Automatic Total readjustment

[33girl]

Originally Posted by AGDee

I think one of the common mistakes chapters make is to try to repeats of formal recruitment for COR. Having a sisterhood? Have sisters invite their friends to it. Game night? Invite a few friends. Philanthropy event? Invite a few friends. Like DBB, invite women over for meals. When chapters try to do big formal recruitment events over and over, month after month, they totally burn out.

Yes, for the love of all that's holy. Some women are attracted to COB BECAUSE it's not theme parties and such. Don't disappoint them by having them walk into name tag and balloon land. The more relaxed the sisterhood is, the more receptive to the idea of membership PNMs will be.

G & Q - it's all in what you're used to and like I said in the other thread, some of the pledge programs are set up with movable modules to give wiggle room.

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Yes, for the love of all that's holy. Some women are attracted to COB BECAUSE it's not theme parties and such. Don't disappoint them by having them walk into name tag and balloon land. The more relaxed the sisterhood is, the more receptive to the idea of membership PNMs will be.

I had a dinner with my alumnae chapter a couple weeks ago. We started talking about the different types of recruitment systems we each went through at our respective schools, and we discussed why we decided to go Greek. At one point I said, "If I went to one of these huge schools with intense/competitive recruitments, I probably never would have joined any sorority," and a few others piped up (our national president included) and agreed, saying they never would have either.

Even at schools with huge recruitment systems, there are girls on campus who don't even know they want to be in a sorority. Or perhaps they do, but they don't thrive in the type of environment that formal recruitment creates, so they shy away from Greek life altogether. Those are the women that COB was built for. There are great potential members walking all over campuses across the country, but they never attempt to join because the chants, hair-flipping, and skits freak them out. And hey, let's be honest: sometimes those things even freak out the girls going through formal who have been prepping for it their whole lives.

[DGTess]

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

I had a dinner with my alumnae chapter a couple weeks ago. We started talking about the different types of recruitment systems we each went through at our respective schools, and we discussed why we decided to go Greek. At one point I said, "If I went to one of these huge schools with intense/competitive recruitments, I probably never would have joined any sorority," and a few others piped up (our national president included) and agreed, saying they never would have either.

Even at schools with huge recruitment systems, there are girls on campus who don't even know they want to be in a sorority. Or perhaps they do, but they don't thrive in the type of environment that formal recruitment creates, so they shy away from Greek life altogether. Those are the women that COB was built for. There are great potential members walking all over campuses across the country, but they never attempt to join because the chants, hair-flipping, and skits freak them out. And hey, let's be honest: sometimes those things even freak out the girls going through formal who have been prepping for it their whole lives.

I'm with you. I can think of nothing that says "stay away" more than a door completely packed with women looking out, but that's me. I was not in the least upset when daughter chose not to rush at Texas; though I had no clue what Texas rush was like, the rush booklet turned me off.

Perhaps that is why this column speaks to me so strongly. To me, it's the perfect COB technique, though I'm nearly certain it wouldn't bring in 20 or 30 a semester.

[sigmadiva]

Originally Posted by DGTess

I'm with you. I can think of nothing that says "stay away" more than a door completely packed with women looking out, but that's me. I was not in the least upset when daughter chose not to rush at Texas; though I had no clue what Texas rush was like, the rush booklet turned me off.

Perhaps that is why this column speaks to me so strongly. To me, it's the perfect COB technique, though I'm nearly certain it wouldn't bring in 20 or 30 a semester.

If I may chime in....

You have to realize that most girls who go to Texas and rush have been prepared for it since birth, and they come from strong GLO families, so they know what to expect.

FYI - there is a lot of grooming that goes on in the South. You get groomed to join the "right" sorority, join the "right" social group like Junior League, find the "right" husband, live in the "right" neighborhood, and the list goes on.....

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by sigmadiva

If I may chime in....

You have to realize that most girls who go to Texas and rush have been prepared for it since birth, and they come from strong GLO families, so they know what to expect.

FYI - there is a lot of grooming that goes on in the South. You get groomed to join the "right" sorority, join the "right" social group like Junior League, find the "right" husband, live in the "right" neighborhood, and the list goes on.....

Yes, but what about the girls who go to Texas and don't rush? That's the point we're trying to make: there is a huge amount of untapped potential walking around on college campuses, but with girls lined up at the door to join, the thousands and thousands of others are overlooked.

ETA: and the crazy door chants don't help

Of course every campus is different, but having to COB is not the worst thing that could happen (as long as total is readjusted properly, all chapters stay strong, and COB is done the "right" way).

[sigmadiva]

I understand your point.

The same is true for the NPHC. Before the current MIP (membership intake process), there were aspects to joining that were just strange, some might even say a bit inhumane. But, if you were already aware then some of that pledging process was just part of becoming a member.

I think where the argument may fall apart today is there is so much information available online that it is best to do your research before going.

[DGTess]

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

Yes, but what about the girls who go to Texas and don't rush? That's the point we're trying to make: there is a huge amount of untapped potential walking around on college campuses, but with girls lined up at the door to join, the thousands and thousands of others are overlooked.

Last time I asked that question, I was essentially told "Don't worry about them; we don't need them because we have enough women interested already."

[FSUZeta]

Originally Posted by DGTess

Last time I asked that question, I was essentially told "Don't worry about them; we don't need them because we have enough women interested already."

That is what I was going to say, only in a more diplomatic way. There are enough girls who are willing to go thru rush at Bama, Auburn, Georgia, Texas, etc., and the enrollment is open to all women on campus. It is up to them to enroll.

If some feel intimidated and decide not to enroll in recruitment it is unfortunate for them, but as statistics prove the chapters are not wanting for new members.

And I would say that those women who did not enroll in recruitment at "huge recruitment" universities are the ones who missed out, because they never even gave it a try.

[AnchorAlumna]

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

Yes, but what about the girls who go to Texas and don't rush? That's the point we're trying to make: there is a huge amount of untapped potential walking around on college campuses, but with girls lined up at the door to join, the thousands and thousands of others are overlooked.

SOME of this has to come from the unpledged women. Just because someone might make a great sorority member, doesn't mean they have to become one.
At some point, a student who knows nothing about Greeks at her school is going to encounter the system. They can ask questions, do some research and decide either "that's for me" or "I'm staying far, far away."
But the first decision originates with them...not the sororities or the way they recruit.

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by DGTess

I'm with you. I can think of nothing that says "stay away" more than a door completely packed with women looking out, but that's me. I was not in the least upset when daughter chose not to rush at Texas; though I had no clue what Texas rush was like, the rush booklet turned me off.

Perhaps that is why this column speaks to me so strongly. To me, it's the perfect COB technique, though I'm nearly certain it wouldn't bring in 20 or 30 a semester.

By the way, love this idea. So simple!

[irishpipes]

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

I had a dinner with my alumnae chapter a couple weeks ago. We started talking about the different types of recruitment systems we each went through at our respective schools, and we discussed why we decided to go Greek. At one point I said, "If I went to one of these huge schools with intense/competitive recruitments, I probably never would have joined any sorority," and a few others piped up (our national president included) and agreed, saying they never would have either.

Even at schools with huge recruitment systems, there are girls on campus who don't even know they want to be in a sorority. Or perhaps they do, but they don't thrive in the type of environment that formal recruitment creates, so they shy away from Greek life altogether. Those are the women that COB was built for. There are great potential members walking all over campuses across the country, but they never attempt to join because the chants, hair-flipping, and skits freak them out. And hey, let's be honest: sometimes those things even freak out the girls going through formal who have been prepping for it their whole lives.

However, the big competitive recruitments can be seen as a rite of passage. So, members who join by just hanging out informally may deal with resentment from members who had to endure the ups and downs of FR. The FR experience is sort of a common bond.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by irishpipes

However, the big competitive recruitments can be seen as a rite of passage. So, members who join by just hanging out informally may deal with resentment from members who had to endure the ups and downs of FR. The FR experience is sort of a common bond.

I would hope that as long as they show that they're going to be an active member ESPECIALLY during rush that there wouldn't be any long-term ostracism or anything. I do agree that even if you joined outside of formal rush, you still need to learn how to do it well. I'm betting there are lots of girls who are terrified of FR when it's the first thing they see on campus - but after a year and membership in a group, it's not so scary and something they might even excel at.