Little Chapter, Big Recruitment: Spring 2009

PenguinTrax · #1 02-03-2009, 07:45 PM

Great returns for Pref. Talk with your Advisors, but I think you should be cutting a bit more during the week so that by the time you get to the round before pref, you are only extending 125-150 invites, max. It shows that you are as selective as the other, larger, chapters on campus. I've seen this tactic used with a couple small chapters on a campus of BIG chapters, and it really has a positive effect. Again, speak with your Advisors and National Officers, first.

Good luck!

silverpearls · #2 02-03-2009, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PenguinTrax

Great returns for Pref. Talk with your Advisors, but I think you should be cutting a bit more during the week so that by the time you get to the round before pref, you are only extending 125-150 invites, max. It shows that you are as selective as the other, larger, chapters on campus. I've seen this tactic used with a couple small chapters on a campus of BIG chapters, and it really has a positive effect. Again, speak with your Advisors and National Officers, first.

I wish we could! Our release figures are such that we aren't allowed to release very many at all.

PenguinTrax · #3 02-03-2009, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by silverpearls

I wish we could! Our release figures are such that we aren't allowed to release very many at all.

check with your national Panhellenic Advisor. You can't invite more than you release figures allow, but I don't think there is a restriction on inviting less. That is YOUR choice as a chapter.

silverpearls · #4 02-03-2009, 11:39 PM

I'm not privy to what happened exactly, but I found out that we were actually not allowed to cut any PNMs after 3rd round. With the way our school's Panhellenic and release figures work, I was told it is not our chapter's decision. Trust me, all the other sisters (including our Recruitment chair) are as frustrated as I am and if there was any way to change it, we would. We fought really hard with our Greek Life director and were actually able to release 4 PNMs (instead of the 0 were were supposed to release) that the chapter consistently didn't like and who we felt would take bids if they were given them. Other than that, we invited back everybody who came to 3rd round... including girls we don't like who are only Preffing us and will take bids if they're offered. This means that it's pretty much guaranteed that they're in the chapter.

It's very frustrating and disappointing to see things turn out this way. I really can't express how PO'd my sisters and I are that we cannot cut girls who are a truly bad fit for our chapter. Instead of helping us like they're supposed to, these release figures are hurting us by forcing us to invite back PNMs who will hurt our chapter. I could just scream.

Basically we're thinking that our Formal Recruitment pledge class is going to be very mixed. We do COB starting Monday and bids are given out Friday the 13th (eek!), so that will bring in a lot of girls to add to the class... plus we can cut whomever we want with no restrictions if a PNM is a bad fit. I just found out we do have some amazing girls coming back to Pref, so we'll focus on them... including Lily, Danielle, Tasha, Zoe, Elizabeth, Ashley, Jenny and a lot of others I've really grown to love (assuming they don't drop when they get their schedules tomorrow). Sadly Sasha and two others I loved will not be back.

Does anyone have any insight on this release figures situation? PenguinTrax, is it really true that it should be our decision who to cut? We've been told repeatedly that we can only cut a certain number and no more, so I don't know if it's just our school or what...

TriDeltaSallie · #5 02-03-2009, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by silverpearls

we were actually not allowed to cut any PNMs after 3rd round. With the way our school's Panhellenic and release figures work, I was told it is not our chapter's decision. Trust me, all the other sisters (including our Recruitment chair) are as frustrated as I am and if there was any way to change it, we would. We fought really hard with our Greek Life director and were actually able to release 4 PNMs (instead of the 0 were were supposed to release) that the chapter consistently didn't like and who we felt would take bids if they were given them. Other than that, we invited back everybody who came to 3rd round... including girls we don't like who are only Preffing us and will take bids if they're offered. This means that it's pretty much guaranteed that they're in the chapter.

I am no expert on this, but this simply cannot be right. There must be some way for you to appeal to a higher authority. This is just flat out wrong in so many ways it is not even funny.

I sincerely hope some of the women here on GC who are currently plugged into their national volunteer system or Panhel (which I am currently not) can get you some better advice who to contact and pronto yet tonight.

Something is seriously wrong with this situation.

TriDeltaSallie · #6 02-04-2009, 12:03 AM

This is bothering me so much I can't even go to bed!

Silverpearls, does your chapter have a regional recruitment advisor? Or you should have someone in your national organization who handles recruitment issues for your area/region/whathaveyou.

I'm assuming you are in the EST zone and it is only just now 11:00. That is still early in the evening for recruitment stuff. I would strongly encourage you to call someone with some clout and explain what has happened. If it turns out your panhel is right, then you will know.

BUT.... if they are wrong and you don't make the call you might seriously regret it and wonder what if for a long time if you end up with girls who are not going to be an asset to your chapter.

When in doubt, seek help. That is what national workers and officers are for.