At Iowa, the only thing a rec will do is help the chapter know more about you and maybe entice chapter officers to talk to you more than a normal PNM. They are absolutely not needed.
You might want to add a caveot that this applies only to your own sorority. It would be hard to claim this applies for all the organizations as you aren't privy to that information.
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AOII
One Motto, One Badge, One Bond and Singleness of Heart!