Difficult question

[SockPuppet3]

FSUZeta, I really don't have answers to all your questions. Campus is 15% greek; about 100 girls went through rush, don't know how many dropped out/didn't get bids (who has that info anyway? I'm blown away by the amount of info people on here seem to get - I tell myself they must be alum or somehow involved on the outside, cause we sure don't get that much info); the other chapters on campus have around 60 members, we have about 20; we have a completely no frills rush (so no food, extravagant decorations, etc) - the other chapters blame that on us; there are 3 rounds of parties, we had only one party for pref (which wasn't heavily attended); we COB as soon as we can; there's not a lot to do in our town, so our sisterhood activities aren't much beyond getting together at a sister's apartment and just hanging out. I think that pretty much addresses most of your questions.

adpiucf, I plan to run for office this year. But, in the meantime, I'll talk to the Pres and let her know what I'm feeling.

Thanks for all the suggestions, everybody.

[adpiucf]

I do wish you the best of luck. Going through the right channels with your concerns and offering to help with the solution, being an officer and learning the hows and whys of the sorority will help you to help your chapter and feel better about your decision to become a member. I am proud of you for sticking it out and wanting to make a difference. Please keep us posted on your plans!!!

ETA: I do want to tell you that every chapter, even the ones at and over total, have problems and internal issues. I know it seems hard to believe, but it is very true. It's also very confusing when you're new to understand the inner workings of an organization or to see why things are done a certain way, esp. if it appears that they may not be contributing to the chapter's long-term success. The most important lesson I've learned in being a sorority member is this: When I enter a new group, I observe first, learn the ways and means of the organization, ask questions and then seek to recommend changes once I have a better understanding of the way things work and the culture of the group. I encourage you to go about this the same way. When you are the newbie and you arrive intending to change things without first getting acclimated to WHY things are done a certain way, things can backfire-- not b/c your ideas aren't good ones, but because people will be resistant to how they perceive someone with limited or no background into the group dynamics. You've had a year to watch and grow. This is the prime time to talk to your pres with your concerns and get involved!

Originally Posted by SockPuppet3

FSUZeta, I really don't have answers to all your questions. Campus is 15% greek; about 100 girls went through rush, don't know how many dropped out/didn't get bids (who has that info anyway? I'm blown away by the amount of info people on here seem to get - I tell myself they must be alum or somehow involved on the outside, cause we sure don't get that much info); the other chapters on campus have around 60 members, we have about 20; we have a completely no frills rush (so no food, extravagant decorations, etc) - the other chapters blame that on us; there are 3 rounds of parties, we had only one party for pref (which wasn't heavily attended); we COB as soon as we can; there's not a lot to do in our town, so our sisterhood activities aren't much beyond getting together at a sister's apartment and just hanging out. I think that pretty much addresses most of your questions.

adpiucf, I plan to run for office this year. But, in the meantime, I'll talk to the Pres and let her know what I'm feeling.

Thanks for all the suggestions, everybody.

[SockPuppet3]

Originally Posted by adpiucf

ETA: I do want to tell you that every chapter, even the ones at and over total, have problems and internal issues. I know it seems hard to believe, but it is very true. It's also very confusing when you're new to understand the inner workings of an organization or to see why things are done a certain way, esp. if it appears that they may not be contributing to the chapter's long-term success. The most important lesson I've learned in being a sorority member is this: When I enter a new group, I observe first, learn the ways and means of the organization, ask questions and then seek to recommend changes once I have a better understanding of the way things work and the culture of the group. I encourage you to go about this the same way. When you are the newbie and you arrive intending to change things without first getting acclimated to WHY things are done a certain way, things can backfire-- not b/c your ideas aren't good ones, but because people will be resistant to how they perceive someone with limited or no background into the group dynamics. You've had a year to watch and grow. This is the prime time to talk to your pres with your concerns and get involved!

Thanks for saying this. It really makes sense. I think this might be the reason I didn't get a good response from the chapter when I tried to suggest changes last semester. Now that I have a better idea of who I'm working with, chapter reception is getting better. And now that I'm planning on running for office, I think things will be easier all the way around. I just hope I have the opporutnity to try to change things. (Meaning, I hope that the closed meeting doesn't end up becoming a chapter-closing meeting.)

Thanks again for all the responses. I'll keep you all posted.

[FSUZeta]

sockpuppet3, one thing i would like to suggest is that you and your sisters, agree to go out on a limb, and befriend girls in your classes. grab a coffee or a sandwich with them-at the appropriate time talk to them about your sorority-not a hard sell, but sort of broach the subject to see if they might be receptive to coming over and meeting the girls. even if they don't think sorority life is for them, you(and your sisters) have made a new friend, and generated some good word of mouth p.r .for your chapter.

if some of the girls would like to learn more about your sorority, have someone
PLAN something fun to do and hold a get together. just hanging at someones apartment won't cut it-but bowling, or skating, or even a game night would be.

good luck. we are all pulling for your chapter. please keep us updated!!

[SockPuppet3]

I just thought I'd update everyone, although the news is not good.

Our chapter was closed over the summer. I'm alum now, and quite honestly, I'm not happy about it. What's even more sad is that the group of alums I was complaining about last year are happy about the outcome. I can't tell you how upset I am. I feel so betrayed, so bitter... I wonder when I'll get over this.

Thanks for all your suggestions. I wish they had worked.

[Fleur de Lis]

SockPuppet3,

I'm sorry to hear about your chapter closing. That is a really difficult thing to deal with. But I do want to encourage you to get involved as an alumna. I pledged my junior year and only had 1.5 years as an active, but since then I've held several positions on advisory boards and alumnae associations. A sorority sisterhood really can be for life, and I hope you will take advantage of it! Perhaps you could start organizing "young alumnae" events, so you can still have fun with your sisters without the stress of recruitment, paying dues, etc. Good luck with the rest of your college experience!

[Buttonz]

*hugs* My chapter was closed 6 months after I tranfered schools and I was still helping them out as much as I was able to from 4 hour away so I understand how hard it is. If you need to talk feel free to PM me

[33girl]

Originally Posted by SockPuppet3

we have a completely no frills rush (so no food, extravagant decorations, etc) - the other chapters blame that on us;

What????

National Panhellenic first began pushing for no-frills resolutions over 10 years ago. ALL schools are supposed to be implementing a no frills (or at least heavily defrilled) rush, everywhere, across the country. Why on earth would the other chapters think it has anything to do with your chapter??

My chapter didn't have the choreographed songs and dances or fancy food either (and this is in the 1980's), but we could have cared less if other chapters had them.

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by 33girl

My chapter didn't have the choreographed songs and dances

And picturing you DOING the songs and dances makes me .

[FSUZeta]

sockpuppet3:

you might ask the greeklife advisor on campus for the statistics i questioned you about. (i am a recruitment advisor, and both the vp of recruitment for the chapter i advise and i have to file a report to our international office which includes these figures-plus we keep our own totals during the recruitment process)

i have never attended a no-frills recruitment, so i do not know how it is handled. what goes on during the parties-is it organized at all? could you tell us where recruitment is held?

is there a bowling alley in town? a skating rink? a public swimming pool? a movie theater? does your school play football, basketball or baseball? is there a starbucks or a local equvilent to a starbucks in town?those are all things that you guys could invite pnms to. what sort of things do you do for informal recruitment?

i (and i am sure everyone else)would like to help you, if we can. the more info. you can provide, the better the help we can give.

[33girl]

All "no frills" means is dispensing with elaborate costumes, skits, decorations and food, and focusing more on conversation and getting to know the women. The money spent (or should I say wasted) on these things could have much better uses - like philanthropy. It doesn't have anything to do w/ the structure of the parties (ie formal rush can be no-frills).

Unfortunately, it's gotten a bad rap on some campuses that have implemented it as sororities have used it to call infractions on each other - ridiculous things like fining for having too many balloons in the room or the PNM walking out with crepe paper on her shoe. This is NOT what no-frills is supposed to be about.

[Buttonz]

Not all schools have this information though...I know if we had to go ahead and give our HQ this info, we wouldn't know where to start, as our Greek Life office didn't so much for recuritment for us beyond a Greek Life fair and helping us book the rooms

Originally Posted by FSUZeta

sockpuppet3:

you might ask the greeklife advisor on campus for the statistics i questioned you about. (i am a recruitment advisor, and both the vp of recruitment for the chapter i advise and i have to file a report to our international office which includes these figures-plus we keep our own totals during the recruitment process)

i have never attended a no-frills recruitment, so i do not know how it is handled. what goes on during the parties-is it organized at all? could you tell us where recruitment is held?

is there a bowling alley in town? a skating rink? a public swimming pool? a movie theater? does your school play football, basketball or baseball? is there a starbucks or a local equvilent to a starbucks in town?those are all things that you guys could invite pnms to. what sort of things do you do for informal recruitment?

i (and i am sure everyone else)would like to help you, if we can. the more info. you can provide, the better the help we can give.

[adpiucf]

The campus Panhellenic should keep track, though, as they are the ones who organize recruitment.

[FSUZeta]

so, are there displays highlighting the activities the chapter has been involved in-charities, sisterhoods, intramurals, etc. or are these a no/no?

you mentioned that rush infractions have been called for too many balloons, so if i read that right, then balloons can be used for decorations? are they allowed to make hand made banners that might have quotes about sisterhood on them? when i hear no-frills, i think absolutely NO decorations of any sort.

during no frills, is it strictly conversation-or does panhellenic have a theme they want everyone to follow for each night-sisterhood one night, philanthrophy the next, etc.? can a sorority show their national video of their philanthrophy?

do the chapters sing songs as the pnms enter or leave the party?

sorry for all the questions, but i have never seen a no-frills recruitment and i want to learn all i can. thanks.

[Buttonz]

Originally Posted by adpiucf

The campus Panhellenic should keep track, though, as they are the ones who organize recruitment.

The way that rush was ran at my old school back when there were three of us there would shock someone who has thought they ahve seen it all, it was that different and....not bad, but not the way it should have been done.

And we were told we couldn't get help from our national because..well..not to put down my national but they wouldn't help us.

Girls by us just had to show up for 2 out of 3 parties, that was it...there was no signing up for recruitment beforehand, Rho Chi (yes, we still called it that) disaffliating was close to impossible due to small numbers of the chapters, getting sisters to show up for recruitment events was even a struggle. It was ran poorly, and i'd love to be able ot step in when they re-open my chapter to give htem a hand and to do it right, and get involved on a national level with the commuter schoolsand how thigns have tobe ran very differently comapred to a dorm school