Recommendation Caution to PNM's

[VandalSquirrel]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

PNMs think it will get them noticed by the chapters. But it ends up looking silly and dumb (as Zillini noted).

Oh they get noticed, for all the wrong reasons.

[DreamsComeTrue]

I am just needing to secure 1 more rec, and it's from a family member, but she said wont be able to get around to sending it until next week or even the week after...And recruitment is the beginning of September so I'm a little worried about it being too late. So what I am wondering is if a month prior to recruitment is too late/last minute for someone to be sending in a rec?

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by DreamsComeTrue

I am just needing to secure 1 more rec, and it's from a family member, but she said wont be able to get around to sending it until next week or even the week after...And recruitment is the beginning of September so I'm a little worried about it being too late. So what I am wondering is if a month prior to recruitment is too late/last minute for someone to be sending in a rec?

If you still have a month, I'd try and get it. You may be cutting it clsoe, but I'm sure you'd rather cut it close and have one more rec (than not have it at all).

[phimusam]

DreamsComeTrue, I would be looking for that rec somewhere else in the meantime.

[DreamsComeTrue]

Thanks for the tips, much appreciated!

[Zillini]

What a shame that honesty still isn't the best policy.

NPC Resolutions
Reaffirmation of the National Panhellenic Conference Resolution on Letters of Recommendation

Resolution 7 10/10/2009

Whereas, The responsibility for providing references and/or letters of recommendation (subsequently referred to as letters) for potential new members rests with the members of the National Panhellenic Conference;

Whereas, Membership is not necessarily contingent upon letters received from alumnae; and

Whereas, Potential new members are sometimes told that it is their responsibility to seek such letters in order to have a successful recruitment;

Resolved, That individual NPC member groups clarify this responsibility with their membership;

Resolved, That NPC area advisors clarify this responsibility with College and Alumnae Panhellenics;

Resolved, That any recruitment information distributed through College or Alumnae Panhellenics contain nothing that implies that letters are to be secured by the potential new member; and

Resolved, That remuneration from the potential new member or her family for any such letter is inappropriate.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by Zillini

What a shame that honesty still isn't the best policy.

God forbid they acknowledge what really happens.

[ComradesTrue]

Originally Posted by Zillini

Resolved, That any recruitment information distributed through College or Alumnae Panhellenics contain nothing that implies that letters are to be secured by the potential new member; and

Can anyone shed light as to why the NPC is going to such great lengths to promote this idea? In other words, why do they continue to take the stance (and thereby impose that stance on all individual chapters) that PNMs securing a rec for themselves is a bad thing? As we have said on her hundreds of times- the rec is a similar thing to a reference when applying for a job. Why aren't we encouraging such a thing for all the PNMs instead of lying to them?

Yes, I understand that there may be Patty PNM from Podunksville USA who may not know any PQRs. However, if we abandoned this silly system where "the chapter is responsible" (when we all know that many, many competitive schools are not going to reach their necks out for a Patty PNM from Podunksville that none of them know anyway) and changed the entire mindset to better develop channels for those girls from rural areas to obtain a rec, wouldn't that be a win-win system all around? The PNMs aren't disillusioned that they don't need a rec, and the chapters will have more recs on PNMs that they might not otherwise know about. And it is all done in an honest format, out in the open?

I recognize that there are those with far more NPC experience than I serving as delegates, so clearly I must be missing something. I do mean this as a sincere question, not some sort of sarcasm. Anyone? Please explain?

[33girl]

Stab in the dark:

Maybe it's because of the groups who don't require recs to pledge a woman or who are mainly at schools where recs aren't used? Like so it doesn't deter women from rushing at schools like that? As I said, just pulling that one out of the air.

[WVU alpha phi]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Stab in the dark:

Maybe it's because of the groups who don't require recs to pledge a woman or who are mainly at schools where recs aren't used? Like so it doesn't deter women from rushing at schools like that? As I said, just pulling that one out of the air.

My guess is the schools that don't use recs (my chapter got 1 rec my whole time there) probably won't have girls rushing who do a lot of research on recruitment. I was REALLY interested in rushing and signed up during summer orientation, but I only looked at WVU's chapters' websites and not much else. I think a lot of girls at those campuses maybe sign up a whim after seeing a booth in the student union, or finding out a friend is going through rush.

[Zillini]

I suspect is it their subtle way of attempting to discourage campuses that have become so Rec oriented that not having one becomes cause for being dropped. It should not be held against a PNM if she has never met an XYZ in her life, so therefore has no chance of obtaining a Rec. Or those who are the first in their family to ever go Greek, maybe even go to college, should not be punished simply for not understanding the process.

However, what they cannot do is change campus cultures that are like this and it's unfair to the PNMs to try to ignore it. All it accomplishes is creating disappointment and resentment within those PNMs who weren't in the loop. So why prevent an individual campus Panhellenic from communicating accurate info to their PNMs?

[exlurker]

Catching up on posts in this thred, I was struck by this statement in the NPC resolution:

"Resolved, That remuneration from the potential new member or her family for any such letter is inappropriate. "

To anyone's knowledge does this happen with any noticeable frequency? I can't imagine someone paying for a rec, but then again I try not to let anything surprise me when it comes to Greek life at some schools / in some areas.

[ComradesTrue]

Originally Posted by exlurker

Catching up on posts in this thred, I was struck by this statement in the NPC resolution:

"Resolved, That remuneration from the potential new member or her family for any such letter is inappropriate. "

To anyone's knowledge does this happen with any noticeable frequency? I can't imagine someone paying for a rec, but then again I try not to let anything surprise me when it comes to Greek life at some schools / in some areas.

oh yes! Somewhere around here there is a thread about a website that will secure your rec for you, at a cost of $20! The site will get you a rec to any organization, but the shadiest part of it is that there is no oversite to ensure that the women who are purporting to be alumnae of said organizations actually are. (alumnae can also register with the site to be the rec writers.)

Even sadder? The owner of the site is a sorority alumna.

[ComradesTrue]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Stab in the dark:

Maybe it's because of the groups who don't require recs to pledge a woman or who are mainly at schools where recs aren't used? Like so it doesn't deter women from rushing at schools like that? As I said, just pulling that one out of the air.

This does make sense, however, I guess my (poorly worded, apparantly) question more deals with letting the organizations, schools and chapters decide for themselves if recs are important. Those groups/schools that do place high emphasis on recs can honestly advertise as such. Those that don't give a flying flip about recs can say that as well.

In other words, let the emphasis be on honesty, instead of trying to change decades and decades of how chapters have dealt with this. Zillini is right. The NPC can do what it wants, but campus culture is going to dictate how recs/invites are handled. This only further hurts those same PNMs mentioned above who do not come from Greek families, or who come from regions where importance is not placed on recs.

I saw firsthand these women, who could have been assets to any chapter, get released after first round from virtually all ten houses on campus simply because they trusted our Greek Life website. There was absolutely nothing wrong with them except that they were naive to the system.

ETA: to further clarify, I do think that recs are a very helpful measure for PNMs in larger, fall recruitments, and would hate to see that factor be eliminated from the selection process. However, I just want to be able to give PNMs the honest head's up that they need to secure these.

[33girl]

I think you're right. NPC needs to stop trying to be so freakin' politically correct and just accept that in some areas and schools, Greek life is what it is and it ain't gonna change even if the 26 NPC delegates voting are the most futuristic thinking women that ever have worn Greek letters on their boobs.

See also: "Rush with frills will be completely gone from campuses by 1995, I mean 1998, I mean 2000, etc etc etc..." That concept did so much for Panhellenic unity! Instead of the frills disappearing and conversation appearing, you got balloon counting, infractions for confetti on soles of shoes, and an additional way for already hypercompetitive Greek systems to fink on their fellow GLOs. Kum bah yah! Feel the love!!! If NPC would have just kept their mouths shut, who knows - maybe the collegians would have decided on their own (gasp) that spending the equivalent of a year's mortgage on fabric for the walls was a stupid idea.