Question to ponder

[33girl]

Did you JOIN (i.e., what first made up your mind) your sorority/fraternity because of:

-the national organization
-the local chapter
-combination of both

Just thought I would throw this one out and see what kind of responses come out.

[josh8o]

well since i joined/pledged a different fraternity for a few weeks before i dropped and went to phi psi it breaks down like this:

first house: local chapter, but nationally i did not like them at all!!!!! and eventually i didn't like the local chapter either...
Phi Kappa Psi: both! cool guys, and great national benefits.

[theta_phi]

I pledged completely because of my chapter. I never even considered whether or not my sorority was strong nationally. It is my sisters here that make my sorority experience wonderful.

[dekeguy]

When I got to college I was influenced by a strong family tradition both as to international and to my chapter. I looked at several other houses and tried to keep an open mind but I felt at home with the "family fraternity" right from the start. I had friends from high school in a number of fraternities and came to realize that each house had its own personality. All had something to offer, some to a greater extent and some less so, but all pretty solid guys. At the end of the day I concluded that there was only one house that really answered all of my expectations. I figured that if I did not make it the first time I would lay out, ask a couple of very close friends what I could do to improve my chances of being viewed as a good fit, and try again later. I really down played any reference to legacy status as I wanted the house to accept me on my own worthyness. I'm not so sure how worthy I was but the guys must have seen something in me as I was taken in "warts and all". Anyway, I was really impressed by the chapter and international as well.

[WingNut]

Definitely the local chapter here. I didn't even know how extensive the National involvement was until after I pledged and became more involved. I wasn't someone who was researching the greek system before I came to school.

[Lady Pi Phi]

Being that there is only once sorority on my campus, there wasn't much of a choice. So during rush, things are done a little differently. I went out to an information night, and I knew right then that I wanted to join. We're a small chapter, but we have great bonds of sisterhood. I went out because I was looking to meet some new people. Now I can't imagine being without my sisters. They are the greatest bunch of girl I have ever met. I love being a Pi Phi! I think our national organization is great, but my chapter is what made me pledge!

To all my Pi Phi sisters, I love ya!

In the wine and silver blue,

Emily
[IMG]C:\My Documents\My Pictures\letters_pbp2[1].gif[/IMG]

[Sisterplum]

Since my sorority is a local, it was all the local chapter! My sisters rocked! I am so glad I made the choice to join my sorority.

I rushed and pledged in the winter semester. A friend of mine had pledged another local on campus in the fall and was telling me about it in class. I had always wanted to join a sorority, but didn't think I could (all greek org's are based at Dalhousie University....in NS...but I went to Saint Mary's University....3 blocks away) Well, my friend told me that the sororities accepted SMU students as well as Dal students! I was all excited to join...until she told me the costs of yearly sisterhood. I knew I couldn't afford it, not at all. So I forgot about it...until a teammate of mine (on the cheerleading team) asked me if I ever thought of joining a sorority...she was a member. I asked which group, which was a different local than my classmate had joined. My teammate then told me the yearly dues...something I KNEW I could afford. She was hosting a rush event at her house the next night and asked me to come out and see what it's all about! I went to dinner, loved every second of it, so I went to their next rush event and met my husband! A few days later I got a call from one of the sisters (who later on has become one of my closest friends) asking me to join. Of course I said yes and the rest, as they say, is history!

I love my sisters, my sorority and everything we stand for! I am proud every day of my life to call myself a sister of Iota Beta Chi sorority. Even though we may be small, we are strong!

Hee hee...I know you just asked a simple question, but I'm feelin' chatty (and lonely for my sisters!) so I thought I'd share my little story of why I chose my sorority! Hope y'all enjoy!

[Kevin]

Prior to becoming a Sigma Nu my view of the fraternity system on our campus was that it was cool if you wanted to get drunk and flunk out but otherwise pretty useless.

(I say PRIOR)

A coworker of mine had been reading the ads in the school newspaper and had actually been going to prospective member meetings.

I heard what they were all about, truly being dry (as our campus is) and no hazing... I fealt like I didn't have anything to lose and it'd look good on the 'ol resume no matter what so what the hey... (clueless at this point)

So I signed and actually due to work conflicts was not able to attend meetings until the Fall Semester, so I wasn't made officially a candidate until later on making me the last of the 'charter' members to be initiated.

Long story short my perceptions going IN to the organization are completely different than they are now. I was wanting this to take as little of my time as possible and at this point I've been Marshal (candidate education person), Lieutenant Commander (VP) and am now Treasurer.

It was completely different from what I pictured.

And I like it.

LHT
Kevin
MT #5
University of Central Oklahoma

[Betarulz!]

I didn't really have any idea of what Beta's rep nationally was. I honestly went through rush knowing so little about the greek system.

Gradually as I went through rush it turned out that a lot of people I had connections to were Beta's. Everyone from my Mom's boss, to one of my best friend's older brothers, to my allergy doctor. So that didn't necessarily make that big of impact, but it certainly didn't cause any harm.

[Optimist Prime]

Most frats at my campous live up to the bad reputation. We were started to change that and to be what a fraternity is supposed to be about. Not that all other fraternities here are all bad, but aren't really what I think should come to mind when people say "fraternity" Unfortunelty they aren't too far from the stereotype.*plus the badge rocks*

[Peaches-n-Cream]

When I went to college, I didn't know anyone. My first semester I saw signs for rush. I figured that I could make friends by joining a sorority. The one local sorority wasn't having rush that semester so it wasn't an option for me. Long story short, sisters of two of the sororities lived on my floor, but I couldn't picture them as my sisters so I didn't rush them. I rushed three NPC sororities that seemed to have values that I embraced. When I met the sisters of D Phi E, I felt like I had found a home. I didn't know anything about sororities except that I wanted to make friends, and I did.

[LexiKD]

Good Question!

Well, I went through Rush in 1996 when it was still Rush. I dropped out b/c it was very overwhelming. All the singing and yelling was a tad bit too sororotiy for me first semester.

I then met a girl in a local. Went to their informal and it as love at first sight. They were welcoming and very down to earth, but still had a good image. So, that's all she wrote.

We became interested in national affiliation. Voted one day, took it to PH, and then we were a new KD chapter(2000). Total time 1.5 years...with colonization to installation.

So, how did I pick KD....I had known tons from UNC and Longwood and then with that knowledge and knew a lot about KD nationally it was no contest. As for the chapter picking KD, it was not too hard. There presentation was great, repuation is great in NC, and they were women that we wanted to grow up to be...always meant to be a KD Lady!

[greeklawgirl]

Good question! When I transfered into my new university my sophomore year, I decided that rushing would be a great way to meet people on campus. At the time, our Panhellenic consisted of three NPCs and two locals.

I had never heard of Alpha Gamma Delta prior to rush, but I couldn't deny the fact that *something* kept drawing me back there. For me, it was a combination of the fact that I loved the girls in my chapter, and that I really identified with Alpha Gam's philanthropy which focused on Juvenile Diabetes.

I may not have heard of Alpha Gam before I rushed, but its a personal mission for me to make darn sure that everyone else does!

[DeltAlum]

I had no intention whatsoever of going through rush and/or being part of the Greek System.

I was invited to a non-rush event (called a "smoker" -- dinner and chat after over cigars -- even though I have never smoked) by a guy I worked with at the university radio station and then was invited back for formal rush.

I just really liked the men and the values of the Fraternity.

[KABillyMac]

I knew I wanted to be KA while I was still in the womb. When I came to Eastern my first week on campus was rush. I went right to the KA event, and wound up suiciding them. Not only did I know from the start that KA is what I was and what I dreamed to be, my local chapter was outstanding too. The guys had the same interests as me, and my chapter held KA to all that it was supposed to be. I'm very thankful that my rush and fraternity experience went as well as it did. So it was a combination of both nationally and locally for me.