New Member Period

[BlueEyedButrfly]

What exactly do NEW sororities do with their new members (pledges) during their new member period? I know that in established sororities you're supposed to teach them about the history of the organization buuuuut we were just founded like a month and a half ago so there isn't much history yet.

Any ideas/suggestions???

[REE1993]

How about an education about how/why you were formed?

Time/opportunities to learn about the active sisters?

Community/philanthropy projects?

[KSUViolet06]

[In NPC sororities, the new member period isn't entirely composed of learning history, that would be boring! Sororities incorporate lots of other activites to help new members get to know the other new members and actives, learn more about Greek Life in general, and develop a love for the sorority.

Some ideas:

*Sigma Iota Theta Jeopardy (Actives v. New Members) It helps make learning history fun.

*Puzzle Night (each new member decorates a puzzle piece and they all fit together to become their new member class puzzle)

*Big-Little Week & Revealing (that's a must)

*Initiation Week activities (every day of the week leading up to initiation, plan a different fun activity for the girls like a Spa night, ice cream sundae night,etc.)

Sisterhood Retreats/Weekend were always my favorite when I was a collegian. To me, that's when I got to know more about the NM class and it was always a fun time.

[LPIDelta]

I was in the first new member class of a local sorority, and we definitely had enough to do to fill several weeks. Now, this was back in the day before risk management was such a big deal, but here were some of the requirements of the class.

Learn history and Greek alphabet
Meet one on one with each active to get to know one another
Plan a community service project to do with the actives
Conduct a fundraiser
Plan and host a new member/active party
Plan a mixer with another group
Play a practical joke on the actives* probably wouldn't fly under current hazing doctrine
Participate in daily study hours* as required by college
Meet with big sister once a week

Since your group is so young and you have only a few members, I would suggest you plan your program so that it isn't "us" and "them" but make it a point to have team builder activities that involve everyone, current and new members alike. At this stage, you should be trying to build a cohesive membership through your new member programming.

You might also consider focusing on your founding values--one each week. So if sisterhood is a value, that week you will spend time with one another, visit another sorority chapter at another school, learn about Robert's Rules of Order together etc. If your values are philanthropy, then that week have a speaker from an appropriate organization do a session about the cause, hold a fundraiser etc.

Good luck!

[REE1993]

I think as the Alpha pledge class, you might also want to encourage them to help you grow the organization and shape its development. From step two, there are so many directions that you can go into as a group, and the early classes are just as, if not more, influential on the direction your sisterhood takes, than the founders.

Remember how important Alpha class is in terms of how you represent yourselves to the campus and community. It can be the best or worst marketing that money can't buy.

Good luck, and with an open heart and strong intentions, your sisterhood will thrive.

[LatinaAlumna]

I'm really shocked with how open some of you are about your membership process.