Sorority Shopping?

[AChiOhSnap]

My basic feeling on the matter is that, honestly, I am uncomfortable with a woman attempting to AI that even feels the need to "research" more than one organization, to say nothing of the women that acutally contact more than one.

"But OhSnap," one might say. "Without researching a few organizations, how will a woman know which sorority is right for her to attempt to AI into?"

That's my point exactly -- I would not be comfortable with a woman attempting to AI into AXO (not that AI is really common for my org, but let's use it as an example) unless she was approached by an AXO first. If this is the case and she feels in her heart that AXO is something she really wants to pursue, I would absolutely encourage her to research AXO a little more. However, if you don't have one specific organization -- with connections -- in mind when the idea of AI is presented to you, I don't think you should make an AI attempt.

My reasoning is this: too many women out there had failed recruitments in college. They can come on GC, post their stories, and pay lip service to the true purpose of AI until they're blue in the face, but the fact remains that many of these AIs are trying to use it as a "second chance" to "belong." A woman that is 28, 29, 30 or whatever and decides that she wants a chance to "do it all over again" shows a pretty strong lack of maturity -- I think most reasonable adult women move on from the college social scene after they graduate -- and that's going to be a pretty obvious personality flaw that will most likely come through to the alum group if a "shopping" PNAM makes contact.

Obviously, nothing I say really will make any difference to a PNAM dead-set on trying to get into a sorority. They're going to convince themselves that they're not that kind of PNAM, and go about their shopping. But to answer your question, yes, I think that contacting more than one group without any prior connection is dishonest, and can honestly make this kind of PNAM seem desperate and immature.

[LPIDelta]

Originally Posted by adpiucf

Then it becomes alumnae recruitment. Nothing wrong with that, but that sorority would have to offer substantially greater opportunities for alumnae involvement--- which means mandatory membership obligations across the board for alumnae members. I don't see that happening any time soon, as the collegiate chapters are where 90% of the resources and interests lie. Alumnae life is more of a support system.

I find this very interesting--because do we not spend a majority of time as alumnae members of sororities, rather than collegiate? Just food for thought.

I've been to several Panhellenic Luncheons over the past few years and walked into rooms where there are by far more alumnae than collegians. There are organizations with more than 300 alumnae chapters to 125 collegiate chapters. I would argue that this drastically changes the focuses of those kinds of organizations--that they do have to be significantly more focused on alumnae needs and programming, than a group with only a few alumnae chapters.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by Heather17

I find this very interesting--because do we not spend a majority of time as alumnae members of sororities, rather than collegiate? Just food for thought.

I've been to several Panhellenic Luncheons over the past few years and walked into rooms where there are by far more alumnae than collegians. There are organizations with more than 300 alumnae chapters to 125 collegiate chapters. I would argue that this drastically changes the focuses of those kinds of organizations--that they do have to be significantly more focused on alumnae needs and programming, than a group with only a few alumnae chapters.

Isn't that usually because it's an alumnae Panhellenic luncheon? I mean, I'm thinking of the one we have here where the alums who never do anything else all year turn out in full force because they can wear giant hats and drink martinis at noon.

You also have to look at how the alumnae chapters are set up. Maybe an org has 300 ACs vs 125 CCs - however, the average membership of the ACs is 10 and the average membership of the CCs is 75. Plus sometimes ACs can overlap for a myriad of reasons that I don't want to get into or my head will pop off.

Sometimes I think we'd have more alum involvement and stronger alum chapters if we made it more difficult to charter them - i.e., more like chartering a collegiate chapter. For a lot of groups, it's give us X number of names, send in your money, you're ready to go. Can you imagine chartering a collegiate chapter like that? I doubt very much that any of the NPHC graduate chapters operate that way either.

If we want alums to be as involved as collegians are, maybe we have to treat alum membership a little more like collegiate membership.

[LPIDelta]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Isn't that usually because it's an alumnae Panhellenic luncheon? I mean, I'm thinking of the one we have here where the alums who never do anything else all year turn out in full force because they can wear giant hats and drink martinis at noon.

Sorry--didn't make it clear. I was speaking about panhellenic luncheons during Convention. The alumnae there are representing chapters, not necessarily locals, although I understand they are there too.

[adpiucf]

It is a funny situation, yes, because you are right. We do spend more time as alumnae than as collegians. BUT these organizations were founded for the benefit of collegiate women, and the alumnae phase of membership exists as a "remember the good times." Put it in the context of your university alumni association -- the programming of the university and the reason for the university's existence is the collegiate opportunity. The alumni arm is there to solicit money, update the alumni on what's new in the university and provide warm fuzzies to help alumni connect.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by Heather17

Sorry--didn't make it clear. I was speaking about panhellenic luncheons during Convention. The alumnae there are representing chapters, not necessarily locals, although I understand they are there too.

Oh, do you mean like a Panhellenic Luncheon during D Phi E convention?

Sorry, head fuzzy today.

[LPIDelta]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Oh, do you mean like a Panhellenic Luncheon during D Phi E convention?

Sorry, head fuzzy today.

Yes like that...but we do not have anywhere near 300 alumnae chapters!! I have been guests to 4 panhellenic luncheons during convention for Chi Omega, Delta Delta Delta, Gamma Phi Beta and Kappa Alpha Theta. When I've walked in, there are many more alumnae present than collegians and that is VASTLY different from my organization where you will see almost entirely collegiate members.

[adpiucf]

Heather, has this been in San Antonio? Come on sister-- you know Texas is its own rare animal when it comes to Greek Life!

[33girl]

Originally Posted by Heather17

Yes like that...but we do not have anywhere near 300 alumnae chapters!! I have been guests to 4 panhellenic luncheons during convention for Chi Omega, Delta Delta Delta, Gamma Phi Beta and Kappa Alpha Theta. When I've walked in, there are many more alumnae present than collegians and that is VASTLY different from my organization where you will see almost entirely collegiate members.

Oh, OK.

But again, that's at a convention and I think that you have to consider that a lot of the alums have more disposable income than collegians to attend the conventions.

ETA, just for giggles I looked at our last convention attendance list and it's about 60% collegians, 40% alumnae.

[LPIDelta]

Originally Posted by adpiucf

Heather, has this been in San Antonio? Come on sister-- you know Texas is its own rare animal when it comes to Greek Life!

Actually two were in San Antonio (Chi O and Theta) and two were in the DC area (Tri-Delta and Gamma Phi Beta) when I lived there. I almost made it to Tri-Delta twice (once in DC and once in San Antonio) but it was the week of our convention here so I could not go. Interestingly, Delta Gamma has also had their convention in San Antonio (but that was before I arrived here).

Maybe I'll start a thread about all about the great gifts you get when you go to those things!!

[adpiucf]

I think alums outnumber the collegians at conventions because the chapter budgets to pay to send a collegian to convention and alumnae can just plunk down cash.

I agree-- sweeeeet presents. I still have a violet plate that was the banquet gift at our convention in 2003.... Irony of ironies, I ended up moving 1.5 miles from that convention site a mere 2 years later!

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by adpiucf

Irony of ironies, I ended up moving 1.5 miles from that convention site a mere 2 years later!

Go back and do a tax return amendment for convention year, and itemize all of your convention $$ as moving expenses!

[adpiucf]

Great idea! LOL.

"No really, Mr. IRS accountant, that cocktail dress with the matching shoes was a tax-deductable moving expense!"

Originally Posted by adpiucf

I think alums outnumber the collegians at conventions because the chapter budgets to pay to send a collegian to convention and alumnae can just plunk down cash.

It's true.

The Fraternity pays for the collegiate chapter's official delegate (which is almost always the chapter president). If the chapter has money in the budget, they'll try to send one, maybe two more collegians. There are also collegians who pay out of pocket (or rather, pay out of mommy and daddy's pockets) to go to Convention as well.

[greekalum]

Often chapter's Parents Clubs or House Corporations will pay for additional collegians to attend, as well.