Sorority Shopping?

[adpiucf]

Originally Posted by James

So the big question is: Do you think that using GC as a a market to shop for a sorority, or even sorority shopping in general, is a good or bad thing?

What should be done if anything about it?

Or is it something that doesn't matter at all?

If the NPC organizations wanted to make AI a highly publicized activity, they would do so by aggressively promoting it within their memberships and holding open house events for PNAMs.

I've said this on another thread. NPC and its member organizations werefounded for the benefit of undergraduate membership. Alumnae membership is a completely separate bag and more of a way to keep members connected through friendship, community service and keeping the collegiate arm running through long-term strategic planning and programming.

Many alumnae are uninvolved because, quite frankly, there's no compelling reason for them to stay involved. Their membership won't be revoked if they never contribute another service hour in the name of sisterhood or pay a penny to the Foundation.

Sorority shopping would be a great thing is AI was structured as a recruitment-oriented activity. It's not. AI is an honor given to a few whom the sorority believes will add prestige, honor and/or service to the sorority. Once initated, AI's are sisters. Sure their experiences are a bit different from someone who had 4 years as a college member. That doesn't mean they won't make great advisers or alumnae officers once they get up to speed on sorority policies and activities-- heck, many of the alumnae advisers and officers I have worked with over the years have had to completely re-learn their sorority ABC's because they were not actively involved in undergrad or its been years since they have been involved and things have changed.

For those telling us that collegiate members are ungrateful, lazy and complain about all of the work: here's a cookie. Tell me what college students are happy about all of the work involved in classes that they have voluntarily registered for? If someone is going to transfer to another school or break up with her boyfriend due to peer pressure, that isn't due to the organization: it is that individual's personal sense of self that should be blamed. And just because you don't know any sorority alumnae who stayed active post college doesn't mean they don't exist.

Sorority as a resume builder? You must be joking. I am loathe to put my lengthy alumnae involvement on a resume: I'm not interested in being a martyr for the "Why don't you stand up and show people your involvement?" cause. Post-college, professionals and academics view Greek life differently. The "alumnae network" is something that you seek out by making calls, emails and sending letters-- not an established party line that finds you a job with an alumna. This doesn't make me less proud of my membership-- but there is a time and a place. I wouldn't list my faith-based activities on a resume, either. Discrimination exists, and I'd rather not be passed over for a job or a program because of someone else's personal biases or in trying to make a statement for all of Greekdom.

Shame on anyone speaking poorly of our collegiate members. These girls are incredibly overprogrammed, balancing school, sorority and life (which for many includes working at a real job), and the angst that comes with being 17-24. They're learning how to be an adult, be out on their own and how to make responsible choices. I applaud them for their service, programming and activities. Like it or not, collegians come first. We were founded for the benefit of undergraduate students, and that will continue to be our focus until NPC changes their creed from "We as undergraduate members..." And we're not there yet.

[ThetaPrincess24]

Originally Posted by adpiucf

If the NPC organizations wanted to make AI a highly publicized activity, they would do so by aggressively promoting it within their memberships and holding open house events for PNAMs.

I've said this on another thread. NPC and its member organizations werefounded for the benefit of undergraduate membership. Alumnae membership is a completely separate bag and more of a way to keep members connected through friendship, community service and keeping the collegiate arm running through long-term strategic planning and programming.

Many alumnae are uninvolved because, quite frankly, there's no compelling reason for them to stay involved. Their membership won't be revoked if they never contribute another service hour in the name of sisterhood or pay a penny to the Foundation.

Sorority shopping would be a great thing is AI was structured as a recruitment-oriented activity. It's not. AI is an honor given to a few whom the sorority believes will add prestige, honor and/or service to the sorority. Once initated, AI's are sisters. Sure their experiences are a bit different from someone who had 4 years as a college member. That doesn't mean they won't make great advisers or alumnae officers once they get up to speed on sorority policies and activities-- heck, many of the alumnae advisers and officers I have worked with over the years have had to completely re-learn their sorority ABC's because they were not actively involved in undergrad or its been years since they have been involved and things have changed.

For those telling us that collegiate members are ungrateful, lazy and complain about all of the work: here's a cookie. Tell me what college students are happy about all of the work involved in classes that they have voluntarily registered for? If someone is going to transfer to another school or break up with her boyfriend due to peer pressure, that isn't due to the organization: it is that individual's personal sense of self that should be blamed. And just because you don't know any sorority alumnae who stayed active post college doesn't mean they don't exist.

Sorority as a resume builder? You must be joking. I am loathe to put my lengthy alumnae involvement on a resume: I'm not interested in being a martyr for the "Why don't you stand up and show people your involvement?" cause. Post-college, professionals and academics view Greek life differently. The "alumnae network" is something that you seek out by making calls, emails and sending letters-- not an established party line that finds you a job with an alumna. This doesn't make me less proud of my membership-- but there is a time and a place. I wouldn't list my faith-based activities on a resume, either. Discrimination exists, and I'd rather not be passed over for a job or a program because of someone else's personal biases or in trying to make a statement for all of Greekdom.

Shame on anyone speaking poorly of our collegiate members. These girls are incredibly overprogrammed, balancing school, sorority and life (which for many includes working at a real job), and the angst that comes with being 17-24. They're learning how to be an adult, be out on their own and how to make responsible choices. I applaud them for their service, programming and activities. Like it or not, collegians come first. We were founded for the benefit of undergraduate students, and that will continue to be our focus until NPC changes their creed from "We as undergraduate members..." And we're not there yet.

I totally agree with and applaud this post!!!

[LPIDelta]

Originally Posted by adpiucf

NPC and its member organizations werefounded for the benefit of undergraduate membership. Alumnae membership is a completely separate bag and more of a way to keep members connected through friendship, community service and keeping the collegiate arm running through long-term strategic planning and programming.

Further, many groups realize that it is a saavy business move to get their alumnae involved and connected, because that is where the money is in terms of funding programming for collegiate members.

That said, there is a move in several NPC groups, just from my observation and information I have read, to focus more on alumnae membership because you will spend most of your "lifetime of sisterhood" as an alumna member. I went to a Panhellenic luncheon for a group that has more than 350 alumnae chapters versus 125 collegiate chapters--there is obviously a great focus on services for alumnae in an organization like that, and it requires an immense amount of support and infrastructure to keep it going.

So I don't wonder if, as others have suggested, that AI is becoming less rare and potentially more of a business opportunity. I know that ruffles feathers--and it ruffles mine as well because I think there have to be good, solid reasons for why you would choose a sorority over another kind of social organization--but I think is naive to think that some groups may not have considered AI as a way to improve their bottom line.

[adpiucf]

Originally Posted by Heather17

So I don't wonder if, as others have suggested, that AI is becoming less rare and potentially more of a business opportunity.

Of course--I personally see huge business potential and revenues (and leadership/involvement!) in making huge changes in alumnae membership, including recruitment of members post-college. There are greater gains and opportunities to be made. However, the focus would need to drastically shift from collegiate and undergraduate programming to lifetime membership-- making us similiar to organizations like the Junior League. (Some leagues allow you to join at age 18. Others at age 21-- you have a few years of required active membership before moving into voluntary "sustainer" level where you have limited membership obligations-- but these are still obligations nontheless! You don't just coast on your lifetime membership.)

However, it seems that a good deal of research has gone into identifying membership trends, and we've observed that most collegiate members are likely to drop after their first year. I think right now there is much focus on improving collegiate programming to address why women aren't actively involved for all 4 years of college as they used to be (I think that has a lot to do with changes in the ways students learn, women's lib, what is considered a "traditional" student and general social change). Until the programming goes away from a primarily collegiate focus and more big-picture lifetime membership outside of "lifetime member in name only," I don't think this will be an across-the-board shift. Change is slow-- it takes a long time to implement policy changes that have such wide-scale impact (even if it is for the better), changing the members' perceptions of membership, changing the way we do recruitment, etc. The possibilities are endless.

[BadSquirrelBeta]

EDITED TO ADD FROM A PREVIOUS POST: Sorority as a resume builder? You must be joking. I am loathe to put my lengthy alumnae involvement on a resume: I'm not interested in being a martyr for the "Why don't you stand up and show people your involvement?" cause. Post-college, professionals and academics view Greek life differently. The "alumnae network" is something that you seek out by making calls, emails and sending letters-- not an established party line that finds you a job with an alumna. This doesn't make me less proud of my membership-- but there is a time and a place. I wouldn't list my faith-based activities on a resume, either. Discrimination exists, and I'd rather not be passed over for a job or a program because of someone else's personal biases or in trying to make a statement for all of Greekdom.

********

OMG...the part about the resume builder, I agree completely. I will go one step further and say that we were actually told by the job fair advisor (an English professor in my case) to state "National Womens Association, Treasurer, Preparing and maintaining a budget for 65 members...", etc.

It's like the Old Saturday Night Live skit...once you are out of college, no one really cares if you are a AAA or a BBB...

[Scandia]

Nope, I did not hear from them again. But I have no idea whether they had my contact information or not.

[ZTAngel]

Originally Posted by BadSquirrelBeta

EDITED TO ADD FROM A PREVIOUS POST: Sorority as a resume builder? You must be joking. I am loathe to put my lengthy alumnae involvement on a resume: I'm not interested in being a martyr for the "Why don't you stand up and show people your involvement?" cause. Post-college, professionals and academics view Greek life differently. The "alumnae network" is something that you seek out by making calls, emails and sending letters-- not an established party line that finds you a job with an alumna. This doesn't make me less proud of my membership-- but there is a time and a place. I wouldn't list my faith-based activities on a resume, either. Discrimination exists, and I'd rather not be passed over for a job or a program because of someone else's personal biases or in trying to make a statement for all of Greekdom.

Same here. ZTA and any of my involvement is no where to be found on my resume. Most people see greek life as a college thing only. The last thing I need is for my sorority to conjure up any stereotypes when I go in for my interview.

[ADqtPiMel]

Originally Posted by ZTAngel

Same here. ZTA and any of my involvement is no where to be found on my resume. Most people see greek life as a college thing only. The last thing I need is for my sorority to conjure up any stereotypes when I go in for my interview.

I agree. Also, I think that if you have adequate internships and work experience, you probably shouldn't have enough room for sorority involvement on your resume. I don't know anyone who joined a sorority JUST as a resume builder - that's what your internships are for!

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by ZTAngel

Same here. ZTA and any of my involvement is no where to be found on my resume. Most people see greek life as a college thing only. The last thing I need is for my sorority to conjure up any stereotypes when I go in for my interview.

I feel the same way too, especially since I'm not in a field where there are a lot of Greeks, nor do I live in a region where Greek life would affect my career goals. I do keep a resume of community service-related activities which are completely unrelated to my professional resume, and that's where my GLO involvement goes.

[LPIDelta]

Actually I have DPhiE on my resume but I have it listed under "affiliations and recent volunteer experience"--and the reason I do list it is because what I have done for the sorority is directly related to my line of work. I work in alumni relations and fundraising--and my experiences as a sorority leader and a foundation board member have helped me immensely in terms of being able to offer examples of how I work with volunteers, develop programs, manage relationships, raise money etc. At the height of my experience, I was giving more than 20 hours a week to the sorority, and it could have been a full time job. I also have examples of documents/ publications that I have put together for the sorority in my overall portfolio.

So--as with everything--I think there is a time and a place that it may "work" to share your sorority affiliation and activities on the alumnae level. Obviously, you probably don't want to mention that you were "Rush Chair" as a collegian on your resume, especially if you more than a year our of school.

[SmartBlondeGPhB]

Originally Posted by Heather17

Actually I have DPhiE on my resume but I have it listed under "affiliations and recent volunteer experience"--and the reason I do list it is because what I have done for the sorority is directly related to my line of work. I work in alumni relations and fundraising--and my experiences as a sorority leader and a foundation board member have helped me immensely in terms of being able to offer examples of how I work with volunteers, develop programs, manage relationships, raise money etc. At the height of my experience, I was giving more than 20 hours a week to the sorority, and it could have been a full time job. I also have examples of documents/ publications that I have put together for the sorority in my overall portfolio.

That's how I list mine as well. I'm an International Officer, I've founded and lead an alumnae chapter, I've chaired a Task Force and all of those have given me skills that my job hasn't. I'm much more well rounded than I would be without it. Why wouldn't someone list it?

[irishpipes]

Originally Posted by SmartBlondeGPhB

I'm much more well rounded than I would be without it. Why wouldn't someone list it?

I think it is great to list it if it has implications in your field, or if you have reason to believe that the person reading the resume would understand something about Greek life, but I know that as a business major I was told point blank (I think in Technical Writing class???) not to put Greek affiliation on my resume because there are a lot of Greek-haters out there who may apply stereotypes unfairly. Or, you might have the HR director who got cut from your sorority and never got over it. I didn't put it on my resume because I wanted to make sure I got the interview. Of course in accounting and taxation they mostly cared about grades - not activities. It would be different in other fields I am sure. Once I had the interview, I would usually bring it up in the course of conversation after I got a feel for the interviewer and was in a position to explain the benefits of Greek life and how that experience made me a good job candidate.

I interviewed a lot of people when I was in management and did some recruiting for my company. If a candidate had a GLO listed I always asked them about it. Surprisingly, some answered with the exact answers that I think the Tech Writing teacher was warning about. "It was just a way to have a full social calendar" or other such statements. Others though were very candid about the life skills learned in GLO membership and especially the leadership experiences. I think it is great to put it on your resume but I totally understand why some people don't.

[Drolefille]

Eh, for the hell of it. SK is on my resume in a volunteer activities section because I was webmaster for 2 years (longer than I was for a paid position) and I've applied for a lot of IT type positions.

[tunatartare]

I have KLP on my resume because I was treasurer and social chair. I work in finance now and eventually would like to go into event planning so those are relevant positions. I don't have any of my other positions listed though.

[EE-BO]

Originally Posted by adpiucf

AI is an honor given to a few whom the sorority believes will add prestige, honor and/or service to the sorority. Once initated, AI's are sisters. Sure their experiences are a bit different from someone who had 4 years as a college member. That doesn't mean they won't make great advisers or alumnae officers once they get up to speed on sorority policies and activities-- heck, many of the alumnae advisers and officers I have worked with over the years have had to completely re-learn their sorority ABC's because they were not actively involved in undergrad or its been years since they have been involved and things have changed.

Well said.

I just happened to look at this forum a couple of times, and now that James has asked the question I have to respond.

Fraternities do have various forms of honors and memberships granted to individuals (in some cases male or female) who have devoted their time and care to the fraternity. House mothers for example- even though few fraternity houses have a live-in house mother any more.

But it is never advertised anywhere. It is one of those things that comes to you when the time is appropriate and because brothers initiated in the traditional manner are so moved by your service as to wish to accord you the highest honor that the organization could possibly bestow.

I have read this forum more out of curiosity than anything else since I have never seen AI discussed openly before, and since I have a tendency to be blunt- let me please say what I am sure many are thinking,

Sorority shopping for AI initiation does happen on this forum, and it is amusing at best- insulting at worst.

I firmly believe that AI is something that should come to the prospective initiate in most cases. Otherwise, I think a prospective initiate should be approaching a particular chapter because of a deep personal connection (open to a variety of definitions) that leads one to wish to offer service to the chapter. Perhaps your daughter is a member, or friends of yours were in college- and the chapter now needs an advisor or dedicated volunteer. Or maybe you are a faculty member and would like to help advise a sorority (or fraternity) from a scholastic standpoint. All Greek organizations could benefit from a closer connection with school faculty.

Stray from that, and you are sorority shopping.

And by assuming that you can shop around to 2 or more sororities and get initiated, you assume two conflicting things,

1. That you can gain personally by an association with the sorority.
2. That the sorority is so casual about its sisterhood that they would admit a post-collegiate stranger as an AI.

Motives may vary from person to person, but consider how this looks. Anyone considering the application of a sorority shopper who has no past connection to the sorority is naturally going to assume you want the letters for your own purposes first and foremost.

And frankly some of you should be more careful with what you write here. As others have noted, mixed in with an expressed desire to AI are disaparaging comments about active sisters, sororities in general and statements that clearly indicate your AI quest is about YOU first and foremost- not about being part of a sisterhood.

For my part I can tell you, as the proud member of an old Texas family, that we all know each other. Going the AI route to boost your personal prestige or social standing is not going to work. In fact it will have the opposite effect.

And if your goal is to finally be in a sorority as an AI with chapter advisory duties- but then try to change your chapter to suit the vision of sorority life you think should have been when you did not pledge as an undergrad, best of luck surviving that too. You will need it.

Ideally- either AI comes to you or you volunteer with pure motives to a single chapter of a single sorority.

This forum is a great place to get advice on that.

But for the sorority shoppers, the negative reaction you get here pales in comparison to the face-to-face encounters you will endure if you insist on pursuing AI in this manner.