New Members vs Actives

[fantASTic]

From what I've noticed in the GLO's that I have experience with, either the new members have few or no responsibilities similar to that of actives, or they have excessive ones. By this, I mean that some require their new members to clean the house, do chores, et cetera which actives do not have to do. Others don't require anything of them - no community service, don't have to go to meeting if they don't want to, etc. Which one do you think is more appropriate for new members?

It's interesting, because when you DO shower them with gifts, let them do their own thing at events and whatnot, you often don't prepare them for the duties of an active. However, those organizations that require extra duties of new members tend to leave them with less time for homework and other things, and it's less..fun, I suppose.

Obviously it would be kind of nice to have exactly the same duties, but that doesn't really seem to happen too often. It would be more ideal, though.

And, I don't mean for this to turn into a hazing discussion, so let's not and say we did, yeah? Cool.

[ΑΓΔSquirrelGirl]

For us, they do have to attend a meeting once a week. They do have to participate in any required event that happens to occur during their time as a new member (usually this ends up being only one sisterhood retreat, Trick or Treat for Diabetes, and new member activities in the fall, and even less in the spring). However they are not coming dressed every chapter, they aren't holding office, they really do not have much opportunity to see the inner workings of the chapter, and they are given a lot of leeway when they mess up. They're also, of course, given gifts and a LOT of attention. I think it is a problem, and it shows. Most members that drop do it not long after they are initiated. I'm not entirely sure how to fix it, though. I'm not sure that a few weeks are enough time to truly understand what being a member is going to be like. The hardest part is realizing that you won't be getting presents and attention all of the time after initiation. You'll be held to tougher standards, and you'll take office or complete tasks that no one will appreciate you for. That's real life, but the transition is immediate, and I think it IS pretty hard to take. Freshmen are going to be a little more idealistic.

[KSUViolet06]

We actually had a really interesting discussion about whether new member programs adequately prepare new members for life as active members.

http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/sh...ad.php?t=87772

Check it out.

In short, Tri Sigma's new members actually do have responsibilities. Our member education program is structured so that the NM's have to meet certain goals in order to get initiated. These goals include attending 85% of all chapter events (just like actives have to), attending ALL new member meetings, and passing the new member exam.

[ΑΓΔSquirrelGirl]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

We actually had a really interesting discussion about whether new member programs adequately prepare new members for life as active members.

http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/sh...ad.php?t=87772

Check it out.

In short, Tri Sigma's new members actually do have responsibilities. Our member education program is structured so that the NM's have to meet certain goals in order to get initiated. These goals include attending 85% of all chapter events (just like actives have to), attending ALL new member meetings, and passing the new member exam.

We require all of the things you've listed (our activity points are set up differently, but new members are responsible for them as well), but the atmosphere for them is different.

[adpiucf]

Our ADPi new members attend chapter meetings and have the same requirements for service, sisterhood and scholarship as any initiated sister. They may also hold chapter offices, with a few exceptions.

The new member education program was revamped a few years ago. It is conducted online, with online tutorials and quizzes taken on the individual's own time. At weekly new member meetings, the women bring print-outs showing they've completed tutorials, and the meeting time is spent with the new members getting to know one another through activities and moderated open discussions on sisterhood, the Founders, how the sorority is structured, expectations for membership, discussing the tutorials, learning songs, etc.

I think this gives the women a chance to bond more, learn the material at a pace that is comfortable for them and have more time to interact with their sisters than in the past. We initiate within 6 weeks, so the more time for socializing with your peers and ask questions to decide "Is this right for me?" is very important.

ETA: No matter how much you may treat them the same as the initates, I think every sorority has a "let down" period when new members get initiated b/c the gifts and clapping ceases once initiation passes.... Some new initiates mistakenly feel unwanted all of a sudden because their isn't the intensive follow up and attention to keeping them happy anymore. I think this should be addressed, whether it is a talk with the new members before initation week, or something else entirely... I know we've addressed this partially by having membership trainings structured by each member's year in school-- some topics that are for rising sophomores may have more to do with study skills while graduating seniors have a training on resume writing and networking... but I don't think it really addresses with the new members that, "You're still special, we really like you, but you're a big girl now and we can't throw you a party every week for showing up."

They take an initation exam prior to initiation week, and the initiated members take a yearly membership exam which contains much of the same material.

So basically, our new members have the same privileges as the initiated members-- the only extra requirement they have is the new member meetings/tutorials.

[33girl]

Even when I was in school, we instituted a program called "KROP" - Keep Rushing Our Pledges (now Pearls) - to deal with the post-initiation letdown. I think everyone goes through the feeling and always has of not being "special" anymore, especially if you're in a really large group and could conceivably pass your entire time as just an active, not ever holding office. IMO that really doesn't have a lot to do with how much or how little you do during pledgeship.

I think a big problem with letting pledges get away with blowing off meetings or events is that it doesn't teach them proper time management. They have all this extra time before they're initiated, and then once they ARE initiated and things are mandatory, it's like a cold shower. Better to have your amount of responsibilities decrease than increase - it can almost make you think of initiation as a punishment if it goes the other way.

[Glitter650]

Phi Sig new members are required to attend all meetings, just like an active, (they just leave for a portion of it) and are held to the same standards of sisterhood (GPA, attendance at other events, etc) and are subject to standards board and judicial process just as any other sister is as well. They can not hold office or vote however.
Of course they are given many gifts and spared some of the "drama" of the chapter, kinda like parents sheild children from some family situations.

I think getting them right into things is the best way for them to know what it's like... keeping them more seperate from the actives does them no favors in terms of them knowing what exactly to expect as an active sister.

[Tom Earp]

In reading some of the great responses, so we not as say Old Active members expect those that are newly joined to do what is considered "Their Job" to keep helping the Chapter to grow? Oh, like come to meetings and particpate in activities!

If they do not, then why did they join?

It is the old saying, get out what is put in!

New Members have to be groomed so they know what the Officers have to do!