Recommendation Crisis!

[HCM]

I know I mentioned this in another thread, but I was hoping for a few more opinions/responses.

I do not personally know anyone who has been in a sorority (besides a few girls who just rushed this year). Also, there is no Alumnae Club in the Boston area for me to contact about meeting up with alumnae. I have started contacting the sorority themselves to inquire about getting in touch with alumnae in my area, but so far I have had no luck.

Does anyone have any other suggestions for me? I just want to be as prepared as possible for the rushing process. Thanks everyone!

[33girl]

Are you rushing at a school that requires recs?

[MysticCat]

Have you checked the national websites of the sororities with chapters at the school you'll be attending to see if they have alumnae clubs/chapters in or around Boston? I did two quick gooogle seaches -- "alumnae boston alpha" and "alumnae boston kappa" -- and pretty quickly found what appear to be links for alumnae groups for at least 15 of the 26 NPC groups.

[Titchou]

Have you asked your parents's friends, neighbors, teachers, counselors, employers, coaches, etc, etc, etc? If not, start there. Then try the alum orgs. I know there are plenty in the Boston area. And the girls that rushed this year, they will know some alums. Someone wrote their rec! And when you find someone in one group, ask if they know anyone in the others you need. That's perfectly OK to do.

[HCM]

I am totally new to the Greek system/idea of rushing, but from what I have heard and read online here it seems as though my school does require recommendations.

Thank you for your suggestion! I found a few local alumnae clubs this way, but I cannot seem to locate all of them. Thanks again!

[arrowlady]

Have you asked the girls that you know that went thru recruitment recently where they got their rec letters from? Make sure to ask teachers, have parents ask co workers, ladies from your church, your friends parents.. you would be surprised at where you can find ladies willing to help you out!

[melindawarren]

Another way to find alumnae clubs: I went to facebook and googled "Los Angeles ABC Alumnae" or "Hollywood ABC Alumnae" or other local suburbs. If they had a facebook group, I looked through the member list to see if I had any connections to anyone. And I did! Not direct connections, but I was able to go to people and say, "I remember meeting so-and-so at your house last year, and I learned that she's a member of ABC. Can you help connect me with her?" In every case where that happened, the connecting friend was more than happy to help me out.

[DubaiSis]

But back to the original question, I don't believe that you don't know any Greek women. You just don't KNOW that you know any Greek women. There are about 80 gazillion threads about getting recs. Read them and then start asking every adult woman you know. And the college girls you know should be an excellent reference, as stated by arrowlady.

The process of finding and receiving recs is a great lesson in communication so don't try to get out of this the easy way. And you'll learn A LOT about sorority membership from getting to know these women better which will help you do better in rush. So consider this a good thing, not a chore to tolerate.

[HCM]

Unfortunately all the girls who rushed didn't get recommendation letters as their schools are less competitive... so that's out. I'm sure DubaiSis is right and there are some Greek women floating around in my life, so I'll keep asking around. I'm definitely not trying to wimp out of the recommendation process... I'm actually rather committed to getting connected with alumnae, hence the post. My intention was not to complain if it came off that way. Thanks for the advice everyone!

Also, I will definitely try that melindawarren! I never thought of doing that.

[Titchou]

Just because your Greek friends did not need recs doesn't mean they don't know any Greek women in your home town. They can find alums of their own groups who may know women in other groups. Network!!!!!!!!!!!!!