In the interest of fairness (What else can we do?)

[misscherrypie]

Our chapter has gotten some interest in the past month or so from potential members who are interested in more information about Beta Sigma Phi. After talking with these potential members, we found that several of them are entering as Freshmen this fall.

In the interest of fairness, while we welcome getting to know new faces and seeing if they are a good fit for our Beta chapter.....it seems somewhat disingenuous to me personally, to invite them to rush with us, when they honestly have a wide open opportunity to go through Panhellenic Recruitment now.

I am aware that the Greek Organizations do not promote any organization over another during their recruitment activities and with us not being a part of Greek or Campus Life, with different activities (and we're much different as an organization anyway.....) we don't want to seem like we're "promoting ourselves" and attracting PNMs 'away' from Panhellenic who might find that Beta isn't what they were truly seeking, if they were to not go through Panhellenic recruitment and go through rush with us instead.

So far, we've adopted the following policy: we've encouraged these entering Freshmen who are interested in being involved with Greek Life to register for Panhellenic or MGC recruitment and see where that takes them. If they are still interested in Beta Sigma Phi, after recruitment is over, we'd be happy to invite them to rush with us.

We scheduled our rush events for dates AFTER the other orgs are holding their recruitment activities for this reason, and aren't promoting our rush, other than through our chapter's website. We figure that should solve any other concerns.

Is there anything else that we might be able to do to be as "fair and reasonable" as possible in this situation that I'm personally not seeing?

Thank you.

[adpiucf]

I'm not seeing what the issue is here. You're not part of campus or Greek life, so why not recruit all the members you can as early as you can? Your members can join social sororities and promote your organization within their campus orgs to attract even more members.

[amIblue?]

You are under no obligation to do this, you know. You are being more than fair, and I wouldn't do any more.

[misscherrypie]

Originally Posted by amIblue?

You are under no obligation to do this, you know. You are being more than fair, and I wouldn't do any more.

Gotcha. Thanks.

:-)

[33girl]

Be sure that these potential members know EXACTLY what they are getting into; i.e. that BSP isn't part of Panhellenic, doesn't participate in Greek week or have mixers, isn't in fact a campus based organization at all. Too many people might choose to use it as a "shortcut" to having Greek letters and then be upset when they find out what the organization really is.

I would be more worried about it in that way than I would in the way that you seem to think - i.e. that you would be "unfair" to NPC or MCGC. I really don't think that's the issue. But if you want to think of it that way, different road, you get to the same place eventually I guess.

[ASTalumna06]

I agree with what the others have said, and would strongly recommend that you don't do this!:

Originally Posted by misscherrypie

So far, we've adopted the following policy: we've encouraged these entering Freshmen who are interested in being involved with Greek Life to register for Panhellenic or MGC recruitment and see where that takes them. If they are still interested in Beta Sigma Phi, after recruitment is over, we'd be happy to invite them to rush with us.

You could be inadvertently "pushing away" someone who really wants to join your organization. Perhaps someone has done their research, they know what they're looking for, and they know they want to join BSP. What if that were you, and someone said, "Well, maybe you should look at some of the other groups first..." A potential member could take this in the entirely wrong way and assume that you're politely telling them you don't want them as a member.

I agree that you should be straightforward and honest with your potential members; let them know what you are and what you aren't, and show them what it is you have to offer. They can make their own decision from there. Don't make it for them. You shouldn't feel guilty about actively recruiting!

[DubaiSis]

Similar to looking for jobs, it's not your job to tell an employer you're not qualified. I would probably make a significant push for alternative students, but if some more traditional gals like your concept, it's not your job to tell them they should go for a more traditional Greek organization. I do think it's your obligation to rush carefully with this concern in mind. A few carefully asked questions should get you the answers you need, like "why are you interested in Beta Sigma Phi?" There would be a handful of huge red flag answers, and if you get those THEN you can redirect them toward NPC or MGC. But a freshman may be looking for friends, involvement, socialization, but not really the dancy singy rah yeah stuff that is so much a part of NPC.

Just like organizations shouldn't overlook you based on your age, you shouldn't overlook an 18 year girl just because she didn't come to you by way of rejection from everyone else. She, dare I say it, might just think you're awesome and like the idea that she is a full member, unchanging in status for the rest of her life. Or like the idea of fellowship without study hours and flag football and homecoming floats. Now, I loved the flag football and homecoming floats, but there is a market out there for BSP, even for 18 year old girls. Overkill with marketing to them? Maybe not. But allow them to at least be considered for membership? Absolutely. This is why you have votes. Some will make the cut and some won't, and all for different reasons, including they reached out to the wrong type of sorority. But don't pre-vote that a girl isn't BSP material.

[KSUViolet06]

This = a Toyota dealership telling potential customers to go across the road to Honda first and see if they Honda will give them a loan. If not, then they can come check out Toyota.

Makes no sense to me.

However, I will SECOND what 33girl said, if you are going to recruit in the same pool/time frame as the NPC groups, be VERY clear about what the BSPhi experience is vs. Panhellenic sororities in your early events. There will be some PNMs (maybe a lot of them) who decide they don't want that kind of experience. But what you have LEFT = people who understand that you're not Sigma Kappa, Chi O, etc. This way, you don't have women joining, then saying "Hey, I didn't know you guys didn't do Greek Week! I quit!"

[misscherrypie]

Thank you all. Y'all usually can figure out my confusion on these kinds of things, and make some rational sense of it all. :-)

I think that the fear we had was the idea of "stepping on others' toes", which is really neither here nor there. I can certainly understand how a PNM may think of our proposed policy (which we haven't actually used....yet.) as being interpreted as "We aren't sure you'd like us....so you should consider *name other orgs*."

We'll just remain clear with interested PNMs about what Beta Sigma Phi has to offer and see where things go from there. We've definitely met some wonderful young women recently through the expressed interest and I feel that ANY org would be oh-so-lucky to have ANY of them become members. :-)

[FSUZeta]

Since you are planning on holding rush events after formal recruitment, you really shouldn't be stepping on anyone else's toes. You are giving Panhellenic, MCG, NPHC a chance to recruit before you even start. If girls are coming up to you all on campus, or if you all do tabling, just tell them what Beta Sigma Phi is all about. Let them know BSPhi will be recruiting during the week of _____. Tell them that they can go to your website and see the schedule....that you would love to see them there. Don't downplay your org., and don't recruit for the other orgs. on campus. Let the PNM make up her own mind.

In addition, at your first rush party, tell interested women what your org. is about. In other words, emphasize the positives. Don't tell them what you all are not. Hardly anyone will join if you say something like "We are not a member of Panhellenic on campus", "We don't participate in Homecoming, or Greek Week, or Sigma Chi Derby". Instead brag about the great things you do: "We have weekly meetings where we blah, blah, blah. We have sisterhood get togethers twice a month and we do such activities as watch a movie and have movie theater type snacks at a sisters apartment, pottery painting, and have mani-pedi parties. We volunteer as a group with the Humane society, and at a local day care." Sell your product-not someone elses.

[Old_Row]

Originally Posted by misscherrypie

Our chapter has gotten some interest in the past month or so from potential members who are interested in more information about Beta Sigma Phi. After talking with these potential members, we found that several of them are entering as Freshmen this fall.

In the interest of fairness, while we welcome getting to know new faces and seeing if they are a good fit for our Beta chapter.....it seems somewhat disingenuous to me personally, to invite them to rush with us, when they honestly have a wide open opportunity to go through Panhellenic Recruitment now.

I am aware that the Greek Organizations do not promote any organization over another during their recruitment activities and with us not being a part of Greek or Campus Life, with different activities (and we're much different as an organization anyway.....) we don't want to seem like we're "promoting ourselves" and attracting PNMs 'away' from Panhellenic who might find that Beta isn't what they were truly seeking, if they were to not go through Panhellenic recruitment and go through rush with us instead.

So far, we've adopted the following policy: we've encouraged these entering Freshmen who are interested in being involved with Greek Life to register for Panhellenic or MGC recruitment and see where that takes them. If they are still interested in Beta Sigma Phi, after recruitment is over, we'd be happy to invite them to rush with us.

We scheduled our rush events for dates AFTER the other orgs are holding their recruitment activities for this reason, and aren't promoting our rush, other than through our chapter's website. We figure that should solve any other concerns.

Is there anything else that we might be able to do to be as "fair and reasonable" as possible in this situation that I'm personally not seeing?

Thank you.

This whole thing has me so confused my brain might explode. You are not a campus sorority because your school won't allow you to be. You are an off campus sorority that includes members from places like the community college to join. Your separate on campus group is called Beta Buds and must be coed. You even stated that you would consider going through NPC rush again so obviously someone can be a member of an NPC and your groups. I don't see how you can have a Beta Sigma Phi rush at your school when you do not officially exist there. You aren't anything like an NPC sorority at your school. Has something changed?

Originally Posted by misscherrypie

Another club put the tabling under their name on our behalf and let us use the table. Which, as we were told today...isn't actually allowed. So, we couldn't go that route again. Non campus recognized orgs have to pay $120 per day to table in front of the Student Union and are required to have an insurance policy. We don't have either of those.

I had to pay the university to be allowed to have our fliers and info cards on campus....in fact, the cost of recruitment (paying for Zumba entrance, the Starbucks and Einsteins Bagels for rush events, the copying and posters) totaled several hundred dollars of my own funds, and while much was learned....it was disheartening to put all that effort and funds forth in return for not much success. I'm out of money.

Originally Posted by misscherrypie

there is a community college in town,which has a large population. That's where Sophie is a student. I'm not sure of the demographics there, but assume a larger population of non traditional students.

The weird thing is that our other student members are traditional students and are all 21 and under.

The others are a recent graduate who is also in her very early twenties, Sophie who is slightly younger than I and Michelle who is even older than I....but only by a few years.

International did send a list of our registered local legacies (contact info was out of date for them....hello hours on the telephone) , a list of locally registered members at large, and a short list of women who are interested in joining Beta Sigma Phi to use in efforts to meet additional potential members. We are using these lists, and hopefully...some good will come out of them.

I'd like to contact our city council and get some feedback from them.

Originally Posted by misscherrypie

So, I wanted to update....it's been just over a month since we were chartered, and we're having a ball being Nevada Nu.

The chapter decided to keep trying to pursue campus recognition. We've made connections with the other orgs on campus, and even participated in a Philanthropy event with one of the other organizations, have had socials, philanthropy events, a fundraiser, a few road trips and are planning our formal for Founder's Day on April 30th. We're having a blast and I am so very happy being a sorority member. It's everything that I've hoped and everything I've dreamed it would be.

After a month, we decided the following:

A. Our school says that since our National Org is not an IRS 501 c 3 organization, we would be unable to exist as a sorority on campus without it. We are beginning the process to apply for that 501 c 3 immediately for our chapter....with no guarantees that we will receive it. Hopefully, this will pan out. Although it is looking like the process may still continue past when about half our student members graduate....we'd still like to put forth the effort knowing that we tried every avenue possible.

2. We ended up forming a co-ed student social club organization called "Beta Budds" that pursues the values exemplified by Beta Sigma Phi.

Half of the Beta Budds are sisters of Beta Sigma Phi. We also have members of Beta Budds who are not interested in becoming members of Beta Sigma Phi, but appreciate the values that the sorority stands for in its open motto.

So, we have two distinct organizations that are going on: Beta Sigma Phi- Nevada Nu Chapter that will go about its usual business, albeit off campus and Beta Budds that will be an way for us to organize as a group, along with other like minded students and serve and socialize on campus in an official capacity. Not the most ideal situation, but it is an acceptable one for both sides.

We made contact with the Beta Sigma Phi- Reno/Sparks City Council, and they have been wonderful with us and we are planning to join the council. They ended up hosting and conducting our pledge ritual, and had a lovely reception afterward for us. Our Vice President said to me "I hope that we'll be as cool as they are when I'm older!" Indeed. I really like them too.

I'll keep this thread updated as the saga continues. Either way, I think that things are going fine.


On another topic, I was approached by several women recently and asked to consider going through NPC recruitment again in the fall. After what happened last fall, I am a bit wary...but am willing to give the idea a fair amount of proper consideration.

Originally Posted by misscherrypie

Honest answer: If I received a bid, I would accept it. The suggestion came from out of nowhere, and since I know that Greeks from my school do read my posts on GC and know exactly who I am, all I will say is that I will consider the suggestion to consider going through recruitment this fall carefully, and if I do make the decision to go through....I would accept a bid if I were to receive one.

[misscherrypie]

Old Row (and for everyone else),

The current status of the chapter is that we are unrecognized. That doesn't mean underground. We collect dues and have fundraisers. We have an unofficial presence on campus as Beta Sigma Phi.

All that means is:

1. If we want to hold on campus events, we have to pay for the space (which we are now able to do....) and prove we have insurance (which we now have).

2. We do not receive funding from the school.

3. We work the heck out of social media instead of posting flyers or tabling.


Our chapter does not have Community College students in it at this time. This has changed from back in March/April. Make of that what you will.

I have no interest in going through NPC recruitment again. This is a change in my outlook from several months ago.

In my chapter's case: community collegiate chapter (which we are) means that we're = unrecognized by the school, but made up of college students that calls the University as its founding home.

I hope this straightens everything out.

[AZTheta]

Question: why can't you simply be Beta Sigma Phi, then? And all that that entails? Instead of dancing around the outskirts of the NPC arena? You are coming across to me as still wanting to be something else other than that as evidenced by your threads here.

Don't take umbrage. I'm sharing my observations from the past several months, including your most current thread.

[misscherrypie]

We are just Beta Sigma Phi. We're a young aged chapter made of current students of and recent alumna from a specific institution.

That's who we are. And that's what we hope to remain.

[AZTheta]

Originally Posted by misscherrypie

We are just Beta Sigma Phi. We're a young aged chapter made of current students of and recent alumna from a specific institution.

That's who we are. And that's what we hope to remain.

Then please help me understand: how is it disingenuous to invite women to "rush" your organization? Your recruitment is scheduled for after NPC recruitment, and women have already been on campus; and you don't recruit the way NPC chapters do, correct?

Perhaps you will see the source of the confusion. And, FWIW, no one (including me) stated "JUST" BSP. Those were your words. I think FSUZeta put it best: "sell your product - not someone else's".