other chapters

[RSCalphagamm]

so has anyone ever visited other chapters to see what they're like? My chapter is really small and I seriously want to go elsewhere to see bigger ones with huge houses and see how they live. I always imagined a cross country visit, stopping at houses along the way... hehe

AGD
roses.pearls.crazy squirrels

[Diamond Darlin’]

I haven't yet, but hope to! I would like to be an LC one day and visit all the chapters, The AGDs on IUs campus are amazing girls, One of our girls has a tiwn in AGD so we are very close to them. Also i hear all the time about the AGDs at purdue, and how amazing they are (I have a lot of guy friends at pu, they swear they are the hottest thing to ever walk the earth)

[SOPi_Jawbreaker]

One thing I love about being in a smaller organization (11 active chapters and averaging ~20 active members per chapter) is that we end up having a lot of interaction with our other chapters to help each other out and to keep the chapters strong. There is one other East Coast chapter and we try to hang out with them at least once a semester...alternating between us driving down and them driving up. We also have girls from the West Coast chapters fly out to see us (helping us out, getting to know us, seeing what our campus is like, sharing ideas from their chapters). So far, all of our national conferences have been on the West Coast. I had gone to four as an undergrad. I got to meet lots of my sisters. We don't have houses but they did take us to see their campuses. It was really interesting seeing what the UC schools were like. This year is going to be my first time going as an alumna, and we're having our first national conference on the East Coast (in DC). I am super-excited.

[tld221]

i've been telling myself that i am going to visit other cities to visit chapters. not that i am going to see their houses (cause we dont have any), but to see how chapters (and greek life overall) are there.

ive only been to north carolina, boston and virginia. im really interested in seeing midwest and west coast chapters cause theyre supposedly rolling deep out there.

[KSUViolet06]

My chapter had the privilege of visiting our Eta Iota chapter (Defiance College) for their Initiation. They are one of ONLY 2 sororities on their campus. We were pretty much in awe of the size of their school & Greek community (both sororities have about 15 girls each). They aren't housed so that was a different experience, but it was nice to be able to meet and hang out with them and see some of their chapter traditions.

[Diamond Darlin’]

If you can answer this, in what kinds of facilities do you hold things like initiation, and chapter meetings if you do not have a house? Just curious.

[BabyPiNK_FL]

We don't have a house, so we've been having initiation in Key Biscayne in a sister's dad's condo's general room (think kind of room you might rent for a small business meeting, or community event, nice carpeting and stuff w/ a small kitched attatched).

Chapter meetings are held in classrooms in various buildings (which can make PR rounds quite a chore!)

Recruitment the rooms vary by night, each group takes turns in each of the six rooms designated for rush and it is in the ballrooms, the faculty lounge, the infamous "chicken room" which is tiled annex of a cafeteria (really loud and annoying and SMALL and we're trying to get the school to let us not have to use it anymore), and another 2 conference rooms!

Originally Posted by Diamond Darlin’

If you can answer this, in what kinds of facilities do you hold things like initiation, and chapter meetings if you do not have a house? Just curious.

We held recruitment events/Initiation in the Campus Center meeting rooms as well as the Student Services Faculty Lounge. The Faculty Lounge doesn't sound like a lot, but it's actually quite new with a lanai that gives amazing views of Diamond Head and the ocean. Great background for picture taking.

Chapter meetings take place at the Campus Center.

I'm thinking that chapters who don't have houses pretty much use whatever meeting rooms are available on campus. Where else are they going to go?

[tld221]

Originally Posted by Diamond Darlin’

If you can answer this, in what kinds of facilities do you hold things like initiation, and chapter meetings if you do not have a house? Just curious.

Originally Posted by BabyPiNK_FL

We don't have a house, so we've been having initiation in Key Biscayne in a sister's dad's condo's general room (think kind of room you might rent for a small business meeting, or community event, nice carpeting and stuff w/ a small kitched attatched).

Chapter meetings are held in classrooms in various buildings (which can make PR rounds quite a chore!)

Recruitment is in the ballrooms, the faculty lounge, the infamous "chicken room" which is tiled annex of a cafeteria (really loud and annoying and SMALL and we're trying to get the school to let us not have to use it anymore), and another 2 conference rooms!

To echo BP_FL and OTW, you pretty much use spaces you can get through connections or where you have relationships with. For example, my graduate chapter does a lot of community service events at a community center in Brooklyn, so if we need to have a meeting or event, then we will use that space. it's great for visibility, since there are a lot of teenagers (hopefully college bound) there on the weekends.

a chapter soror of mine works for Brooklyn Academy of Music, so we tend to have chapter meetings in a space she books for us there. again, great location in downtown Brooklyn and easily accessible, and of course good visibility. though seeing 30+ women wearing assorted greek paraphernalia is not the norm around here, it definitely gets some looks from passersby. there is a local daycare center we use for meetings, inductions, etc. we have had a relationship with them for a while as well.

My undergrad chapter advisor is a university dean and she will rent out auditoriums, conference rooms, classrooms, even dining areas if we are to have events, meetings, inductions, step practice, whatever really. and then there are sorors who open their homes to such things, lets say there is a committee meeting or a soror get-together.

so yeah, while it would be nice to have a house to be able to do all these things, you would hope that your chapter members are that connected enough to make a space happen, and often more than one. i know chapters that have meetings in churches, schools, rec centers...

when there is a will there sure is a way.

[petals]

Originally Posted by RSCalphagamm

so has anyone ever visited other chapters to see what they're like?

I've always been jealous of my boyfriend's fraternity. I don't know if it's common for fraternities in general, but his chapter always goes on a roadtrip with each pledge class to a different chapter for a weekend just to meet the brothers and see some of their traditions. I really wish we did something like that so frequently.

[JonInKC]

I remember we used to go stay at the TKE house at UM Rolla for St. Pat's weekend.

[WVU alpha phi]

I've been inside University of Maryland's Alpha Phi house and have seen the ECU chapter as well, but didn't go in. Both gorgeous houses!

[AlexMack]

Originally Posted by WVU alpha phi

I've been inside University of Maryland's Alpha Phi house and have seen the ECU chapter as well, but didn't go in. Both gorgeous houses!

I really want to go visit some of the SK houses around the country. I've seen the Purdue SK website and it's jaw-dropping. I also want to go visit UMD.

[flirt5721]

I'll be going to the Alpha Kappa Chapter at Kansas State (100+ memeber) at the end of the month. Well I'm going for a conference for SHPE but hey there is a chapter there and an opportunity to meet some sisters and all for free.

My chapter is about 30 members.

[CZAXOTerp]

Originally Posted by centaur532

I really want to go visit some of the SK houses around the country. I've seen the Purdue SK website and it's jaw-dropping. I also want to go visit UMD.

On the show me your chapter house thread below, I posted a link where you could pull up the SK house at UMD. You know it's on the Row and you can see it in St. Elmo's Fire- the movie?