Alumna Here- SEC schools and online recs?

[AnchorAlumna]

Who's going to tell a precious 75-year-old alumna who doesn't have a computer that her hand-written copies won't be accepted?
Nobody, of course.

Every year - and I do mean EVERY year - I receive at least one "fancy" packet. Monogrammed, color-coordinated stationery, card stock (which drives me nuts - the damn stuff is heavy!), color-coordinated clips and bound with a ribbon in one of my sorority's colors.
This year's gem was a pastel gem clip binding it all together.

But most are on plain paper.

Back in the day, we heard tales of chapters receiving big tins of popcorn during work week with the rushee's photo on the top. Or stacks of pizzas delivered to the house with the rushee's photo on each lid. I personally never saw it but I heard about it!

[barnard1897]

Interestingly, my organization moved to exclusive online submissions several years ago. We have a 75 year old member in our alum group who caught on to this process very easily. Sometimes she has a few questions, usually when a PNM does not give us docs in the correct format (JPeg photo, pdf resume). The decision to move to total online was so that the recommendations could be tracked at our HQ and then sent to the right chapter's inbox. It was a bit of a transition to go paperless but I haven't heard a chapter complain, including our Alabama girls. The girls submit to our APH in paper and online format and that way everyone can work it out as their organization requires. I still use the hard copy as a reference so I don't go blind trying to read this stuff online. Sure don't miss my trips to the post office!

[barnard1897]

Interestingly, my organization moved to exclusive online submissions several years ago. We have a 75 year old member in our alum group who caught on to this process very easily. Sometimes she has a few questions, usually when a PNM does not give us docs in the correct format (JPeg photo, pdf resume). The decision to move to total online was so that the recommendations could be tracked at our HQ and then sent to the right chapter's inbox. It was a bit of a transition to go paperless but I haven't heard a chapter complain, including our Alabma girls. The girls submit to our APH in paper and online format and that way everyone can work it out as their organization requires. I still use the hard copy as a reference so I don't go blind trying to read this stuff online. Sure don't miss my trips to the post office!

[jenidallas]

I agree about the trips to the post office. The folders are the rule, not the exception here. I had to put a basket on my front porch for overflow mail when I was our area reference coordinator as the postman couldn't get the oversized envelopes into my mailbox.

Having worked the "back room" during recruitment at several chapters, the online recs will be wonderful. Almost all campuses have moved to online applications to manage PNMs (ICS is what I have seen at all the schools I've worked with) and organizations have developed their own software and mobile apps to interface with it and manage parties, membership selection, etc.

Frankly, this makes information MORE accessible to general members of the chapter who have a greater chance now of seeing a PNM's rec than in the past where all that paperwork was managed in a back room where only a few chapter members ventured during those long recruitment days.