Timing of a colonization
 

From what I have heard of colonizations, reps from the colonizing org (we'll call it XYZ) do an info session during the first round of FR, and then sit back until FR is over. It seems like they would get a lot of the girls for whom FR does not work out, so they are not pulling from the same pool as the other chapters. Why don't they do their process simultaneously? Maybe an info session during open houses, interviews during the week when first and second invites are taking place, and then pref at the same time with a bid list just like every other chapter? Would this help or hurt a colonizing chapter?

I believe it depends on the campus and their support of expansion.

We have successfully expanded twice in the last 6 years. In less than a year both chapters were at average chapter size of over 100 members. The expanding chapters have had collegians from nearby universities (within 3 hour drive) come and recruit just like the rest of the sororities during formal recruitment. This was extremely effective since the PNM's didn't really see the new chapter as completely different. My opinion is most 18 year old freshman do not want to be interviewed/recruited by alumni. As that is just a little odd to say the least.

We have also revised quota setting those first years to allow the colony to have a quota at average chapter size and then divide the remaining PNM's to come up with quota for the existing chapters.

I hope we get to expand again soon is was a great experience for everyone in Panhellenic and I believe we can support an additional chapter.

I think it does depend on the campus, I know this fall when pi phi colonizes a new chapter our rush is almost a full month later than the other chapters and we have no role during the other recuritment. But apparently this is how this campus has done it w/ their last expansion and it has been successful.

But isn't it almost like you are missing out on the best rushees who are most desired in FR?

As a colonizing sister from the Delta Gamma chapter at NCSU, I can probably give you a little insight. We colonized following formal recruitment here at NCSU in the fall of 2002.

Colonies, generally, pull from a VERY different crowd than formal recruitment. Often, girls that seek membership in colonies are not interested in formal recruitment, rather, they are interested in starting something new on campus. They may have had an interest in Greek life, but not in any existing chapter on campus for one reason or another. Many of the girls going through formal recruitment are seeking established traditions and sisterhoods - those that go through colony recruitment often want to MAKE those traditions.

It's not like colonizations get the "left overs" from Formal Recruitment. I think in my colonizing class, we had only 3 people that had ever gone through formal recruitment - and two of them had pledged somewhere in formal recruitment 2001, but dropped out of the pledge process because they didn't feel a fit.

When a new chapter is coming to campus, they are given special priveledges too...like after formal recruitment 2002 (when DG came), all other groups on campus were not allowed to COB/COR during the Fall semester - regardless if they were at total or not. This was to allow DG the chance to COB to make it to campus average.

We are thrilled that Pi Phi is coming to campus in October! I imagine it'll be another successful colonization - pulling 100 more women out of the wood work that would be an asset to Greek Life.

Great explaination WhiteDaisy! You have to remember too that a new chapter is often a opportunity for upperclassmen that couldn't have gotten a bid through FR as well. New groups seek older students who may be instant leaders, so I agree if often attracts different students that those that go through FR.

See, but a rule like this is total crap, in my opinion. If you are pulling in different women, why would it be necessary to handicap other chapters?

Man, I feel like James.

I don't think that is a hard and fast Green Book rule. 2 new nationals came to our campus in 2 years and I don't remember ever having COB restraints of any kind. Then again, the main reason that happened is we got rid of fraternity Little Sisters and those women wanted to go into sororities.

Hey, I didn't make the rules...I'm just telling you how it was done here...it was very very successful too...all of the chapters on campus are about the same size and we have decided to expand again...and again two years later if that goes well...and again two more years later if that goes well...

What DG did here was a little different--they recolonized spring semester. Other sororities COB'ed to get up to total after fall recruitment, then DG held info sessions and a sort of informal rush afterwards. That way, they didn't have to be starting from scratch during fall recruitment but were ready for it the next year.

Maybe AUDeltaGam can give me some help with exactly what went on.

You rang? ;)

She is right on.

Formal rush for Auburn is in August, and DG held their recruitment in February :)

I completely agree! This is certainly the case with the new Tri Delta colony at Elon. We have deferred recruitment, so the new colony is only looking for sophomores, juniors, and seniors. There are several of us who are seniors that have either gone through FR with no bids (either did not receive one or didn't accept one), or weren't intersted in the current GLOs on campus. But we are all willing to lead this new organization. WhiteDaisy explained it well when she said that new chapters usually attract leaders and people who are interested in starting something new.

Ditto on pulling different members.

Women who are interested in colonization (at least from my experience) were women who were unsatisfied with their current options on campus. Out of 55 women on our charter, maybe about 10-15 were freshmen...and I think that was a stretch.

When we colonized, we didn't do anything with FR. Instead, we hosted an information session after FR was over. Pretty much every woman we spoke with did not go through FR in that semester, and only 1 or 2 went through it previously in their school years. I think things are a bit different with me though because we were a local who affiliated with a national, so half the girls were essentially already "in" and we interviewed the PNM.

Originally posted by WhiteDaisy128

When a new chapter is coming to campus, they are given special priveledges too...like after formal recruitment 2002 (when DG came), all other groups on campus were not allowed to COB/COR during the Fall semester - regardless if they were at total or not. This was to allow DG the chance to COB to make it to campus average.

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Delta Beta Baby

See, but a rule like this is total crap, in my opinion. If you are pulling in different women, why would it be necessary to handicap other chapters?

Man, I feel like James.

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This does not handicap existing chapters.

We have used a COB/COR moratorium to assist the expanding chapters. It doesn't have to last all semester. I think we limited it to 2 or 3 weeks that existing chapters could not COB after formal recruitment. It gave the expanding chapter time for their own efforts without competition and showed the expanding chapter that their success was important to the entire greek community.

No campus should expand if their members don't whole heartedly support all chapters and their ability to be competitive in size. To be successful in an expansion -- you must find that panhellenic heart and support each other.