New Colony Advice

[MonmouthSIG]

Hi everyone

I posted a reply to another thread, but I thought if I made a new one, maybe more people would see.

I'm one of the girls in the interest group that is bringing Alpha Xi Delta to Monmouth University. We are SO excited to have them coming!! They are a great organization and EXACTLY what we are looking for!

Our ball is really going to start rolling this month with interviews, pinning, etc. We are all starting to get a bit nervous. All of us have worked so hard to see this through. I was wondering if anyone has any type of advice to give us, especially if you've ever started a colony before. If you could post, I will relay the information on to my girls.

Thanks so much, everyone!!

[amanda6035]

Oooh, oooh, ooh, me me me!

I sent you a PM, but you didnt reply so I dont know if you got it.

The best word of advise I can give you as a colony member is to "have patience." And trust me, it's much easier said than done (just ask my advisor, AXiDTrish)

I dont really know what you're going through "right now" because when I became a member (I wasnt part of the original interest group) I saw the fliers on campus and I went to an info session one week, had an interview at some point and by the next week I had pledged. So I dont know what you're going through right now, but I can tell you that once it happens you're gonna be in for the ride of your life.

I dont know what kind of stuff you're allowed to get from other chapters. Eventually, you'll start writing your documents (code of conduct, bylaws, merit system, stuff like that) and your ELC will explain what all of this is, so no need to panic. But I do remember that she gave us examples from the other AZD chapters that are kinda close by to us. However, if it's allowed, I'll see if I can send you our documents as an example that you can use to start writing your own.

You'll learn ALOT your first few years. Some rules work, some dont, some things need to be changed, some dont. It's all a learning process. I think I might have said this in the PM to you, but I wont lie, there will be times that you'll want to rip your hair out and scream. But it makes you a stronger person, IF you stick with it. (DONT let the fact that some girls wont love it as much as you do stop you from continuing forward with it...that's a lesson I'm STILL trying to learn right now.) When I joined I was a hot head fresh out of the military who was starting school as a 22 year old freshman who couldnt even understand why the heck she was considering joing a sorority. Again, ask my advisor how my attitude has changed. I'm still a hothead =) but I know when and where to control it and let loose now (well....at least for the most part, anyway).

The best part is YOU have the opportunity to start and set traditions and standards. Instead of conforming to someone elses, you establish your own. Also, you'll see that Alpha Xi Delta is incredible even beyond the local level. Colonies are special. They have the "important" people who take a special intrest in them. One of the national vice presidents (who lurks around here from time to time, though I havent seen her on in a while) emails me on a semi-regular basis just to see how we're doing. She even came to several rounds of our formal recruitment this year. I love when I meet a new sister online or in person. One day over the summer, I went to a statewide recruitment workshop with the girls from GA State and West GA Universities. We all wore our letters that day. Well, after I left, I went shopping with my mom. I was in a Goodies dept store, when this girl comes running up to me and said "OMG are you an Alpha Xi Delta?" because she saw the letters on my shirt and we had a great conversation. I found out that she was a sister from Jacksonville State University over in Alabama, but she was home for the summer.

Sisters from all over the country are an amazing thing. There was this one time on a message board (not this one) where I had written about a not-so-positive experience my chapter was having, and these girls, literally, from all over the country swarmed in and gave me some awesome advise, and ideas, and cheered me up.

You'll have so much pride out of being a colony member. Sure, other chapters might be "more established" than you for a while, but I've had sisters of those other chapters tell me "I wish I had the opportunity to be a colony member. How cool that must have been!" And the day you receive the news that they are going to install you will be one of those fondest memories you'll ever have.

Just out of curiosity, how many girls do you think you're going to colonize with? What's the intrest level looking like? We're a really small school, so if you guys are bigger than us, you might need to get some advise from someone who knows a little more about how bigger chapters work....

Good luck to you, if you ever have any questions, email me, send me a PM whatever. Let me know if you need anything.

~Amanda

[AXiDTrish]

Well said, Amanda......

From an alumnae/advisor standpoint, FHQ will probably look for a very strong volunteer structure for the Colony. It is important to understand that you WILL and MUST utilize your advisors and alumnae!!! I am a pretty involved advisor and am willing to dedicate a lot of time to the Chapter. At the beginning, for a good while there, I was on the phone, email, text messages, etc. EVERYDAY! Now, the Chapter is more and more self-sufficient and able to work through there own day to day items. Yea!

As an advisor, it is an AMAZING experience to watch the individuals in the Colony/Chapter develop and grow with the experiences Alpha Xi Delta affords them. I can't begin to describe how the advisors feel when the chapter calls and tells them they won their Powderpuff game or first place in banner or had a woman accept a bid. We are just as elated and proud!!!

And those individuals who are the hot heads in the Colony (callin' you out Amanda HAHA!), you sometimes wondered how on earth they were going to make it, they turn out to be incredibly strong sisters and have amazing hearts!

And.....as an advisor, when a collegiate calls just to talk, tells you about the cool guy they met, or asks you to go out for a drink (even though we can't)....you realize that you may be their sister and advisor....but you've also become their friend and THAT is the most special moment any advisor can EVER have!!!!

I'm a little sappy today....but it's the honest truth!

[MonmouthSIG]

As of right now, we have 19 girls who have dedicated a lot of time to getting this going. Two are already sisters who transferred in from other schools. Total at Monmouth is 45, so we're not very close to that. We had many more girls before, but they were the ones who were in it for all the wrong reasons and dropped along the way (too much work for them...haha). From my understanding, we're not a huge group, but definitely not the smallest either.

P.S. I just figured out how to look at PM's, so thanks!

[Kdart]

i Knwo you replies to My MP but I jsut wnated to add to what the other girls have said they are both right on the money. Girls will come and go for avariety of reason so while it is upsetting try not to let it set the tone for you guys. When I was a SIG we started with an even smaller number then you after our first "recruitment" where national came in and did interviews are number grew leaps and bounds. It is hard work but it was the decision I ever made at college. I love my sisters both from my chpater adn from across the country!

[xi_pinkrose]

I agree as a colony memeber (hey dart) it is exhausting and all the hard work you put in is so worth it in the end. We have had a few girls come and go, but right now we have a solid group. I don't know what other kind of greek life there is on the campus but the rumors will fly and things will be said and then they will talk about our new member program and more things will be said.

Funny thing happened this semester, we took in one new member and all the other houses said we give some killer test at the end of our "pledge program." I found this funny and when I told her they were all wrong color came back into her face. SHe was really nervous.

Keep your head high during the colony period. Stay on top of you school administration...make sure they do their side of the work too. Get the paper work done I remember writing bilaws and Code of conduct and voting get it done it can always be chagned later.

But also enjoy this time. You will never forget it.

[MonmouthSIG]

Hi everyone...

I just wanted to update you. Interviews started today. Half of the girls (including myself) went today and the other half go tomorrow. Bids are Thursday morning and pinning is Thursday night. Ahhh!!! Wish us luck

-Jenn

[MonmouthSIG]

Hello everyone!!!!


THANKS TO EVERYONE who has been sending me PM's. It really calmed my nerves...ESPECIALLY today when I went and picked up by BID

Pinning is tonight at 7pm. So far everyone from the group who has talked to one another has gotten in. We think one girl may not have due to GPA, but no one has been able to get in touch with her.

So excited!! Thanks again everyone

[amanda6035]

Well, over the summer I met a girl who is now an initiated member at West GA. I think her name is Lauren. She told me that she tried to join in Fall 2004, but she didnt have the GPA required. She could have joined another sorority who had lower GPA requirements, but she told me she REALLY wanted to be an AZD. So, throughout the Fall, she busted her butt to get her GPA up, and she still hung out with the AZDs. At the end of Fall semester she had brought her GPA up high enough to be allowed to join, and in the spring she was offered a bid. Maybe this other girl's desire to join will do that for her.

[AZ-AlphaXi]

congratulations on your bid ... enjoy your colony period ... keep us updated on what's happening!!

[WCUgirl]

Yes, congratulations! And we expect regular updates!

[PinkRose1098]

Congratulations!!! I hope that you enjoy your colony period and I know that being an Alpha Xi is one of the best decisions that I ever made.

[flirt5721]

Congratulations! Hope you have fun during this time.

[AZ-AlphaXi]

Nice article about the new colony

http://www.monmouth.edu/news/news_st...k=/Default.asp

[MonmouthSIG]

I wrote that