Saving a chapter?

[Alumnea33]

Hey all... I need help. I'm an alumnea of my sorority and need some help. Could you all post your stories of a chapter going under and how they turned it around without having to close it's doors for a time.

Thanks!

[Elephant Walk]

I think it's alumnae, but I could be wrong.

[Alumnea33]

Thanks... that helps so much.

[KSUViolet06]

There 's actually a thread going about a chapter making a big turn around in the Recruitment Stories forum:

http://greekchat.com/gcforums/showthread.php?t=102416

Also, random sidenote: You are an ALUMNA, not an alumnea.

[cuteASAbug]

You're not wrong. Also, for a single female it's actually alumna. And I don't know if you're going to get many serious answers to your question, especially with this being your first and only post.

[Alumnea33]

I'm a life long Greekchatter but to protect the id of the chapter, I've changed my name. I know, this is looked down upon. Just help folks! Thanks.

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by Alumnea33

Hey all... I need help. I'm an alumnea of my sorority and need some help. Could you all post your stories of a chapter going under and how they turned it around without having to close it's doors for a time.

Thanks!

No one is going to post entire stories here about a chapter turning around... none that have enough details to really help you, anyway. The process can take years, and it wouldn't be worth the time to type (or in some cases, re-type) an entire story of a struggling chapter eventually coming out on top... especially if the story isn't relatable to your chapter. If you have a specific question, ask it. Otherwise, use the search function.

ETA: Sorry if that sounded mean.. But if someone tells a story about how their chapter of 60 brothers struggled because they needed more social events, and wanted to build a better relationship with sororities.. but your chapter of 15 sisters is struggling because you don't know how to recruit.. the first story isn't going to help you much. Just be more specific. You're hiding your identity anyway... what's the difference?

[Elephant Walk]

I could see this being Earp's secret way of getting back in.

[Alumnea33]

See that is why I haven't been involved with GC in a while, too many people trying to limit converstations. If someone has a story and they want to share it, then it is worthwhile to one person, me. If you won't get anything out of it, then please bypass the topic.

I am asking for stories because I want/need encouragement. I work with a chapter that is struggling and if there is one story out there about a chapter on the verge of closing that rallied to turn things around then that would be awesome. I don't expect a miracle without work and I've been involved long enough to know that you can't turn things around over night but I know that there are groups that have gone from dreadful recruitment results one year to two years later coming out on top... so let me here those stories.

Please if this thread doesn't get any results that fine... but stop trying to nea-say it.

ETA: I'm not Earp. My username would have given my chapter and school away. I've had it since I was in college 9 years ago and I am active on my groups board.

[icelandelf]

Originally Posted by Alumnea33

I'm a life long Greekchatter but to protect the id of the chapter, I've changed my name. I know, this is looked down upon. Just help folks! Thanks.

Originally Posted by Alumnea33

See that is why I haven't been involved with GC in a while, too many people trying to limit converstations. If someone has a story and they want to share it, then it is worthwhile to one person, me. If you won't get anything out of it, then please bypass the topic.

I am asking for stories because I want/need encouragement. I work with a chapter that is struggling and if there is one story out there about a chapter on the verge of closing that rallied to turn things around then that would be awesome. I don't expect a miracle without work and I've been involved long enough to know that you can't turn things around over night but I know that there are groups that have gone from dreadful recruitment results one year to two years later coming out on top... so let me here those stories.

Please if this thread doesn't get any results that fine... but stop trying to nea-say it.

ETA: I'm not Earp. My username would have given my chapter and school away. I've had it since I was in college 9 years ago and I am active on my groups board.

I just did a search and found well over a dozen threads. What gives? Why won't you do one?

[Alumnea33]

Because I've never succeed in finding what I want and I'm a little crazy at the moment, I just got word about this issue today... sorry. You are right, I should have searched.

My question is why do you all look to point out the wrong or to discourage additional posts?

Forgive me for coming to a place where I thought I would find help and only get errors pointed out and negativity. Thanks.

Moderator you can delete the thread, I'm sorry I asked.

[ree-Xi]

Originally Posted by Elephant Walk

I could see this being Earp's secret way of getting back in.

No, this poster write in complete sentences and without excessive use of
.

--------------

To the OP, how will hearing just one story of how a chapter miraculously fought the odds and turned their wallowing organization into a spectacular specimen of sisterhood help? You are looking for someone to give you an easy answer. What happened in AB chapter of XYZ may have nothing in common with your issues.

In my opinion, what you need to do:

1. Sit down, identify the symptoms - ie. low number of bids accepted, pledge dropouts, actives' apathy, disaffiliation, reputation, low GPAs, risk management issues, etc.
2. THEN take each symptom and figure out WHY it's happening. Problem chapters - and I mean this in the sense that a chapter is suffering - have problems for many reasons. There is no single answer.
3. Communication.
   • Get your chapter advisor (not the campus Greek advisor)involved.
   • Have peer conversations with other chapters of your sorority who are doing well. If you can arrange it, visit them during meetings, assist during recruitment, etc.
   • Look to your members for ideas on where you can focus your efforts. Once you identify your issues, seek out sisters who are skilled in those areas to take charge or steer committees.

It's also important to recognize what your chapter does well. If your numbers are down, but your chapter is close, that is something to be proud of, and to use as a jumping point. For example, if your group is very close, encrourage each member to unofficially "recruit" at least two of her closest non-sorority friends. Wear letters, share stories, invite them to philanthropy events or even a party (be on your best behavior), without overtly saying that you are trying to get them to join. This sort of thing should happen year-round, but that's a whole other conversation.

The answer is within your sorority. If your chapter truly cannot be saved, your nationals may decide that they have to step in, which can either save your chapter on campus, or tear it apart. I have a feeling that if you take an honest and hard look at what's happening, and why, you will increase your chances of turning things around.

[Benzgirl]

In all honesty, there are probably occurances within each organization that alumnae would be willing to share. I would recommend you network within your own GLO.

[KSUViolet06]

No one is discouraging you.

You asked for advice on how people turned around their chapters.

People asked for specifics about what your chapter is like, so they can make suggestions to help you (since you're under a new username anyway).

Then you freaked out.

No one said or did anything "discouraging" here.

[KSUViolet06]

http://greekchat.com/gcforums/showthread.php?t=89692