Little Chapter, Big Recruitment: Spring 2009 - Page 7

AOII Angel · #1 02-04-2009, 12:10 PM

I might also point out that getting a few undesirable girls won't necessarily be the end of the world. These girls may have given your sisters a bad first impression but be wonderful members when you get to know them better. My chapter actually had a girl that we cut right before pref. We did not have a digital system, so at the time, our Panhel rep would handwrite a list of invitees for Panhellenic to use. When we cut this girl, however, while our Panhel rep was in the bathroom. When she came back, she assumed we'd invited the girl back and put her on our list. Imagine our surprise the next day when she was on our schedule for prefs! She was put dead last on our list for pref, but she ended up coming down our hall on bid day. I have to say that it was a good mistake. That girl became one our most dedicated and enthusiastic sisters.

Moral of the story: if you get these girls in the end, give them a chance to show you that you were wrong about them! Best of luck with prefs!!

groovypq · #2 02-04-2009, 12:31 PM

silverpearls, I can understand what you're going through. My chapter was pressured by the Greek advisor to not release anyone, and the Greek advisor claimed our nationals really really wanted us not to release anyone. I smell a rat, because why would our nationals go through her and not come right to the chapter, but pressure is pressure.

srmom · #3 02-04-2009, 06:03 PM

Best of luck tonight!!

BetteDavisEyes · #4 02-05-2009, 01:50 AM

Good-luck tonight! Your story is very exciting to read. I will keep my fingers crossed that you get fantastic returns & a great new member class.

silverpearls · #5 02-05-2009, 02:07 AM

Pref went absolutely wonderfully! It was a really stressful day getting ready, but it all came together beautifully. We invited invited 115, had 82 match and had 72 walk through the door (some dropped when they got their schedules that night). 3 were Venus legacies and 26 were only preffing Venus. While some seemed a little bummed, most were very happy and excited. We didn't have to double-rush anyone except one pair, so that was a really nice change.

I preffed Lily and she was so sweet... she actually started crying during our ceremony and told me how badly she wanted to be a Venus. As I said before Danielle, Tasha, Zoe, Elizabeth, Ashley and Jenny were there, too! Danielle and Lily were only Preffing us. All the girls seemed to be having a good time! A lot of them were also Preffing Minerva, so we'll see how things go. I'm so, so nervous for Bid Day... but beyond excited! It seems unreal that recruitment is over - it's been practically my whole life for the last month. I know our new Venuses will make it all worth it tomorrow!

So, I wanted to save the best news for last! Last year quota was 42 and we matched 25. I just found out a few minutes ago that this year quota is 40... and we matched 39!!!! I am so proud of us!! It's hard to say how many girls will accept their bids, but I'm hoping many will. I already know of quite a few who definitely will. After augmenting the class through COB I really believe we're going to have a big, wonderful class!

I'll update you as soon as I know anything tomorrow. The chapter won't know anything until Bid Night, so I'm very excited to be one of the first to know!!

KSUViolet06 · #6 02-05-2009, 02:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by silverpearls

So, I wanted to save the best news for last! Last year quota was 42 and we matched 25. I just found out a few minutes ago that this year quota is 40... and we matched 39!!!!

This is very exciting news!

Here's hoping that everyone accepts.

tangelo212 · #7 02-05-2009, 02:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by silverpearls

I just found out a few minutes ago that this year quota is 40... and we matched 39!!!!

That's great news and I'm so excited for you (and them!)!
Sounds like your hard work and dedication really paid off. Fingers crossed that Lily, twins, and others are in there somewhere!

aephi alum · #8 02-05-2009, 11:55 PM

Congratulations on a successful recruitment!

Did any of the PNMs you were "less than thrilled" about become new members?

SWTXBelle · #9 02-05-2009, 11:57 PM

The only correct answer would be "No - we love ALL of our new members!".

silverpearls · #10 02-06-2009, 01:36 AM

What a night!! I just got back! Our New Members are amazing - all 26 of them! (I was incorrect before about there being 27) Bid Night went really well and I think both the sisters and the NMs had a lot of fun. We will be starting COB next week, so don't worry... the story isn't over yet!

I took a lot of pictures at Bid Night but I'm not comfortable posting them or sharing my affiliation quite yet. I may after COB is over.

So, in terms of the PNMs... here's where everybody ended up.

Kelly is a Minerva
Lily is a Venus
Danielle is a Venus
Ashley is a Minerva
Elizabeth is a Minerva
Sasha is in a top chapter
Tasha is a Minerva
Zoe is a Venus
Jenny is a Venus
Vicky dropped out of Recruitment

I really wasn't lying when I said Minerva is our biggest competition! They got a lot of girls we wanted... but we got a few they wanted, so it's kind of fair! Here's a few things that happened that made me really angry, though...

Firstly, there is a strict Panhel limit of $1500 on all Recruitment expenses except shirts. Panhel was suspicious because of some really lavish deorations Minerva had and after doing some digging, it came to light that they had spent over $3000 - double what is allowed.

Additionally, today a girl we loved accepted a bid from us. She left the room but came back 15 minutes later with a Minerva sister who was crying and obviously upset (keep in mind we are in Strict Silence at this point). The Minerva proceeded to scream at the Greek Life director and tell him something went wrong and the PNM should have gone to Minerva, which wasn't true... and because of it, the girl changed her mind and declined her bid from Venus. Basically, Minerva stole one of our PNMs completely illegally even though they can't even give her a bid for a whole year. Obviously it's a huge infraction and they will be punished, but it cost us a New Member and it really, really makes me mad.

So, not to be completely un-Panhellenic... but I'm very unhappy with Minerva right now. Not because they got some girls we wanted, but because of the dirty rushing. All I can hope is that they'll be paying for it... our Greek Life director is livid.

Well, other than all that we're really happy with the girls we got and how things turned out. I'll update more soon!

Coming Up: Part II - COB!

Smile_Awhile · #11 02-05-2009, 02:20 AM

Your story is so inspiring. I hope that I can be posting like this come next fall!

LucyKKG · #12 02-05-2009, 02:40 AM

It's funny how campuses are different. I can't imagine having that many new members! We had 24 this fall, and that was HUGE for us! Even Gamma Phi only had 31, I believe.

Good luck!!!

ZetaGirl22 · #13 02-05-2009, 02:49 AM

That is SO wonderful my dear. I am so happy to see how your hard work paid off. Now fingers crossed that all 39 accept.

APhiAnna · #14 02-05-2009, 03:47 AM

YAYY!!!!! I have been thinking and praying for your chapter, I have LOVED this thread and I love that (if everybody accepts) you could be that close to quota! Just think too, those girls will obviously know other quality PNMs for COB! I cannot wait to hear who you specifically got, but congratulations in advance anyways!

APhiAnna · #15 02-05-2009, 03:49 AM

Oh, and pictures are a MUST! I cannot wait to put a face to all these girls!