Tips on making small chapter better known??

DaffodilDarling · #1 03-03-2003, 02:48 AM

I am a member of a local sorority at PSC. We currently have 5 Actives, and a New Member class of 4. Thats not a bad thing, because we went had 4 graduate at the end of last year, and noone is graduating this May.

I wore my letters into one of my classes, and the girl behind me asked if I was part of a new organization. I was horrified. My Sorority is the Oldest Local on campus, founded in 1967. Nobody knows who we are.
Panhel is helping to promote the smaller organizations. (there are 2) and set total as 25. It would be wonderful to get up to total. **dreams**

DO you have any tips for making ourselves better known around campus, so that students know who we are?

It's kind of insulting when if you ask a random student what sororities are recognized they say "ASA, DZ, KDphiNAS, and IDX." It hurts to be left out.

TAU OMEGA

SoCalGirl · #2 03-03-2003, 03:34 AM

Everyone wears their letters! Tshirts, sweatshirts, hats/baseball caps, key chains, car decals, letters/buttons on backpacks
Banners/posters. Welcome your new pledges. Have a safe Spring Break. Welcome back from break. Good luck on finals. etc
Philanthropy. Do as much as you can.
Ads in the school paper. Much like the banners.
Have every sister talk to at least on person about your group everyday.
Make sure everyone is in at least one other campus activity.
Host an all sorority/greek social.

Betarulz! · #3 03-03-2003, 11:14 AM

Don't know if it is like this at other campuses, but our campus newspaper has a "Greek Affairs" section in the classifieds, where Greeks can announce anything. If you've got something similar...Start POSTING, might cost a bit of money but you put one thing in there everyweek (sister of the week award???) and greeks will start to know who you are.

James · #4 03-03-2003, 12:04 PM

Well if you are that small it should be simple for you to get a lot bigger unless you haze really badly.

But as far as being well known . . . beyond what was already, mentioned host one big thing a semester. Pick something Greeks and independants can participate in, like a game show for philanthropy. Something a lot of fun also.

If you do it once a semester you can build a lot of your PR campaign around it. It should make you extremely visible almost right away.

And its easy.

Dionysus · #5 03-03-2003, 12:11 PM

Do things like co-sponserships w/ bigger, stronger, and more popular chapters and/or organizations. It seems to be the magic ingredient on our campus for small organizations.

hoosier · #6 03-03-2003, 01:08 PM

"There's almost no problem which can't be solved with a good, large pledge class."

If you would think bigger - four pledges is great, but 12 would be incredible - you would be better known.
And you would enjoy sorority life more.

DaffodilDarling · #7 03-03-2003, 01:53 PM

We don't haze.
And part of the reason many people either dont like us, or dont know who we are, is the fact that we are FAR from stereotypical. we're not a bunch of really-superskinny gurls. Its not that we're all superhuge, but none of us is barbie doll skinny. That is not a factor that we can help though.
It seemed that during Formal Recruitment, many of the stereotypes did come into play. We had very few women show interest in my sorority. :-(

SoCalGirl · #8 03-03-2003, 10:27 PM

As far as recruitment goes don't worry about stereotypes. You can't change who you are. Concentrate on recruiting girls who are diverse. Focus on women who are already active on campus or even campus leaders. Any of your sisters on a sports team? Try recruiting some teammates!

I'd personally disagree w/ the "good, large pledge class" plan. While yes a large pledge class can be good, and you always want a good class of women; if you take on more girls than the number of sisters can handle, you can sabotage yourself. I'm more of the steady growth of good women camp.

Assuming all the pledges get initiated, you'll have a sisterhood of 9 for the fall. I would think if the new members are properly integrated w/in the chapter this semester and over the summer they should be able to handle taking on leadership roles such as Bis Sis rather quickly. If you get 6 pledges in the fall then you'll have 15 by spring. Take 10 girls then and voila total! "actual results may vary"

When I joined by chapter in Spring 98 we graduated like 10 girls and had only 22 going into fall rush. Total was still at 80 then. We doubled our size that year. We took 3 pledge classes a year, one/quarter. Total was lowered to 70 that fall after another chapter closed. Now in Winter 2003 my girls are sitting pretty at total. And they're all great girls. We were always focused on getting girls w/ potential to take leadership positions and help the chapter thrive. It works!

valpogal99 · #9 03-03-2003, 10:41 PM

I think the comment about getting involved on campus is a GREAT idea. The more involved your girls are on campus, the more known they will be. In turn, your sorority will also get more attention. The idea about wearing and displaying your letters is also key. It is not enough to be involved on campus, you have to be actively seen on campus. Wear your letters with pride. Another option is reblocking (if your campus will allow it). In this way you are able to take on a larger number of girls and work to remake your image. Good luck - the results will be well worth the effort. On another note, for sororities I think quality is AS important as quantity. You need numbers to survive but you must make sure that the girls selected represent the ideals of your sorority. <> Jen <> ADPi

DaffodilDarling · #10 03-04-2003, 02:04 AM

ReBlocking?????????

valpogal99 · #11 03-04-2003, 11:44 AM

DaffodilDarling, I sent you a PM. Have you ever considered going National? Are the other sororities are you campus local as well? We were all local sororities until 1998 then all the sororities opted to go National. Maybe a push from your group in that direction would help you gain publicity - if that is something you are all interested in.

DaffodilDarling · #12 03-04-2003, 12:14 PM

We were for a time thinking about going National, and the office of the National we were interested in totally ignored us. and the Alumni threatened to pull back their support...

~~~~
Tau Omega TW

Blue Violet · #13 03-04-2003, 08:20 PM

Continuous Open Bidding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Leters letters letters letters!!!!

And even though it may take some effort. Be seen together. you make a bigger impact as a group. Wear letters on the same days and eat lunch together in the union.

Wear you badges on the same day all dressed up.

Sponsor things at school like: date rape awareness and get a guest speaker or self defense (often times campus activities board will pay for these things!!) Ask one of the other groups to sponsor something with you-always good to be panhellenic so that the other groups will be supportive of you.

Have good grades. This is a good selling point!

Have socials with the other small organizations-guys, girls, chess club-whatever.

If you have ANY sports at your school-GO! Even if you son;t like sports. All wear letters and go together and make it a sisterhood event and be seen. I swear, people will see you together, having fun togehter and regardless of what you look like, they will want to be a part of that.

And I bet some shy girls who wouldn't fit in with "barbie" as you said, would feel very comfortable around you guys if you are fun, sincere and have a good sisterhood.

When you do any of this stuff-advertise with flyers and ads in the studetn paper: "Any women interested in Tau Omega can always find us at the basketball games every thursday at 8. Come out and have fun with us!" Or something like that...