Pledge Ideas?

[AlphaZetaXO]

In my sorority, we do a thing called Fourteen Days. Everyday for the first two weeks of our pledgeship we did something together at the house or had a pool party, kind of like mini sisterhood events. It REALLY helped us feel welcome and we got to know a lot of the active members a lot faster than we would have otherwise. This year they changed it a little and it was only the new pledge class, which I don't think is quite as cool, but it still worked really well.

Also, as actives, we were assigned one girl per week to get to know (take her out to lunch, invite her over to watch movies, just hang out and have fun!) The first week we had an Owl Pal, the next week we had a Straw Sis, and the next we had a Cardinal Buddy...each was a new girl. Then the next week they got their big. It not only helped you get to know the new members, it provided a mentor for them. I can't tell you how many calls I got each week asking when something was, etc. and it was awesome.

My pledge semester we had a huge sleepover with everyone from my pledge class. We played games, watched movies, made food. Ha ha, it sounds kind of middle school, but it was great! We also had a retreat where we did high ropes and low ropes, etc.

Little things help too. I Facebook the new members and try to keep up with what's going on in their life (ha ha, not in a creepy way) so you have something to talk to them about if it's in the awkward getting to know you stage. If I'm going to do something like lay out by the river I'll call one of them up and see if they want to come. It's really all about getting them involved and making them feel welcome.

Good luck, hope this helped!!

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by AlphaZetaXO

In my sorority, we do a thing called Fourteen Days. Everyday for the first two weeks of our pledgeship we did something together at the house or had a pool party, kind of like mini sisterhood events.

Wow...that sounds like programming overload. I think I would have been overwhelmed as a new member if I felt obligated to spend every night for two weeks with my new sisters. When's the time to study?

I think if your pledge period feels disorganized, then it's time to slow down the programming/activities and limit yourselves to less commitments that are more deliberate. It gets chaotic if you're trying to plan 65743 sisterhoods in 3 days. If you put limits on yourselves, and plan 1 sisterhood a week (besides normal pledge meetings), you'll have more time to focus on the actual event and the purpose of the event.

[adpiucf]

Are you a member of an NPC sorority? Each NPC sorority follows its own national programming regarding their new member programs.

If it seems disorganized to you, speak up to the new member educator. Give her a chance to make your new member period better. Also, you can organize a new member social-- carve pumpkins for Halloween, bake cookies, watch Grey's Anatomy together, have a slumber party together, go to lunch, etc.

Our new member period flew by-- one of my favorite activities was a new member social between the new ADPi's and the new fraternity pledges. We held it at our chapter house (it was a dry event, of course!), had a DJ, snacks, etc. Each year, the event has a different theme. Our new members are called Alphas, so the party my year was called Alpha Stomp (it was a country western theme, and we had hay bales in the chapter room, dressed in cowboy boots and jeans, etc.). Other themes have been Alpha Masquerade (Mardi Gras), Alpha Sock Hop (1950's), Alpha-palooza (1960's), and so on. It's a great way to meet some of the new guys who have just pledged, and a great way to spend time with new sisters.

Our sorority integrates us with the chapter right away, so outside of new member meetings, we didn't do much just as a new member class. We had socials, chapter meetings, committees, not to mention our own classes and outside activities. You don't want to overprogram your members b/c they will burn out and the event planners get frustrated.