BIG sister gifts?

[ΑΓΔSquirrelGirl]

Originally Posted by alum

Is it customary for a new member to give her BIG a gift at revealing time or upon initiation?

Not for us....but it WOULD be kinda nice.

[Eirbear]

My chapter does, but every chapter is different. The Little Sisters give their Bigs a little gift on initiation. When I initiated, I gave my Big a box I had decorated for her. When my Little initated this past December, she gave me a Build-a-Bear she had made for me, and it was wearing a t-shirt she had decorated.

[AlphaFrog]

It just seems weird, because if you want all of the littles to get bigs gifts, you would have to tell them to do so. I think telling people (especially those who are not yet official members of your org yet) to go buy someone something could seem tacky. I guess it would be all in how it's presented.

[KSUViolet06]

My chapter has Big Sis Appreciation Day in the spring after the new members are initiated. That day is designated for Littles to do something nice for their Big. Some Littles get their Bigs a small gift like a gift card to their favorite store or treat them to lunch or dinner. My Little made me a picture frame and took me out for ice cream. It doesn't have to be anything expensive or elaborate, just something to let them know you care. I mean, think about the amount of money that Bigs spend on their Littles. One day to say "Thank you" is really nice to have.

[Buttonz]

We gave our bigs (and the president and NME get one from the NM class) paddles on intiation night. It's great to see who can come up with something that is the most creative and all the inside jokes that are put on paddles.

For example, my (now ex) bf's nickname for me was Strawberry and mine for him was Shrek...so my paddle from my little is covered in strawberry's and Shrek stuff....one of my NME paddles has a lion on it, as a joke about an AEPi guy....well you get the idea

new members in my chapter also give their bigs decorated paddles on initiation night. it's after revealing so they actually know who they're decorating for. i would think that telling them to give any old present would be a little weird but when it's the same gift every year, decorated to make it unique it's not really just a present anymore, it's a tradition.

[Phigirl04]

I don't think it was mandatory or anything in my chapter but we gave small gifts, usally before or right after iniation. I think almost everyone did a paddle for their big and maybe a picture frame or a stuffed lion or something.

When I was iniatated into Phi Sigma Pi, I got my big a bag with letters on it, some people gave sweatshirts or blankets or other stuff. Again, it wasn't a rule it was just something that everyone did.

It didn't seem weird because of all the stuff/time/etc. gives to you when you're a new member it's nice to give them something for a change and to show appreciation.