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Being an alum who has been through all sides of the recruitment process-- PNM, sister, recruitment counselor, adviser, alumnae director, here are some thoughts...
1) No chapter is including "trash talking the other sororities" in their Recruitment Workshops. The goal is to sell "ABC" sorority to the PNMs, and not "how do we make sure that all the PNMs hate XYZ?" I am sure that once in a while, some sorority woman lets something slip to a PNM (whether in a recruitment party or a personal setting), but it is more likely due to a personal problem with another member of another GLO. Any trash talking is the result of an individual, and not an entire chapter. However, a member is a representative of her chapter and Recruitment Chairs should be mindful of this and remind members to watch their Ps and Qs always. You never know who is listening and when you might injure chapter relations.
2) PNM's talk A LOT of smack. There are women who have rushed before, who are older and going through recruitment after a few years of being on campus, who are younger and have friends at other schools in other sororities who think that all groups bearing the letters "ABC" have the same reputation, girls who are legacies, friends of current sorority members, and in those PNM groups, there is a bunch of misinformation that floats around. YOU HAVE NO IDEA SOME OF THE THINGS I HAVE HEARD!!!! This is where the vast majority of those rumors begin! It's amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
3) A chapter with steadily declining numbers tends to have a lower self-esteem, and as the numbers fall, so do things like keeping your negativity within the chapter wall's ears, and an their view of other GLO's. This manifests itself in the chapter members being less friendly and unwilling to accept help or constructive criticism. The smaller group unintentionally alientates itself and feels envy toward the larger, more successful group who has mastered the art of keeping internal conflict out of the public eye. (I AM NOT SAYING THAT SORORITIES WITH SMALLER NUMBERS ARE BAD. I AM SAYING THAT A CHAPTER WHOSE NUMBERS ARE FALLING, WHO IS STRUGGLING WITH RECRUITMENT, ETC., IS AT-RISK FOR THIS SORT OF BEHAVIOR).
I think one of the best ways to combat negative self-talk within a chapter is to encourage an open-forum meeting with all the members and the Exec Board once a quarter/semester where members can air their feelings. Having motivational speakers and team building exercises as part of a member education workshop or sisterhood retreat are also great ways to motivate. Setting realistic goals at the beginning of the year is a great way to energize the chapter to reach for the stars! RECRUITMENT IS A 365-DAY-A-YEAR PROCESS. Always put your best foot forward!
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