PLEASE HELP - Important Seminar for New Members!
 

Hello all!

I'm in real need of collaborative help here. I've been asked to hold a seminar at my alma mater for the new members of our campuses sororities. The topic is "Life Before & After Greek Life: Keeping and Maintaining Relationships" The new greek director explained "I want to give the new members a crash course on maintaining relationships on all levels because I know for a fact that many people do change when they go Greek. This could cover relationships such as friends, greek life, sisters, brothers, campus involvement, other organizations, alumni, etc."

I was asked to do this because I was a highly involved student leader on campus, in Greek life and other groups. I've been told that my audience is pretty tough, that for the previous seminars on other topics they've seemed uninterested and didn't participate.

My question is this: what on earth can I do to make this hour+ long seminar interesting/engaging/thought provoking?? I can sit for an hour and a half talking about myself but obviously that is not effective.

Does anyone have suggestions, ideas, or subjects that you feel are really important to discuss? I'll take all the help I can get!! Thank you so much!

Best Wishes,
JJ

You could start with a skit or monologue about two different women coming to a new city. One uses her Greek connections/background to find an apartment, awesome hairdresser, etc., while the other one sits in her dingy basement apartment, eating chips and wondering how to get involved in her new city..

Also check with the NPC - they have, I believe, several resources regarding alumnae life. In addition, Phi Mu should have some alumnae retention resources you can use.

The first thing that comes to mind for me would be a few real life, but brief speakers. What I noticed most when I went through rush and afterward was the grief many young women went through. It was extremely competitive and many did not receive bids etc. I watched many women suffer as they witnessed the very few pledge and then how the pledges changed as they went through pledgeship/sisterhood. Some kind of speaker (possible a new sister who has experienced this and who is compassionate) on the importance of those that are your friends that do not pledge and being sympathetic/supportive etc. as the school year continues. There is always such a division and many times the sorority member moves along.

I think real life speakers with real life examples and situations. People love to hear great speakers and those that can deliver a lesson with a super message.

Maybe you can create a theme and tie all your speakers into the one theme.