Anne Klein and the lion, and a rant of mine

vandy_violet · #1 05-14-2003, 07:23 PM

I was helping a friend of my mom's out last week by working Mother's Day weekend as an Anne Klein rep. Anyways, I don't know if y'all know that Anne Klein was an ADPi. I was looking at some of the watches, and a few have a lion on the dial on the side and on the back of the face. I actually think it's a pretty cute lion logo...I wonder if we could use this logo on shirts and stuff. I think it's cuter than the official ADPi logo...

It's so frustrating, cause I wish I could design shirts and suggest themes for parties and such, but I can't hold office until next spring. Do y'all have any advice on how to go about making suggestions for things like that when the officers aren't really asking for our input? I don't want to seem rude, but for example, next fall we are supposed to have a "Black Widow Blast" which is the strangest theme I have ever heard of. I would bet our social chair has thought of it because she has the perfect costume for it, but for everyone else, what do we do? The only time we were allowed to vote on a theme was Alpha party(pledge party). One of my friends is our Gift Mart chair and does the t-shirts and I tried to bring a cute idea up to her one time for a Crush party shirt(it was "I know what boys like, I know what guys want...ADPi"), and she said that we shouldn't do t-shirts that would make people think we are "all about guys". I don't want to step on people's toes and I haven't really spoken up much about stuff, but I'm a big ideas person and it is so frustrating to not be able to use them!! Any suggestions on how to politely suggest things and maybe get the officers to ask us for more input?

Pi love,
Kate

vandy_violet · #2 05-15-2003, 07:13 PM

I must be a bad poster or something because everything I post here and most of what I post in here nobody replies to.

SororgrlADPi · #3 05-15-2003, 07:32 PM

Vandy~

You are not a bad poster.....sometime it just takes people some to respond. Don't worry, it has happened to me before...... about your delimma, if you use the logo that Anne Klein has designed it might be a problem, but if you alter the logo to some degree you would probably be better off. Also, remember to only use this design on unofficial ADPi stuff, not official stuff.

About the other situation, are there other sisters who feel this way? If there are, you might want to talk with an exec. member you feel comfortable with and see if they have any ideas on who to approach and how to approach them. You might also make yourself available to help the social chair with the event, maybe if you are willing to help them with their idea, then they might be more responsive to your ideas in the future. I also would encourage you to run for positions where you can use your ideas. Also, just because your chapter might not be able to use an idea, other chapters might benefit for your wonderful and creative ideas! Good Luck!

vandy_violet · #4 05-16-2003, 01:38 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by vandy_violet
I must be a bad poster or something because everything I post here and most of what I post in here nobody replies to.

Agh, I must sound dumb...I mean everything I post in general forums...anyways, thanks SororgrlADPi. I really want to run for stuff right now, I'm a Pride Leader but as much as I can do. However, the MEVP is cool and used some of my pride ideas. Also my big sis is the outgoing EVP, so she would prolly be good to go to...my ADPi family is all exec members and the prez from two years ago, so I think I have to be a leader eventually! Oh, and I meant on unofficial stuff...we're using the official on a t-shirt, I just thought the AK lion would be pretty cute for a t-shirt too. Thanks!

Oh, btw, I think we get to pick committees in the fall, in your houses are you all on one committee, or multiple ones, and what do you get to do?

texas*princess · #5 05-16-2003, 11:11 AM

the Anne Klein lion watch sounds cute

SororgrlADPi had good ideas about the other question. Chances are, other sisters feel the same way. I hope it all works out for you.. please keep us updated!

HBADPi · #6 05-16-2003, 12:07 PM

i dont know everyone else's chapters are like but we always vote on themes for parties and/or mixers. I was honestly suprised to hear that your social chair just announced the theme and everyone was fine about it. I think if that had happened in our chapter all hell would have broken loose.

All our exec offices have committees too that meet regularly to discuss plans and what not.

Maybe talk to the president about it?

texas*princess · #7 05-16-2003, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by HBADPi
i dont know everyone else's chapters are like but we always vote on themes for parties and/or mixers.

I think that's a really good idea

That way it doesn't seem like anyone on the exec is just making all the decisions for the chapter

valpogal99 · #8 05-16-2003, 08:45 PM

If other people start wanting to submit ideas, you may be able to get the officers to start asking for them on all events. One way is to try to get a T-Shirt design started. We, like some of the other chapters I know of, would vote on themes and then give Sisters a few weeks to design a T-Shirt. The design that was selected earned the Sister a FREE t-shirt (or favor). Try to get a group of Sisters to support the suggestion and bring it up in New Business.

texas*princess · #9 05-17-2003, 03:41 AM

valpogal, that's a cute idea! it definately helps foster chapter involvement and creativity

FSUadpi02 · #10 05-25-2003, 03:20 PM

My chapter is an absolute mess! We don't even have committees and when I asked about I was told that our prides have replaced the committees. But the officers always complain about how much stuff they have to do and how no one helps, and everyone else complains about not having input into anything. It makes me want to scream sometimes!
I have offered to help with different things many times and they just kinda go "Oh, yeah, sure I'll let you know." And I don't know what to do about it.

MC

adpiucf · #11 05-25-2003, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by FSUadpi02
My chapter is an absolute mess! We don't even have committees and when I asked about I was told that our prides have replaced the committees. But the officers always complain about how much stuff they have to do and how no one helps, and everyone else complains about not having input into anything. It makes me want to scream sometimes!
I have offered to help with different things many times and they just kinda go "Oh, yeah, sure I'll let you know." And I don't know what to do about it.

MC

Please feel free to PM me. I am an adviser and an international officer, and I've gone through this with another chapter. I'd like to help you if I can.

violets · #12 05-26-2003, 06:59 PM

vandy_violet,
Thanks so much for beginning this thread, I glad to read about enthusiastic sisters! I'm certain that you will be contributing a lot to your chapter.
You very intelligently asked us for polite ways to get your ideas across. This is a fabulous question, it's a skill that is essential to learn as a leader in a sisterhood.
First, throw yourself into the serving the sorority, show up early and stay late at events. Volunteer for the jobs that others are reluctant to do, like clean up. This kind of spirit does get noticed both by sisters and advisors, I assure you.
Secondly, pick your battles. 90% of what you say should be supportive of the events and ideas that the chapter has committed to. So, you mentioned the "Black Widow Blast" admittedly, that's sort of a creepy theme. But if it's the one your chapter is definitely doing concentrate on ways to make it as good as it can be, even if it's only among your group of friends. Start planning your costume, help your close friends plan theirs.
Something like a social theme is really not as important (in my mind) as, say, a recruitment party theme. So if at some point you have things to say that are more critical, on a more important topic, that chapter will be far more apt to take your ideas seriously because you’ve already established yourself as a supporter of the house as a whole.
I do acknowledge that within your email you sound as if being critical is not your issue, it's just that you need a forum for the number of ideas that you do have. The tough reality is that sometimes new sisters do have to hang in and wait just a bit before their ideas come to the forefront. This is not always a bad thing, it gives you time to really immerse yourself within the chapter, get to know all the sisters and intelligently choose the area of chapter leadership that you think your personality and your ideas will best fit. It sounds like you have a lot of sisters close to you who have had very high level jobs within the chapter, I suggest you use them as a resource, ask them how they decided to serve in the capacity that they did. Ask them what skills they suggest you acquire if you would like to pursue the same job.
Actually when I first became an ADPi they sold many of the Anne Klein items through GiftMart, but I haven't seen them do that in a while, so your ideas have definite merit, it had been used by the sorority on a International Level. The one small correction I have is that apparently Anne Klein was never actually an ADPi, I learned that at an ADPi training workshop...oh well, she still makes great clothes!
Finally, Alpha Delta Pi is a lifetime experience, if you remain enthusiastic and creative, we will benefit for a long time to come. I've been able to implement ideas as an alumnae that I would not have been able to as an undergrad, serving as an alum has been a very rich experience.
violets

valpogal99 · #13 05-28-2003, 09:26 PM

It's interesting to see some of the posts here because they represent things going on at so many chapters. This is a great way to share ideas. You would be suprised at how many sisters (wether at your chapter or many of the others). Posts like this help to give all members some insight into what is happening and ways to overcome similar situations. As far as what to do, keep the faith and keep working with your chapter. If you really want to make a difference, run for office. Just be sure to keep in mind what you are feeling now and make sure to address that while you are in office. I am not good at keeping journals but if you are, you might keep a written record of things you would like to see changed now and how things make you feel. Once you are in office, refer back to the journal and make sure that you are not keeping the same pattern going. It is Sisters like you that keep the Sorority strong and growing. Keep it up!

Loyally,