Appearance Regulations for Recruitment?
 

Hi everyone! I'm the recruitment director for my chapter and I'm running into a few sticky spots for formal recruitment. Our chapter is only 3 years old, and before my class came in, there wasn't much structure, so I don't really have any rules to follow that were set beforehand. That said, I'm trying to crack down on recruitment regulations for our chapter for a more structured recruitment. So my question for all of you is, what type of rules do you have for your girls during recruitment on things like hairstyles, jewelry, nails, makeup, general appearance, etiquette, etc? What would you do if a girl showed up who didn't follow the guidelines? Thanks for your help!

I'm not quite sure how to comment directly on getting members around to dressing appropriately. As recruitment advisor/advisory board chair I havent had much of a problem overall with getting my members on board with that. I know with my chapter, all members are given a list with photo examples of all attire that will be required for fall recruitment in February and are given constant reminders. I come to the summer recruitment/sisterhood retreat and require all members to bring all attire with them for my approval. We set aside time during the retreat for each member to try everything on and let me & the recruitment chair see it. Those that dont meet the requirements/my approval typically have another 3.5 weeks to get what they need. For good measure I tell all my girls if they have to purchase something to save all receipts & keep the tags on in case they have to take something back. My personal experience is that most members are compliant and if something doesnt meet my approval, it's usually not something major or it is a length issue.

As far as what to do about a member(s) who dont take it seriously and show up in inappropriate/unapproved attire during recruitment--how you handle this will depend largely on your sorority's national policies and your chapter's bylaws regarding member discipline. Your chapter advisors and your district/regional advisors would be your best resource for this kind of matter.

Thetaprincess gave you great info. & advice. I have attended many a dress check in the summer and had to tell a collegian or two that they would need to return their dress, skirt,shorts or what have you. The girls are more likely to accept that from an alumna, rather than a collegiate officer. You should also have a written list of outfits, suggestions on where to get the item and photos if you can provide them. Be sure the chapter officers are on board and determine what penalties will be enacted ahead of time and be sure the members know this.

I'm lane swerving a bit here, but I'd say if you can give them a list of what they need, say, before the end of the semester or shortly after they leave, that gives them the whole summer to shop sales and/or raid their sister's/mom's/friend's closets. I think keeping things basic, like say "Black dress, not strapless, knee length" will go a long way in earning good will, because those items can be worn for more than recruitment. What girl doesn't need a good semi-business black dress? Plus, regulations like that allow girls who are petite or plus size to shop where they need to to get what works for them.

As for how to deal with infractions...I've got nothing.

(At least in my chapter), if you wear the wrong kind of clothes, or your hair/jewelry is inappropriate for formal chapter/ritual, you would be sent to standards. Or you could impose a fine- especially if you have dress checks before recruitment and they fail to make the changes suggested by you and the advisors/alumnae.

When it comes to clothing that's inappropriate, we have a system where sisters with extra approved items would contribute to a communal closet (which was kept by our recruitment chair with a very strict inventory list) in case someone's outfit was not approved. This avoided a lot of stress because it was a way to keep sisters from complaining about having to spend money on things they'd only wear for recruitment.

I don't understand what inappropriate hair/jewellery means. Like, someone died her hair pink? And has some sort of necklace that they can't just take off?

Oh, maybe studded dog collars, skull jewelry, amulets with the blood of a loved one in them (who did that, Angelina Jolie when she was married to Billy Bob Thornton?), shark's teeth, candy necklaces... sorry, not any help, these images just leaped into my brain and they are quite silly, I just couldn't resist!

This varies GREATLY from school to school. If you're at a school where recruitment is very laid back, insisting on manicures and things of that nature is going to make you come off like the bitchy/prissy sorority. Also, don't require things that can be outright unhealthy (like tanning or straightening hair). Just say if you do tan, it should be even...if you do straighten, it should be done right not half-assed.

You should tell the girls what they have to buy BEFORE they go home for the summer (because not everyone lives in a town with a decent mall and they might only make one trip to it while school's out). Rather than just saying "get a black shirt" - find a few that will suit your purpose and have the girls purchase one of those - SPECIFY STORE AND STYLE BY NUMBER. Your school may have regulations about everyone wearing the exact same piece, which is why I say pick a few (enough to get you over the hurdle). Everyone has different definitions of words like classy, tailored, businesslike, etc etc etc. and just saying "you have to wear XYZ77124 from Old Navy" results in a lot fewer hurt feelings than making a girl go out and buy something, having her get it back to school, and then telling her she's wrong (even if you do it nicely)

Oh and if you have bigger or shorter or taller or boobier girls in your chapter, don't pick styles that will make them look horrible.

ETA: refreshing myself on your other posts, you definitely need to tread lightly on the bolded. It sounds like you're going from quite laid back to quite not and if not done properly, it can really backfire. Some of the girls no doubt joined BECAUSE your group didn't have as many rules and regulations on things like this.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_xhagHcsPEz...d-vicious1.jpg

In all seriousness, I'm assuming hair in not-found-in-nature colors or funky piercings. Again, totally depends on your school.

I actually did have a situation where someone for whatever reason dyed a strip of her hair on one side one color and a strip on another side another color. That can happen. I think in this particular instance, it is hair that is over done for the occassion. At my school we have a no frills recruitment format. Thus the attire that is worn by sorority members is expected not have frills--hair is down, not over curled, cant be back in a ponytail, cant be up in a bun, those kinds of things. I will also add that hair needs to be washed, not greasy, and not wet/scrunched (Recruitment takes place in August which is quite humid here).

As far as jewelry goes, I think the main goal is to make sure it isnt too flashy/a distraction, or someone isnt wearing silver earrings with a gold necklace, that sort of thing. Promise/engagement rings & pins are typically the only exception.

She was talking about formal chapter/ritual there and there can indeed be restrictions. But yeah unless you have always been the girl with the pink hair, dying your hair pink right before recruitment would be bad. And if the chapter is all putting their hair 'up' for something, a 'down' look would require fixing. (Short hair excepted or modified.)

Ritual is obviously a whole other cup of tea. And if you're wearing the purple boots with the pink catsuit, well.... standards is there for a reason.

This year, our recruitment chair decided that since our recruitment is usually at the end of September/beginning of October, the "theme" of every chapter leading up to it will be wearing one of your recruitment outfits. (Typically, on my campus, sorority chapters have a theme - dress to pin, tie-dye, etc). This might work if having a summer dress check isn't really doable - for us, lots of girls are from far away and to have them pay to fly in would cause more than a few grumbles.

I didn't read through all the posts here so someone might have suggested this but have girls send cell phone pics of things BEFORE they buy them. If they buy something and it is not approved, the fault is on them. Also, do a powerpoint with LOTS of examples of the clothes you want to see, and try to get those examples from affordable-moderately affordable websites so they know they don't have to break the bank.

Other powerpoint slides can be "yes" (thinking of well put together celebrities) and NO slides (snooki, etc.)

we did this too, it is a great idea because you see what it will look like all together :)