If I could improve one thing in DPhiE...
 

If you could improve, strengthen or positively impact one thing in DPhiE, what would it be???? No whining allowed here.....

Iris

We're huge in the Northeast so I think D Phi E should expand or recolonize in the South, Midwest, and West especially at schools with really strong greeklife. :)

If I could improve one thing, it would be participation. I would want every DPhiE--young and old-- to do something to improve our sisterhood daily/weekly/ monthly/ annually. For some, that would be to give time. For others, that might include giving other resources ($). :) And for others that could just be reaching out to other sisters to keep the bonds solid. We could make such a difference in our organization if everyone just did something.

That's probably very pollyanna of me-- but it's the easiest--and the hardest-- answer I could think of!

...ooooooooooh, Heather17.......I really like your answer!!! I think that would make a HUGE difference!!!!!You sound like someone I know!

;)

I was just going to say something simple like seeing more alums getting involved and offering their support, but I like your answer much better!

Iris

Being a west coaster and Canadian, I would love to see new chapters open in the Pacific NW and Canada.

Being new to the west coast as well, I would love to have a chapter in the Pacific NW, and the west coast in general, especially at schools with large greek systems. :)

If I could improve one thing in DPhiE, it would be to have more alumnae support in the form of alumnae associations around the country and in Canada. Our alumnae associations are few and far between, and having more of them would help everyone stay involved!! :) As someone who helped found one, I guess I'm a little biased! Iris, you sound familiar to me!

HA I know all of your secret identities, but I digress.
I too would like to see some expansion, particularly at some larger schools. I think part of the reason that we don't have a huge reputation is because we are a. mostly northeastern and b. we open at these tiny little schools (which is great but I'd like more equal representation). I think a lot more NPC organizations are more selective/careful at where they go and that's how they have built the reputation.

And if I could have a second wish :D I'd really like some alumnae associations. I think the key to this is working with the collegiates that are about to go alumnae, and I think that the expectations of membership guide is not showing it, especially if the chapter is presenting it, rather than an advisor.

Just my 2 cents. Please don't hate me :D

Ladies,

You are all awesome and I thank you for participating in this thread!

Everyone seems to be pointing toward expansion or alum involvement. I have a strong feeling that if we had MORE alum involvement, we would be able to have MORE expansion, especially to regions in North America (for you Canadian gals!) where we don't have many chapters.

It seems to take a lot to get a chapter going or to re-start one. If alums would be more willing help by volunteering, by attending conferences to get up on what DPhiE is doing today, to be advisors who support the mission and to support with $$$ (even minimally---alum dues are $10, that's not too hard!), I think our HQs and Council would try to move beyond the northeast into open territory and even on to larger schools.

That's just my feeling on this.

Any more thoughts???

Iris

I am currently getting information on starting an alumnae assocation - I want to start one for the Seattle metro area. If anyone has advice on starting one , that would be great. I recently emailed the VP of Alumnae but haven't heard back yet.

I definitely think that we need to get our names out... a lot of people have never even heard of us, especially where I am living now in the Pacific NW. People that have always lived here thought that I was part of a local organization.

And I definitely agree that we should have chapters at the large schools... I think the only chapters left are Florida, Georgia, NYU, Cornell? (Someone correct me if I missed some).

Don't forget U of Michigan, U of Maryland, Miami.....

... and as far as the big Canadian schools go, UBC is one of them :)

Pitt too and well, I think that is all of us.

We're like one of three NPC sororities NOT represented on Penn State's campus.

some more thoughts...
 

I noticed something a few years ago. There is a huge concentration of sisters and alumnae in the Northeast particularly the New York area. Why are conventions held so far away such as in Florida? It isn't really an option for many of us to take nearly a week off and travel so far at a great expense. I considered going in 2000 and this year, but it wasn't a feasible option for me or many alumnae I know.

I know that many other sororities have Young Alumnae or Junior Circle Associations which serve as a bridge from college active sister to alumna. I think that this could help strengthen alumnae relations. Quite frankly, my primary involvement with the sorority after college was through my chapter sisters and the occasional Triad or other literature from International Headquarters. I have had a renewed interest in D Phi E due in large part to the internet. It is a great way to keep up to date (when they update the website) and reconnect with my sisters. I really respect that so many DPhiEs on GC volunteer their time, but again that's not really an option for me or many alumnae that I know. If you want more volunteers, you have to continue the momentum that was established as undergrads. Young or Junior AA can serve this purpose.

Cream-- WHAT? Volunteering is not an option for you or most alumnae??? There is something for EVERYONE in the new volunteer structure. There are positions that take a few hours a day, a few hours a week or a few hours a year. You don't have to go to Convention if you are a volunteer. And on occasion, Convention costs are subsidized for volunteers (not always).

I too have always wondered why we have Conventions so far away from our base. The answers I have received are: our collegians don't want to just have a Convention in their city-- they want to go somewhere fun AND it is extremely expensive to have a Convention in the NE compared with other parts of the country. When they pick Convention sites, it is based on bids and where we can get the best deals. But I will also say that it looks like (from my inside sources) the next Convention after San Antonio may return to the NE if we can find an inexpensive site.

That's my 26 cents!