What is a typical day for a sorority formal and how is it planned?

Originally Posted by preciousjeni

I HAD to go check this chick out on Myspace. She's part of the Epsilon Alpha Chapter (Sigma Sigma Sigma) group. But, what's interesting is the group's description:

"Hey guys Thanks for changing Groups!

This group is for the future sisters, current active sister and sisters of the past from the Epsilon Alpha Chapter at California State University, Hayward...Now East Bay"

future sisters? Maybe they're talking about new members?

My chapter has a group and it includes alumnae, collegians, and new members. New members are new members, not future sisters.

[Buttonz]

Formal for us was not included in dues at all and was usually $70-4\$80 per ticket for the meal, DJ, favors, and it covered the awards and special gifts (for the president, etc). We are in NYC so things are normally super expensive around here.

We made sure that if someone couldn't cover it, they had someone who would chip in so they could go (big, lil etc). I don't think we ever had someone not show up because of price. We all were working while going to school and stuff as well so it's not like any of us had tons of spare cash to throw around.

[ΑΓΔSquirrelGirl]

Originally Posted by preciousjeni

I HAD to go check this chick out on Myspace. She's part of the Epsilon Alpha Chapter (Sigma Sigma Sigma) group. But, what's interesting is the group's description:

"Hey guys Thanks for changing Groups!

This group is for the future sisters, current active sister and sisters of the past from the Epsilon Alpha Chapter at California State University, Hayward...Now East Bay"

future sisters? Maybe they're talking about new members?

Sounds like they are talking about new members...but they really shouldn't call them future sisters. That opens them up to all kinds of speculation.

[Xidelt]

Originally Posted by preciousjeni

I HAD to go check this chick out on Myspace. She's part of the Epsilon Alpha Chapter (Sigma Sigma Sigma) group. But, what's interesting is the group's description:

"Hey guys Thanks for changing Groups!

This group is for the future sisters, current active sister and sisters of the past from the Epsilon Alpha Chapter at California State University, Hayward...Now East Bay"

future sisters? Maybe they're talking about new members?

I checked out her myspace page too. (Out of curiosity, of course! ) If she were a PNM, she wouldn't be asking all these random questions about Greek Life. And wouldn't she have achieved her goal, as listed on her profile: Joining a sorority while in college. ?

She must REALLY REALLY want to be a Tri-Sig. Guess that's why she has all the purple stuff on her page, along with the Care Bear explosion. Didn't a Tri-Sig alum create Care Bears? (Nice subtle homage.)

[SoCalGirl]

When I was an advisor I hated the buses! While OTW has good points and I understand the reasoning behind them I always felt that with my chapter it seemed to increase the drinking.

When I was a collegian we drove ourselves to the venue and we knew where the event would be weeks in advance. There'd usually be a group of girls that would get a room or two at the hotel or at least nearby if it wasn't at a hotel. Girls would pre party before arriving. Sober girls/dates would drive to the formal. Everyone drank in the rooms or in the formal if they snagged a wrist band. We were seriously lax on the id checks. During the party girls would go back to the rooms and drink some more. After the formal sober people would drive home and drunk people would stay in the rooms.

When I was advising they'd pre party before getting to the buses. They'd try to act as sober as possible around the advisors as they got checked in. They'd get alcohol on the bus and drink on the way to a location that was not disclosed to them until they're on the way. They'd continue drinking at the event; snagging sisters drinks or finding another way to get alcohol in. Usually the girls were so trashed from the pre partying that we had to send one or two girls home in a cab with her date and another sister. Then at the end of the night exhausted and drunk everyone piled back in the buses and were dispersed at a central location on campus. Then they would still have to get home! As an advisor I could not run around to over 100 people to figure out if they were safe enough to get home. I rathered they had stayed at the hotel!

[KSUViolet06]

CSUGreekGoddess,

I have confirmed (via an email to one of the chapter's officers and our directory) that you in fact are not a member of the Epsilon Alpha chapter of Sigma Sigma Sigma. I think you might want to alter your MySpace to reflect that, especially since one of their officers has now seen it and is not flattered.
Thank you.

[SigKapCoug]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

CSUGreekGoddess,

I have confirmed (via an email to one of the chapter's officers) that you in fact are not a member of the Epsilon Alpha chapter of Sigma Sigma Sigma. I think you might want to alter your MySpace to reflect that, especially since one of their officers has now seen it and is not flattered. I don't think I need to tell you what your chances of getting a bid are at this point.

Thank you.

And yes, I'm also the one who sent you the MySpace message.

Very nice detective work.

[preciousjeni]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

CSUGreekGoddess,

I have confirmed (via an email to one of the chapter's officers and our directory) that you in fact are not a member of the Epsilon Alpha chapter of Sigma Sigma Sigma. I think you might want to alter your MySpace to reflect that, especially since one of their officers has now seen it and is not flattered.
Thank you.

Awwww CSUGreekGoddess... you busted!

[aephi alum]

Nice work KSUViolet06. CSUGreekGoddess, "you are the weakest link... goodbye!"

So I'm surprised that some chapters have such elaborate rules about getting to/from formals. We just walked or took the T. We also never had alcohol at formals... we never had enough 21+ sisters who drank to justify the expense.

[susan314]

Its so blatantly inappropriate that it almost makes you wonder if someone is impersonating the girl pictured on the MySpace page, in some deliberate attempt to prevent her from being able to join?

(My late night insomniac mind can cook up a good conspiracy theory, I guess... )

[CutiePie2000]

Originally Posted by susan314

It's so blatantly inappropriate that it almost makes you wonder if someone is impersonating the girl pictured on the MySpace page, in some deliberate attempt to prevent her from being able to join?

That would be really mean and evil...kinda like those women on theknot.com who cancel bride's bookings and reservations (I've read about that happening...brutal!)

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

CSUGreekGoddess,
I have confirmed (via an email to one of the chapter's officers) that you in fact are not a member of the Epsilon Alpha chapter of Sigma Sigma Sigma. I don't think I need to tell you what your chances of getting a bid are at this point.

Can anything be done to "save" this situation? I'm going to give her the benefit of the doubt, b/c I think it was a mistake out of not knowing any better...let's face it, there are a lot of people who don't know how the recruitment process works & don't know that discretion is best, whether it is NPC or NPHC.

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by CutiePie2000

Can anything be done to "save" this situation? I'm going to give her the benefit of the doubt, b/c I think it was a mistake out of not knowing any better...let's face it, there are a lot of people who don't know how the recruitment process works & don't know that discretion is best, whether it is NPC or NPHC.

I'm PM-ing you too.

[PM_Mama00]

Originally Posted by BabyPiNK_FL

I can't imagine all of this drama just to go anywhere! It sounds so weird to me. I've never heard of these things before! We literally get ready and get in the car, if we want to stop we stop, I can't recall anyone sneaking in drinks either, in my city it'd be impossible to keep track and no one would even bother to listen to all that if someone tried. No one would even go if we had to do that. They'd just go to a club!

(By we I'm referring to the Greek Community as a whole on my campus. I've never heard any sorority/fraternity member mention having to board a bus for her/his formal or any other event except a grab-a-date to Orlando. Also, I'm not referencing the risk-management aspects, just the different methods of transportation that is required for different chapters.)

Welllll get ready for it. We always drove ourselves too, and made sure there was a DD driving the drunk girls. Last year Nationals started making the girls take a bus... which is retarded because we're commuter so they'll just have to drive to wherever from the school. But those who make the rules are more educated in risk management, so I guess it's a better idea than having the girls drive.

Originally Posted by BabyPiNK_FL

We always have our formal at a hotel and we're in a major metropolitan high-cost area so I guess that would explain the higher costs. Oh, btw-I was 21 before I was initiated, so I've always been able to drink (if I chose, cos I rarely do) at formal.

I'm curious how you have yours in a hotel without the big-ups saying anything. We were never allowed to.

Originally Posted by PM_Mama00

I'm curious how you have yours in a hotel without the big-ups saying anything. We were never allowed to.

Phi Mu chapters aren't allowed to hold formals in hotels?

My chapter's held formals in nice hotels since I've been a member (except for 2 occasions where it was held at a rather upscale private residence). I don't know where else we'd be able to hold it.

[CutiePie2000]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

I'm not a fan of the big huge purple text blinky that says "FUTURE SIGMA SISTER."

Gaaaah! If you want to limit the damage that may have been done, I would recommend that you take that down IMMEDIATELY.