Alumnae Panhellenics

[aopirose]

I agree with dakareng. The amount of work varies by association. As I mentioned in the other thread, I work with two associations. One is recognized by NPC and the other is not. In the recognized group, we meet every other month with summers off. We have a business meeting and program and an optional social at another time. We have one big Annual Meeting, in May, that coincides with our scholarship auction. We also host a high school (HS) information session for PNMs and their parents in June. We mail over 1500 invitations for this event. Interested girls fill out a form so that the HS list can be composed. Member groups use this list so that they can determine for whom they will write recommendations. In addition to these events, we also work with the Travelers Aid Society and Dress for Success.

Getting new groups to participate has been a challenge. For example, while perusing the local wedding/engagement announcements, I came across a recently married area D Phi E. My first thought was to contact shadokat and have her go through official D Phi E channels to have this woman contact me. Things didn’t pan out because the woman had not updated her records with HQ. We also have no active AST participation and they have a collegiate chapter less then an hour from here. I know that they have New Orleans girls in that chapter.

I guess it just really depends on how much time that you feel that you can spare. Panhellenic meetings/activities may require 2-3 hours/month. Some people would rather utilize that time in other ways. However, my biggest problem this year has been finding babysitters because Mr. aopirose travels. Another could have to do with cost. Some Alumnae chapters don’t budget for Panhellenic dues so the dues would fall on an individual member. We have a sliding dues structure based on chapter size. The most a chapter would pay is $75. If there is an individual without a chapter like AGD, the cost is only $5.

One more reason may go back to old rivalries. I was talking with a friend’s mom this weekend that is an XYZ. She told me that the reason that she doesn’t participate on the Panhellenic level. It is because there is a particular delegate that she doesn’t like. The reason goes back to when they were pledges more then 40 years ago in Texas.

The unrecognized group is a piece of cake – 6 hours/year tops. Each year we host a HS info session and every other fall we have a fashion show. That’s it!

I like AP because I have two extra “chapters” to call my own. There is nothing like having Panhellenic girlfriends!

CutiePie2000, I agree. Shala Rocks!