Sweetmagnolia's recruitment story!

[33girl]

Originally Posted by sweetmagnolia

Miami was the second chapter I went to. Even though there were less girls this night they still did the two PNMS : 1 active ratio, and it didn't go much smoother. After visiting Chicago, I felt really unimpressed by their philanthropy- their video had nothing to do with their chapter or what their chapter does for the organization, which left me kind of miffed. The project was cute, but it took about 3 or 4 minutes to do, which left the door open for a lot of awkward pauses and conversations- even when I tried my hardest to talk to the actives who came to our table, it was very uncomfortable. None of them had anything to say about their sisterhood, and one of the actives was so focused on the chest size of a woman in their philanthropy video that it made me uncomfortable- her remarks were very offputting. I left this night still feeling cold towards this chapter.

Is their philanthropy something that 1) it's hard to make a craft for and/or 2) something that it's kind of hard to assist with unless you're a trained professional?

I've said it before and I'll say it again. BAG PHILANTHROPY DAY. Not everyone's philanthropy lends itself to a 45 minute rush party or a craft and the groups who have that issue end up REALLY struggling. Not to mention, let's be honest, some chapters are more into their philanthropy than others. That doesn't make them horrible. It was a nice concept but the execution has fallen flat and it's just creating added stress for actives and PNMs. Take everyone to the soup kitchen, Habitat, what have you the day after bid day and do a Panhel wide project.

I'm not criticizing anything you said at all sm - I completely understand how you were feeling. It just shows how whack this concept is.

[FSUZeta]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Is their philanthropy something that 1) it's hard to make a craft for and/or 2) something that it's kind of hard to assist with unless you're a trained professional?

I've said it before and I'll say it again. BAG PHILANTHROPY DAY. Not everyone's philanthropy lends itself to a 45 minute rush party or a craft and the groups who have that issue end up REALLY struggling. Not to mention, let's be honest, some chapters are more into their philanthropy than others. That doesn't make them horrible. It was a nice concept but the execution has fallen flat and it's just creating added stress for actives and PNMs. Take everyone to the soup kitchen, Habitat, what have you the day after bid day and do a Panhel wide project.

I'm not criticizing anything you said at all sm - I completely understand how you were feeling. It just shows how whack this concept is.

brava, 33!! not to mention that half the time(or more) no organization wants the little doodad that was made at the parties and pnms think it is going to be a graded project so get all stressed out that theirs be the most beautiful doodad.

[LucyKKG]

Originally Posted by FSUZeta

brava, 33!! not to mention that half the time(or more) no organization wants the little doodad that was made at the parties and pnms think it is going to be a graded project so get all stressed out that theirs be the most beautiful doodad.

Ugh, yes. During our first formal recruitment, we made SUPER lame crafts. I won't even say what it was, but they were terrible.

[carnation]

Originally Posted by FSUZeta

brava, 33!! not to mention that half the time(or more) no organization wants the little doodad that was made at the parties and pnms think it is going to be a graded project so get all stressed out that theirs be the most beautiful doodad.

FSUZeta, LucyKKG, and 33Girl--you are right on with what you just said! YAY!

[violetpretty]

Originally Posted by FSUZeta

brava, 33!! not to mention that half the time(or more) no organization wants the little doodad that was made at the parties and pnms think it is going to be a graded project so get all stressed out that theirs be the most beautiful doodad.

Really. What are you going to do with 500 boo-boo bunnies?

[emilyljulian]

Good luck! I can't wait to hear what happens. I'm pulling for my hometown, Chicago, I'm pumped they're still in the running

Also, 33girl, our school is trying something different this year where there is no philanthropy round but a "values" night where each house can pick wha they consider to be their most important, or strongest value(s) and can focus the party around that. That way if a house has an awesome philanthropy party, they can keep it as their value, but other houses that don't have as marketable of philanthropies can redesign their party. Recruitment starts in a week so we'll see soon how it goes.

[FSUZeta]

good luck sweet magnolia!

[SthrnZeta]

GO CHICAGO!!! Good luck!

[TexasSK]

Good luck to you sweetmagnolia!

[thetygerlily]

I totally agree about the crafts. I remember being really concerned when I was going through because I'm not an artist by any stretch of the imagination, and of course thought I would be graded. I honestly think that's why I was cut from one of the groups- I was so focused on making something pretty that I didn't spend enough time talking to the actives.

One year we did something really different- we did a mini golf thing (Kappa Klassic) where every hole someone finished added x minutes to the amount of time we would spend with our local philanthropy, a women's shelter. I think each hole had one of our symbols on it somehow- a key, fleur, owl, etc. In a way it was nice to just goof off and it was better for talking. However, the direct tie to the philanthropy wasn't as strong and I'm sure some PNMs thought that if they did poorly they'd be judged. It was an interesting experiment, though, and more interactive than filling toiletry kits or coloring puzzles like we had done in past years.

Sweetmagnolia- best of luck for skits tonight!

[AZTheta]

good luck to you!

[FSUZeta]

oooh, best wishes to you sweetmagnolia!!!!

[bostongreek]

good luck

i want to throw my two cents in on philanthropy day... when i went through, i dumped a bottle of glitter into my lap at my very first party and sparkled like a twilight vampire for the entire rest of the night. notttt good. there are way too many chances of getting dirty doing a&c!

[33girl]

Originally Posted by bostongreek

i want to throw my two cents in on philanthropy day... when i went through, i dumped a bottle of glitter into my lap at my very first party and sparkled like a twilight vampire for the entire rest of the night. notttt good. there are way too many chances of getting dirty doing a&c!

Extra points if you told anyone you WERE a Twilight vampire. LOL.

[sweetmagnolia]

So, I just got home (haha), but Pref night was so so much fun!

Unfortunately, I was dropped by Chicago, which I took kind of hard. I honestly thought I had such a good connection with the chapter and they had been my favorite since the first day. I was, however, grateful to still be going to two parties when some girls only had one, or had been cut by all their favorite chapters. With that in mind, I went to (in this order):

Los Angeles
Miami

I went to Los Angeles first. Having lost my #1 chapter, I decided to go into their pref night as if they had been my number one the entire time, and I didn't regret it. When we walked in we were handed a cute poem about their sisterhood as well as two symbols of their organization. The room was also so beautiful- apparently they had done something really different this year? - but it worked. I talked to two of the four girls I had been with all week, and then all the actives got up and sang a song. The part that really meant the most to me was when a couple actives got up and told stories about how much being in a sorority has changed their life- one girl's story resonated a lot with me, and I got a little teary. Since yesterday had been a day of fun and laughter, it was nice to see a more serious side of them, while not feeling like they had multiple personality disorder. By the time I left this chapter, I was feeling like "Chicago, who?". I had liked this chapter a lot all week, but their Pref ceremony really cemented them in my heart. I left knowing that I would love to be offered a bid by them.

I went to Miami next, after a short break. Having just come from what felt like the perfect pref ceremony, I was a little disappointed with what their room looked like- especially after a surprisingly awesome skit day. The active who rushed me and another girl (still a lot of actives wandering around with a 2:1 girl to active ratio, which confused me) was really nice, but didn't seem too sold on the sisterhood itself. She told me about her Big, but that was about it. I did like the ceremonial part of the ceremony, though. They sang a few really nice songs, but the startling difference to me were the 'testimonials', if you will. The ones at Los Angeles seemed so emotional and really gave you a snapshot of their sisterhood, while the ones at Miami really didn't go too deep- I was almost expecting it, I guess. I have been trying to reserve heavy handed judgment of them all week- an off day, an awkward rusher -and while it got better, I honestly could not see myself as a member of this chapter.

Which left me in a pickle- I didn't want to suicide. I feel like not only is it an awkward thing to do, but it's bratty. When girls have dropped or been cut by a lot of chapters, and I still had options, being so narrow minded didn't seem good, but by the end of prefs I knew that Miami was not the chapter for me. I talked to my Pi Chi about it, to the point of tears, and did not suicide. I signed the form that obligates you to accept a bid, and just took a big sigh and went home. What happens, happens- it's out of my hands now, but I would love to receive a bid from Los Angeles tomorrow. I know that I will try and make the best of whatever happens. Bid Day is tomorrow (well, today- I need to get in bed)- I'll let you all know how it goes!