Reviving Ritual

[Silmanarmo]

Originally Posted by knight_shadow

Wait a minute...

We've already had 3 imformal meetings and 1 Formal We used some ideas from the Delta Upsilon booklet that OTW posted. It went pretty good, but we'll get better the more we do it

[33girl]

Originally Posted by Silmanarmo

We used some ideas from the Delta Upsilon booklet that OTW posted.

I smell SKEPi.

[Silmanarmo]

Originally Posted by 33girl

I smell SKEPi.

SKEPi? <- What's that??? And I've already started a previous post asking for help with my website. It's a brand new sorority, a brand new website. I'M NEW AT THIS! It's really getting to me, all of the mean comments .... I've been working SO hard on this sorority and I feel like I'm getting beat down every time I come on this forum. The comments don't have to be so demeaning. I've never been in a sorority, I don't know any girl friends who have. Me and the girls are doing this from scratch, with little information. Those on here who have helped, thank you. But those who keep nit picking, are seriously starting to get under my skin. I don't want to be on bad terms with anyone on here. I'm doing my best. If you have ADVICE go ahead, I would love that, pos or neg. But insulting me, and starting arguments on my posts. It makes me feel insulted and sad.

[ree-Xi]

Originally Posted by Silmanarmo

We've already had 3 imformal meetings and 1 Formal We used some ideas from the Delta Upsilon booklet that OTW posted. It went pretty good, but we'll get better the more we do it

Not trying to be snarky, but this is from the poster's website http://www.deltaphinu.tk/. Just an FYI to those of you who take advice at face value.

About Delta Phi Nu

In the Beginning:
Delta Phi Nu was established by Samantha Price-Rodrigues in the summer of 2008. As an 18 year old Sir Sandford
Fleming summer student she wanted a more social atmosphere to be around. With help from friends and classmates,
Delta Phi Nu was established May 14, 2008 after a successful first meeting

[33girl]

Originally Posted by ree-Xi

Not trying to be snarky, but this is from the poster's website http://www.deltaphinu.tk/. Just an FYI to those of you who take advice at face value.

About Delta Phi Nu

In the Beginning:
Delta Phi Nu was established by Samantha Price-Rodrigues in the summer of 2008. As an 18 year old Sir Sandford
Fleming summer student she wanted a more social atmosphere to be around. With help from friends and classmates,
Delta Phi Nu was established May 14, 2008 after a successful first meeting

The summer of 2008 hasn't happened yet.

[pixxie_x0]

AhAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!

[knight_shadow]

You're a stuck up bitch. But don't take it personally.

LOL

[33girl]

When did "forum" become code for "type with your feet and blindfolded"?

[Silmanarmo]

Originally Posted by 33girl

When did "forum" become code for "type with your feet and blindfolded"?

I guess that texting and typing on the computer has unfortunately started a lot of bad spelling habits. It's to bad they don't have a rehab program for spellers like me. It's such a hard habit to get out of.

[knight_shadow]

^^ I've been wondering that myself.

[Jim_Hoegaarden]

Rituals are a tradition for a reason. You should always do them.

[ASTalumna06]

Like techzbt said, have ritual in a special place. My chapter holds their initiation ceremonies in the chapel on campus. It gives it a whole different feel than doing it in a conference room, or at a sorority house. It's much more open, and has more of a ceremony-type feel to it.

Another thing that they started this past semester is to have at least one business meeting per month in badge attire. The girls would continuously attend meetings in not just jeans, but sweatpants, and they decided that they should look more presentable. If you feel better about yourself, you tend to feel better about what you're doing.

Also, look at recruitment. Who are you recruiting? What are you teaching these students before they even consider joining your organization? Granted, you can't tell them the details about your ritual ceremonies, but you can tell them that they are a part of your organization, and you can inform them of why they are important to you, and to the chapter as a whole.

And when they are pledging your organization, teach them your motto, your creed, etc. and include more values-based education in your new member program. And teach ritual! So few groups do this, yet it is one of the things your organization is based and founded on. It is the one thing that you do, and that future members will do, that your founders once did years and years ago. The same exact thing. That should mean something.

So when your new members see a new ritual, talk to them about it afterwards. Discuss it, even for a few minutes after one of their meetings. Ask them what it meant to them. Ask them if they were nervous, and why. Have them write a short paragraph about why they think it's important.

It shouldn't be a chore to do ritual. It should be something you want to do. Learn about it, teach it, and enjoy it

[33girl]

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

Another thing that they started this past semester is to have at least one business meeting per month in badge attire. The girls would continuously attend meetings in not just jeans, but sweatpants, and they decided that they should look more presentable. If you feel better about yourself, you tend to feel better about what you're doing.

Along those lines....if you have to wear whites for initiation, once you are in the sorority (I know as a rushee there can be some scrambling to get anything) get ones that are nice. You don't have to look like you are going to a Hollywood premiere, but wear something flattering. I had POS whites as an undergrad so I was never too jazzed about attending white ceremonies.

I wish that the NPC would partner with a company to offer flattering, reasonably priced, ritual-appropriate white clothing. It would solve SO many problems.

This applies to guys too - if you need to wear a suit or a sport coat, get a NICE one, not something from the bargain bin that looks like it belonged to Paul Bunyan and is puke green.

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Along those lines....if you have to wear whites for initiation, once you are in the sorority (I know as a rushee there can be some scrambling to get anything) get ones that are nice. You don't have to look like you are going to a Hollywood premiere, but wear something flattering. I had POS whites as an undergrad so I was never too jazzed about attending white ceremonies.

I wish that the NPC would partner with a company to offer flattering, reasonably priced, ritual-appropriate white clothing. It would solve SO many problems.

YES!!! I've thought about this too. I even wondered how hard it would be to have them made.

I had a pretty decent dress when I was an undergrad just because of the styles at the time and buying one for rush, but not everyone did and they just had to put stuff together.

I went to an initiation somewhat recently, and while I completely understand why throughout the chapter were wearing what they were wearing, it could had the potential to be so much better for the people being initiated if it weren't quite so random.

Why not have some kind of timeless dresses? (I know that's hard, but they could even be something like the Longwood jumpers*; they are what they are. No one else is going to see you in them.) Or something a lot better, who knows? That could even be passed down in the chapter?

It might even make the occasion better overall if you buy into dress affecting behavior.

*ETA: okay, I'm laughing at myself. No one is going to say "jumpers? OMG, we'll look awesome." But at least there'd be a sense of tradition.

[AGDLynn]

http://www.marianncallais.com/services.htm

I suggest that you and/or your Greek Life Office get this wonderful speaker!