[Old_Row]

Originally Posted by misscherrypie

Our chapter has gotten some interest in the past month or so from potential members who are interested in more information about Beta Sigma Phi. After talking with these potential members, we found that several of them are entering as Freshmen this fall.

In the interest of fairness, while we welcome getting to know new faces and seeing if they are a good fit for our Beta chapter.....it seems somewhat disingenuous to me personally, to invite them to rush with us, when they honestly have a wide open opportunity to go through Panhellenic Recruitment now.

I am aware that the Greek Organizations do not promote any organization over another during their recruitment activities and with us not being a part of Greek or Campus Life, with different activities (and we're much different as an organization anyway.....) we don't want to seem like we're "promoting ourselves" and attracting PNMs 'away' from Panhellenic who might find that Beta isn't what they were truly seeking, if they were to not go through Panhellenic recruitment and go through rush with us instead.

So far, we've adopted the following policy: we've encouraged these entering Freshmen who are interested in being involved with Greek Life to register for Panhellenic or MGC recruitment and see where that takes them. If they are still interested in Beta Sigma Phi, after recruitment is over, we'd be happy to invite them to rush with us.

We scheduled our rush events for dates AFTER the other orgs are holding their recruitment activities for this reason, and aren't promoting our rush, other than through our chapter's website. We figure that should solve any other concerns.

Is there anything else that we might be able to do to be as "fair and reasonable" as possible in this situation that I'm personally not seeing?

Thank you.

This whole thing has me so confused my brain might explode. You are not a campus sorority because your school won't allow you to be. You are an off campus sorority that includes members from places like the community college to join. Your separate on campus group is called Beta Buds and must be coed. You even stated that you would consider going through NPC rush again so obviously someone can be a member of an NPC and your groups. I don't see how you can have a Beta Sigma Phi rush at your school when you do not officially exist there. You aren't anything like an NPC sorority at your school. Has something changed?

Originally Posted by misscherrypie

Another club put the tabling under their name on our behalf and let us use the table. Which, as we were told today...isn't actually allowed. So, we couldn't go that route again. Non campus recognized orgs have to pay $120 per day to table in front of the Student Union and are required to have an insurance policy. We don't have either of those.

I had to pay the university to be allowed to have our fliers and info cards on campus....in fact, the cost of recruitment (paying for Zumba entrance, the Starbucks and Einsteins Bagels for rush events, the copying and posters) totaled several hundred dollars of my own funds, and while much was learned....it was disheartening to put all that effort and funds forth in return for not much success. I'm out of money.

Originally Posted by misscherrypie

there is a community college in town,which has a large population. That's where Sophie is a student. I'm not sure of the demographics there, but assume a larger population of non traditional students.

The weird thing is that our other student members are traditional students and are all 21 and under.

The others are a recent graduate who is also in her very early twenties, Sophie who is slightly younger than I and Michelle who is even older than I....but only by a few years.

International did send a list of our registered local legacies (contact info was out of date for them....hello hours on the telephone) , a list of locally registered members at large, and a short list of women who are interested in joining Beta Sigma Phi to use in efforts to meet additional potential members. We are using these lists, and hopefully...some good will come out of them.

I'd like to contact our city council and get some feedback from them.

Originally Posted by misscherrypie

So, I wanted to update....it's been just over a month since we were chartered, and we're having a ball being Nevada Nu.

The chapter decided to keep trying to pursue campus recognition. We've made connections with the other orgs on campus, and even participated in a Philanthropy event with one of the other organizations, have had socials, philanthropy events, a fundraiser, a few road trips and are planning our formal for Founder's Day on April 30th. We're having a blast and I am so very happy being a sorority member. It's everything that I've hoped and everything I've dreamed it would be.

After a month, we decided the following:

A. Our school says that since our National Org is not an IRS 501 c 3 organization, we would be unable to exist as a sorority on campus without it. We are beginning the process to apply for that 501 c 3 immediately for our chapter....with no guarantees that we will receive it. Hopefully, this will pan out. Although it is looking like the process may still continue past when about half our student members graduate....we'd still like to put forth the effort knowing that we tried every avenue possible.

2. We ended up forming a co-ed student social club organization called "Beta Budds" that pursues the values exemplified by Beta Sigma Phi.

Half of the Beta Budds are sisters of Beta Sigma Phi. We also have members of Beta Budds who are not interested in becoming members of Beta Sigma Phi, but appreciate the values that the sorority stands for in its open motto.

So, we have two distinct organizations that are going on: Beta Sigma Phi- Nevada Nu Chapter that will go about its usual business, albeit off campus and Beta Budds that will be an way for us to organize as a group, along with other like minded students and serve and socialize on campus in an official capacity. Not the most ideal situation, but it is an acceptable one for both sides.

We made contact with the Beta Sigma Phi- Reno/Sparks City Council, and they have been wonderful with us and we are planning to join the council. They ended up hosting and conducting our pledge ritual, and had a lovely reception afterward for us. Our Vice President said to me "I hope that we'll be as cool as they are when I'm older!" Indeed. I really like them too.

I'll keep this thread updated as the saga continues. Either way, I think that things are going fine.


On another topic, I was approached by several women recently and asked to consider going through NPC recruitment again in the fall. After what happened last fall, I am a bit wary...but am willing to give the idea a fair amount of proper consideration.

Originally Posted by misscherrypie

Honest answer: If I received a bid, I would accept it. The suggestion came from out of nowhere, and since I know that Greeks from my school do read my posts on GC and know exactly who I am, all I will say is that I will consider the suggestion to consider going through recruitment this fall carefully, and if I do make the decision to go through....I would accept a bid if I were to receive one.