Little Chapter, Big Recruitment: Spring 2009

[SWTXBelle]

The only correct answer would be "No - we love ALL of our new members!".

[silverpearls]

What a night!! I just got back! Our New Members are amazing - all 26 of them! (I was incorrect before about there being 27) Bid Night went really well and I think both the sisters and the NMs had a lot of fun. We will be starting COB next week, so don't worry... the story isn't over yet!

I took a lot of pictures at Bid Night but I'm not comfortable posting them or sharing my affiliation quite yet. I may after COB is over.

So, in terms of the PNMs... here's where everybody ended up.

Kelly is a Minerva
Lily is a Venus
Danielle is a Venus
Ashley is a Minerva
Elizabeth is a Minerva
Sasha is in a top chapter
Tasha is a Minerva
Zoe is a Venus
Jenny is a Venus
Vicky dropped out of Recruitment

I really wasn't lying when I said Minerva is our biggest competition! They got a lot of girls we wanted... but we got a few they wanted, so it's kind of fair! Here's a few things that happened that made me really angry, though...

Firstly, there is a strict Panhel limit of $1500 on all Recruitment expenses except shirts. Panhel was suspicious because of some really lavish deorations Minerva had and after doing some digging, it came to light that they had spent over $3000 - double what is allowed.

Additionally, today a girl we loved accepted a bid from us. She left the room but came back 15 minutes later with a Minerva sister who was crying and obviously upset (keep in mind we are in Strict Silence at this point). The Minerva proceeded to scream at the Greek Life director and tell him something went wrong and the PNM should have gone to Minerva, which wasn't true... and because of it, the girl changed her mind and declined her bid from Venus. Basically, Minerva stole one of our PNMs completely illegally even though they can't even give her a bid for a whole year. Obviously it's a huge infraction and they will be punished, but it cost us a New Member and it really, really makes me mad.

So, not to be completely un-Panhellenic... but I'm very unhappy with Minerva right now. Not because they got some girls we wanted, but because of the dirty rushing. All I can hope is that they'll be paying for it... our Greek Life director is livid.

Well, other than all that we're really happy with the girls we got and how things turned out. I'll update more soon!

Coming Up: Part II - COB!

[LucyAnne17]

Originally Posted by silverpearls

Firstly, there is a strict Panhel limit of $1500 on all Recruitment expenses except shirts. Panhel was suspicious because of some really lavish deorations Minerva had and after doing some digging, it came to light that they had spent over $3000 - double what is allowed.

Additionally, today a girl we loved accepted a bid from us. She left the room but came back 15 minutes later with a Minerva sister who was crying and obviously upset (keep in mind we are in Strict Silence at this point). The Minerva proceeded to scream at the Greek Life director and tell him something went wrong and the PNM should have gone to Minerva, which wasn't true... and because of it, the girl changed her mind and declined her bid from Venus. Basically, Minerva stole one of our PNMs completely illegally even though they can't even give her a bid for a whole year. Obviously it's a huge infraction and they will be punished, but it cost us a New Member and it really, really makes me mad.


Coming Up: Part II - COB!

I like, hate Minerva right now. What a bunch of little brats. It sucks when things like that come up after the fact because what can you do about it now? But on the bright side, girls who could choose Minerva over Venus due to decorations probably aren't the highest quality you're looking for anyway.

Also, this is TERRIBLE and SO unprofessional of this Minerva girl to freak out like that. As far as I know, when it comes to pref, nobody really has any idea who is going to be on their bid list (save for legacies). I know that I personally have voted against girls that a lot of my sisters thought everyone wanted, and that very well could have happened with this girl. What happens in a year, when she still doesn't get a bid from Minerva? Ugh. What a disastrous situation.

I am SO thrilled for you that you got so many great girls by the way, and I wish you great luck with COB. My fingers are crossed for a full quota for Venus!

[BabyPiNK_FL]

The most I've ever done is give a girl we "didn't get" a hug, a pat on her back, and encouragement to do well in her new group. This is regardless of whether or not she expresses regret over where she has ended up or whether she feels she has "hurt our feelings".

Sadly, I can not say that I have seen other groups be as gracious. We had an awful situation where another chapter was all but promising a pnm a bid, but when we got her we didn't know that. She only stood out because A) She looked mad enough to kill and B) She was furiously crying.

It was awful because all the sisters noticed the fact that she looked so angry (about to HIT somebody angry) and she made many of us uncomfortable and upset. We couldn't really comfort her b/c we were trying to figure out why she had an attitude problem! Imagine standing there for 20 min and all she does is glare and cry!

(When I tried to ask her if she was okay, she refused to talk much and only wanted to talk to her Rho Gamma. I didn't tell her just then that her Rho Gamma is OUR sister, I wanted her to be surprised when she ran to us!)

Then we noticed members from the other chapter come over and hug her and tell her how "sorry" they were and that she can "opt out", etc. That just made more sisters furious! Needless to say, we managed to get the full story out of her as she managed to trooper her way through bid day despite it all. And thankfully, she is now a very happy sister. But look what that other group put her and us through!

[APhiAnna]

I wouldn't worry about it...you got Zoe, Danielle, Lilly and Jenny, four girls you wanted from day one...I am sure if you got those girls, the rest of your 26 girls are fantastic as well! I am positive you are gonna do so well in COB and I can't WAIT for Part II!!! As soon as you are comfortable (if you are ever, I understand if you aren't) I would love to see pictures, or at least know your affiliation. This has been my favorite recruitment thread, bar none. I can't wait until next recruitment season when people steal your idea! This has been more fun than any thread and I am so proud of your chapter.

[Emilyzd]

Congrats on your new members!! I have really enjoyed reading this thread!!!!! Good Luck!!

[BBelleADPi]

Silverpearls:

Thank you so much for posting your chapter's story. There isn't a single sorority that doesn't have a chapter on campus somewhere that isn't now, or has been, in your situation. While we'd all like to think "our" group is always the most wanted chapter everywhere during recruitment, it simply isn't so. We all have chapters that are the best, in the middle, and struggling-and often for similar reasons. I think many of us who have been around for awhile have also seen the turnaround on campuses-where the lofty fall, and the others rise. I actually know of one campus where that is happening right now; a chapter that has always been the most desired has finally succumbed to internal strife, graduating many seniors, and other issues. They have had to COB for the first time in years, and the girls they have taken are ones they would previously have not given a second glance. They have also done their share of dirty rushing in years past with their main competitor. Things can change, both for the bad and the good.

Your story is so heartwarming, and an excellent example of not letting the naysayers get the best of you. I can tell that you and your sisters will "keep on keeping on." Something else to think about-often the "top" chapters aren't as close on the inside as those who are pulling together for the common cause. Stay invigorated, keep the enthusiasm, and enjoy the adventure. And please pass on our congratulations to your girls on a job well done!

[CougarGrad]

Originally Posted by silverpearls

Additionally, today a girl we loved accepted a bid from us. She left the room but came back 15 minutes later with a Minerva sister who was crying and obviously upset (keep in mind we are in Strict Silence at this point). The Minerva proceeded to scream at the Greek Life director and tell him something went wrong and the PNM should have gone to Minerva, which wasn't true... and because of it, the girl changed her mind and declined her bid from Venus. Basically, Minerva stole one of our PNMs completely illegally even though they can't even give her a bid for a whole year. Obviously it's a huge infraction and they will be punished, but it cost us a New Member and it really, really makes me mad.

My goodness, how embarrassing. I really hope that her behavior is addressed, because whether or not she ended up stealing a PNM, that was absolutely inappropriate.

All the annoying and confusing hiccups aside, silverpearls, you ladies have just done such a bang-up job and are welcoming so many new sisters to the chapter. I am so happy for, and proud of, all of you!

[Katmandu]

Originally Posted by BBelleADPi

Silverpearls:

There isn't a single sorority that doesn't have a chapter on campus somewhere that isn't now, or has been, in your situation. While we'd all like to think "our" group is always the most wanted chapter everywhere during recruitment, it simply isn't so. We all have chapters that are the best, in the middle, and struggling-and often for similar reasons. I think many of us who have been around for awhile have also seen the turnaround on campuses-where the lofty fall, and the others rise.

This is so true, and that is why hearing about how a chapter worked to turn it around is such a good object lesson.

Recently, I was shocked to hear about the struggles of a group on my old campus. Twenty years ago, they were very competitive, always attracting their share of top new members, active on campus with a good solid reputation, always at full quota and total.

But, take a little internal strife, mix it with a year or two of poor choices for officers, a couple of shaky formal recruitments, and suddenly they were way down in numbers as frustrated members de-activated and new members quit prior to initiation. Following that, several difficult years of struggling to make quota, fill a large house and turn around campus perceptions and stereotypes. One situation leads to another in a cascade effect, and it takes hard work and the cooperation of a lot of people plus maybe a little luck to turn it around.

Perhaps this thread has received such a response because so many of us realize it could happen to any chapter, given the right kindling.

[axoalum]

Congrats! Ya'll rock!!! I was out of town overnight and away from my computer. The first thing I did when I got back was run to check your thread. I can't wait to hear how COB goes.

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by silverpearls

Additionally, today a girl we loved accepted a bid from us. She left the room but came back 15 minutes later with a Minerva sister who was crying and obviously upset (keep in mind we are in Strict Silence at this point). The Minerva proceeded to scream at the Greek Life director and tell him something went wrong and the PNM should have gone to Minerva, which wasn't true... and because of it, the girl changed her mind and declined her bid from Venus. Basically, Minerva stole one of our PNMs completely illegally even though they can't even give her a bid for a whole year. Obviously it's a huge infraction and they will be punished, but it cost us a New Member and it really, really makes me mad.

Wow.

This is the definition of being un-Panhellenic.

Keep your head up.

If it makes you feel any better, this girl can't just run and pledge Minerva tomorrow. She accepted your bid.

[micky80]

I totally agree about chapters having the ability to change. At the university I went to, one of the lower tier houses 25 years ago now is considered the No. 1 house. Some of the reputations of the top houses have changed considerably. All it takes is a couple of good pledge classes, and it sounds like you got one. It was very interesting hearing a story from the other side of the table. Thanks for sharing, and congrats!

[silverpearls]

Sorry I haven't posted in a few days! I've actually come down with a nasty cold, which is so frustrating - all I want to do is go hang out with our New Members! They all seem to be doing well and having fun. A few who were hesitant about joining at first (since we were not their first choice) seem to have come around. The sisters have been amazing at welcoming the new girls, taking them to do things and really making them feel at home with their new sisters.

We have a New Member event tonight, so here's hoping everybody has a good time! A few girls who weren't able to come to Bid Day will be there, so it'll be exciting to meet them! Tomorrow will be Formal Pinning and Big/Little reveal, so that's very exciting. I'm hoping to get another Little!

I'll keep you updated as to how everything goes. COB starts Monday! We're really hoping to make quota, which is only 14 more New Members... I really think we can do it! We're inviting about 50 girls to COB but it's hard to tell how many will show up. If we do make quota it will be the first time ever for our chapter...

[CougarGrad]

Aaaand the excitement continues! You be sure you get some rest between events, young lady! *stern look*

[AlphaXi_Husky]

This is a such a wonderful story. Silverpearls, I am so happy for you and your chapter and wish you guys all the best. Kick butt in COB - and please keep us updated!