The paddles don't have anything to do with Panhel, if I'm not mistaken. Cooperative also use them and they aren't in the IFC or Panhel.
The paddles for us are a little different than those from social sororities. Each MC is required to get a signature from every girl in the house including the advisors and Senior Actives. Before activation, they turn in their completed paddles to their MC educator. (They have a deadline.) During that time is usually when they choose their big sis by making a list of their top three choices for a big sis. The MC educator will then look at their choices and tell the actives who will be a big sis and for whom. Then the big sis will get the paddle that is already signed by everyone. (These are just undecorated except for the signatures.) So the big sis can decorate the paddle however they want. I've seen some with plastic farm animals on them. Some are sparkly. Some have cute sayings. But all have "Big Sis (name) and Lil Sis (name) along with the Sigma Alpha Crest, in sticker form. Some girls get really creative. I personally love it because you will always have that paddle and when you become a big sis your lil sis will make you one, it isn't signed. So you will have paddles for your activation and paddles for the number of lil sisters you have.
If you have any other questions, feel free to ask. I like to talk about Sigma Alpha stuff, have you noticed?
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