that a colony takes to be chartered as a chapter? I know a couple of colonies at my university who are in their third year, and one of them will be chartered either next semester or the semester following that.

it depends on the organization. you could ask the recruiters what the typical length of time is for their org.

GC doesn't give reputations. Meet them yourself and see what you think.

Recruiter said, "This is your fraternity. You can make it anything you want it to be since you will be a colony." Blank slate. Black tabula rasa. Not to mention the guys that might accept the bids seem like good guys. There's at least two I can see myself working very well with. This is going be a tough decision.

please let us know what you decide.

What negatives are there for you, besides you graduating before the chapter is installed most likely?

The people who have replied to you speak from experience and offer good advice. But consider why they have replied to you. They don't know you and will never meet you, but they know what their Greek experience has meant to them and they hope that you will take this opportunity to join them. This should give you some insight into the opportunity before you. Your house is your house, but the world your house is in, is the rest of us and it is a good world and never ends.

You will probably live to be over 80 years old, but you will get this chance just once in those 80 years. If you reject this, you may well spend 60 years regretting it.

As the two Alpha Xis have said, you have most of 2 semesters left as an active and then a lifetime as an alumnus. As a senior, you will set the tone for the house.

As LaneSig has said, you can help found the alumni chapter next year, so you know that you will still be connected after graduation. You may become or assist the chapter adviser. A working Alumni chapter is very important to a colony or new chapter, so you will stay very involved in your house.

Its not one semester, its your life.

Good luck with you decision.

Quoting because I like this...

As to length of colony time, it really depends. My chapter was chartered in our 5th semester (last spring -woo!), while I know a colony in our region that is still a colony and has been one since before my chapter was colonized.