I miss my sorority

[Smile_Awhile]

I can tell you that it's my org's policiy that bids are extended for a calendar year. We had two cases this past semester that received bids in the fall, but were unable to finish the process because of personal issues. During our spring recruitment (informal), they came back through recruitment. But there was no turning them down, as their bid was still active.

Beware, though! This may not hold true for all orgs!

Originally Posted by Smile_Awhile

I can tell you that it's my org's policiy that bids are extended for a calendar year. We had two cases this past semester that received bids in the fall, but were unable to finish the process because of personal issues. During our spring recruitment (informal), they came back through recruitment. But there was no turning them down, as their bid was still active.

Beware, though! This may not hold true for all orgs!

We had the same thing happen for a few girls while I was a collegian, my sister-daughter included.

Chapters can terminate a new member's pledgeship for whatever reason, right?

[fantASTic]

Originally Posted by OTW

We had the same thing happen for a few girls while I was a collegian, my sister-daughter included.

Chapters can terminate a new member's pledgeship for whatever reason, right?

Not AST. We are not allowed to revote on new members.

Originally Posted by fantASTic

Not AST. We are not allowed to revote on new members.

It's not necessarily a "oh, I changed my mind about this girl...let me change my vote."

What if a NM doesn't fulfill financial obligations? Doesn't pass her NM test (generally speaking, since a lot of sororities have them)? She's a rotten NM who causes harm or damage to the chapter? Or, in the OP's case, decides to leave school prior to initiation?

I can see a pledgeship carried over to the next semester for the first two, but if she leaves school and intends (at that time) not to come back?

[lyrelyre]

Originally Posted by Smile_Awhile

I can tell you that it's my org's policiy that bids are extended for a calendar year. We had two cases this past semester that received bids in the fall, but were unable to finish the process because of personal issues. During our spring recruitment (informal), they came back through recruitment. But there was no turning them down, as their bid was still active.

Beware, though! This may not hold true for all orgs!

I think this must be a campus rule.

[PM_Mama00]

Originally Posted by phisiglindsey

I would say your best bet is to contact HQ of the sorority to where you were a new member. They could tell you if you are able to continue with that sorority.

Do NOT go to HQ. This might sound mean and I don't mean for it to, but they have more important issues to deal with. Talk to the President of the sorority (or membership director maybe) and they can talk to the appropriate HQ person. (Inter)Nationals have advisors for every department of sorority life and you might not necessarily know who to go to. Also like has been mentioned, the President would know if they are over total and what not.

[Zillini]

Originally Posted by PM_Mama00

Do NOT go to HQ. This might sound mean and I don't mean for it to, but they have more important issues to deal with. Talk to the President of the sorority (or membership director maybe) and they can talk to the appropriate HQ person. (Inter)Nationals have advisors for every department of sorority life and you might not necessarily know who to go to. Also like has been mentioned, the President would know if they are over total and what not.

I would like to reiterate this statement. Too often I see/hear folks throw out "Just call HQ". Of course it depends on the situation, but for most stuff that's jumping like 4 levels in the chain of command (for lack of a better phrase). This is one of the purposes of setting up the organizational structures, to address issues and answer questions at a lower/more local level rather than always going straight "to the top". Also bear in mind those who work at HQ may not necessarily be an expert in all areas of sorority life with the specific policies and rules. They would have to investigate.

One should start with the specific Exec officer who is in charge of this area. If she cannot find this info, then go to the advisor in charge of this area. Next step up the ladder would be an I/nat'l officer such as the equivalent of (for our org) a province director/president. These IO's oversee several chapters in an area. The next or possibly instead of that would be the IO in charge of that area of sorority life. Typically these IO's oversee a large geographical area of chapters with a specific focus such as membership education, recruitment, housing, finance, etc. These IO's should be the experts regarding policies, rules and implementation in this particular area.

[Smile_Awhile]

Originally Posted by lyrelyre

I think this must be a campus rule.

I'm sure it's possible. But your reasoning for saying that?

[PeppyGPhiB]

Now that the OP's question has been answered, please allow me this PSA: all of you who are about to go to college, or who are freshmen thinking of transferring because you're homesick, please don't do this! I know what it's like to be homesick - I was way homesick my freshman year, too - but the good thing about homesickness is that it's almost always very temporary. You will get over it once you find your new life at college. You can always go home at winter and summer breaks, but it's best that you learn now to be on your own, away from the family and friends you've been with all your life. I'm so disappointed by so many of these stories of college students, especially girls(!), transferring back to the hometown college because they got afraid. I actually think a huge part of college is living away from home, and by that I mean living far enough away that you can't just drive home on the weekends. You chose your first college for a number of reasons, and I just think you'd all be made stronger if you saw it through the transition. Don't be a wuss! And seriously, four hours? I hope you're talking about by plane, because four hours driving is nothing...I can't even drive across my state in four hours.

[Glitter650]

Originally Posted by PeppyGPhiB

Now that the OP's question has been answered, please allow me this PSA: all of you who are about to go to college, or who are freshmen thinking of transferring because you're homesick, please don't do this! I know what it's like to be homesick - I was way homesick my freshman year, too - but the good thing about homesickness is that it's almost always very temporary. You will get over it once you find your new life at college. You can always go home at winter and summer breaks, but it's best that you learn now to be on your own, away from the family and friends you've been with all your life. I'm so disappointed by so many of these stories of college students, especially girls(!), transferring back to the hometown college because they got afraid. I actually think a huge part of college is living away from home, and by that I mean living far enough away that you can't just drive home on the weekends. You chose your first college for a number of reasons, and I just think you'd all be made stronger if you saw it through the transition. Don't be a wuss! And seriously, four hours? I hope you're talking about by plane, because four hours driving is nothing...I can't even drive across my state in four hours.

Can I get an AMEN ?!

[ZTA72]

Originally Posted by PeppyGPhiB

Now that the OP's question has been answered, please allow me this PSA: all of you who are about to go to college, or who are freshmen thinking of transferring because you're homesick, please don't do this! I know what it's like to be homesick - I was way homesick my freshman year, too - but the good thing about homesickness is that it's almost always very temporary. You will get over it once you find your new life at college. You can always go home at winter and summer breaks, but it's best that you learn now to be on your own, away from the family and friends you've been with all your life. I'm so disappointed by so many of these stories of college students, especially girls(!), transferring back to the hometown college because they got afraid. I actually think a huge part of college is living away from home, and by that I mean living far enough away that you can't just drive home on the weekends. You chose your first college for a number of reasons, and I just think you'd all be made stronger if you saw it through the transition. Don't be a wuss! And seriously, four hours? I hope you're talking about by plane, because four hours driving is nothing...I can't even drive across my state in four hours.

I totally agree and this is from a parent's POV. My daughters went to another state to school and are in a location that it is not really close to major airports. We see each other several times a year. Would I like for them to be closer? Yes. Would it be good for either one of us? No.
They said they found they could take care of themselves in ways they never thought they could. In other words, they grew up. I'm very proud of how all this turned out.

[lyrelyre]

Originally Posted by Smile_Awhile

I'm sure it's possible. But your reasoning for saying that?

It's not a rule with which I'm familiar.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by lyrelyre

I think this must be a campus rule.

No, that's a Panhellenic rule. They didn't leave campus or transfer, they just couldn't/didn't finish pledging and so are still bound unless the sorority releases them. The thing that is screwy in smile_awhile's scenario is that the girls should NOT have gone through rush again.

[lyrelyre]

Originally Posted by 33girl

No, that's a Panhellenic rule. They didn't leave campus or transfer, they just couldn't/didn't finish pledging and so are still bound unless the sorority releases them. The thing that is screwy in smile_awhile's scenario is that the girls should NOT have gone through rush again.

Sorry I wasn't clearer. I know Panhellenic bids bind the PNM for a calendar year. In my experience there is not a rule in our organization that requires us to allow a new member to "reactivate" her bid within a calendar year.

Originally Posted by Smile_Awhile

But there was no turning them down, as their bid was still active.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by lyrelyre

Sorry I wasn't clearer. I know Panhellenic bids bind the PNM for a calendar year. In my experience there is not a rule in our organization that requires us to allow a new member to "reactivate" her bid within a calendar year.

But she's still bound to you, unless you expressly release her. That doesn't sound fair.