Alabama Recruitment Prediction (Fall 2008) - Page 32

peaches321 · #1 08-21-2008, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zillini

I was surprised to see that too. It's worth pointing out that Alpha Phi stated in their original presentation that they would bring in many alumnae and actives from other campuses to help with the colonization/recruitment process. Perhaps PNMs can look to these women who they get to know for Recs? Is Alpha Phi one of the GLOs that allows active members to write Recs for other campuses?

There are active alumnae chapters in Atlanta, Birmingham, Orlando, Jacksonville, Shreveport... and the list goes on. While a rec is required before a bid is extended, I don't think girls need to agonize over the process. There will be assistance, I'm sure.

33girl · #2 08-21-2008, 10:14 AM

I don't think they would shoot themselves in the foot by asking for recs if they knew they were going to be impossible to get. I'm sure they know what they're doing and there's a reason for it.

And just my speculation but...I'm guessing if it got around "OMG! Did you know Alpha Phi didn't ask for recs AT ALL?" it would reflect negatively on them, given the importance recs play for all the other chapters.

tangelo212 · #3 08-21-2008, 06:10 AM

I love the blog made by the ELCs! How cute are they!!

While I do understand the purpose of asking for the recs, it does seem like it would be tough to seek them out from Alpha Phis specifically.
Personally (this is my opinion, and NOT any sort of statement made by Alpha Phi or the colony at Alabama so don't get confused), I think that any sort of reference/recommendation letter would be acceptable (whether from an Alpha Phi or not, or a Greek or non-Greek). That would be helpful and would eliminate some of the potential/hypothetical difficulty of finding Alphi Phi recs specifically.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zillini

Is Alpha Phi one of the GLOs that allows active members to write Recs for other campuses?

On the recommendation form there is a place where there are two checkboxes: "Completed by: Collegian...........Alumna." So yes, collegiate members can submit recommendations.

And for the record, I am an Alpha Phi AND born and raised in the South (ETA: although I went to school far from home...). They are not mutually exclusive

Unfortunately I'm out of the country until Dec but I really REALLY wish I were back home right now or I would have SO loved to travel to Tuscaloosa to help with the colony!

peaches321 · #4 08-21-2008, 10:36 AM

There may be a bit of a missed perception as to why/when recs are necessary. While requesting recs is a part of preparing to go through formal recruitment on most campuses, a requirement for a rec prior to extending a bit is a part of most nationals. So, in a case where the national requires a rec, if a house is interested in a girl for whom they do not have a rec it is the house's job to track one down. During formal recruitment, girls can certainly progress in the early rounds without a rec, but if a rec is required they certainly cannot pref without one. I can't imagine the task it would be for Alpha Phi to have to search for recs for their entire pledge class. Far better to ask that each young woman being considered to shoulder that responsibility, as most of the girls going through formal recruitment did. I think it is a very sensible way for Alpha Phi to do this.

AnchorAlumna · #5 08-21-2008, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peaches321

So, in a case where the national requires a rec, if a house is interested in a girl for whom they do not have a rec it is the house's job to track one down.

Exactly!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by peaches321

I can't imagine the task it would be for Alpha Phi to have to search for recs for their entire pledge class.

Why not? We did it when we colonized at Auburn a few years ago. If you have a network of alumnae set up across the state, it's not that difficult. No, you won't find an alum to sponsor every PNM, but it's certainly possible to get to 85 or 90%.

33girl · #6 08-21-2008, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnchorAlumna

Why not? We did it when we colonized at Auburn a few years ago. If you have a network of alumnae set up across the state, it's not that difficult.

Holy passive aggressive, Batman.

peaches321 · #7 08-21-2008, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnchorAlumna

Exactly!!

Why not? We did it when we colonized at Auburn a few years ago. If you have a network of alumnae set up across the state, it's not that difficult. No, you won't find an alum to sponsor every PNM, but it's certainly possible to get to 85 or 90%.

Congrats on having that system in place. Alpha Phi probably does, too. That said, the recs the girls can provide from alums who know them are still the most accurate. It certainly doesn't mean that a third-party rec wouldn't suffice, but asking the girls to seek a rec from someone they do know sounds to me like an excellent first step. Then, networking (to get the rest of them)like y'all did would absolutely be the next step. Does that make sense?

aopirose · #8 08-21-2008, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peaches321

Congrats on having that system in place. Alpha Phi probably does, too. That said, the recs the girls can provide from alums who know them are still the most accurate. It certainly doesn't mean that a third-party rec wouldn't suffice, but asking the girls to seek a rec from someone they do know sounds to me like an excellent first step. Then, networking (to get the rest of them)like y'all did would absolutely be the next step. Does that make sense?

Yes. That's usually how it works.

AnchorAlumna · #9 08-21-2008, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peaches321

Congrats on having that system in place. Alpha Phi probably does, too. That said, the recs the girls can provide from alums who know them are still the most accurate. It certainly doesn't mean that a third-party rec wouldn't suffice, but asking the girls to seek a rec from someone they do know sounds to me like an excellent first step. Then, networking (to get the rest of them)like y'all did would absolutely be the next step. Does that make sense?

Yes, of course it makes sense. I just wonder how the PNMs...the Alabama ones, at least...are going to find an Alpha Phi in the state when the only chapter in the state shut down 40 years ago. Their youngest alumnae from that chapter would be in their very late 50s now...and in their era, big chapters meant 85 to 100 members. And Alpha Phi at that point did not have a big chapter. And there are very few chapters in the region.
I'm sure Alpha Phi will have a way to do this, but it seems like a huge burden to place on the PNMs.
I do wish Alpha Phi every success, though!

They have a beautiful Web site and seem to be doing a wonderful job preparing the way.

Jen · #10 08-21-2008, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnchorAlumna

Yes, of course it makes sense. I just wonder how the PNMs...the Alabama ones, at least...are going to find an Alpha Phi in the state when the only chapter in the state shut down 40 years ago. Their youngest alumnae from that chapter would be in their very late 50s now...and in their era, big chapters meant 85 to 100 members. And Alpha Phi at that point did not have a big chapter. And there are very few chapters in the region.
I'm sure Alpha Phi will have a way to do this, but it seems like a huge burden to place on the PNMs.
I do wish Alpha Phi every success, though!

They have a beautiful Web site and seem to be doing a wonderful job preparing the way.

Maybe you can leave it up to the A-Phis to deal with the issues of expansion at Bama, and you can be concerned with what the DG chapter at Bama does.

libelle · #11 08-21-2008, 12:53 PM

As a Bama native, I can attest that I did not meet (or at least identify) an Alpha Phi till I was in grad school in NY.

SmartBlondeGPhB · #12 08-21-2008, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by libelle

As a Bama native, I can attest that I did not meet (or at least identify) an Alpha Phi till I was in grad school in NY.

Well I can attest that I didn't meet members of a LOT of GLO's until LONG after school so your point would be completely irrelevant.

GeekyPenguin · #13 08-21-2008, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SmartBlondeGPhB

Well I can attest that I didn't meet members of a LOT of GLO's until LONG after school so your point would be completely irrelevant.

Indeed. I never met a Delta Gamma until law school but I was still pretty sure there were some out there.

I think Alpha Phi knows what they are doing - they seem to have a very strong expansion team and have gone onto quite a few "competitive" campuses lately and been very successful. It looks like what they have set up at Bama will work quite well for them. They seem to understand the Greek system there quite well.

OleMissGlitter · #14 08-21-2008, 02:10 PM

What's funny is that I had a few high school teachers who were Alpha Phi's from LSU when they had a chapter there. So I think they do have lots of alumnae in the South, or at least they did at my high school in New Orleans! I agree with GeekyPenguin, Alpha Phi knows what they are doing.

epchick · #15 08-21-2008, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SmartBlondeGPhB

Well I can attest that I didn't meet members of a LOT of GLO's until LONG after school so your point would be completely irrelevant.

Exactly! El Paso has many Alpha Phi alumnae and we've never had a chapter close. The closest chapter is in Lubbock (yet as far as I know, none of the alumnae members are from the Tech chapter). So just because there isn't an Alpha Phi chapter close by doesn't mean there aren't alumnae.

I know that Alpha Phi knows what they are doing, and I seriously doubt they are going to say "you don't have a rec? Sorry, you're SOL."