How do you do Presents at your school?

ladyj39 · #1 09-26-2001, 08:00 PM

A great big HELLO to all my A-Phi sisters out there!

Our All Greek Presents are coming up on October 10th and I was wondering what it is like at different schools. At SFSU, all of the fraternities and sororities, local and national, get dressed up. We rent out a hall and we have a DJ and a bar. About two hours into the party, each fraternity's pledge father gets up on stage and presents their pledge class. Then, all the sororities do the same. (We always go last...save the best for last!

) Each new member chooses a member of the opposite sex to escort them across the stage. (We always give each of our new members flowers too!) Then, as the pledge class stands proudly on stage, all the initiated members do a LOUD A-phi chant. It's always so much fun and I really can't wait!!!

What do you gals do?

A-PhiAngel · #2 09-26-2001, 08:28 PM

Here's how we did it at our school (back when it was called Pledge Presentation).

Our pledge presentation took place at one of the nicer hotels in town. The ballroom was filled with flowers, candles and a great big latice arch, with ivy twining around it. This arch was up on a stage, and all the new members walked through it.

The event was semi-formal, so all the members and new members wore black cocktail dresses, the men wore suits.

Parents received engraved invitations to the event, and played a vital role in the ceremony. Prior to Pledge Presentation, the parents sent a letter to their daughter telling her special things and how much they loved them (I still have mine, it was so special). The letters were read aloud by the New Member Educator to each girl during a special ceremony prior to Presentation.

Each new member had a date, and her parents or special family member, and her Big Sis there with her at her Presentation. We all sat at beautifully decorated tables and had a fancy dinner. Then, the Presentation began. Each new member was escorted by her father (or gaurdian, some had their mothers, or uncles).

All the new members lined up "backstage" and waited for her name to be called. When her name was called, she walked up the steps, through the arch with her father, where she stood while they said her name, major, and special things that active members had written about her. Photos were taken as she walked with her father (gaurdian) down the cat walk and down off the stage.

After it was over, there was a special ceremony (where we talked about each one of the founders and read special Alpha Phi poems, etc.). Then the new members were officially welcomed to the chapter. More pictures were taken, then there was a big reception, with dancing, more pictures, hugs, etc.

It was a wonderful time for all. It was especially wonderful to get the parents involved.

That's how we did it. I would love, love, love to hear more stories! Thanks so much for getting this thread going ladyj39. How fun!

Angel(a)

APhiGMU98 · #3 10-03-2001, 06:33 PM

At my school, we do it totally different. Our's is called Greek Debut, which makes it very long. Every sorority and fraternity on campus goes. Its actually really nerve racking because you have to stand up on a stage in front of the whole greek community.

aoe
Jen

bruinaphi · #4 10-10-2001, 06:09 PM

At UCLA it was very different. Each chapter invites the new members' parents to the chapter house for the presentation around 2:00 p.m. on a Sunday. Most families fly down on Friday night or Saturday morning. Sometimes we do dad's day that day, depending on who we are playing in football.

Then, on Sunday, everyone comes over to the chapter house and each new member (dressed all in white) is presented as a member of Alpha Phi by her big sister who tells the audience something about the NM and how much APhi loves her. There are snacks, cake, punch, tea and coffee at the house and then the NM spends some time with her family on campus.

That night there is a semi-formal party somewhere else in town and each NM brings a date.

USC's is similar.

aoe,

Laura

amycat412 · #5 10-10-2001, 06:14 PM

Yes, USC's is almost exactly the same as UCLA's. Also, at USC, all the houses do Presents on the same day.

bruinaphi · #6 10-10-2001, 06:20 PM

Amycat made a good point, at UCLA all of the chapters do Presents on the same day too!

veruca76 · #7 10-10-2001, 07:21 PM

Whoah, I can't believe how involved some of those events sounded! Especially the one Angela talked about. That sounds like a special and wonderful evening that you all must have been honored to be part of. At CU-Boulder there was no Presents whatsoever. We just got our bid, went to bid day, then were formally pledged a couple of days later. Friday night they threw a party for us but it was just your average party.

TechAPhi · #8 11-01-2001, 05:42 PM

Tech's presentation is much like what A-PhiAngel described.

Here's an excerpt from an alum newsletter that I recently received:

"Following initation, we had Presentation this past weekend. It was held at Lubbock Country Club and was truly one of the best presentations of the past few years. The ladies dressed in formal dresses and were presented by their fathers, brothers, uncles, or boyfriends.

A slide show of the pledge class followed, along with the Alpha Phi Chorus singing "I sing with all of my sisters." Whitney B. (last name removed) was presented with the plaque for Pledge of the Year.

In addition, we said good-bye to one of our amazing alumnae advisors."

I'd like to say congrats to all the new Alpha Phi initiates.

AOE,
Jen

formeraphi · #9 12-08-2006, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ladyj39

A great big HELLO to all my A-Phi sisters out there!

Our All Greek Presents are coming up on October 10th and I was wondering what it is like at different schools. At SFSU, all of the fraternities and sororities, local and national, get dressed up. We rent out a hall and we have a DJ and a bar. About two hours into the party, each fraternity's pledge father gets up on stage and presents their pledge class. Then, all the sororities do the same. (We always go last...save the best for last!

) Each new member chooses a member of the opposite sex to escort them across the stage. (We always give each of our new members flowers too!) Then, as the pledge class stands proudly on stage, all the initiated members do a LOUD A-phi chant. It's always so much fun and I really can't wait!!!

What do you gals do?

I used to be alpha phi from SFSU - but presents was the best part of the nm period! We used club kokomo.