Examples for Sisterhood Workshop
 

**Deleted because I decided to go in a different direction

Post edited - OP clarified her scenario question. In light of the clarification, OP asked me to delete my original response.

Edit - OP clarified and requested the quote be removed.

Clarification!!!
 

Thanks for that feedback. I'm going to edit my original post to make that change. Navane and GoldenAnchor, would you mind removing your quotes? That is truly not the recommendation I was intended. Exactly the opposite, in fact. Thank you, again.

Open ended is way better. You might be mortified if you present what you think is a ridiculous solution and it is heartily approved of by the group.

Ha! Yes, I didn't think of that.

One I have seen come up a lot in recent years is posts about chapter business or sisters on social media. In particular, situations where the post contains no reference to chapter or a specific person but it's clear what is being referred to. For example, Sally and Mary run for chapter president, and Sally loses. Immediately after chapter Sally's little Susie begins tweeting about "problems with democracy," including that all elections become popularity contests and that people who spend time trying to look good beat people who spend time trying to do good. What do you do?

In general I think could be a useful thing, but one issue I see with your post is that all those statements presume things. And people, in my experience, don't respond well if you approach them when you presume something.

Example: Family issues going on. The member might be sensitive about whatever is going on - that is, IF something is going on - and approaching her could present a new problem.

Example: Member acting "inappropriately". That has to be defined because what you think is inappropriate - even flirting with another person's boyfriend - might not be seen as inappropriate by others. Or maybe her way of chatting up a guy isn't actually flirting in the way you think it is.

I agree with another poster about making questions open-ended but I think you might also want to consider that your examples presume things. I think this might be better done with a communications expert/mental health professional who's a skilled facilitator.

Lastly, have you asked the chapter if they want this specific type of workshop?

Hmmm...what if instead of giving scenarios, you present them with value propositions.

Like, what does it mean to love your sisters? What does it look like when you judge someone? If you have a concern over a sister’s actions, how can you show love and concern without appearing condescending or as if you were judging her? Practice words of affirmation and support. That brings sisters together.

Now, there are some serious issues encountered by sisters. What if together y’all put together a “help boook” that specifically outlines resources for various situations—something that goes a bit beyond “call the college counseling center.” There is nothing like helping one another to bring girls together. Plus, you could outline the structure in you national organization. And show the girls how there can be help beyond just their exec or standards board.

Kudos on doing this. I hope your chapter comes together like never before.

Oh, you’ve got to do something with enneagrams. That’s the hot topic among the girls right now. In some cases, it’s how they introduce themselves to others. It’s a fun topic that really hits on the strengths and weaknesses of sisters.

I am so glad that I posted this question. It has shown me that this presentation, in the way that originally conceived it, could go very differently than I expected.

In light of this feedback, I think that I will change the format and instead of presenting these scenarios, talk more about how to treat each other kindly, be there for each other, etc., and how we can do that, and perhaps use the time that we would have used in discussion for an actual sisterhood activity. I found some suggestions on our national website that I think would be positively received (and that are very unlikely to delve into territory that I don't want!).

Thank you again for all of your input.

Have you asked the chapter what they'd like to have presented? Engage them in the planning, etc. will help them engage more fully as a participant in the workshop.

I'd also do something where they have to leave their phones in their purses or somewhere else the entire time. There's nothing like having a phone out to distract one from fully paying attention and not having it at hand will also help them fully participate. I've seen places where every person had a manila envelope with their name on it and they had to put their phone in it, then turn it over to a person who would watch it. Seriously, these kids are glued to them like no other generation, they'll be surprised at how refreshed they feel when they finish the workshop.