Anybody know.....

[amanda6035]

An AXiD who is an architect???? Someone who might be willing to be a guest speaker on a campus with a large architecture program?

[WCUgirl]

You don't HAVE to find an Alpha Xi -- your chapter can apply for an Askey grant to bring a well-known architect to speak to the campus. It might be cool if your chapter sponsored a "Women in Architecture" week or day or something.

[amanda6035]

YAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!! *Does a happy dance*

Yeah, we need one....Most of the girls on our campus are architecture majors and they refuse to even consider the idea of a sorority because they think school take too much of their time, yaddi yaddi yadda. After some chatting in the main thread, I was given some ideas about getting a AXiD speaker to talk to architecture students. ONe suggestion was to work with teh architecture department, maybe make it extra credit on an assignment if they show up for the program, and that'll get people there for sure, and maybe they'll be interested enough to give greek life a chance.

Where's my advisor at? What does she think about this?????

[AXiDTrish]

Great Idea! I wonder if the AZD CAN will have a contact on it. Worth a looksie! Also, I believe the architect of the new Tech house is an AZD from that chapter. Check out their website (Gamma Eta), I think they have the house information with the architects information.....

Otherwise, I bet your professors would know people who could come and speak.

[AlphaXiGirl]

Hey guys! Luckily, with Tech being right down the road, I'll bet that you can find an Alpha Xi Delta in Atlanta that would be willing to do this for you.

Put the feelers out with all of the alumnae associations as well as ask the Chapter Advisor at Tech - I know that Tammy would be happy to help you find someone.

Because you are using this as a recruitment tool, it would probably be best to find someone that is greek (Alpha Xi Delta would be ideal) so that you can convince the women at SPSU that they do have time for sorority life AND so they can show how being a sorority woman has helped them through their career.

If you need help, you know where to find me.

[WCUgirl]

Oh, I didn't see that other thread. I was thinking of it from a programming perspective instead of a recruitment perspective. In that case, yes, I agree, it would be best to find an Alpha Xi (or, at the very least someone who is greek) to do the presentation.

Let us know who you find!

[amanda6035]

Well, I gotta figure out exactly how to tackle this...and it what order....

Do I find someone who would do it first, then talk to the architecture program, or should I get cooperation from the architecture program first?

As Axidtrish and alphaxigirl said, tech's house was designed by am alum, and she's here in atlanta. I got her info off the website as follows:
Janice Wittschiebe, a principal in the architectural firm of Richard + Wittschiebe in Atlanta, designed the house. Not only is she a Gamma Eta alumna, but she is also a registered architect and a registered interior designer with 20 years of experience in design, project management and architectural business management. She has designed several fraternity houses.

She's definitely a possibility....but I need advice from the advisors and alumnae on how to pursue this and actually put this together to make it happen.

I know for a fact that our chapter could NOT afford this, so we'd definitely have to ask for a grant of some sort, but I'm so blasted excited about recruitment this year that i can't sit still. I've had girls emailing me with questions since our orientations over the summer, I've had girls who i recruited the snot out of last year who turned me down suddenly have a change of heart....I'm stoked, and I feel like our chapter is on a roll....and I dont want it to stop.

[WCUgirl]

One place to look for $$ is your school -- some Student Gov'ts make x amount of dollars available for student groups to use to bring speakers to campus.

I would talk to the architecture dept. first. Approach them and say, "We'd like to invite Alice Architect to come speak on campus -- we'd like to get your cooperation so we can be sure to secure her as a speaker. What facilities are available for our use? What assistance can you provide?" etc.

Is there an architecture club or society that could help you plan this? This may be moving out of the recruitment realm by having another group get involved, but if there is, it could help decrease the costs.

[AXiDTrish]

And if the speaker is from Atlanta, your costs are not going to be substantial like it would be if they were coming from out of state. If they are Greek alumna, they may even volunteer their services. You need to also include the person setting up your programs (PVP) this semester as well. In their manual, it has many resources that could assist with planning.

[AlphaXiGirl]

If I'm not mistaken, isn't your Chapter President in the architechture program at SPSU???? You have an automatic connection there and she'll be a good person to get your foot in the door with the "right" professors in the department.

You can start the ball rolling on a few different levels.... approach Shawn to see if Campus Activities may have some funds to give, approach the department to get their input/resources, start approaching alumnae members to see if you can find a speaker (Ms. Wittschiebe is a great prospect). If you happen to find more than one person willing to do this, you could consider a panel discussion instead. I wouldn't approach any potential speakers that you do not know until you have a pretty good idea about what you actually want from them. They are more likely to say yes if it appears that all they have to do is show up and talk about a topic they love. They will want to come out looking great with this professionally and if it seems like some "fly by night" idea, they may not accept.

Also, I know that the university president (if she's still the one that was there when we colonized) is very into getting more women into campus and getting them involved. She will be a great asset when your plans are a little more set. AND - this may be a great opportunity to get Bridget involved. She's a great campus contact and may be able to help you secure architechture firms that are willing to set up booths, etc.

[PsychTau2]

Amanda...I followed you here! j/k

I originally made the suggestion in the thread (and now I can't find it!), and I wanted to clarify...I wasn't suggesting that it be a recruitment event. So when the chapter does this, I don't want them thinking "recruitment" when they plan this and when they advertise this and when they talk about this. I want them thinking about:

The mission of Alpha Xi Delta Fraternity is to enrich the life of every Alpha Xi Delta.
We will:

* Nurture unity and cooperation
* Foster intellectual, professional, and personal growth
* Exemplify the highest ethical conduct
* Instill community responsibility
* Perpetuate fraternal growth

It's kinda like people who are being nice because they want something....most people can see right through that. Do this event because it's what Alpha Xi Delta's are expected to do. It's your mission to do things like this for others, not just your members.

Do this with honest intentions, put on a well organized, well thought out event, and you'll reap the rewards. You'll see.

As a campus Greek advisor, I'd say ask someone in Student Activities about getting a speaker on campus. They'll either tell you how to get it done (at my school once an organization chooses who to bring to campus, we have to contact the speaker to coordinate the contract and payment. Students can't do that), or they'll point you to the right person who arranges academic speakers on campus.

AlphaXiGirl....I'm guessing that you are the chapter advisor?? . Let me know what happens. I'd love to see this succeed!!!

PsychTau

[AlphaXiGirl]

That honor goes to Trish - I'm just a friend of the chapter.


And I think your point is well taken. On this campus, every action the chapter makes ends up taking on a little bit of a "recruitment" theme from the point that it is incredibly important that the few sorority women from both chapters need to be seen doing positive things around campus.

The fact is the school is full of architechture majors and those women do not think they have time for a sorority. That is the reason for the push to get a greek speaker. We need to be able to show how sorority life can enhance their collegiate and career experience. While it won't be a "true" recruitment event - it can very much be an avenue to put our best foot forward and increase interest in greek life.

[AXiDTrish]

Yes....I have the honor!

I think this is a great idea, but I wanted Amanda to hear the viewpoints from other GCer's! Really with this campus any PR will assist with recruitment whether that is the focus or not.

Devil's advocate here.....what if instead of focusing on just architecture, have the speaker approach business in general and she just happen to be an architect (and Greek). My reasoning is this....although most SPSU women are in architecture, not all of them are. What could be done to include all women? Also, GHC women cannot be recruited per se, but we could build PR with them as well. They would simply benefit from the program which is the point of it anyway.

[WCUgirl]

How about this:

Since women are the minority on your campus, you could make it a "Women in Technical Careers Week" (or whatever the main focus of your school is). Almost like you're appreciating the campus women for being...women!

One day could be the architecture day, another day could be business, another day could be engineering, another day could be whatever other major you have, etc. That way, you're focusing on successful women from a variety of fields. Have your last day's speaker be the main draw.

During the week, host a brunch/lunch/dinner to encourage networking and the exchange of ideas. Invite the women faculty members. Invite the women faculty members from Tech!

Hand out ribbons for the campus women to wear in honor of the week. Ask your professors to say something in class to honor them, even if it's something as small as, "We're glad you're here!" at the start of class.

Have a breakfast honoring women faculty for being successful in their careers.

If you have difficulties finding guest speakers, see if any of the Tech professors would be willing to speak.

[AXiDTrish]

Now THAT'S a great programming week! Wow!