Hello! Well...this is definitely a topic that I have strong feelings about. I am part of the VST and know why the decision was made for Alpha Gamma Delta. I will give you some information - feel free to PM me if you would like more details.
First, I come from a very successful AGD chapter and we wore white dresses for pref. It was a wonderful way to reuse those white dresses. :-) It was absolutely beautiful...lights dimmed, white lights. It was perfect and I would not have changed it. My collegiate chapter was always at about 100% return on pref so it never hurt us.
Next, the reason why the decision was made to change the color for pref was due to studies we did on past recruitment guests and members. There are continous comments on how guests feel when they walk into a room filled with women dressed in black. Again, lights may be dimmed and there may be soft music. Close your eyes and picture this...where do you picture yourself? Most people would say it was like a funeral - most times thought as a sad event. This is not what we want our guests to feel. In fact, I know one sister who just lost a family member prior to recruitment. When she entered the room with women in black she immediately started to cry. It was a horrible experience. Thus the thought of bringing other colors into the experience. White, green, red or buff are encouraged. I know buff sounds odd and often has not been the color of choice. But you would be amazed on how wonderful white, green or red is.
If any of you attended the ACTs this last year, we showed a picture of a pref event with the women in red. WOW!!! The reaction from the chapters, guests, etc was amazing. If you would like to see the picture and how it can work - PM me and I will email you the picture. Dress colors do not need to be exact...just in the same family.
I am sorry about the length of this message...I could go on and on about the benefits of changing the color.
Give it some thought!
