Chapter founders?
 

Hey guys!

I'm not even sure if this belongs in the Rush forum, if not, then I completely apologize. I'm currently going through recruitment right now for the new Tri-Delta chapter at Elon. Needless to say, I am extremely excited :). I'm just wondering if anyone else is a chapter founder. What was the experience like? I'd love to hear everyone's stories. Thanks!

Re: Chapter founders?
 

Hi, Sam. I can tell you what it was like to found at Elon from some of my friends' points of view.

They each interviewed with people from headquarters and went through several activities before they received their bids. The day they received their bids, they had a bid day party and first degree of initiation (thanks to the lovely ladies of Chapel Hill).

I'm not going to lie, they had a tough few months. But they had a lot of fun. They were so excited to start something new. Everyone wanted some sort of leadership position. They had a lot to do, with being a new member and having to function as a chapter at the same time as practicing for recruitment, which was something many of them had never experienced. But they all came together and got to know each other really well.

Their installation is still one of their favorite memories, seeing ritual for the first time. They all got to sign our charter, which still hangs on our walls. They also got to start a lot of chapter traditions. They got to start their family lines. They had so much pride when they got their first letter shirts to wear on letter day and their first crush party shirts, etc.

They had a tough recruitment the first year, but managed to COB up to total. It's very hard without a house because a lot of PNMs look at the lack of housing as a weakness. Now we're right on par with the rest of campus. After only 3 years, we've won many awards and events on campus, including Homecoming and Pumpkinfest.

I think Tri-Delta will be an amazing experience for you as well as the others on campus who want to be a part of it. Stop by the table at the org fair on Friday and meet some of the Wake Forest Tri-Deltas who will be there.

The second and third pages of this thread have more information that will help you.

Good luck to you and Tr-Delta! Everyone at Elon is so excited :)

Panhellenically, Sharon

I am a chapter founder, and i wouldn't have it any other way. It is more work than joining an established chapter, and I do feel that we are put under a microscope at times, but it is by far one of the best decisions I ever made. I feel so useful and needed in my chapter, and I know that I am shaping the future, heritage, and traditions for years to come.
Its wonderful! :)

It's not easy, but it's something I'd recommend to anyone.

The fringe benefits are excellent. Your name on the charter and a low badge number like mine... 5 :D

I'm a colonizing sister of the Delta Gamma chapter down the road from you at NCSU. It was an AMAZING experience! It's hard when 100+ girls are just thrown together, there are low times, and high times...but in the end, it's all worth it! I'd be glad to answer any specific questions you have...it really is such a great opportunity and just a lot of fun starting your own traditions!

Hi I'm Jenni and I've just become a founding pledge here at Florida State University for the gamma lambda chapter of Sigma Delta Tau.. I hope that being a founder of TriDelta is just as fun for you! If you ever wanna chat just gimme a buzz on aim :D

sdt
 

dear jenni, congratulations on becoming a founding new member of sigma delta tau at fsu. i hope that you have a wonderful experience and help build a strong sisterhood!!

Congratulations! I was a (re)charter member of FSU's Phi Psi chapter in 1987. Its a great experience!

Congrats Jenni! :)

I am also a chapter founder. Our situation was a little different - we were a local sorority - but the local had just been founded the semester before I joined, so everything was still very new. It's a lot of hard work to start something new - you have to set up your chapter's infrastructure, put together some philanthropy work, rush in some new members, etc., all while completing your own new member program - and somewhere in there you have to go to classes! But it's so worth it - I had such a feeling of accomplishment and pride when I signed that charter. :D

:D

I'm a charter member of my chapter and it was an amazing experience! Good luck!

Ditto. Heaven help my hypthotetical daughter if she goes to my alma matter and doesn't become a Tri Delt.

I'm #31...I was the first pledge class of a local, who became nationals. Still a bit bitter that names got put out of order...cause I should be lower. I LOVED getting free stuff too!!

VERY proud to say I am a founding colony member (brand new!) of sigma delta tau! RIGHT JENNI!?! I am privelaged to get the chance to be a part of FSU and SDT history... and spread the SDT love!

seriously, if you ever have questions... everyone here at greek chat is so helpful... they have helped me so much already.. and I just recieved my bid two days ago!! I feel like this is a great support system, and everyone knows exactly how to answer your questions!

Good luck with recruitment! I hope you can find that little vioce inside your head telling you to go for it all the way like I did! It has been such a great experience so far... it feels fulfilling to be creating something new, and just think of how good it will feel when you step back graduation day and see the fruits of your labor... all over campus!

LOL @ getting put out of order. Even though everyone said they didn't care, we as an exec at the time knew that was not the case. I ended up coming up with a points system in which you were given 100 points for serving as pres, 90 for VP, 80 for Treasurer and down the line to the chairs who were just given 30 points for whatever they did. Then we awarded 75 points per semester active (we were a colony for 3 years). I threw it all into a spreadsheet and everyone was fairly okay with their #'s.

I like my badge number because it's #5 of the Mu Tau Chapter (think Roman Numeral V) -- that makes me MTV :D

I'm number 50! We were initiated in alphabetical order and I'm a M which put me right smack in the middle!

I just wantd to echo what some others have said. Starting a GLO is great and has been one of the most exciting things I have ever done - but to be honest, I think I'm getting an ulcer.

If you do as I did, I made my GLO my life and that is all that I can think about - we have a VERY important rush coming up in 2 weeks and I am already losing sleep over it. Expect many tribulations - for us they are in great supply.

Would I do it all over again - HELL YEAH!! I've learned so much about myself, my brothers, and about such a great GLO - Sigma Chi! I've had experiences that I know will help me when I graduate - starting a colony is like starting a business.

I will not say you will enjoy every minute of it, but you will enjoy most of it!!

GOOD LUCK - Roses for you
http://www.filflora.com/i/products/bridal_0002.jpg

JP