[ASTalumna06]

I'm not sure if I'm posing this as a statement, or as more of a question, but...

Maybe the problems with retention (specifically with those who get "bored" and drop later in their college career) have something to do with the size of the chapter.

I was in a very small chapter. While I was active, we never had more than 19 girls. We were all VERY busy. Our chapter website (which hasn't been updated in forever) still has the roster and positions of the active sisters in 2006. Looking over the list, I started to remember how much we really had to do. Girls were holding 1-5 positions a piece. One sister held, over the course of one year: Vice President, Treasurer, Publicity, Alternate Panhellenic Delegate, and Pageant Chair.

But we were all very close. We struggled, but we all worked together to survive. Our chapter actually received many awards at Convention (including the highest one a chapter can receive) and it was the most rewarding experience.

With a chapter of 100-200 sisters (maybe more), I can see how it would be easy to get lost in the mix. Girls can go through 4 years of school and never hold a major position. I don't know this from experience, but in some cases, I would think it might be difficult to stand up, speak out, and actually be heard amongst that many young women. Being one in a sea of faces doesn't cut it for some people, and sometimes they don't realize that until they're drowning in the middle of it.

Or maybe I'm completely off base..