Huge problem with transfering into a new chapter...HELP!!

[giggle528]

im only writing what the transfer lady from my org said in her e-mail. THATS exactly what she said "there are a lot of transfers every year, and to my knowledge, no one has ever been denied even if they were at total we worked through it to get them affliated" thats exactly what she said. I would show u the e-mail, but it was sent through my old school e-mail and that is no longer active.

here i joined a sorority because i loved the girls that were in it at my old school. greek life wasnt THAT big, but you defiently knew who was in it and who wasnt. my school was only 4,000 students. i wanted to join, because i've always been part of a group. I was in girl scouts for 9 years and I was on my high school colorguard team for 4 years. In each group everyone was very close with one another. I love having friends with the same common interest and because I never played sports in HS (I figure skated) i knew that i couldnt start one in college..duh..haha! so I thought a sorority was the next best thing, because we are all reaching towards a common goal;sisterhood. The girls in my pledge class were pretty close, or atleast the girls that were in my dorm that were part of my pledge class were. there were 9 girls not including me in my pledge class, but the reason why i feel that there was a lack of unity in my sorority was because we only did things together when we HAD to, other than that it would be "hey" if we walked by one of our sisters and that was it. Also during greek week, there were tonz of events, non of my sisters went, because either they were "too busy" or just plain didnt want to go. I wanted to go, but i was too insecure to go by myself and be the only ABC there. personally that doesnt seem like a sisterhood to me. During initation, half the time the girls were wispering to one another, slouching in their seat or not even paying attention. To me, that was rude.

the reason i decided to transfer wasnt because I didnt like my sorority. The school was too small and they didnt have the major I wanted. I looked for a school that had my sorority, because I wanted to stay in it. Here, greek life isnt that big either. I mean there are 18,000 undergrads, so naturally tthere are more people that are greek, but its not a huge school where everyone goes greek.

[adpiucf]

Good luck at your new school and keep us posted on the transfer. Be prepared if you do have the option to transfer into the new chapter. It can be a big adjustment, as the culture of this chapter may be very different than the one you joined. You'll have to make a lot of the effort to get to know the sisters, too.

Greek Chat Ladies, I don't want to delve too much into areas which are not my business, but I was under the impression that all NPC chapters have to receive a "release" or approval to initiate members before they may proceed with doing so, and then follow-up with post-initiation paperwork almost immediately following the initiation. Is this the case with most of your groups? As I said before, it only makes sense as being a chapter of a larger umbrella organization-- if you did not need some form of approval or authorization to initiate your members or some pre and post-follow-up, members could argue that they were free to initiate anyone, with or without an actual chartered chapter. Thus, if a chapter initiates a member or an entire class without some kind of formal communication to their HQ (initiation release form/post-initiation follow-up paperwork), the neophytes have not truly been initiated b/c the HQ does not recognize them as members.

[AChiOhSnap]

Originally Posted by giggle528

im only writing what the transfer lady from my org said in her e-mail. THATS exactly what she said "there are a lot of transfers every year, and to my knowledge, no one has ever been denied even if they were at total we worked through it to get them affliated" thats exactly what she said. I would show u the e-mail, but it was sent through my old school e-mail and that is no longer active.

I'm not trying to argue with you, I don't doubt that that's what HQ lady said in the email but I find it unlikely anyone would tell you about the circumstances in which a member was denied affiliation. It DOES happen -- and not as infrequently as you'd think -- and it's probably due to standards/financial issues. So no matter what you got in an email, it's best to not view it as an "in the bag" situation.

You've already gotten lots of fantastic advice, so the moral of this thread is that if you love your sorority and want the best shot at reaffiliating, you have GOT to be patient. That doesn't mean ignoring HQ.... by all means call them up periodically (NICELY) to check the status of your initiation but for heaven's sake, no more having mom call HQs! Just take a deep breath and try not to let this get you bent out of shape. I know you're eager to try reaffiliating, but I'm sure many of us who have dealt with "nationals" can attest to the fact that it sometimes can be very slow going. Getting mad just raises your blood pressure but it rarely helps these things go any faster.

In the mean time, try to get to know the chapter and maybe if they're on board they can pull some strings for you, or at least get the paperwork together so as soon as your initiation goes through the system, you can affiliate ASAP.

[giggle528]

yeah, im fine now...ive figured everything out.

[gphiangel624]

Originally Posted by texas*princess

1.
5. The "Greek LIfe people" are not the advisors. They are merely the people who work at the desk in the Greek Life office. The chapter advisors are the alumnae volunteers that advise your individual chapter.

I agree that this post was well-said, and I agree that a Greek Advisor has a MUCH different role than a chapter advisor or alum volunteer. But keep in mind that the campus Greek Advisor should have some connections to the national office and should have some (even a little) leverage to get in touch with the chapter and have them get in touch with you about this situation. I'm not speaking for every GA on the face of the earth, but most should have these capabilities and should be willing to help you out. GAs do have resources to help with chapter issues and can at least point out where to locate chapter resources when necessary. We don't exist to "merely work at a desk"

[alphagamgirlie]

Originally Posted by epchick

It might not be a matter of the paperwork not being sent, it might be a matter of processing. I initiated in the Fall quarter, and it wasn't until the Spring Quarter that I got my badge, my membership info/card, and my certificate. (We were told it takes about 2 quarters/1 semester to process all that info)

Ditto on the processing aspect of it.

To the OP, calm down & let your new chapter have time to even go over your transfer papers, they're busy with rush at the moment, so it's going to take time obviously.

I'm a transfer kid myself, it took 11 months for me to even get my badge... & that was "prioritized" just because I didn't want to be the only sister in the room without a badge & it was for Initiation at the nearby chapter for a local girl who was doing AI (my new school doesn't have my NPC sorority). And my membership card/shingle/certificate? HA! After almost 4 yrs (in a couple weeks), $$$ spent on all sorts of dues, some odd reason I NEVER got that, does that make me not a member? They said they'll get around to process that, but that was about 2 years ago...oh well. Even with leaving a forwarding address, maybe through all the transferring junk, your card/shingle/certificate will somehow go "missing" as well & you'll never get yours either, but it's just a problem that's part of life.

Originally Posted by giggle528

so im guessing people have seen girls who have not been affliated with the chapters at their new school, where their letter any? wouldnt they be made fun off, because they are not really a ABC at the school?

They won't make fun of you, after you're initiated, you're a sister so you can wear your letters wherever you want. If they do make fun of you, what kind of sisterhood is that & why would you want to affiliate with the chapter anyway. Depending on the culture of the new school, just look your best everytime you have letters on. 1st impressions are important, don't do anything silly before meeting any of the sisters, ex: go to the store at like 4am in your pjs with a lettered hoodie on having the "just got out of bed" look coz you don't know who you might run into, & you'll be fine.

Be grateful & glad that your new school has a chapter of your sorority. My school doesn't have ours... during the spring & summer semesters, there are NPC girls advertising/flyering about Rush in the Fall in front of our Student Union (place notoriously known for organizations bombarding everyone with flyers just walking by), I walk by & get walked up to & asked if I would be interested in rushing in the Fall while being shoved a flyer into my hand about Rush, WHILE I have letters on. Wow... I know I look super young & could easily pass for a 17 yr old (heck when I was in Europe this past Spring Break, without asking my age, they automatically gave me "enfant" tickets everywhere we went & those tickets are for 16 I believe & younger LOL) , but still, I guess they aren't aware that the 1.5 inch letters on my totebag do stand for an NPC sorority.

[Buttonz]

Originally Posted by giggle528

so im guessing people have seen girls who have not been affliated with the chapters at their new school, where their letter any? wouldnt they be made fun off, because they are not really a ABC at the school?

I'm a transfer student.
There is an SDT chapter at my school.
For my own reasons I won't affiliate with them.
I wear my letters all the time.
I sit in class with my sisters.
If I ever heard them say a word about me behind my back they wouldn't know how to handle my reaction. Which would include a nice phone call to HQ.

There is no reason not to wear letters if you can prove your a sister.

[littlemissvixen]

Good luck, giggle! The situation sounds horribly frustrating, especially when being in a sorority is important to you. As others said, re-rushing doesn't seem like it would work out too well, and it would suck to be stuck with no sorority just because your first chapter is being irresponsible and inconsiderate. It will all work out. I really hope you love all the girls in your new chapter! Also, ignore the negativity on here- It's normal to want to vent about something so frustrating, and some people take the internetz :-p way too seriously

[jon1856]

Originally Posted by giggle528

its supposed to be here already, because the lady at HQ did it for me, because obviously my prez wasnt getting back to me. so i e-mailed the Greek life people here(im pretty sure those are the advisors right?) and she said she would get back to me, havent heard anything. rush starts fri. and the interest meetins are tomorrow.

Who looks at all the sorority recuirtment sign ups? just the exec board?

You seem to be a "ghost" member. Which is very unfair to you.
If the President of your former chapter is/was late in getting paperwork and monies sent to National-shame on her, her regional rep and your National.

While Greek Life may have some idea or clue; it would be better to work within your group. Yes, there are chapter advisers but I think you need to work within your National ladder. There must be area or regional reps for your group. They would be the ones to get both houses to get their acts in gear. IMHO

[UGAalum94]

Giggles, exactly when did you get initiated?

ETA: I can see it in the first post. Sorry.

It was in April. School probably got out in May or June and started again in August. While I'm pretty sure that the local chapter president should have taken care of the paperwork immediately after the ceremony, I think we're still within a reasonable about of time for the GLO to be processing stuff. It's baffling that they'd have no records, as I think DBB noted, at HQ, but this attitude that the organization is grievously remiss might not be quite as apt as some of you think.

It might be interesting to know what the typical turn around for this kind of paperwork is.

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

So why start this thread??

I'm still waiting for an answer to this question...

If your paperwork was in the day that you started this thread then what's your problem? You're either a troll or a dramaqueen.

[bluefish81]

All right, well now that the chapter on your campus has your paperwork, like others have said - be patient - they will contact you. And after that happens you're going to have to be patient some more.
When I was an undergrad we had two members transfer into the chapter and one of them took a few months from the time that she first contacted us, through chapter approval and affiliation the other one took almost a semester and a half.
Depending on the chapter approval process you might basically feel like you're going through recruitment all over again, as the members will want to have the opportunity to get to know you. Affiliation is not a 100% process. You could decide after you meet the women of your new chapter that they aren't what you'd hope for and decide to explore other options (not NPC chapters) just like they could choose not to affiliate you - but you'll always be a member.

[mystikchick]

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

Can you please make more of an attempt at typing? I can barely decipher your posts.

Thank you. I was going to say that if someone hadn't already. You're in college, please attempt to type like a college student, that is to say, with proper grammar, punctuation and spelling. Abbreviations are fine for an IM conversation, but if people are trying to help you here, it becomes more difficult and they become less patient in doing so if they have to first figure out what you're trying to say in the first place. Thanks.

[giggle528]

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

I'm still waiting for an answer to this question...

If your paperwork was in the day that you started this thread then what's your problem? You're either a troll or a dramaqueen.

hi alphafrog...well actually i started this thread a day or two before i got the e-mail....

[AlphaFrog]

You started the thread on 9/4/07 at 11:40pm with this post:

Originally Posted by giggle528

OK, i am extremly fusterated! I was just initiated last april into ABC sorority. Since then I have transfered to a new school that has the same sorority that I am in. I contacted my president at the beginning of the summer to let her know that I wasnt coming back and that I would want to transfer into the chapter of ABC at my new school. She said that I would have to fill out some papers and then those would be sent to HQ and then sent over to my new school's president.
I did all the paper work a month before school I left for school. I simply e-mailed my prez the forms and told her to contact me when she had sent them over to HQ. never heard a response. So then i contacted the prez at my new school telling her that i was a transfering and would want to be part of their chapter. She was like "ok...you will have to go through an "informal" rush to get to know the girls to see if you fit in, etc" but she said that she couldnt do anything and i wouldnt be allowed to meet the girls until she had gotten the papers. I e-mailed HQ and asked if they have recieved my papers. They said "no" and according to them I was not in their system as being a full "ABC sorority member" because none of the paper work or badge forms had been sent in for my pledge class. that made me even more fusterated! the lady said that she would call my prez and let her know that she still needed to send those forms in plus my transfer form. A week later, i heard nothing.

anywho..my mom called HQ complaing that nothing had been done, and she didnt know why my paper work hadnt been sent in. This was about a week ago(I am now at school) So the lady decided that she would fill the paperwork out her self, and send it over to my new school. a couple days ago, my mom called them back and asked if they had sent it, and they said "yes" I then contacted the prez here letting her know that my paperwork should finally be here, and that I didnt know what to do next. Havent heard anything back. I then e-mailed greek life at this new school, and they said that they would contact her. I havent heard ANYTHING. I called the house, no one picked up, I e-mailed the prez again, no answer.

I am now sooo fusterated, and I feel like this isnt fair to me. rush is starting this weekend, and if I am not even in the system for ABC sorority then i see no reasoning but to just go through rush again. I am now just afraid that some of the girls will remember my name, because I had added a few girls on facebook letting them know that i was from ABC and transfering into their chapter. Do you think they have forgotten about me? Do you think if I rushed again they would know who I am? I mean greek life is big at this school, and i doubt they would even know who i am out of all the girls that wanna rush right? i could block them from viewing my facebook... I mean like this is soo ridiculous(sp?) that no one has gotten back to me. Its extremely unfair and so irresponsible on my old chapters part for not even sending in my badge order form that i spent over $100 on.

I just dont know what to do...
any advice...PLEASSEE!!

On 9/5/07 at 2:36 pm (less than 24 hours later) you said:

Originally Posted by giggle528

THANKK YOUU!!! someone understandds! according to HQ like a week ago, i was in their database as "on hold" meaning that to them i have not been initiated. i was not an ABC according to HQ. thats what i was saying before, that i was going to cancel all my checks and have my chapter throw away my stuff, because at that point my mom wanted me out of it anyways. but i finally just called HQ fusterated that my prez wasnt doing her job, so they did the paperwork for me, and sent it over to my new campus. it is here now..as of yesterday(and i asked my prez to do this...ohh i dunno...beginning of Julyy)so now i am just waiting for them to e-mail me back inviting me to meet them.

So this still doesn't make any sense:

Originally Posted by giggle528

hi alphafrog...well actually i started this thread a day or two before i got the e-mail....

The paperwork would have been there the day you started the thread. You might not have know at that point that it was there, but you obviously had already contacted your HQ and they had agreed to send over the paperwork, because that stuff doesn't happen overnight. Again, since your HQ had already agreed to send the transfer paperwork WHY START THIS THREAD? Yes, it may take time for everything to get sorted out, and yes, the chapter at your new school is more worried about attending to rushing a bunch of girls than one transfer student, AS THEY SHOULD BE. If you don't like it, quit. Throw away a lifetime of sisterhood because you missed a few weeks at the begining of the semester. Good idea.