Little Chapter, Big Recruitment: Spring 2009

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by APhiAnna

I think you'll be surprised about growing in size. Unless your chapter is under 5 or 6 women, there will be cliques and girls that don't get along amazingly. Simply by growing you are adding girls with more talents that will make everything (Greek Week, recruitment, socials, philanthropy) so much easier. And the names thing is not as bad as people feel it might be...I know women in GIGANTIC chapters that know who everybody is. I think it really depends on the culture of the specific chapter.

Very true. Alot of times you THINK you won't be able to familairize yourself with everyone, but you will. Chapters at my school average 60-80ish girls and we all knew each other very well.

The chapters at some larger schools aveerage close to 200 girls and they all manage to get to know each other as well.

Alot of chapters use the "we want to REALLY know each other" excuse as a excuse not to grow.

You can still have the community, but it just will take some time/work.

[APhiAnna]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

Alot of chapters use the "we want to REALLY know each other" excuse as a excuse not to grow.

GREAT point. I know the struggling chapters (both fraternities and sororities) at our school will often use the argument that since they are smaller they know each other better. I think, in some cases, it's used as kind of a defensive reason for why they aren't larger. Which is fine, but when they actually get a chance (like your chapter seems to be getting) to grow rapidly, they hold on to that excuse because they have internalized it so much. I would just focus on growing as much as possible and I think you will see that if you are truly pulling for quality and quantity, your sisterhood should stay the same.

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by APhiAnna

GREAT point. I know the struggling chapters (both fraternities and sororities) at our school will often use the argument that since they are smaller they know each other better. I think, in some cases, it's used as kind of a defensive reason for why they aren't larger. Which is fine, but when they actually get a chance (like your chapter seems to be getting) to grow rapidly, they hold on to that excuse because they have internalized it so much. I would just focus on growing as much as possible and I think you will see that if you are truly pulling for quality and quantity, your sisterhood should stay the same.

EXACTLY.

silverpearls:

The types of things you're feeling/experiencing (feeling like you'll never get to know all the NMs) are very normal and they just come with sudden growth.

Sisterhood/closeness is not related to how big/small your chapter is. You can have a close knit community of sisters and be at total. Alot of smaller chapters tend to buy into a "smaller = more sisterhood and closer bond" thing and that is not the truth. I've interacted with small chapters who didn't care to know each other and weren't friendly to each other, so small doesn't always = more personal.

As long as you're making an effort to get to know them, you can still maintain the closeness that you feel your chapter is known for. It just takes a little more effort.