question about smaller chapters...

[AOIIBrandi]

I have been in a large chapter that was at total of 125 women, and I have advised a chapter that was considerably under total.

I probably don't have to tell you that being under total is difficult. Every sister has to take on more responsibility and spend more hours than they should working on sorority stuff. It is really easy to burn out quickly - especially if you are on LC. Also, if you are not on LC you probably don't see the behind the scenes stuff. The treasurer has nightmares about where the funds are coming from for the rush budget, let alone the social budget. If you have a house it was bought with a plan of the chapter being at total when it's not you have to worry about how you are going to fill the vacancies and other such things. The advisors are pulling their hair out trying to figure out how to help you to get to total (while trying not to push and letting ya'll make the decisions), and IHQ is wanting to know why you're not at total and what your plan to get there is.

I know you are trying to keep moral up, but I have to say that almost all smaller chapters say something to the effect of "you know your sisters better" or "quality over quantity". I know because I have seen it first hand. The truth is you can still know every woman's name and something about them in a large chapter, and you can still get a pledge class of quality women while still making quota. I have seen this first hand as well.

You may not want to increase your chapter size, but it sounds as if your other sisters do. I have read a lot of good advice in other threads concerning how to do this I suggest reading some of them, but I will give some advice, some of which I will probably get flamed for... Remember that this is the real world and looks do matter to an extent. Make sure that you all are putting your best face forward and consider especially the public faces of the chapter. Wear your letters as much as possible. I know my campus put up sheet signs, if yours does this get one of the artists in the chapter to be in charge of making them, people will talk about how awesome they are. Make it madatory to attend the all greek events on campus. Everyday is a recruitment opportunity, every non-greek woman you meet on campus is a possible sister. Think of your chapter as a product or a business. You must market that product or business in order to sell it. You just need to put some work into the marketing campaign.