Big-Little Gifting

[GeorgiaGreek]

The gifts for my chapter are used at clues (broken up into 3 days of clues leading up for big/little reveal), so I don't think the chapter members would want to have everyone getting the same thing. We do have a "rule" that the first day clue should be just candy, along with a big posterboard that usually has a poem with the clues written out, so that keeps the girls from going all out all the time, but by the 3rd clue, gifts sometimes get pretty extravagant.
I haven't heard much discussion about it in my chapter. I think we are pretty accepting of the fact that some girls have more money to spend or time to make elaborate crafts than others, but if it seems to be affecting a group, then I think having one day where the clues/gifts should be candy, another for letters, and then maybe setting a limit for the last day but allowing choice within that could be effective.
I don't particularly like the idea of standardized gifts across the board because they would likely be the same sometimes-crummy memorabilia from the Greek store on campus, and I don't think everyone wants the same painted picture frames, plastic cups, keychains, and other tchotchkes usually available.

We also have a standard Junior gift to the NM's when they get initiated that we all paid the same amount into, so each NM got the same item from their grandbigs, but if one girl had multiple grandlittles, she didn't pay more money.

[MaryPoppins]

How about where one chapter blows all the others out of the water? And for those that are thinking tiers are the reason, it's a so called second tier chapter that I have in mind.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by MaryPoppins

How about where one chapter blows all the others out of the water? And for those that are thinking tiers are the reason, it's a so called second tier chapter that I have in mind.

Who cares what other chapters are doing? You can't control them.

[KSUViolet06]

My chapter had a spending cap of $250 at the time. We also had required items that every big had to purchase (so that every little sis got some of the same things.)

I think the required items were a badge box (most people made them so they weren't expensive), a lettered tote, set of initiation pearls (real or fake), and matching letters for the revealing (our revealing was such that the Little Sis found her shirt then found the person wearing the matching one.) You'd get a different gift every day with your shirt given to you the day of revealing.

Our Big Little Week ran right into our Initiation weekend so you got your pearls on the last day too.

As far as shirts, that varied in price. Like, I got my Little and I matching hoodies, but some people got tees.

While it wasn't a significant expense for me (I only have one Little Sis), it was for some (e.g. the people who took twins.)

The "other chapters" thing is interesting because I remember my Little Sis having friends in other chapters who were getting brand new letters everyday, and others who were only getting candy and things like that everyday (with a big gift basket at the end.)

[33girl]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

Who cares what other chapters are doing? You can't control them.

Yeah, I have to agree. It sounds like this chapter is thinking "if rushees hear what awesome gifts we give, maybe they'll pledge us instead of Top Tier Chapter."