Sorority taglines, etc.

[SWTXBelle]

I do wish GLOs would stick to one or two mottos, shortened creeds, taglines, whatever. I think that it gets confusing if you start using too many . . . I'm still perfectly happy with Love. Labor. Learning. Loyalty, for us, although the Connect. Impact. Shine. thing has grown on me. But enough already!

[PeppyGPhiB]

Originally Posted by epchick

Alpha Phi

Tagline: Timeless Tradition, Contemporary Vision. Always Alpha Phi.

I LOVE this one. To me, this is a tagline that means something...there's a strong message behind it.

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

I do wish GLOs would stick to one or two mottos, shortened creeds, taglines, whatever. I think that it gets confusing if you start using too many . . . I'm still perfectly happy with Love. Labor. Learning. Loyalty, for us, although the Connect. Impact. Shine. thing has grown on me. But enough already!

I would have been much happier with "Love, Labor, Learning and Loyalty" as our tagline. I really don't care for "Connect. Impact. Shine." It smacks of buzz words and seems kinda superficial. And the four. words. with. periods. thing is getting old for me.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by PeppyGPhiB

smacks of buzz words and seems kinda superficial.

This sums up taglines and mission statements in general, as far as I'm concerned. If you have an open motto fine - if you don't that's fine too. You apparently have gotten along fine without one so don't feel peer pressured to put your essence in a cute phrase. But there have been so many groups biting off our and AST's open mottos that it makes me want to scream.

My only conclusion is that the same marketing/PR firm is making the rounds of all the sororities, the same way all the soap operas rotate producers and head writers.

[SWTXBelle]

That's why I love our "Love, Labor, Learning, Loyalty". It is our creed - in 4 words.

The Creed of Gamma Phi Beta

Gamma Phi Beta from the past has given
A heritage that makes a fuller life.
Gamma Phi Beta in the present bids
Us strive for lasting values and ideals.
Gamma Phi Beta in the days to come
Will prove that fundamentals can endure.
Therefore we shall embody in our lives
The truths that make for finer womanhood.
Once more we pledge a loyalty that means
Adherence to all true and noble things;
A learning that enriches all our days
With magic gold that is forever ours;
A labor that each hour will glorify
The simple, common task, the common cause;
A love that will be strong and great enough
To encompass and to pity all the world.
Love, Labor, Learning, Loyalty.

eta - adopted in 1948.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

That's why I love our "Love, Labor, Learning, Loyalty". It is our creed - in 4 words.

In other words - it has a foundation on something that has to do with your sorority that anyone reading your creed can see. That isn't really what I meant I didn't like.

It's only the past 10 years that I'm talking about when GLOs have felt the need to "brand" themselves as if they were a bottle of aspirin or a pair of sneakers. The ironic thing is that a key part of branding is having a Unique Selling Proposition - i.e. something that sets you apart from others in your category. Almost all of the mission statements and taglines (unless they come from a creed or other portions of sorority ritual) could be used for any of the groups. They do nothing to encourage women to join XYZ over BCD. So I guess I just really don't see the point of having them at all.

[Leslie Anne]

Originally Posted by 33girl

It's only the past 10 years that I'm talking about when GLOs have felt the need to "brand" themselves as if they were a bottle of aspirin or a pair of sneakers. The ironic thing is that a key part of branding is having a Unique Selling Proposition - i.e. something that sets you apart from others in your category. Almost all of the mission statements and taglines (unless they come from a creed or other portions of sorority ritual) could be used for any of the groups. They do nothing to encourage women to join XYZ over BCD. So I guess I just really don't see the point of having them at all.

I completely agree! I really have a distaste for these new taglines. As nice and clever as some of them are, they smack of retail.

[SWTXBelle]

My other problem with all the branding is I fear a few years down the road all the cool graphics and catchy taglines will look dated. I want to be a classic - like the original Coca-Cola logo. It has the weight of history behind it, and when you see it you immediately conjure up positive associations. The ad campaigns change - "The Real Thing", "Have a Coke and a Smile", etc., but the logo and colours stay the same.

On the other hand, campaigns that are limited can be effective. My father is the Grand Poobah-elect for TX Elks, and during his "reign" will use MAD - Make A Difference - as his tagline. He uses it in his speeches, pins, and other items. (He's clever that way - he used XIT (as in the ranch) for a campaign to raise funds for the Elks Foundation. XIT = Ten in Texas. He wanted every Elk in TX to pledge $10 to the Foundation, and those who did got a pin. It was amazing to see the response. A great many Elks really wanted those pins!

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by PeppyGPhiB

And the four. words. with. periods. thing is getting old for me.

Originally Posted by 33girl

This sums up taglines and mission statements in general, as far as I'm concerned. If you have an open motto fine - if you don't that's fine too. You apparently have gotten along fine without one so don't feel peer pressured to put your essence in a cute phrase. But there have been so many groups biting off our and AST's open mottos that it makes me want to scream.

I figured this is what AlphaFrog was getting at she said

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

I can't help but wonder if they got rid of the Imagine. Believe. Achieve. because it was too similar to mottos/taglines that other groups were already using.

After a while, the three or four verb or adjective taglines can start to sound like they were cut from the same mold, so to speak.

That's why I was really glad when our tagline didn't follow that mold. And like, SWTXBelle says about "Love, Labor, Learning, Loyalty," "Among Men Harmony" is very rooted in our foundational writings.

My only conclusion is that the same marketing/PR firm is making the rounds of all the sororities, the same way all the soap operas rotate producers and head writers.

Precisely why I noted that we were told that the agency that did our branding/visual identity had done work for over 25 GLOs. (Their website references work they did for Beta; I wonder who else.)

[ThetaDancer]

Originally Posted by 33girl

It's only the past 10 years that I'm talking about when GLOs have felt the need to "brand" themselves as if they were a bottle of aspirin or a pair of sneakers. The ironic thing is that a key part of branding is having a Unique Selling Proposition - i.e. something that sets you apart from others in your category. Almost all of the mission statements and taglines (unless they come from a creed or other portions of sorority ritual) could be used for any of the groups. They do nothing to encourage women to join XYZ over BCD. So I guess I just really don't see the point of having them at all.

I very much agree with this. It's one thing to have an open motto or use key words from a creed/purpose/etc., but it's another thing to "brand" a sorority with buzzwords that really do not effectively communicate anything about the organization. Something about this new branding trend seems to almost cheapen and commercialize the experience.

[littleowl33]

I guess I'm in the minority here, but I really don't mind the taglines. I think this whole thread is a testament to the fact that most NPC women only know their own sorority's tagline, plus maybe one or two others. I'm sure PNMs have no idea what everyone's taglines are. No one's going to go into recruitment and choose their house based on who has the "coolest" graphic or the catchiest tagline... unless they really do their homework and are having a hard time deciding betwen two great choices (and in that case, I would think things like Philanthropy, traditions, colors, etc. would be more of a selling point). I doubt any of the higher-ups in our sororities want to market our groups like "sneakers" or what-have-you, but I don't see any harm (or much benefit, actually) in sprucing up a logo. I guess I'm pretty indifferent because I don't think it makes any difference in how people view the group or how many women will join.

For example, I don't think any PNM in the world is saying, "Well, I loved Phi Mu when their tagline was 'Imagine. Believe. Acheive.', but I just don't think I can do 'Vibrant'. I'll just join XYZ instead." Or vice versa.

[PeppyGPhiB]

Originally Posted by 33girl

This sums up taglines and mission statements in general, as far as I'm concerned. If you have an open motto fine - if you don't that's fine too. You apparently have gotten along fine without one so don't feel peer pressured to put your essence in a cute phrase. But there have been so many groups biting off our and AST's open mottos that it makes me want to scream.

Um, Gamma Phi Beta has an open motto, and it's completely different from our letters, tagline and creed. Our open motto is, "Founded Upon a Rock," and it's been our motto since our founding.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by PeppyGPhiB

Um, Gamma Phi Beta has an open motto, and it's completely different from our letters, tagline and creed. Our open motto is, "Founded Upon a Rock," and it's been our motto since our founding.

My comment doesn't apply to you then. I never said that people were pulling mottos out of their butts. Chilly willy will.

[PeppyGPhiB]

Originally Posted by 33girl

My comment doesn't apply to you then. I never said that people were pulling mottos out of their butts. Chilly willy will.

Sorry, thought you were speaking directly to me.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by PeppyGPhiB

Sorry, thought you were speaking directly to me.

No, I just dug the way you summed my feelings up. Kudos to you for being the first one to have the balls to say it.