Sorority Shopping?

[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!

[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.

[Buttonz]

Originally Posted by OTW

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.

SDT pays for the president and then one other member, usually the VP, Recruitment or NME Chair to go. My pledge sister and her twin went in 2004 and had a great time.

[LPIDelta]

I have a cookbook from Tri-Delta, a silver crescent box from GPhiB, a DPhiE paper holder from Chi O and "Bound by a Mighty Vow" and a bookmark from Theta. All very nice!

ETA--I guess I assumed that the alumnae at conventions were there as delegates of the alumnae chapters, and therefore, my comments about being alumnae focused versus collegiate focused.

[tunatartare]

Do you speak at all of those conventions or do you just attend as a guest?

[LPIDelta]

Oh no--I am guest to their panhellenic lunches. Backing up--Some of the NPC groups hold a panhellenic lunch as part of their conventions and they issue invitations to the NPC delegations of the other 25 groups. Because I have lived in two areas where conventions are common, I get called by my org to go as our representative.

I go, meet with my hostess, get introduced as as a guest during the luncheon (along with the guests from the other sororities) and enjoy lunch etc. and then leave. Most of the groups have held some kind of program that is relevant to Greek life. Sometimes we've sung songs along with the little old lady playing the piano... all good fun!

[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.

[SmartBlondeGPhB]

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.

For us it's probably about 50/50. Most of the collegiate chapters send 2 (or many more) women and the alumnae chapters hopsfully send 1 but we usually only get about half of our chapters sending someone. But then you have all of the alumnae volunteers and Foundation members (also alumnae).

Plus, the collegians who are coming from chapters where they are paying their own way (chapter paid for x members and x+3 came) they are probably only paying for part time and the luncheons are often what is skipped.