Difficult question

[sigmadiva]

Originally Posted by SockPuppet3

I'm needing a little advice, so please share your thoughts if you don't mind.

This will be my first formal recruitment, so even in the best of circumstances I'd still have some questions. But, my sorority is struggling with how to deal with recent graduates wanting to help... excessively... during recruitment this year. There is a rather large group of women who, despite the fact that they have graduated, are having a hard time wanting to let the chapter do things differently than how things had previously always been done. They've invited themselves to our summer workshops, and want to have their fingers in the pot constantly.

Now, I realize alums can be a great source of help. But, how do you tell recent graduates that you'd prefer to let the chapter run things differently now? Has anyone been through this type of situation? We're just not sure we know how to tell them that while we'd like some assistance, we'd rather make the big decisions on our own.

Please help! All suggestions are welcome.

I had a similar problem. The issue was just like you said, recent graduates who still wanted to run the chapter like they were in it. But, to make my situation a bit more complex, I was the advisor of the chapter at the time.

It took several meetings with those involved to explain to them that while their enthusiasm is great, their input was no longer needed to that extent. These meetings involved myself and the sponsoring alumane chapter president.

My advice, don't try to handle these women on your own, or even as a chapter. Since these women have graduated, they will feel that they know more than you. Get your advisor and / or regional director involved. Let them handle it.