question

[Griffins&Quills]

Chapters usually have more time slots than the number of parties so that the number of PNMs at each party is less, and therefore more manageable

[LAblondeGPhi]

Originally Posted by UNCalum

I was curious about chapter numbers, and looked at the Spring 2014 grade report. This chapter had anywhere from 40 - 70 fewer members than the other houses. The average size is about 170. This was also before the Senior class graduated. Hopefully today (Round Two) will be more manageable for them with fewer girls attending parties. (I assume there are fewer girls....my daughter has 8 parties but there were 10 time slots to accommodate everyone.) I'm not quite sure how it works..

One of the few drawbacks of RFM for small chapters is that the smaller/weaker chapters often have far more PNMs in their invitational rounds than the strong recruiting chapters.

The strong chapters know that they'll have a majority of PNMs choose to return for subsequent rounds, so they might only need to have a total of 80 PNMs in their first invitational round, where the smaller chapter may need 120 in order for both chapters to hit quota of 20 on bid day. This really exacerbates the problem.

Originally Posted by Griffins&Quills

Chapters usually have more time slots than the number of parties so that the number of PNMs at each party is less, and therefore more manageable

The extra parties really have the ability to help out, but it seems that usually this is geared to making party sizes more manageable for all of the chapters, with no special consideration for a small chapter. What smaller chapters need is often a couple of extra parties that the rest of the chapters don't have (i.e. - 15 party time slots for PNMs to visit a max of 8 chapters, strong chapters use 12 time slots with 3 breaks, smaller chapters use all 15). Do any campuses do that?

[clemsongirl]

Originally Posted by LAblondeGPhi

One of the cruelest twists in RFM for small chapters is that the smaller/weaker chapters often have far more PNMs in their invitational rounds than the strong recruiting chapters.

The strong chapters know that they'll have a majority of PNMs choose to return for subsequent rounds, so they might only need to have a total of 80 PNMs in their first invitational round, where the smaller chapter may need 120 in order for both chapters to hit quota of 20 on bid day. This really exacerbates the problem.

The extra parties really have the ability to help out, but it seems that usually this is geared to making party sizes more manageable for all of the chapters, with no special consideration for a small chapter. What smaller chapters need is often a couple of extra parties that the rest of the chapters don't have (i.e. - 15 party time slots for PNMs to visit a max of 8 chapters, strong chapters use 12 time slots with 3 breaks, smaller chapters use all 15). Do any campuses do that?

At Clemson we are only allowed to have as many sisters as the smallest chapter can provide on the floor for the first round, in order to even the playing field somewhat. I actually didn't even attend recruitment one of the nights because my bump group wasn't on the floor for that night. I don't think this extends past first round, but it's better than nothing.

I also know that we normally only hold three Preference parties when there are four time slots, which I believe gives smaller chapters the chance to hold four parties if they want to or need to.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by clemsongirl

At Clemson we are only allowed to have as many sisters as the smallest chapter can provide on the floor for the first round, in order to even the playing field somewhat. I actually didn't even attend recruitment one of the nights because my bump group wasn't on the floor for that night. I don't think this extends past first round, but it's better than nothing.

This is an extremely nice idea. It helps with that first impression that is so important. Bravo to your Panhellenic for their kindness.

[TriDeltaSallie]

Originally Posted by clemsongirl

At Clemson we are only allowed to have as many sisters as the smallest chapter can provide on the floor for the first round, in order to even the playing field somewhat. I actually didn't even attend recruitment one of the nights because my bump group wasn't on the floor for that night. I don't think this extends past first round, but it's better than nothing.

I have never heard of this, but that is an amazingly Panhellenic approach.

[AGDee]

Originally Posted by clemsongirl

At Clemson we are only allowed to have as many sisters as the smallest chapter can provide on the floor for the first round, in order to even the playing field somewhat. I actually didn't even attend recruitment one of the nights because my bump group wasn't on the floor for that night. I don't think this extends past first round, but it's better than nothing.

I also know that we normally only hold three Preference parties when there are four time slots, which I believe gives smaller chapters the chance to hold four parties if they want to or need to.

That's the kind of thing I'd like to see NPC push. That's great

As for the one year or next formal recruitment issue if you back out- It is different for deferred recruitment schools. In those cases, there is not a whole summer to separate informal from formal. You could decide the night before Initiation in December that you're not going through with it and then participate in formal recruitment in January. Perhaps 6 months would be a better time frame? Or one full school term?

[LAblondeGPhi]

I don't know if it was my post that sparked the RFM is good discussion - I in no way meant to imply that RFM was bad, and I'm a huge fan of RFM, like most folks here. I only meant to explain the some of the disparity in party sizes and ability for smaller chapters to handle all the PNMs that they host throughout recruitment.

Originally Posted by clemsongirl

At Clemson we are only allowed to have as many sisters as the smallest chapter can provide on the floor for the first round, in order to even the playing field somewhat. I actually didn't even attend recruitment one of the nights because my bump group wasn't on the floor for that night. I don't think this extends past first round, but it's better than nothing.

I also know that we normally only hold three Preference parties when there are four time slots, which I believe gives smaller chapters the chance to hold four parties if they want to or need to.

That's amazingly Panhellenic of your Greek system! Unfortunately, I've seen systems that basically ignore the needs of the small chapter(s) on campus out of laziness and/or indifference.

[Titchou]

Originally Posted by LAblondeGPhi

I don't know if it was my post that sparked the RFM is good discussion - I in no way meant to imply that RFM was bad, and I'm a huge fan of RFM, like most folks here.

I think your statement "one of the cruelest twists of RFM" would indicate that you have several serious issues with RFM. But then again, I only know what you wrote.

[LAblondeGPhi]

Originally Posted by Titchou

I think your statement "one of the cruelest twists of RFM" would indicate that you have several serious issues with RFM. But then again, I only know what you wrote.

Ah - in my head, I was thinking more "ironic twist". I fixed it.

[dukedg]

Originally Posted by clemsongirl

At Clemson we are only allowed to have as many sisters as the smallest chapter can provide on the floor for the first round, in order to even the playing field somewhat. I actually didn't even attend recruitment one of the nights because my bump group wasn't on the floor for that night. I don't think this extends past first round, but it's better than nothing.

I also know that we normally only hold three Preference parties when there are four time slots, which I believe gives smaller chapters the chance to hold four parties if they want to or need to.

I just wanted to confirm that we do this for Day 1 at UC Davis too (we use the lower number of what the fire marshal will allow at the smallest physical house or smallest chapter can accommodate with sisters on the floor).

After Day 1, we have one optional party a day each sorority can select to do if they need to spread out the PNMs more.