[honeychile]

I've been in both one of the largest sororities on campus, and mid-to-smallest on campus. There are perks to both, but I think you need to hear the benefits of the smaller ones now.

-Once Recruitment is over, there's not as much drama. There's only 10 women screaming over computer problems or not enough bathroom space, instead of 60.

-You have a better choice of venues for Formals, because you don't need as much room.

-You'll go to every class, because there won't be a sister covering for you, whose notes you can use.

-You know exactly who wore your clothes without asking, because you know which sister has been coveting your new boots.

-Not as many arguments over what to watch on tv. You'll all have the same interests.

-You can use those buy one, get one free pizza coupons, because, hey, two pizzas is all you need!

-No bother sending someone to Panhel meetings; your ideas won't count for much, anyhow.

-Lastly, only the new Recruitment Chairman will have a nervous breakdown & drop out because she's afraid that she'll fail, not the entire chapter. I say that because the bottom line is, make all the excuses you'd like about preferring a smaller sorority, but the detriments will far outweigh the pluses. What you need is a way to build morale this term on in a different way, then come back in the fall with a PLAN to work on your numbers!

As a smaller sorority, you won't be considered for many Awards at your National Convention, nor will you be able to garner many locally. You will be continually outshined, and fall into the pity game. You'll be the sorority that has to be paired with one fraternity and the other small sorority for Homecoming, etc. Your Recruitment Returns will be small, and Bid Day will be similar to the Seventh Ring of Hell.

If I sound mean, it's because I've been there, once as a collegiate, once as an Advisor. I've been the sister who watched ONE PLEDGE destroy a chapter, and held the Recruitment Chairman who devoted six months to plans that went belly up due to lazy sisters as she sobbed uncontrollably. I've also been the sister who welcomed the largest pledge class on campus, and the Advisor who cried uncontrollably over just reaching Total for the first time in years.

Excuses, laziness, and selfishness will never, ever build up a chapter. When small chapters get out of their comfort zones and decide that they DO want to run with the wolves, they need to give each other every bit of extra time and play the same game that the bigger chapters do. Do you think they just spontaenously have a great skit, or great Greek Week, or whatever? NO! They WORK at it! And until the smaller chapters decide to do so, too, they will remain small chapters.

Both small chapters and large chapters have a 100% work load in the Greek system. In the large chapters, sisters can skate by on giving 50%, but in small chapters, every sister must give 100%, every day. How much are you willing to give?