New Member Period

[BlueEyedButrfly]

What exactly do NEW sororities do with their new members (pledges) during their new member period? I know that in established sororities you're supposed to teach them about the history of the organization buuuuut we were just founded like a month and a half ago so there isn't much history yet.

Any ideas/suggestions???

[REE1993]

How about an education about how/why you were formed?

Time/opportunities to learn about the active sisters?

Community/philanthropy projects?

[KSUViolet06]

[In NPC sororities, the new member period isn't entirely composed of learning history, that would be boring! Sororities incorporate lots of other activites to help new members get to know the other new members and actives, learn more about Greek Life in general, and develop a love for the sorority.

Some ideas:

*Sigma Iota Theta Jeopardy (Actives v. New Members) It helps make learning history fun.

*Puzzle Night (each new member decorates a puzzle piece and they all fit together to become their new member class puzzle)

*Big-Little Week & Revealing (that's a must)

*Initiation Week activities (every day of the week leading up to initiation, plan a different fun activity for the girls like a Spa night, ice cream sundae night,etc.)

Sisterhood Retreats/Weekend were always my favorite when I was a collegian. To me, that's when I got to know more about the NM class and it was always a fun time.

[LPIDelta]

I was in the first new member class of a local sorority, and we definitely had enough to do to fill several weeks. Now, this was back in the day before risk management was such a big deal, but here were some of the requirements of the class.

Learn history and Greek alphabet
Meet one on one with each active to get to know one another
Plan a community service project to do with the actives
Conduct a fundraiser
Plan and host a new member/active party
Plan a mixer with another group
Play a practical joke on the actives* probably wouldn't fly under current hazing doctrine
Participate in daily study hours* as required by college
Meet with big sister once a week

Since your group is so young and you have only a few members, I would suggest you plan your program so that it isn't "us" and "them" but make it a point to have team builder activities that involve everyone, current and new members alike. At this stage, you should be trying to build a cohesive membership through your new member programming.

You might also consider focusing on your founding values--one each week. So if sisterhood is a value, that week you will spend time with one another, visit another sorority chapter at another school, learn about Robert's Rules of Order together etc. If your values are philanthropy, then that week have a speaker from an appropriate organization do a session about the cause, hold a fundraiser etc.

Good luck!

[REE1993]

I think as the Alpha pledge class, you might also want to encourage them to help you grow the organization and shape its development. From step two, there are so many directions that you can go into as a group, and the early classes are just as, if not more, influential on the direction your sisterhood takes, than the founders.

Remember how important Alpha class is in terms of how you represent yourselves to the campus and community. It can be the best or worst marketing that money can't buy.

Good luck, and with an open heart and strong intentions, your sisterhood will thrive.

[LatinaAlumna]

I'm really shocked with how open some of you are about your membership process.

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by LatinaAlumna

I'm really shocked with how open some of you are about your membership process.

I'm assuming you're a member of a Latina sorority. Your orgs are more secretive about their new member process. NPCs and locals who model themselves after NPCs are different. Most of our new member activities (with the eaxception of ritual and revealings in some chapters) are not secretive.

[LatinaAlumna]

Well, chalk it up to differences.

When I come across posts like some found on this thread, I feel like I've read something I wasn't supposed to.

[ssuchidelt]

Here are some ideas:

The greek alphabet
Your constitution and bylaws
Songs, mottos, creed, etc.
Why you were founded, etc.
Mini interviews with the active members, so eveyrone gets to know eachother
Bonding time for the pledge class
Making class T-shirts
Learn about what each officer does and requirements


I hope those helped.

[GC2theEC]

Obviously you want to make sure that your new members are educated on their organization before they are initiated but don't worry about trying to fill every moment with information. It's easy to have a couple of cram sessions and then run out of things to teach. Instead you can make the remaining time focus on building the bonds of sisterhood and showing them what it's like to be a functioning part of the sorority.

My organization has a fairly long pledging process (one semester) and during that time pledges create a mock executive board, do fundraising and other things around campus. This way they have a good idea of what jobs they're suited for.

Another idea which is popular across our campus is to hold a scavenger hunt with clues about members of the sorority. It makes pledges work together and it's a fun way to let them know more about their potential sisters.

[REE1993]

Originally Posted by GC2theEC

Another idea which is popular across our campus is to hold a scavenger hunt with clues about members of the sorority. It makes pledges work together and it's a fun way to let them know more about their potential sisters.

Be careful about scavenger hunts. They may constitute hazing.

[OmegaPDPrez]

these posts are really helpful.... i too am looking for ways to make learning about my organization a little more interesting... i know my future sisters look foward to becoming a part of my family but i dont want to steer them the wrong way, or over whelm them in any way...
Thanks,

Originally Posted by REE1993

Be careful about scavenger hunts. They may constitute hazing.

I know that some NPCs don't allow scavenger hunts anymore. Personally I don't see how it could be hazing, but I can see how it might be a risk management issue.

When I was a pledge, my Frat Ed advisor said that they did scavenger hunts in the early 90s. When IHQ found out, they weren't too pleased.

Locals can do scavenger hunts if they want as long as they're not doing anything illegal. They don't have to answer to a higher authority.

[BlueEyedButrfly]

Thanks everyone!!! We are initiating our first class on April 18th We wanted to do it sooner (like this month) but things didn't work out the way we wanted them to. We are sooooo excited about this whole process!!!

We were definitely thinking about doing a scavenger hunt. I don't see how a scavenger hunt would be hazing, but then again it must depend on your college, the girls, and what type of scavenger hunt. It's kind of sad how some of the most harmless activities can be considered hazing!

How do you create class tshirts? Would you just purchase plain shirts and have the girls decorate? Any ideas re: this would be really helpful b/c I love this idea!!

Thanks again for all of your ideas, they were all amazing...i wish we could use them all!!!!!