[Sciencewoman]

At the chapter where I advise, we currently have a NM class of 4, and it has been working out. Formal recruitment is in the fall, and all chapters have been making quota, but all chapters have also been losing just a few NMs, mostly due to financial issues. Also, total went up 2 years ago, but that was probably premature. So, we've gotten into a trend of all chapters doing informal recruitment in the winter and taking really small NM classes to make up the difference. To offset this trend, clear financial info. is going to be made more public for this coming year and total has been lowered.

We're going overboard to make the NMs feel welcome and not overwhelmed or left out...temporary big sisters; making sure someone is coming with them to events, meetings, etc.; having a few rotating initiated sisters at the NM meetings, etc. They're having a sleepover with their big sisters the night before initiation. It is working out. It is just quite time and labor intensive for such a few women, so we're hoping that the campus can avoid widespread informal recruitment in the future.