Chapter vs. Council leadership

[TSteven]

Replace IFC (below) with Panhellenic Council and the advice is the same.

Originally posted by TSteven
Note: the 'you' here is the hypothetical 'you'.


It sounds like the question behind the questions ("Should you work to grow your chapter, or should you run for a position on IFC or Panhell? Which is a better use of your talents?") comes down to which board - IFC's or the chapter's - should you serve on.

It depends on the campus environment. You should go for the position(s) that will benefit your chapter the most *and* be the best use of your talents/skills. As long as the overall outcome (all your time and energy) results in a positive impact on the chapter, then as James pointed out, why not serve on both.

If the IFC is nothing more than a paper organization that does not have any real power or prestige on campus, then just hold an IFC office *in name only*. What everyone else would be doing. You could then hold a chapter office which would allow you to use your leadership skills etc.

Now if serving on the IFC would have a real and positive impact on the chapter, then by all means serve on the IFC council. Depending on the chapter's by-laws, serving on IFC as an officer (not just as the chapter's IFC representative) might also be a position on the chapter's executive council/board. Even if it is not, you could hold a less demanding position within the chapter. One that perhaps doesn't require too much time but allows you to be on the executive council/board. Again, your leadership skills will be put to good use.

The bottom line is go for the position of real power and leadership on the board (IFC's or the chapter's) where you can best utilize your skills and talents while best serving your chapter.


Reminder: the 'you' is the hypothetical 'you'.

[TSteven]

Originally posted by Betarulz!
And no sorority on this campus would imagine letting another chapter use their house for rush...that's just ridiculous.

I agree that a *sorority* chapter would not/could not allow another *sorority* chapter to use their house for rush. Frankly, since both are rushing at the same time, the logistics most likely would not work.

My reply was a *fraternity chapter* (men) using a *sorority chapter's* (women) house for their (the fraternity's) events. The same advice would apply for a sorority to have their events (rush or other types) at a fraternity house. While it might not happen, it might be worth it for the sorority to inquire.

And FYI: at The University of Kentucky, many fraternities, (chapters housed off campus, one chapter renovating their house, one chapter housed on a dorm floor, and those chapters without a house) rush out of sorority houses. I would venture to guess it has happened on other campuses as well. As such, I don't feel it's so far fetched to think that a fraternity chapter might allow a sorority chapter to do the same.

[TSteven]

Originally posted by lilsunshine214
Good idea, but I'm about 99.9% sure that's not allowed at Kent State. It has to be YOUR house with YOUR letters on it.

I understand why on some (all?) campuses, a sorority (XYZ) would not be able to use a fraternity's (ABC) house for recruitment. However, if allowed, XYZ should be able to use the ABC house for other events and meetings.

Originally posted by lilsunshine214
I think the idea is if XYZ Sorority uses ABC Fraternity's houes, then "XYZ's only hang out with ABC's" and boys are not allowed to participate in ANY form of recruitment, even conversation (IE- we avoid talking about boys).

Change sororities to fraternities and my previous advice (below) applies for sororities as well.

"If sororities have houses, ask one if you could use their house for functions and meetings. Make a big deal/production about how they helped your chapter. Serenade the chapter after your meeting or give flowers to each member or to the whole chapter. Volunteer to help them with their philanthropy events. Offer to make them a home cooked meal. Then do the same with each other sorority."

This way by going to (using) each fraternity chapter house, XYZ sorority is not known to only hang out with ABC.

Again, this may not work on all campuses, but I have seen it happen and work on a few. Where un-housed chapters had events and meetings at other chapter's houses. But *always* cross gender lines - i.e. a sorority chapter at a fraternity house or a fraternity chapter at a sorority house.

[Tom Earp]

Interesting Concept though! Dont think it is functional though.

Not really sure why a Collge would have a rule that one must have Letters on a house to Recruit?

[KSUViolet06]

Has anyone heard of a sorority using a fraternity house for recruitment and such? I've never heard of that and I'm curious as to which schools do this. You'd think that wouldn't really help much because the PNM's know that it's not yours.

[winnieb]

Originally posted by JocelynC
Has anyone heard of a sorority using a fraternity house for recruitment and such? I've never heard of that and I'm curious as to which schools do this. You'd think that wouldn't really help much because the PNM's know that it's not yours.

I am an advisor and have some experience with this. We are in the process of building a new house and have already sold our old house and had to vacate. This year our members are living in apartments (the same complex, in one building) and we don't have a chapter house until the new house is complete.

It would be detrimental to the chapter to rush out of the union. Chapters are housed and houses are a HUGE part of the Greek system here. For recruitment this year we used the SAE house (with panhellenic's approval). The men were living in the house and rules were set. We followed all rules regarding having boys around--it worked out great. The men didn't use the public areas of the house while we were there (constantly for work week and recruitment) and used the back staircase to access their rooms. It worked out well.

Last night was initation and we had our initation banquet at the Sigma Nu house. Sigma Nu's had their charter revoked earlier in the school year and had to vacate their house. The house is empty, still furnished, we emailed their house board president, who replied that the house was ours to use for our banquet.