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There have been a few changes in recent years. Here is the official word from the most recent MOI. The lase paragraph is important. I think it might be why some "formal pledging" ceremonies are delayed a few days or a week. After that the window closes and you are bound by total. Which hopefully had been reevaluated at the conclusion of recruitment!


Vacancies in Quota
A vacancy in quota occurs in one of the following:
• When a woman negates her signed membership recruitment acceptance binding agreement,
• When a woman refuses to accept her matched bid at the conclusion of membership recruitment
• When a woman does not participate in a ribbon or formal new member pledging ceremony and/or does not sign
documentation or agreements with the member organization indicating her intent to pledge the group
A chapter may immediately bid and pledge another woman, even if the chapter is over total. If a chapter has received quota additions, the chapter may only bid and pledge additional women to the established quota. They cannot bid or pledge additional women to fill open spaces received as quota additions. For example, if quota were 25 and a chapter matches to quota (25) plus received 2 quota additions (total of 27 new members), the chapter may not fill any openings from declined bids until they drop below 25.
However, if a chapter matches to quota and is above total, and all potential new members go through the formal pledging ceremony (quota), the chapter is unable to fill any vacancies until the chapter drops below total should a new member break her pledge.