Improving Sorority Reputation?

sratty77 · #1 12-05-2005, 11:39 PM

Do you all have any ideas/advice on improving a sorority's reputation? We don't have a bad reputation, we actually don't really have any reputation at all...just kinda there. I'm the new social chair and I know we have the potential to move up in the tiers but how can we get "better" fraternities to mix with us? Any suggestions on this or making a good reputation in general would be appreciated. Our chapter used to be so strong and now we're slipping...I want to turn that around! Thanks in advance!

James · #2 12-05-2005, 11:52 PM

Keeping your campus and organization secret is a good idea for this post

I know you said you don't have a reputation . . but everyone does. What reputations are you up against?

Are the boys avoiding you? Or just not contacting you? Like if you call them to arrange something do they get back to you?

SoCalGirl · #3 12-06-2005, 02:48 AM

I think it all really depends on what the rep is and how it's leading you're chapter to be not as strong. Though I'd like to point out that a fraternity not socializing with you does not make your chapter weak.

It would be best to sit down as a chapter or at the very least your exec board and identify how your chapter is perceived. You want to identify how the sisters perceive the chapter as well as how other sororities, fraternities, and non greeks perceive the chapter. Identify the pros and cons. Accentuate the positive! If the cons are behaviors that the chapter can change then do so asap.

Next list what you want the perceptions to be and identify how to make that happen.

You need to create a chapter image statement that reflects what you want from your current and future members. This will also help you during recruitment because you can ask "does Polly PNM meet our image statement?". Just remember, it's not all about looks but behaviors and activities (clubs, etc) too.

I know I'm being vague but without knowing more specifics it can be difficult. Feel free to PM me if you'd like.

eta: I just reread your post. Lack of a rep usually has to do with lack of involvement. Not only does your chapter have to go all out to support chapter and greek events but they also have to get involved outside of greek life. Each sister should join a campus club that is unrelated to panhellenic/sorority life.

#4 12-06-2005, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by sratty77
Do you all have any ideas/advice on improving a sorority's reputation? We don't have a bad reputation, we actually don't really have any reputation at all...just kinda there. I'm the new social chair and I know we have the potential to move up in the tiers but how can we get "better" fraternities to mix with us? Any suggestions on this or making a good reputation in general would be appreciated. Our chapter used to be so strong and now we're slipping...I want to turn that around! Thanks in advance!

Like James said, you have a reputation, whether you choose to believe it or not!! Find out specifically what stereotypes or reputation your chapter has and combat those things specifically. If you're known for being nerds, be more social, in all areas....if you're known for partying too much, as much fun as it is, it's not necessasry to go to EVERY fraternity party that is offered. If they think you're ugly, make it a priority for your women to look their best when wearing letters on campus, and so on. It won't happen overnight but it's a good start.

kddani · #5 12-06-2005, 08:13 AM

If you just want to improve visibility, have a letters day once a week where everyone wears their letters, and make an effort more a lot of people to eat together in the school's dining areas while wearing their letters. We used to called it L Squared (get it?).

KDMafia · #6 12-06-2005, 08:51 AM

My chapter was in the same spot you guys are in about four years ago. We used to sit down and have brain storming parties about what we could do to get our name out on campus more.
Some things we did:
1. Bake cookies for all the fraternities and sororities during finals
2. Did a window wash in the school parking lot with notes that said "your windows were washed by KayDee!"
3. Constantly contacted other organizations for mixers, etc
4. Made sure we were out en masse for other groups philantrophies and such events.
5. We would have letter making parties where we would brain storm on cute letter designs. I firmly believe that by the time I graduated we had the cutest letters. Too often they're just put on a sweatshirt and noone really notices them. We would go to cheap but nicer stores and buy fitted tees in different colors and put letters on them. We also just worked to have different styles than the other sororites. I really believe this helped us stand out more and it especially helps during recruitment because even the freshman notice them more

Hope some of that helps.

frathole · #7 01-08-2006, 11:33 PM

Sponsor philanthropy events at bars, at good bars where fratty people hang out, make sure its at a big name bar on a friday or saturday night.

Next time you mix with a fraternity, offer to bear more of the financial burden (if that's not a huge incentive, I don't know what is) and make sure a lot of your girls show up, and make sure you cut loose and have a great time, and go out and hang out with guys from the mixer afterward to bars or fraternity parties.

Date guys in top fraternities.

exlurker · #8 01-09-2006, 12:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by frathole
Sponsor philanthropy events at bars, at good bars where fratty people hang out, make sure its at a big name bar on a friday or saturday night.

Hey, sratty77 (and others), double-check your sorority's national policies before trying anything like this. It is a fact that some NPC sororities absolutely forbid philanthropy events or other fundraisers in bars.

frathole · #9 01-09-2006, 01:22 AM

I did not know that.

nevermind then

sratty77 · #10 02-01-2006, 06:39 PM

Thanks for the ideas...yeah, nationals won't let us do bar nights anymore, which sucks, because I know that definitely gets a sorority's name out there. As far as contacting fraternities, well, some get back and some don't. A lot are "busy." Somehow we've gained a reputation of being really conservative, even though a lot of us (including myself) go out all the time!

We just got our new pledge class, and I have to admit, although I love them and it's a HUGE class, which is good for numbers, several of the girls just don't fit in with the house. Even though our chapter advisor has talked incessantly with us about ratings and thinking about what's best for the house, sisters still consider what they personally are looking for in a PNM. As a result, we ended up with a mismatched pledge class with a lot of girls that I think have some loyalty issues with the sorority.

I really don't know what to do. I don't want our sorority to go down, I want to bring it back to the top!

AchtungBaby80 · #11 02-01-2006, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sratty77
We just got our new pledge class, and I have to admit, although I love them and it's a HUGE class, which is good for numbers, several of the girls just don't fit in with the house. Even though our chapter advisor has talked incessantly with us about ratings and thinking about what's best for the house, sisters still consider what they personally are looking for in a PNM. As a result, we ended up with a mismatched pledge class with a lot of girls that I think have some loyalty issues with the sorority.

That might be part of your problem. There was a sorority on my campus that was known as being almost "too diverse," and as a result they didn't really have a strong presence. The group events that everyone suggested are good, and doing more things together might even help your chapter become a little more cohesive.

33girl · #12 02-02-2006, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sratty77
Thanks for the ideas...yeah, nationals won't let us do bar nights anymore, which sucks, because I know that definitely gets a sorority's name out there. As far as contacting fraternities, well, some get back and some don't. A lot are "busy." Somehow we've gained a reputation of being really conservative, even though a lot of us (including myself) go out all the time!

We just got our new pledge class, and I have to admit, although I love them and it's a HUGE class, which is good for numbers, several of the girls just don't fit in with the house. Even though our chapter advisor has talked incessantly with us about ratings and thinking about what's best for the house, sisters still consider what they personally are looking for in a PNM. As a result, we ended up with a mismatched pledge class with a lot of girls that I think have some loyalty issues with the sorority.

I really don't know what to do. I don't want our sorority to go down, I want to bring it back to the top!

As far as the "conservative" rep, all you can do is keep going out, and make an effort to hang out with fraternities other than the safe comfy ones that everyone knows.

Your second paragraph reminds me of what happened with my chapter - we took a large (for us) class, half the girls were the old conservative type of sister, half were partyers (to be blunt). They all bonded - unfortunately it was because they all disliked their pledge mom so much. Give it time and let them do some events ON THEIR OWN and maybe the "mismatched" people will find things in common. Once they have bonded with each other, their loyalty won't be questioned as much.

AlphaAlphaLSU · #13 02-18-2006, 04:10 PM

I am probably going to get kicked off on my first post for the bluntness, but here are my suggestions.

1) Eat more salad, don't be fat
2) don't be bitchy or snotty
3) Don't be hoes

If you follow these three, you will be pretty well off.

Frathole, is that you?
I didn't know what to do when the other site went down.
Did any of the other guys sign up on here?
Where is the LSU thread?

adpiucf · #14 02-18-2006, 07:38 PM

Get together with the chapter for a retreat to review your sorority policies and plan your goals for the year.

Have an officer stand in front of the group- with a large easel sized pad of paper and a fat marker. As a group-- new and old members alike, brainstorm goals you as a chapter would like to achieve. Some examples--

#1 GPA among sororities
Perfect Attendance at Chapter Meeting for the month of March
100% new members that joined initiated
Dues paid on time
New carpet for the chapter room
Wear letters every Friday!
At least 4 social events this quarter
First Place Intramural Basketball Champs
Make sure the other Greeks know we're here!

etc... Display this in a chapter common area where members can see it be inspired.

Next, develop an action plan to meet these goals!

Get together with your advisers and using this brainstorming exercise, develop a timeline and a plan to meet your goals. Go over it with the chapter members and get everyone on board-- form committees, and committee chairmen, and projects with deadlines.

For example: Make sure the other Greeks know we're here!

Why not go serenading one night to the fraternities? Drop off goody baskets to the other sororities for finals week. At Panhellenic meeting, recognize a "Greek of the Week" who is in another sorority or fraternity.

It's hard being a social chair-- if you're in a position of being part of a chapter that hasn't had a very active social calendar in the past, sometimes it can be hard to develop new relationships with the other Greek groups. Talk to your adviser and make sure you have good contact and follow-up as you set up your calendar.

Good luck!

KDLady23 · #15 02-20-2006, 03:26 AM

The sit-down-and-outline-the-problem method does NOT work. The way to improve your chapter's reputation is by getting to know fraternities. Go to their crush parties, their open parties, late-nights, whatever. Even though its technically not allowed, encourage girls to become lil sis's...as long as they keep it classy. Do NOT try to contact too many fraternities about mixing, and definitely don't try again if they haven't said anything. This might make your chapter look pathetic. It's all about PR, and the best PR is the kind that comes from other people's mouths. If your girls are going out and meeting guys, people will notice, and when it comes time for a fraternity to mix...they'll say, "What about the Alpha Beta whatevers? They've been coming around a lot." Hope that helps.