Pledge worried about small fraternity

[33girl]

Let's look at the original post again, shall we?

Originally Posted by Abitworried

Hey guys,

I recently went through rush during the Spring and got a bid from the fraternity that I wanted. However, after accepting my bid I realized that the fraternity has about 23 active members with 12 pledges for Spring. Also, I heard that only one person crossed during Winter.

He doesn't say how many people started pledging, how many people the other groups had, or WTF a winter rush is. (I'm guessing they are on quarters or trimesters.) I guess this is where the comment about "moderate hazing so they're not going to finish 12" comes from. That's a super silly assumption to make if you don't know how many pledges there were to begin with.

Originally Posted by Abitworried

Rushing for other fraternities throughout the week I thought most chapters hovered around the 50-60 range and this gotten me a little worried about the growth of the chapter I'm in.

In other words...he has never seen a chapter roster, didn't straight up ask how many people were active in the chapter...hell, for all we know, these other fraternities could have had 30 members and 30 alumni in the room. We don't know that 23 members is that far away from the other groups.

In other words, don't.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Let's look at the original post again, shall we?

He doesn't say how many people started pledging, how many people the other groups had, or WTF a winter rush is. (I'm guessing they are on quarters or trimesters.) I guess this is where the comment about "moderate hazing so they're not going to finish 12" comes from. That's a super silly assumption to make if you don't know how many pledges there were to begin with.

He also never actually says that he's talking about an NIC fraternity. While he does talk about "rush" and a "bid" (terms not exclusive to the NIC), he also mentions "crossing."

[33girl]

Lots of NIC and NPC chapters in NJ and I think around NYC have appropriated the word "crossing."

[Psi U MC Vito]

^^^ It was the normal term at NJIT. I was surprised when others never heard it used in a NIC context.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Lots of NIC and NPC chapters in NJ and I think around NYC have appropriated the word "crossing."

Originally Posted by Psi U MC Vito

^^^ It was the normal term at NJIT. I was surprised when others never heard it used in a NIC context.

Interesting, and thanks for filling me in. I have heard it in non-NPHC contexts before, but I'd never in an NIC/NPC context.

Does the fact that I've learned something mean I can slack off for the rest of the day now? Please?

[jc@4greeks]

Like many people have been saying, size is not the most important thing. From personal experience my chapter started out with 75 or so members. However, we found a problem in getting committment from many of the members. We had a good 25-40 that would be dedicated and the rest would show up from time to time. I think one thing you must take out of your experience so far pledging would be this observation:

Originally Posted by Abitworried

I will say that the morale of the fraternity is very high though. Almost every active was at every rush event and the bid party they hosted for us was a blast..

If everyone of the chapter goes to the events, you enjoy their company, and can see a prosperous future, you are in the right place. Quality should always take precedence over quantity...

[Gusteau]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Does the fact that I've learned something mean I can slack off for the rest of the day now? Please?

Pshh...do you really expect GC to give you a day off from your crusade for truth and justice?

Originally Posted by jc@4greeks

Quality should always take precedence over quantity...

Quality and quantity are not mutually exclusive. This statement is a slippery slope, and under-performing chapters often use it to defend their under-performance.

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by jc@4greeks

Like many people have been saying, size is not the most important thing. From personal experience my chapter started out with 75 or so members. However, we found a problem in getting committment from many of the members. We had a good 25-40 that would be dedicated and the rest would show up from time to time. I think one thing you must take out of your experience so far pledging would be this observation:



If everyone of the chapter goes to the events, you enjoy their company, and can see a prosperous future, you are in the right place. Quality should always take precedence over quantity...

Originally Posted by Gusteau

Quality and quantity are not mutually exclusive. This statement is a slippery slope, and under-performing chapters often use it to defend their under-performance.

I believe he is simply saying that you're better off with 20 guys who are completely committed, than 60 guys, half of which don't seem to care.

Which, again, is why dnall needs to step away from the keyboard.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

12 pledges is an awesome number if the group has 23 actives. And you know what? If the chapter has had problems in the past with numbers, it only takes one great pledge class to turn it around. The OP may very well be part of that pledge class.

[TGTKPinkWhalepq]

Originally Posted by Gusteau

Quality and quantity are not mutually exclusive. This statement is a slippery slope, and under-performing chapters often use it to defend their under-performance.

One of our alumni, a recruitment volunteer, has told us the exact same thing! Dont' let the old crew trick you into this mindset OP, I forgot your tag.

Originally Posted by knight_shadow

I agree that they aren't mutually exclusive, but if they're under-performing, it's likely that they're not getting quality guys.

/black sheep

Think about this being reflected i.e., in Rush...we had 1 come through fall rush last year

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

12 pledges is an awesome number if the group has 23 actives. And you know what? If the chapter has had problems in the past with numbers, it only takes one great pledge class to turn it around. The OP may very well be part of that pledge class.

This. It's up to you, OP If you have genuine affection for the people in your fraternity, and dedicate yourselves to your ideals and improving your chapter you'll be part of the solution. You just have to let other's knwo your thoughts. There's nothing better than knowing you succeeded and nothing worse than knowing you could have tried harder.

[33girl]

I think the way "quality not quantity" got started was with some chapters who took anything with a pulse. Which some did and still do. But you don't get to use it if you were dying to get Susie or Freddy or whoever and they pledged another GLO - i.e. don't use it as sour grapes.

That being said, unless you have a large physical plant to maintain, IMO there is not a damn thing wrong with purposely saying you don't want to get over x number of members. Different strokes for different folks. Some people can't shine in a larger chapter that would be superstars in a smaller one. One size does not fit all.

[dnall]

Quality versus quantity is not even the discussion. Of course they need to take quality prospects and turn them into committed members with whom they can maintain satisfaction over a long period of time.

In no way at any point have I said you need to take a crap load of guys so you'll have some money and who cares if they're committed of not. That's ridiculous.

20 committed guys IS better than 60 non-committed guys. But, what those 20 guys are capable of doing when compared to other chapters of 60 committed guys is not in the same ballpark. They can come up with the greatest ideas in the world and if they have neither the money or manpower to pull it off, then it doesn't matter.

So yes, I would want them to get a lot bigger, so that they do have the resources to accomplish more, and it goes without saying that they must do so by recruiting and maintaining quality members.

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by dnall

20 committed guys IS better than 60 non-committed guys. But, what those 20 guys are capable of doing when compared to other chapters of 60 committed guys is not in the same ballpark. They can come up with the greatest ideas in the world and if they have neither the money or manpower to pull it off, then it doesn't matter.

Who says they don't have the money and manpower? You? Well then that clearly makes it fact.

I was in a chapter with an average membership of 12 sisters during the 3 years I was a collegiate member. In those 3 years, we had the highest Greek GPA on campus, and we won the national philanthropy award at Convention, in addition to the highest award a chapter can get (and the only one with a monetary prize), earning us $2000.

It might sound cliche, but anything is possible if you put your mind to it.

Don't try and crush the OPs hopes and dreams when he's excited about his new brotherhood.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by dnall

They can come up with the greatest ideas in the world and if they have neither the money or manpower to pull it off, then it doesn't matter.

Ideas for what?

[knight_shadow]

I agree that they aren't mutually exclusive, but if they're under-performing, it's likely that they're not getting quality guys.

/black sheep