Writing Recommendations for sororities you aren't a member of?
 

I have several young ladies who work for me that are leaving for college in a few weeks. They have expressed an interest in Greek Life at their new schools, and I have told them to keep an open mind about rush and to go where their heart tells them. Unfortunately, none of the schools they are attending have a Kappa Delta chapter, so I won't have the privilidge (yes I would consider it a privilidge) to have any of these great young ladies become my sister. However, I think that they would be a great asset to any chapter.
What I am wondering is, is there a NPC reference form? KD has a reference form to fill out on a rushee, and I'm sure other sororities do as well. Would it be ok to write a letter to each chapter on campus telling them what a great girl she is? Would it just get thrown out because I'm not a sister of that sorority? I just believe so strongly in a few of these women, and I KNOW they owuld be great! I'd appreciate any advice!

KDShan,

There is really no NPC 'rec' form, however I'm sure if you sent a letter to the chapters on the PNM's campus, they would appreciate the advance information and it would also help them seek out recommendations on their own (since your letter should include school, church/synagogue, volunteer information).

I'd say go ahead and get those letters in the mail!

Coming from a small, Midwestern school with only 3 sororities, I can honestly say that legacies are few and far between and a recommendation is something I've never seen. That said, we would joyfully welcome and consider a reference letter from anyone, "Offical Recommendation from a Kappa" or not. I'd encourage you to write them, especially if these ladies are going to smaller schools or schools with smaller Panhellenics. Any heads-up you might give about a potential sorority woman would help both the woman and the chapter very much. However, at a school with a big system, you'll have to acknowledge the fact that your reference, though helpful, does not carry the same weight as a recommendation from an initiated member of the chapter in question. This is especially true at SEC schools, where every woman comes through armed to the teeth with official recommendations and even the legacies aren't guaranteed spots. So while you should write the letters in any case, you should consider your recipients before you write them.

To quote imsohappythatiama in a previous thread, you'll probably want to include a paragraph in your letter:

I realize that as an initiated, alumna member of ABC, I am unable to write an official recommendation of Polly PNM to XYZ. However, as a member of the Greek community, I wanted to offer this letter of reference attesting to Polly's capacity for loyalty, kindness and dedication. Any NPC sorority would be lucky to accept Polly as a new member... (Insert school, work, volunteer experience and/or personal anecdote here.) ...From one Greek to another, I sincerely hope you and your chapter will keep an eye out for Polly as she makes her way through Recruitment this semester.

Panhellenically,

ABC Alum

I think that NPC should establish a procedure for references sent by any Greek woman (as opposed to recommendations, which are sent by an alumna member to a chapter of her sorority). This would especially help the small schools with low Greek participation, where legacies or friends of any Greek would be welcomed. (For example, my little sis is a ZTA legacy, and another of her pledge class is Pi Phi. Neither chapter exists at our school, but it would have been cool to hear about them beforehand anyway. If anything, it would have given us something more to talk about at the parties.) A simple letter of reference, such as you're going to write, could be acknowledged with an NPC card similar to that with which we acknowledge alumnae recommendations. At the very least, there could be some sort of protocol for responding to such letters.

Any way we might implement that procedure? Panhel experts?

Well, I sent letters or recomendations, or whatever you want to call them for my cousin to a few chapters at her school. she is rushing this fall and has expressed to me that she is really interested in joining a sorority and I just want to help her out the best I can. Too bad there isn't an AZD chapter there!

I agree! You should write a recommendation if you believe these women are great! Each sorority is different but I believe that all chapters would take into account any type of recommendation.:)