Keeping Locals Motivated

[GreekFlame]

Help. I don't know if there is already a thread out there on this, so please bear with me. I have been advising a group of young ladies who formed a local sorority with the hopes of going national in the near future...they contacted my national sorority because of their exposure to us on other campuses (many of their members are upper classmen who felt too old to rush when they transferred--and liked what they saw in our national organization--they have done alot of research to their credit). To give you some idea of the situation the campus is in, last year a national sorority closed, and approx. 250 women were cross-cut in formal this past fall. We obviously need another national group (total is 125 here). From the numbers alone, we thought the vote to expand would be a go. The women knew it was possible that PC would not honor their wishes by allowing them to affiliate with the national organization of their choice--rather they could have chosen to required presentations...and they were prepared for that possibility.

Unfortunately, the campus' Panhellenic Council voted NOT to expand by allowing this group to go national at the beginning of next semester, rather they are going to revisit it again after Fall formal recruitment (so another 250-300 women can have their hearts broken). This school has a very strong Greek system. Everyone is at or very near total, some are creeping up to 200 members. I understand that one of the reasons the vote failed was because they felt rushed in making their decision. Fine.

I am heartbroken for these young ladies who have put their blood, sweat & tears into this endeavor...I don't particularly care that this means I will not have a collegiate chapter of my sorority to advise in the near future--but I do care that they may be left with a bad taste in their mouths about NPC in general. So here's my dilemma. I want to keep these ladies motivated, because I am certain that after NPC comes in the fall, they will decide to expand in some way. Even if they don't go with my national organization, I want these women to have what they so deeply want--lifetime sisterhood.

Any ideas? These ladies have been playing the waiting game for a long time, and I think now I will advise them to just dive right in & become a killer local group, with by-laws, unique ritual, and events like all the other sororities. They will request to be allowed to become non-voting members of Panhellenic...and I suppose they will have to plan a killer recruitment in the fall after PH rush is over (I have been reading the other thread & think that structure will work). What other thoughts do you all have?

Also, do you think it is a conflict for me to continue to work with these women? I do not want there to be any appearance of impropriety toward Panhellenic expansion rules...again, this group contacted us (which they are allowed to do via NPC rules). We have been open and honest with the school's Greek advisors about our intentions, and have done nothing more than provide information and moral support-no promises have been made. Obviously I want my sorority on this campus, but I am a big GLO supporter, and absolutely HATE the thought of women going through rush and having to taste the bitter disappointment of not getting a bid.

I have been impressed with the insight of the GC users, and could really use a little morale boost myself. Thanks in advance!

-Greek Flame (AKA dzandiloo who has gotten her ID's and passwords straightened out, and does not want to be known as Greek Flame!)

[DGPhoney]

Wow thats sad that all that is happening and that all those ladies won't at that time have the chance to participate in Greek life be it on the National level or on the local level.
Secondly, I don't think that it's a conflict of interest, I mean of course certain things and certain areas of help will be means of conflict, but just helping out, and showing that you really care. I think thats Greek and really showing what Greek is all about,so deffiently good job.
As for the ladies I say if they can't go national, go local or even look into the Bigger Local Groups who are expanding and etc. I think they as well as anyone else deserves the chance to participate in Greek life and experience the same sisterhood, and overal unity that everyon else does who is already in a greek organization.
Hope my input helped
DGP~Honey~

[33girl]

I don't see a conflict of interests at all with your continuing to advise the group, any more than if a non-Greek or a fraternity man advises a sorority (which is quite common). The only way it would be a conflict is if they wanted to go with a national other than yours or stay local and you steered them away from it, which you definitely aren't doing. You are being one fab advisor, because your main concern is the girls' sisterhood and happiness!

I have no idea what it is like to be at a school w/ over 60 in a chapter, let alone twice that but from what I've gathered on here, the bigger you get the more you want to be sure you stay that way. One of the keys might be to show **consistent** overage in recruitment over many years, to let the other groups know this isn't a fluke.

Definitely tell them to keep on truckin' for now, and enjoy sorority life locally without waiting on Panhel. If everyone's at total, and the other groups keep denying them the chance, the other groups will (to be blunt) just look like they are being bitchy. They need to "share the wealth" as it were! GOOD LUCK!!

[GreekFlame]

Thanks for the suggestions & the support. I met with the President and her Social chair on Tuesday night, and happily, the group did not implode!

They have decided to push on--I showed them some web-sites with info on symbolism so they can get to work on designing their crests & ritual. They seem to be having fun with it--and I know they will be really creative. They will also draft a constitution/creed/etc, and try to get their Fall calendar set before they leave for the summer. I have suggested they approach one of the national sororities that voted "yes" to expansion, and see if they would be interested in doing a sisterhood social or a duo-so this group can learn how a big national group does things. Hope they don't get snubbed.

They know this will be tough, but are in it for the long haul. Their main concern is that they think women will not want to join a local--being Greek is big at this school, and they are afraid that quality women will think it is "beneath them" to join a local. I pointed out that the Christian sorority on campus--has almost 100 members. WHy wouldn't a local social sorority with a core group of 30 very high quality women have trouble reaching good numbers? They will not rush it, though. I told them that if PC votes to expand in the Fall, it is to their benefit to be extremely choosy in who they recruit. I also told them that the way they market themselves is important...they need to order some letters, get some car decals made, and send a press release to the campus newspaper announcing their official formation. Can anyone think of anything else they can do that isn't expensive?

We'll see what happens. In the meantime, I am just patting them all on the back and trying to help them see the silver lining.

GF

[siglambshsu]

wow....i definitely know how these girls feel. this past may, our school voted to bring another sorority to campus, and sigma sigma sigma came this spring, but chose not to affiliate with us. let me tell you, we met with all three sororities who accepted an invitation to visit our school, and we had a fantastic presentation for them all, and we really connected with a couple of the organizations including tri sigma....tri sigma colonized this spring, yet chose not to affiliate with us. we had quite a few broken hearts because this is something that we all worked so hard for and something that we all really wanted.

i think what is keeping us going is the fact that we know we don't need a national name to keep us going. we have been a local for almost 10 years and have survived with three members and have survived with 100 members. just tell your girls, that them being national can still happen! it sounds like your school is very much in need of a national sorority. another thing to do is talk to the dean of student activities, and let him/her know what is going on. have all the statistics together, and make this happen for yourselves, because sometimes that is what a local has to do, stand up for themselves and bring good things to them, because sometimes others won't go out fo their way to help.

just be strong and fight, because that is what a national looks for the most.

[theta sig agd]

I am impressed!!!

You tell those girls they can do ANYTHING if they put there minds to it. I have designed a couple of crests. If they need help they can email me or PM me anytime. Im not a pro but I do know enough to design some.

Good luck. Also there are several Locals that have recently formed that are doing great! Expansion seems to be just as good for these groups. Maybe they could stress how they are an "Alpha" chapter and will one day be a national. This may appeal to some of these girls who are being unfairly left out. I know the feeling!

Good luck!