Colonization Recruitment -- how is it different?
 

A sorority is recolonizing on my campus this fall. I participated in formal recruitment last year and didn't match, but I really want to be in a sorority, so I'm planning on trying to become a part of the new group. Besides the recruitment information in the sticky posts, is there anything particular to colonization of a new group I'll need to know? :)

Read this thread when you have time: maybePNM and colonization. The thread might answer some questions you may have about the colonization process.

Good luck.

My recruitment/colonization experience was very similar. Depending on the campus and the group there may also be more or less meetings. You could find out this information from Greek Life.

Mine was pretty similar, as well. We only had interviews, though, and bids were given out on the basis of those interviews. I believe only alumnae were involved as interviewers. Honestly, my recruitment reminded me much more of a job interview than traditional sorority recruitment. (That's not to say it wasn't still fun.)

Thanks to everyone who replied! I have two more questions. Do colonizing recruitments ever have prefs, or is it only something existing chapters do? Also, when a chapter is recolonizing, do the pledge classes start from the beginning again or from wherever the last class inducted before the chapter first closed?

Whether the colony recruitment includes a pref ceremony depends on the sorority and how the colonization team wants to structure things. Some do, and some do not. You can find out more about that when you attend the first event and get the schedule.

I'm not quite sure what you're asking in your second question. A colony is basically starting from scratch, so everything is new and starts from the beginning. If you receive a bid to a colony, you are the first new member class of that chapter.

As far as prefs go, it would depend on the sorority. I'm not familiar with other sororities' colony group's recruitment activities.

I'm not quite following your last question, though.

ETA: LOL, we posted the same time! :p

I assume you are asking if the pledge classes are named starting from alpha or from the last name issued before a pre-existing chapter closed. To answer this question, not all chapters name their pledge classes. If they do name them, I bet they'd probably start from alpha again since the chapter will be essentially new. Chapter re-installations generally keep the old chapter name, though some groups add "Deuteron" behind the original name to indicate a second chance at the original charter. For AOII, chapters keep their same name and the original sub-motto chosen by the original charter members. Good luck with going through the process.

And yet, our colonization at Washington and Lee will be completely different!

A lot depends on the campus atmosphere, too - but the first example is probably the most popular, from what I've seen over the years. Many times, a Pref Night is on the schedule, just not the "public" schedule, as not to hurt anyone.

Good luck with Recruitment!

As far as pledge classes "starting over" - I too think the OP was referring to "Alpha" pledge class, "Beta" pledge class, etc. From what I know of that practice, it's not standard and can vary from chapter to chapter of the same org whether or not you do it.

There's a possibility though that you mean initiation numbers - which are often used as your "sorority ID" and sometimes engraved on your badge. I would assume in that case that the original chapter's records regarding that would be saved and that the numbering would continue from where it left off - eg there would be no new "#1" member. Because then there could be two of you! LOL. I would also guess that the original chapter records of these kinds of things would probably be saved at the national office and returned to the new chapter for use again.

Once when we did a recolonization, the recolonizing members were called the "Phoenix class" (as the Phoenix is one of our symbols, and it rises from the ashes). Like BG said the naming of pledge classes is really a school to school/chapter to chapter thing. How long ago was the chapter closed? If it was back in 1945 or something, I doubt anyone has records of how far up the pledge classes got.

Scroll numbers/initiation numbers will pick up where they left off, for ease of record keeping at HQ.

I LOVE that! What a neat way to use one of your symbols to signify such a special group! AOII actually doesn't like chapters to name their pledge classes. Some chapters do it, especially if it is a tradition at the school for other GLOs to name their classes. My chapter did not have names...I don't think it made any difference as to class identity...we just called ourselves by the time we pledged, ie. Fall 93 for my group.

Yes, breathesgelatin, that is what I was talking about, sorry if it wasn't clear! Thanks for your explanations, everyone :)

Our colonization at U of A will be different as well. We will be in Round 1 of recruitment, then pull out. Interviews will be done is mid September with bids handed out in late September.

It is really going to depend on the school that you are going too.

You should really contact the school. I've heard (through reading on here) that some schools require the girls to go through formal and then if they don't get bid matched they can pursue the colonizing group. Some might not. You really need to find out what your schools requirements are.