Comparison of American and German fraternities/sororities

[VictoriaGermany]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

Women go through recruitment which is an organized event that allows women to get to know the sororities and the sororities to get to know the women. After this week, women are offered a "bid" to join. They are then known as New Members (formerly pledges.)

Alright. Our recruitment period is during the whole year, but - of course - in Autumn we have the best chances to get new members.
There isn´t really an event week or something, but we will have a booth at university this week as it is registration week.

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

The new member time for NPC groups was formerly one semester, but this has been shortened universally to 6-10 weeks (give or take a week.) This gives women time to get to know the history and traditions of their new sorority.

How do they learn about history and traditions of their new sorority? In Germany, one member of the sorority is responsible for the education of new members. She will give them regular lessons (once a week or once every fortnight). As I mentioned in another post: At the end they will have to pass an exam to proof they know enough about the sorority. As long as you are not fully accepted, you will only wear a ribbon with 2 colours. This will show other members of fraternities or sororities, that you are not fully accepted. And as long as you are "Fux/Fuchs/Fähe...", you are not allowed to visit other corporations on your own.
If you do so, the members of the other corporation can catch you and your sisters or brother have to buy you off with a lot of beer

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

If they do not like what they are learning, they can "disaffiliate." They would not be allowed to join another group (ie take another bid) for a full calendar year. Like German sororities, if you are kicked out of a chapter, you are not likely to get a bid from another.

I guess I wasn´t clear about that: As long as you left the sorority because it was your will, you can ask for acceptance at any other mixed corporation or sorority. And you don´t have to wait until next autumn or anything.

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

We hope that alumna stay involved for life.

We do as well ;-)

quote=AOII Angel;1516247]We have many alumnae chapters throughout the US that allow women to meet with other alumnae in their area. [/quote]

As there is no umbrella organisation for the sororities in Germany, we do not have something like local chapters. But alumnae as well as active members are free to visit other sororities´events.