Pledge Rank/Points as Motivation

[Emeril12]

We have been having some trouble with motivation with some of our sisters. I was wondering what other locals do for motivation, in terms of giving out pledge points? And what is the ultimate motivation there? We were thinking about this year giving out awards to the top sisters who gained the most points this semester (for helping with things, attending events, holding positions, etc.) and giving them gift certificates to Best Buy, or maybe an online Greek wear store. Any other ideas?

[cuteASAbug]

While this may sound like a good idea, I would check with your greek advisor, because assigning ranks/points to new members could probably be construed as a form of hazing.

[Emeril12]

I don't think it's considered hazing though, I know other Greek organizations on campus do it (and our university really cracks down on hazing issues). Basically, pledge rank is how we determine the members number. As pledges they get points for attending events, completing pledge education assignments, etc. This in turn will give them their member number when they're initiated. We continue to gain pledge points after (although our rank, and therefore our member number, never changes after initiation). We basically want to use pledge points after initiation as a motivational tool, not as anything to do with hazing, so I'm not sure entirely how that could be construed as hazing.

[REE1993]

What benefits (is there are) are bestowed on those with lower initiation number? I am assuming you mean like a scroll number. Do people get more respect because of their "number"? Treating people differently based on those numbers may be construed as hazing, as in, all are not equal.

[AlphaFrog]

I would seriously reconsider. You might motivate your top girls, who are already probably motivated enough, and you're going to even further alienate those who are not already "motivated".

[LatinaAlumna]

If you have pledges/prospective members who don't have motivation during the membership process (a time when they should be HIGHLY motivated), what kind of sisters do you think they are going to be?

I say, if they aren't participating at the expected level, they shouldn't be allowed to become sisters. You shouldn't have to give out any points toward gifts. They should be working hard for themselves and for the organization-that's reward enough! Weed out people who are going to be dead weight now, before they become members of your organization.

[Emeril12]

I'm not talking about motivation during the pledging process, I'm talking about down the road. Our pledges are always dedicated (or seem to be at the time), and those who've turned out to be real disappointments are eventually deactivated (only a few have been though). Girls, for example, on our Executive Board though, either they are totally motivated for their position and DO what needs to be done (about half of them) or they are totally motivated but then end up procrastinating, and getting credit for the work others have done that they were initially responsible for.

No, there are no benefits for lower numbered members OR higher numbered members during the pledging process. We originally came up with it to provide us with a system other than alphabetical (or random, I guess) for initiating members.

[LatinaAlumna]

You referred to them as "pledge points" so I figured you were talking about pledges lacking motivation.