Little Chapter, Big Recruitment: Spring 2009 - Page 15

fantASTic · #**211** 02-14-2009, 04:30 PM

Wow, I can't believe that. Here's to hoping 6 more accept bids!

silverpearls · #**212** 02-14-2009, 06:29 PM

Hi again! So at this point, 10 COB PNMs have accepted their bids! Which bring our pledge class total to... 36 new Venuses!! There are 3 more girls who have until 7:00 pm to get back to us, but according to their friends in the chapter they probably will not accept. Even if they don't, 36 is an amazing number!! To recap the stats:

'06 New Member Class: 7 girls with quota set at 35ish
'07 New Member Class: 12 girls (8 from Formal Recruitment, 4 from COB) with quota set at 40
'08 New Member Class: 22 girls (12 from Formal Recruitment, 10 from COB) with quota set at 42
'09 New Member Class: 36 girls (26 from Formal Recruitment, 10 from COB) with quota set at 40

I also just got word that though the "top chapters" made quota and got 40, Minerva originally had 40 but had 2 New Members drop this week, setting them at 38 for this year. So at this point, we're at almost the same number as our old rival! Minerva has made quota every year for the last 4 or 5 years, so to see us at a very similar level is so exciting!

I'll let you know tonight what the final count is, but my guess is that it'll stay at 36. I'm so incredibly proud of our chapter! It's been an amazing Recruitment.

UGAalum94 · #**213** 02-14-2009, 06:32 PM

It's wonderful to see your results! Congratulations!

lovespink88 · #**214** 02-14-2009, 06:32 PM

How exciting! I'm so happy for you and your chapter! You guys are really inspirational!

KSUViolet06 · #**215** 02-14-2009, 06:49 PM

Whether you get those last 3 or not, going from matching half of quota one year to being within 4 of it right now is EXCEPTIONAL.

Chapters who are having issues with recruitment should take note.

You may not think you can turn it around, but you can, with work.

silverpearls · #**216** 02-14-2009, 07:00 PM

Oh! I forgot to tell a creepy story from COB. So I mentioned our "perennial PNMs" before. Well, there's one in particular with a very weird history with the chapter - I'll call her Shelly. She COBed last fall but didn't receive a Bid. When that happened she freaked out and caused a lot of trouble for Venus. She went to the Greek Life office and told the director we were mean to her and tried to haze her in the rush room (which is obviously ridiculous) and told him she was starting her own sorority. When the school was considering NPC expansion last fall, she jumped on it and somehow got the impression she was going to be the president of the new sorority. When, for a number of reasons, Panel decided against opening for expansion, she absolutely freaked out and wrote all this stuff online about how she was going to transfer, but never did. During all this time, she was stalking one of our then-New Members, "May", who had COBed with Shelly but had received a Bid. Shelly would call May at weird hours, and once invited her to lunch only to grill her about the New Member program and what Venus was doing. May was obviously weirded out and cut ties with her - she had never met her before COB and really didn't know her very well.

Sooo COB rolls around this year, and Shelly's back! We were very surprised after everything that happened last fall, but we were obviously cordial to her. According to May, last night (the final round of COB) Shelly brought May flowers and hung around her all night, then after the event was over she went home and changed her Facebook status to "I LOVE MAY!!!" Our poor sister was really weirded out by it. And when the PNM didn't get a bid (again), she freaked out (again).

I feel kind of bad for Shelly, but I honestly don't know how she could expect to get a bid after acting the way she has...

AOII Angel · #**217** 02-14-2009, 08:54 PM

Congratulations, silverpearls! 36 NMs is amazing! Sounds like y'all have a lot of new sisters to get to know. I'm rather confused as to why girls would attend the last party without knowing they'd accept a bid. Oh well, you only want girls who want to be there anyway! Keep up the good work. Recruitment is 360.

MSKKG · #**218** 02-14-2009, 11:49 PM

Y'all must be on Cloud 9! Congratulations on such a wonderful job!

silverpearls · #**219** 02-15-2009, 12:28 AM

The final count is indeed 36 new Venuses! We are absolutely ecstatic to have so many wonderful new sisters. It's been a really amazing year and I am so proud of everything my sisters have accomplished. Though we didn't make quota, we came very close and gained a great group of girls. This is our biggest New Member class ever, and our chapter is the biggest and best it's ever been.

Thank you to everyone for the help and encouragement you've given me through this thread! And to all those little chapters who think they'll never get any bigger - you can! It takes time and a lot of work, but this year has made me a believer - it can be done!

I've decided I won't reveal my affiliation on this thread. I want to protect the privacy of my sisters and the PNMs involved, and what's on the internet is there forever. Once you know my sorority you can probably figure out pretty easily where I go to school - some readers already have! If you would like to know my affiliation, please PM me. I'll be happy to tell you, but I ask that you don't post it anywhere.

Again, thank you all so much for the great positive response to my story! It's been a wonderful year and I'm very hopeful for the future of my chapter.

KSUViolet06 · #**220** 02-15-2009, 12:39 AM

Question: With the new members, how many do you have in your chapter? Did you double yourselves?

Jimmy Choo · #**221** 02-15-2009, 12:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by silverpearls

Oh! I forgot to tell a creepy story from COB. So I mentioned our "perennial PNMs" before. Well, there's one in particular with a very weird history with the chapter - I'll call her Shelly. She COBed last fall but didn't receive a Bid. When that happened she freaked out and caused a lot of trouble for Venus. She went to the Greek Life office and told the director we were mean to her and tried to haze her in the rush room (which is obviously ridiculous) and told him she was starting her own sorority. When the school was considering NPC expansion last fall, she jumped on it and somehow got the impression she was going to be the president of the new sorority. When, for a number of reasons, Panel decided against opening for expansion, she absolutely freaked out and wrote all this stuff online about how she was going to transfer, but never did. During all this time, she was stalking one of our then-New Members, "May", who had COBed with Shelly but had received a Bid. Shelly would call May at weird hours, and once invited her to lunch only to grill her about the New Member program and what Venus was doing. May was obviously weirded out and cut ties with her - she had never met her before COB and really didn't know her very well.

Sooo COB rolls around this year, and Shelly's back! We were very surprised after everything that happened last fall, but we were obviously cordial to her. According to May, last night (the final round of COB) Shelly brought May flowers and hung around her all night, then after the event was over she went home and changed her Facebook status to "I LOVE MAY!!!" Our poor sister was really weirded out by it. And when the PNM didn't get a bid (again), she freaked out (again).

I feel kind of bad for Shelly, but I honestly don't know how she could expect to get a bid after acting the way she has...

Just wow...you and KSUViolet should swap stories about "special" PNM's. She 's had some doozies!

ETA: GREAT JOB!!! You guys are making such progress. The sky is the limit!

FSUZeta · #**222** 02-15-2009, 09:23 AM

[QUOTE=silverpearls;1779757]The final count is indeed 36 new Venuses! QUOTE]

now you just need to KROP-keep rushing our pledges(new members). that is a sign that we kept up in my sorority house when i was in school, to remind us that we need to make a connection with the new girls and continue to treat them as the special people they are. set your goal for 36 new initiates, so that noone drops before initiation. good luck!!!

CougarGrad · #**223** 02-15-2009, 10:51 AM

Silverpearls, it's been a lot of fun to read this thread. I'm so happy for you and your sisters! What a success, and what a thrill! Congratulations!

BetteDavisEyes · #**224** 02-15-2009, 12:09 PM

It has been fun to read your story. Congratulations with your new members and keep doing a fantastic job with your sisterhood to promote your sorority.

Keep us updated with what is going on with the girls.

silverpearls · #**225** 02-15-2009, 12:28 PM

I've gotten so many PMs to say congratulations - thank you all so much!! So many have shared your experiences with your own struggling chapters, whether as an undergrad, alum or advisor. I'm so happy so many people were able to relate to this thread!

To answer your questions - my chapter is now only ten short of chapter total. I don't want to reveal in the thread what chapter total is or how many sisters are in the chapter because I'm afraid that would make us too easy to identify, but I would gladly reveal that info through PM.