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At elon, we extend the rho chi application to women in the NPHC organizations as well. One woman from Alpha Kappa Alpha applied when I was head rho chi for panhellenic. The AKA was the best rho chi, she was so helpful and supportive to all the PNM's that were going through. She even won the Elon Greek Life woman of the year award. Her sisters were also very supportive and allowed us to use their house for the PNM's when a freak rainstorm occured and would make cookies and treats for the Rho Chis.
As for the interview process, about 45 girls applied to be rho chis that year. two or three are usually chosen from each chapter for a total of 20 Rho Chis plus 2 head Rho Chis. The interview process consisted of a form, an essay on being greek, and what you think are important qualities in being a rho chi and then a interview process with the Panhellenic Recruitment Chairs who are also dissaffiliated, but not actual Rho Chis. More often women who have held leadership positions in their org or panhellenic were considered more than women who had not and a letter or reccomendation from the chapter pres or advisor usually helped.
The head Rho Chis usually are former Panhellenic Officers or former Recruitment chairs from their respective chapters. They cannot be from the same org though. I was paired with a Phi Mu who I had never even met before and we were the best of friends by the end of spring semester- we even shared the same birthday! Head Rho Chis don't have groups of PNM's. They basically oversee the whole scheduling process, work out kinks, and speak with either girls who are heartbroken and their Rho Chi. Generally we coordinated a lot of stuff for the Rho Chis and were there as a support system for them.
I wanted to be a Rho Chi because I was the former Recruitment Chair and Membership VP from my chapter of AZD and I am a total recruitment nerd. I think Recruitment and membership should be a priority of every greek woman, without new members the orgs can't grow and flourish. So being a part of the more generalized panhellenic process was awesome for me. I loved and became friends with all the other Rho Chis and it helped me learn more about each org. Dissafiliating wasn't a problem. I felt like I had new sisters, just in another way. We had our own pins, rituals, t-shirts, date party, and social functions. We even had spa day where we all went and got facials and massages right before recruitment started.
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