Ideas for Low numbers chapter
I am looking for ideas/suggestions to help out the collegiate chapter that I was a member of. They are trying so hard to keep the chapter strong, but it is really hard to cope with low numbers. This year, the fall pledge class had 12 girls (quota on campus was 17) which was actually a huge improvement from the past 3 or 4 years, when they were picking up only 3 or 4 girls from formal rush, with an average quota of 15-20. Also, the low formal rush results were not because turnout for rush itself was particularly bad, it is just that some of the rushees would rather drop out than pledge our chapter.
They also do COB, they always have a spring class, though its never more than 5 or 6, and when they can, they do a winter and/or summer class (it's a year round quarter-based school)
Even with all this COBing, they have a hard time getting the numbers up. For years, the chapter hovered around 30-35 members. Now they are up to 40, this was with the semi-normal size fall class AND a winter class of 5. (Total on campus is 65, they have not been there since 1991)
It is really hard that on top of low numbers, they have to contend with fraternities and other sororities spreading rumors that the chapter is on the brink of being shut down (they've been saying that since I pledged in 1995, but I have yet to see it happen)
Then for a while there (about 4-6 years ago) there were a few members with questionable morals- and in Greek World, we know that translates into "The whole chapter is a barrel of Bad Apples" as far as the reputation fairie is concerned.
So anyway, are there any other DZ's out there that had low numbers and made a come-back to campus total. Any suggestions/Advice will be welcome.
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