Advantage

Hey guys! Just throught I'd start up a conversation. How many of your chapters use Advantage? Has everyone switched over now? What do your chapters think of it? We use it, but I'm not sure how effectively. I LOVE the CD, but I don't like the handbook nearly as much. It seems like there's so much that could be done with it if chapters were really dedicated to making it work to it's fullest.

Also, how big of rush classes did your chapters bring in? We had 21 this year. I liked the smaller group better -- we had 28 my year. It doesn't seem like a huge difference, but the group as a whole seems to be much closer than mine. We had a lot of smaller cliques.

[HeavenslilAngel]

Our chapter does advantage. Its cool. I like the cd too. Kim Garafola (our leadership consultant)'s voice is on it. Anyway I'm just starting the initiate module so....... Good luck! my pledge class was about 30-40 women we were formally a local sorority but when we colonized with ASA we became one big class we are all founders of our chapter. The rest of the classes that have c ome through have been no larger than 15-20. Anyway I'll talk to ya'll later.

[33girl]

Hi sisters!

I got my Advantage materials finally - needless to say it is a bit more technically involved than what I had pledging back in the 80's. Did you guys get anything other than the CD-Rom that had a listing of all the chapters and the other NPC sororities? I think it would be nice to be able to access that without having to go to your computer.

Sheila

[AlphaSigLana]

Since I'm on exchange I haven't had to experience it, but my sisters don't seem to like it very much.

What did you guys have for pledging before? I've never seen the old stuff -- we went over to advantage the year I joined. Our CD has a lot on it, which is why I like it. There's a histrorical timeline and music, quizs, stuff like that. I like the little video clips the best.

I agree that it would be really nice to be able to get the information without going to your computer (although I'm a big geek, I'm rarely without one, lol). That's one of the things I really dislike about advantage -- they took it so far into the 21st century! Call me a weirdo, but I like books. Curling up in bed with a laptop is fun and all, but nothing beats a good old book!

[33girl]

What we called our "Encounter" book was an approx. 50 page book with:

- basic history
- list of current chapters
- info on NPC
- list of NPC groups with pics of pins & their basic info
- list of NIC fraternities
- list of NPHC member groups
(note, these 3 above are VERY USEFUL to have when on GC!! )
- info on insignia, badges, exemplars etc

This was WAAAAY before there was a national pledge program and pretty much each chapter educated their new members their own way. We had quizzes every week and also had pledge books where we kept interviews with sisters and officers. (I know that is a big no-no now, but it was fun.)

When Encounter became a national program - this is what they had before Advantage - it was a 3 ring binder that contained all the above info, plus a lot more on risk management and activities for every week (I think - I don't have that Encounter book with me). It was focused more on the national org as opposed to the individual chapter and very group-driven.

I know what you mean about curling up with a good book - I still have to print things out a lot just because I seem to absorb the printed word more than something on a screen. I am an ASA history geek so if you have any questions, just ask!

[AlphaSigLana]

What chages do you thing ASA needs to go through?
1) UPDATE their website!

[33girl]

I think they are still looking for a new host for the site - hopefully it will be soon.

[crystalline]

Yes, a new host would be good, and hopefully one with a much larger bandwidth. I hate that I can get sub level pages to load but the main page won't, probably due to too many people trying to access it.