Running for office problem

justhey76 · #1 10-13-2002, 07:07 PM

So, I am a new member of AOII, and I have always been the kind of person to try and get involved quickly and get into leadership positions. My roommate is the Academics VP for my sorority, and the other day she asked me what positions I was considering running for, and when I told her that I was interested in Academic Development, among other positions, she suddenly discouraged me, telling me that brand new initiated members don’t often get the Leadership Council Positions because they are so new (we have elections right after my initiation). The only thing is, she has only been a member for a little under a year (initiated at the end of last fall, right before elections) and SHE got on LC as VP/Academic Development. Well, I am also on four committees for this year, the four committees that I would be interested in becoming chair or VP for and one is her committee, and several times during her first meeting, she kept saying how she didn’t know what all we could do with elections coming up in November because she didn’t know if she would still hold office, but then she kept saying (five or six times, no joke) that she would LIKE to hold this same office again, and blah blah blah. Am I intruding by wanting to run for that office? She no doubt has done a good job (although our grades are second to last among sororities on campus), but I think I can do a good job as well, and I think my personality and my skills best suit this particular office. Also, I think I am a little bit more strict and demanding than she is and might be well suited to run an office that encourages such things as high GPA. Should I just back off and let her and some older members run again, even though she got it as a brand new initiated member? Would I create a lot of turmoil if I went ahead and ran, and lost, or won, would that create a lot of animosity between us? I just don’t know what the etiquette for this sort of thing would be, and I had no IDEA how adamant she was about keeping her office for another year. HELP!!!!

DeltaBetaBaby · #2 10-13-2002, 07:13 PM

Go for it! You are not taking her position, you are simply givign the chapter a choice. It is NEVER a good thing for someone to run unopposed.

AOIIBrandi · #3 10-13-2002, 07:20 PM

Run for the office. This is why we have elections so that the CHAPTER can elect the person they think is most qualified for the job. You will get a chance to make a speech in front of the chapter about why you should hold the office. Make the best use of this and they will have no choice but to elect you.

I ran for a few offices against some of my best friends. Some I was not elected to others I was. Your friend may be upset in the beginning, but she will get over it. Don't worry about being newly initiated it probably won't make a huge difference. Especially if the chapter is on the small to medium side (in terms of AOII). I also suggest getting slated for more than one office. If you are elected for the one you really want they can always take your name off the slate for the other offices.

sororitygirl2 · #4 10-13-2002, 07:28 PM

Yes, run for the office and may the best woman win! My friends and I often ran against each other and while feelings got hurt, everyone always got over it. You have to put the chapter ahead of yourself, and if that means you feel that YOU are what the chapter needs in that position, you are doing what is right!

justhey76 · #5 10-13-2002, 08:02 PM

Thanks a lot. I didn't know if I was committing some SERIOUS faux pas for running againts an older member. But it does make sense, there is no guarantee that her, nor I will win, who knows who else could be running and what could happen? If she is a good freind, either way, she will get over it.

XOMichelle · #6 10-14-2002, 12:26 AM

Totally run.
However, it is harder to handle a position when you don't know how the sorority works. I ran for an executive board position my sophomore year (we pledge spring quarter), and got it. Needless to say, I made a LOT of mistakes as pledge educator because I didn't have a good grasp on how the chapter should run. Granted, I got much better as things went on, but I tell you I would be a much better leader now in my senior year.

If you don't get the Academic position, I highly recommend taking other less intensive leadership positions to help you keep a hand in the chapter mechanics and train you for another position later on.

-M

Kevin · #7 10-14-2002, 12:39 AM

If you don't get it here's an idea that may work for you. When Candidates or younger members are interested in a certain officer position oftentimes they will become assistants to that position. Nothing like doing the grunt work in a position to learn the ropes.

It works so well that we even passed a constitutional amendment where the Treasurer is not elected anymore, instead the Assistant Treasurer is and then he takes over for the Treasurer at the end of the Treasurer's term (following a vote of confidence -- 3/4 = a vote of no confidence).

I'm about to hand the reigns over to my assistant this December but have already begun to do so. Anyhow.. Run and if you don't get it, think of my suggestion.