Helping out another sorority

[NothingBetter]

Hello all!

So I am going to be helping out another chapter with recruitment this weekend. This will be my first time recruiting at all, and it is with another chapter at a school I have never even visited! I am a little nervous to say the least. Does anyone have any advice specifically for recruiting at a school you do not even attend, with a chapter you do not know well?

Thanks all! I have read the general threads for advice for girls on the other side for the first time, but there are definitely things unique to helping out another chapter that I am nervous about.

[limegreen]

I helped out another chapter with recruitment many years ago. My advice is to mention the fact that you ARE from another chapter. It shows that the sorority is not just one chapter, but an organization of many chapters and there's potential for visiting other campuses and making even more friends and a broader sisterhood. Leave the individual campus chat and local info to the local members and discuss the national organization, philanthropy, etc.

Avoid talking about specific customs from your chapter and campus.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by limegreen

I helped out another chapter with recruitment many years ago. My advice is to mention the fact that you ARE from another chapter.

Yes, yes, YES.

There are several stories on here from PNMs who talked to members of another chapter who DIDN'T mention that fact right off the bat and it left the majority of them with a very bad taste in their mouth for that sorority. Which, of course, is the opposite of what you want to do.

If it's at all possible, get there early and spend some time with the girls in the chapter beforehand so it doesn't seem like you just dropped out of a helicopter or something. LOL

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by limegreen

Avoid talking about specific customs from your chapter and campus.

This.

Don't go on and on about how your chapter does this supercool date party or this super cool new member sleepover where the NMs are treated to a Broadway show and filet mgnon. All that does is make Patty PNM wonder "why doesn't the chapter at our school do that?"

Either that or she mistakenly thinks that the chapter does the same things and is a little disapponted.

[pearlbubbles]

When I went through recruitment, one of the chapters had a chapter from a nearby university come to help and I remember myself and many other PNMs being turned off by it, so I imagine that feeling is unavoidable. My best advice, thinking back on that experience, would be to make sure to mention it, otherwise the PNMs might feel hurt later. And they'll probably be a bit turned off anyway, but this isn't your fault.

Otherwise, keep the topics general "get to know you" type of subjects )travel, movies, whatever) and the national organization. If there's any way to make sure they can also talk to an active at that chapter, that might be best, but I know it could be difficult and is out of your control.

I'm sure this is a tough situation to be in and I wish you luck! Hopefully you have some time to see the campus and meet your sisters before you have to go right into recruiting.

[LatinaAlumna]

Originally Posted by pearlbubbles

When I went through recruitment, one of the chapters had a chapter from a nearby university come to help and I remember myself and many other PNMs being turned off by it

Just curious--why did you feel that way? Wouldn't potential members think, "Wow, that's great that their chapters stick together and support each other."

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by LatinaAlumna

Just curious--why did you feel that way? Wouldn't potential members think, "Wow, that's great that their chapters stick together and support each other."

Every PNM thinks differently. Some of them see the big picture of the orgs having chapters at other schools, whereas other PNMs are thinking of chapters in terms of what is specifically going on at THEIR school.

I mean, it might be cool to hear about what another chapter does, but many PNMs are concerned with what THAT particular chapter is doing (since that is potentially the one they'll be joining). Ex: it's nice to hear about Big Southern State's slip-n-slide philanthrophy event, but it's not something you're actually going to be participating in. PNMs generally don't join ABC State's chapter based on what they hear that DEF chapter is doing.

[LatinaAlumna]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

Every PNM thinks differently. Some of them see the big picture of the orgs having chapters at other schools, whereas other PNMs are thinking of chapters in terms of what is specifically going on at THEIR school.

I mean, it might be cool to hear about what another chapter does, but many PNMs are concerned with what THAT particular chapter is doing (since that is potentially the one they'll be joining). Ex: it's nice to hear about Big Southern State's slip-n-slide philanthrophy event, but it's not something you're actually going to be participating in. PNMs generally don't join ABC State's chapter based on what they hear that DEF chapter is doing.

Interesting...hadn't really considered how it might hurt recruitment for NPCs to have other chapters help out.

I'm in a NALFO sorority, and it's expected that sisters from other chapters will show up to informationals, etc. (actually a turn-off for many interests if they don't).

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by LatinaAlumna

I'm in a NALFO sorority, and it's expected that sisters from other chapters will show up to informationals, etc. (actually a turn-off for many interests if they don't).

Yep. The "bigger than your chapter" mentality is drilled into our heads even before we become members, so no one blinks an eye if nearby chapters stop by to help out. These are people that you're going to be working/interacting with frequently, so it's not as if they fall off the face of the Earth once pledging begins.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by LatinaAlumna

Just curious--why did you feel that way? Wouldn't potential members think, "Wow, that's great that their chapters stick together and support each other."

As I said in my post, if the women from the other chapter didn't say right away that they were from another chapter, that can really turn PNMs off. Imagine if you're in a rush party and having a great conversation with someone and feeling like you're making a connection - and then she says "well at my chapter we also yadda yadda" and that's when you find out she doesn't even go to that school. Great, you found someone you like, but if you want to hang out with her you have to transfer.

I also have no clue what chapters who do this do about voting on PNMs. I can conceivably understand how PNMs would feel like they wasted their time - like talking to a dude for 1/2 an hour and then finding out he's married w/ 6 kids.

I'm kind of hoping that the OP and her chapter sisters are mostly going to be helping with refreshments, guiding the women into the house etc. With only 5 women coming in, that's kind of what it sounds like it might be.

[pearlbubbles]

Originally Posted by LatinaAlumna

Just curious--why did you feel that way? Wouldn't potential members think, "Wow, that's great that their chapters stick together and support each other."

At the first party I only talked to the girls that were from the other chapter and they discussed all the things they did at their school. Which sounded like a lot of fun and many of those girls were really great, but I didn't go to their school, so I wouldn't have gotten to do any of those things. Plus as an eighteen year old, the national aspect wasn't something I really thought about or necessarily cared about since one of my main reasons for joining was to make my campus smaller.

33girl also made a good point in the members not necessarily mentioning they were from another school until the middle of the conversation. It made me feel a little blindsided.

[NothingBetter]

That is all great advice thank you! We (there are about five girls from my chapter coming to help) are planning on arriving around an hour early tomorrow so that we can explore the house and talk to the girls. I have been trying to find more information on their specific chapter too so I am not completely hopeless when I am talking to pnms. I am definitely starting too late with that, but I have been in denial that this is happening for awhile lol.

How would you guys suggest bringing up that I am from another school? The chapter is not struggling at all, they just had a lot of seniors graduate in the spring.

Also, I realized it will be even weirder for us there since we do not have a chapter house (none of the sororities on my campus do), and we will be recruiting out of a house this weekend!

[pearlbubbles]

Five is a lot easier than a whole other chapter and I think that will make a huge difference, since it sounds like the chances the PNMs will be able to talk to a greater number of sisters at the campus than in the experience I mentioned.

I wouldn't necessarily say it right out, but do it as soon as you can in a natural way. I think the explanation itself is the most comforting. And, like I said, if it's only a few of you, it shouldn't be much of a problem at all as long as you do tell the PNMs.

I think, if nothing else, it will be a fun experience for you. I'm getting excited about helping with recruitment this weekend myself, so best of luck.

[AGDee]

I would do it on introduction.. "Hello, I'm NothingBetter from the ABC chapter at My University."

Be prepared to explain why you are assisting as well, some will ask. "The chapter here at Your University had a lot of seniors graduate last year and since we are right down the road, we offered (or were asked) to help."

Ideally though, you would have spent a little more time with this chapter prior to recruitment. For instance, two of my chapters which are geographically close do plan sisterhood type things together so if they did help each other with recruitment, they at least know the other members and can talk about things they did together.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by AGDee

Be prepared to explain why you are assisting as well, some will ask. "The chapter here at Your University had a lot of seniors graduate last year and since we are right down the road, we offered (or were asked) to help."

Okay, way out of my lane, but here goes:

Would it be too over-the-top to tweak what you suggested by saying "Our sisters here . . . " rather than "the chapter here"? To me that seems like a natural way to underscore that sisterhood extends beyond the single chapter.

/Back to my lane.