Recruitment 2010 news

[Titchou]

Re Arkansas - didn't they add AOPi a couple of years ago?

Re thank you's - Delta Gamma's form has a place where the alum can mark that they want to know what the PNM pledged.

[SWTXBelle]

USC (Southern Ca.) sent me a card last year detailing where my rec. girl had gone. It seemed to be a form from HQ. I do wish more chapters would let their rec writers know 1.) they received the rec and 2.) what ends up happening with the pnm.

[NUBlue&Blue]

I've never received a card, but I was "shown the ropes" as to our local rec customs by a friend with a daughter older than mine.

1) Secure recs and deliver/mail packages (or email) packages with resume, picture, stamped addressed envelope along with note thanking said person for writing rec.

2) 2-3 weeks after delivery of packet, mail thank you note to everyone you asked to write a rec. This helps as a reminder to those who haven't done it yet to get moving. Usually just say something like "Thank you so much for writing me a recommendation for Kappa Kappa Gamma! I'm so excited to go to Georgia and I look forward to meeting so many new people during recruitment! Thanks again, Susie"

3) After recruitment, send note thanking each person again for writing rec and telling them how it turned out. Doesn't need to say more than "I had such a great time at rush and meeting all the girls at Kappa Kappa Gamma and appreciate your recommendation. I pledged Delta Delta Delta and love all my new sisters. Thanks again for helping me with my recruitment."

I can't tell you how many people commented to me that they had received my daughters' "sweet note" and are now always willing to help me out when I ask for recs for any of my kids' friends. A little courtesy and personal attention goes a long way.

[gee_ess]

Originally Posted by Titchou

Re Arkansas - didn't they add AOPi a couple of years ago?

Yes, AOPi has joined the campus, and done so very successfully. I believe they came in 05 or 06.

Carnation is right. It takes a lot of money to compete with the older, more established chapters on campus and the main way to compete is with housing. AOPi did a good job - built a beautiful house right on sorority row - which made all the difference so early.

Anyone who comes on campus must adhere to some pretty strict housing rules set by the U of A, but, imo, it is worth it. What an opportunity for a GLO to build a strong chapter! There are SO many women interested in Greek Life!

I believe it is an actual hardship on the current chapters to keep giving them these large pledge classes, and the University is doing nothing to alleviate these problems

(can you tell I get riled up about this?)

[NUBlue&Blue]

Originally Posted by gee_ess

I believe it is an actual hardship on the current chapters to keep giving them these large pledge classes, and the University is doing nothing to alleviate these problems

(can you tell I get riled up about this?)

It is hard on these chapters to keep having such large classes, no matter what the scale. Even at Georgia Tech, where the pledge class numbers were in the high 40's, that was about 10 girls too many for the size of their chapter rooms, dining rooms, etc. After about 4 years of even just an extra 10 girls, you're bursting at the seams.

On the other hand, it's hard to do anything about it with any kind of speed. It's kind of like building new schools in fast growing areas (if you're from the Atlanta area, you know what I'm talking about). By the time something can actually be done, the problem is so big that the relief isn't enough. The process for adding a new chapter to campus takes awhile, and in old established places doesn't necessarily mean it's going to be successful right away either. And then there's the problem of equality in housing...depending on the commitment from the national office, there may or may not be money for a house. In the case of my daughters' chapter at GT, they were the newest chapter (until the addition of Alpha Phi) on campus, coming on in 1989 but did not have a house until just a few years ago. It was relatively new when my daughter was a freshman in 2005 and they are unable to hold chapter meetings there because they have too many girls.....already. And they have the newest and biggest house.

For everyone's sake, I wish it was easy.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by NUBlue&Blue

The process for adding a new chapter to campus takes awhile, and in old established places doesn't necessarily mean it's going to be successful right away either.

This is the biggest problem. If sororities KNEW they could come in and have huge numbers immediately and keep them there, they wouldn't hesitate to take out the mother of all loans because they'd make it back in a few years with member dues. However, the university cannot make women join chapters, and at some of these schools the rushees would rather be nothing at all than go "new sorority."

The only thing the university could conceivably do would be to put an immovable cap on the groups (i.e. no group can have more than 200, screw quota) and again, if girls at schools like this got dropped by the "top" group they want, many would rather drop out of rush completely.

It's a really huge risk that can conceivably cripple a whole national organization if it doesn't work out well.

[KSUViolet06]

Aren't there a couple other schools with this same kind of thing going on (huge chapters, huge quota, need for expansion, other NPCs hesitant make the investment of coming to campus?)

[gee_ess]

Originally Posted by 33girl

This is the biggest problem. If sororities KNEW they could come in and have huge numbers immediately and keep them there, they wouldn't hesitate to take out the mother of all loans because they'd make it back in a few years with member dues. However, the university cannot make women join chapters, and at some of these schools the rushees would rather be nothing at all than go "new sorority."

The only thing the university could conceivably do would be to put an immovable cap on the groups (i.e. no group can have more than 200, screw quota) and again, if girls at schools like this got dropped by the "top" group they want, many would rather drop out of rush completely.

It's a really huge risk that can conceivably cripple a whole national organization if it doesn't work out well.

I wish Irishpipes would chime in - I know she was involved in the ARkansas AOPi experience and could give more info. Aopi came in with big plans and huge support nationally, and it made all the difference on campus. I can't speak to their actual numbers, but the "feel" (tent talk?) on campus is they are a good group and are building a good solid reputation.
I am sure it was tough and stressful and quite expensive, but I really believe that they are doing well and adding to Greek Life.

With regard to how slow the process is, I imagine that is true, but the 'head in the sand' approach to this that the U of A takes is so frustrating. Just get the ball rolling!!