Too fat to recruit: or, DePauw, the Sequel

[Tom Earp]

Just sad, just sad for the hipocrates who posts on this!

[kathykd2005]

Tom, care to be specific regarding to whom you are referring? I don't understand what you are attempting to convey.

[kathykd2005]

First: Hold an emergency meeting with the chapter to discuss low return rates and what we, together, can do to improve those rates.

Second: Contact National Headquarters to see if they could have a Chapter Development Consultant come help with recruitment and attend recruitment itself.

Third: Meet with the other chapters of Panhellenic Council and discuss the issue of image "problems," and ask them to be supportive.

Overcoming a negative stereotype is a serious issue, but alienating your fellow group members to do so defeats the purpose of sisterhood and brotherhood.

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by kathykd2005

Overcoming a negative stereotype is a serious issue, but alienating your fellow group members to do so defeats the purpose of sisterhood and brotherhood.

I totally agree with this part, but I think what you may not realize is that every chapter we'd be talking about needing to worry about image is likely already doing those three things.

Officially, first round a lot of places is all about the benefits of going Greek generally. Within the official panhellenic circle, everyone wants to see each group take quota. But that doesn't have any effect about what people hear at parties or what fraternity boys or sorority girls say when telling their little biological sisters which groups they should try to join which then gets repeated to all her friends. We'd love for them to simply say "join the group that makes you happy" and leave it at that, but they don't always.

And you could see Tippiechicks post about chapter consultants and advice from nations for more about that.

As far as the talking as a chapter and resolving as a chapter to make certain efforts, I think it varies in it's implementation. I think the officers always put out the official word, but that at the big chapters, you may sometime run into people who disagree with the official word and kind of have their own recruitment plans.

I don't mean this in a condescending way at all (although I've been schooled in PM about disclaimers like that): but it's honestly sweet to me how idealistic you are. I'd really prefer to live in the world of your Greek Life.

SECDomination: I think I'm somewhat on the same page with you about the realities of image in recruitment. I don't think you ever insult your current members, but you have to think about marketing the chapter's strengths. You know those guys are good brothers and they know you value them. If they get asked to move tables or do food, they may not see it as a big insult. They probably don't feel as confident about chatting up the rushees as the guys you want to see do it anyway. But at the point you've got a guy that you would tell to stay home or really believe you'd be better off if he stayed home, it's a whole different issue.

[kathykd2005]

Originally Posted by AlphaGamUGAAlum

I totally agree with this part, but I think what you may not realize is that every chapter we'd be talking about needing to worry about image is likely already doing those three things.

Officially, first round a lot of places is all about the benefits of going Greek generally. Within the official panhellenic circle, everyone wants to see each group take quota. But that doesn't have any effect about what people hear at parties or what fraternity boys or sorority girls say when telling their little biological sisters which groups they should try to join which then gets repeated to all her friends. We'd love for them to simply say "join the group that makes you happy" and leave it at that, but they don't always.

And you could see Tippiechicks post about chapter consultants and advice from nations for more about that.

As far as the talking as a chapter and resolving as a chapter to make certain efforts, I think it varies in it's implementation. I think the officers always put out the official word, but that at the big chapters, you may sometime run into people who disagree with the official word and kind of have their own recruitment plans.

I don't mean this in a condescending way at all (although I've been schooled in PM about disclaimers like that): but It's honestly sweet to me how idealistic you are. I'd really prefer to live in the world of your Greek Life.

That's unfortunate that people decide to just go their own route with reference to recruitment. But if they go their own route, they have no authority as to who can and cannot be involved in recruitment, ie deciding who can and cannot be talking to women.

[dgdramadawg]

Originally Posted by kathykd2005

That's unfortunate that people decide to just go their own route with reference to recruitment. But if they go their own route, they have no authority as to who can and cannot be involved in recruitment, ie deciding who can and cannot be talking to women.

It really is unfortunate. As alphagamugaalum said, I'd love to be on a campus like yours where it seems that every chapter can really go its own way.

[kathykd2005]

Originally Posted by dgdramadawg

It really is unfortunate. As alphagamugaalum said, I'd love to be on a campus like yours where it seems that every chapter can really go its own way.

It's disheartening that so many campuses are not like the one where I initiated. However, I do have to point out that there were definitely a fair share of negative stereotypes that many (if not all) of the groups had to overcome, and it was difficult for all of them.

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by SECdomination

Haha, not quite. He's an oddball alright. We have the really really white guy that is majoring in Spanish (I don't know why) and who speaks like everything he says is a question. (in spanish)



I agree. I think we are on the same page for the most part. I also don't believe for one second that ANYONE should be asked to stay away from recruitment. However, I do believe that there are ways for some members to be more proactive than to actively rush.

Que?

No, I agree completely.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by SECdomination

I agree. I think we are on the same page for the most part. I also don't believe for one second that ANYONE should be asked to stay away from recruitment. However, I do believe that there are ways for some members to be more proactive than to actively rush.

I agree too, and there are tasteful ways to request that they do something besides stand in the front row of rushers talking to PNM's every party. I am not telling anyone "hey, you're a fatty, hide," but rush isn't always pleasant for everyone.

We had a sister who wanted to be in a skit but could not dance to save her life. We eventually changed it so she would sorta "introduce" the skit, and someone else took her place as a dancer. It's the same thing, just find another place for the women who do not excel at rushing for whatever reason.

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by kathykd2005

That's unfortunate that people decide to just go their own route with reference to recruitment. But if they go their own route, they have no authority as to who can and cannot be involved in recruitment, ie deciding who can and cannot be talking to women.

Oh, yeah, totally, they don't officially have any power to tell other people what to do, but they get the same voting in membership about cuts as anyone and if they aren't on the same page. . .

And just to be absolutely clear, I'm not advocating going renegade against the official goals for your chapter; I'm just pointing out why the particular "discuss as a chapter strategies to improve" doesn't end up being as empowering to the chapter as you and I would like it to be.

[DZRose]

Originally Posted by kathykd2005

First: Hold an emergency meeting with the chapter to discuss low return rates and what we, together, can do to improve those rates.

Second: Contact National Headquarters to see if they could have a Chapter Development Consultant come help with recruitment and attend recruitment itself.

Third: Meet with the other chapters of Panhellenic Council and discuss the issue of image "problems," and ask them to be supportive.

Overcoming a negative stereotype is a serious issue, but alienating your fellow group members to do so defeats the purpose of sisterhood and brotherhood.

Speaking from personal experience from someone from a Large SEC school who was in a chapter that struggled for a number of years with "image problems" on campus. Your suggestions, while in theory are wonderful, typically just don't work. We did exactly what you listed above, and the only way we became a successful chapter was to close it, make all the remaining members alumnae, sit recruitment out for a year, then re-colonize. Now we are one of the largest/strongest chapters on campus. If have found, that once a specific chapter reputation has been established on campus, it's near impossible to fight/counteract it.

[James]

I would imagine its a catch-22 . . . it probably takes a couple years for your image to catch up with your reality. And of course to change the image you would need to change the reality.

But you can't attract the new members you need because of your image. And you don't want to hide/lose the members that give you the bad image . . . Checkmate.

Originally Posted by DZRose

Speaking from personal experience from someone from a Large SEC school who was in a chapter that struggled for a number of years with "image problems" on campus. Your suggestions, while in theory are wonderful, typically just don't work. We did exactly what you listed above, and the only way we became a successful chapter was to close it, make all the remaining members alumnae, sit recruitment out for a year, then re-colonize. Now we are one of the largest/strongest chapters on campus. If have found, that once a specific chapter reputation has been established on campus, it's near impossible to fight/counteract it.

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by James

I would imagine its a catch-22 . . . it probably takes a couple years for your image to catch up with your reality. And of course to change the image you would need to change the reality.

But you can't attract the new members you need because of your image. And you don't want to hide/lose the members that give you the bad image . . . Checkmate.

Do you see what I mean in that context, KathyKD?

[kathykd2005]

Originally Posted by AlphaGamUGAAlum

Do you see what I mean in that context, KathyKD?

I understand the concept but I disagree with the application or the approach to the situation. Agree to disagree.

[kathykd2005]

Originally Posted by DZRose

Speaking from personal experience from someone from a Large SEC school who was in a chapter that struggled for a number of years with "image problems" on campus. Your suggestions, while in theory are wonderful, typically just don't work. We did exactly what you listed above, and the only way we became a successful chapter was to close it, make all the remaining members alumnae, sit recruitment out for a year, then re-colonize. Now we are one of the largest/strongest chapters on campus. If have found, that once a specific chapter reputation has been established on campus, it's near impossible to fight/counteract it.

I am glad you shared this experience, but just because none of my suggestions worked in your chapter's case, does not mean that they can NEVER work in any situation.

James:
No idea why you said checkmate, buddy.