recs

[Kristin AGD]

Originally posted by Adelphean
I'm very big on people who take initiative. Secure recs for yourself. If you're a GCer and you need a rec for my sorority then by all means ASK ME! I would be more than happy to write you a rec as would (at least I think) most other people on this board. I'm not trying to be cold when I say you should find your own rec, but IMO it reflects better on you that you took the intiative to find your own rec, without me having to find one for you.

-Lindsay

I agree that GCers on this board should be able to figure out if they are important at their school. And the information on this board gives adequate instruction about how to obtain recs for themselves.

It is the PNMs that do not frequent this board and blindly walk into rush based on the recruitment pamplet sent to them that concern me.

honeychile's posts is excellent! Sums it up nicely.

[aopinthesky]

Originally posted by Kristin AGD


It is the PNMs that do not frequent this board and blindly walk into rush based on the recruitment pamplet sent to them that concern me.

This is so true, Kristin. Anyone who reads these boards and is going through recruitment in the future should realize that recs never hurt and are absolutely necessary at some schools. When my daughter went through recruitment, the rush booklet didn't mention recs at all, although they are extremely helpful at her school. Those who don't know about GC (probably the majority) and are relying on their Greek Life office for information may be misinformed.

[honeychile]

:blush:


Thank you, ladies! I just believe that honesty is the best policy!

[Nhfulmer]

If I do not know a girl personally, Zeta allows me to write an "Information Only" sheet which can then be cleared to the Advisory Board for approval. I have been asked many, many times to write recs for girls whom I don't know and this is what I have done. I will not write a "recommended" or "highly recommended" sheet unless I know the girl personally and, preferably, her family. When I was an advisor, I insisted on being heavily involved in rush and talking in depth with the girls who the chapter was interested in and who would be cleared to the Advisory Board because they did not have a rec on file.

It is the responsibility of every alumna to send recs on any girl that she knows who is entering college. If the girl chooses not to rush, no harm has been done BUT harm may be done if an alum does not take the time to write that rec and the girl does rush. The rec can make the difference - especially if that school has a very competitive rush. It is the responsibility of the chapter to attempt to secure recs on girls for whom an alum has not voluntarily sent a rec. Zeta has Key Women in most major areas who will assist the chapters with securing information on a girl.

As I have posted on another thread, Zeta does require recs on each girl prior to her being invited to pref. As mentioned, these can be from the Advisory Board if one has not been sent voluntarily.

[honeychile]

Nhfulmer, your Information Only sheet sounds very similar to the one part of our rec sheet; what I've referred to as our "please take a second look at the PNM" section.

When I suggest that a Panhellenic spokesperson pave the way for the PNM to obtain recs, I'm suggesting that a list of the local alumnae be given to the PNM, who should then be responsible for making the actual contact/interview.

[AOIIalum]

Originally posted by Nhfulmer
It is the responsibility of every alumna to send recs on any girl that she knows who is entering college. If the girl chooses not to rush, no harm has been done BUT harm may be done if an alum does not take the time to write that rec and the girl does rush.

Just thought that bit was worth re-emphasizing. As alumnae, it's our responsibility, our right, and our privledge to write recs wherever and whenever possible.

[ThetaPrincess24]

Originally posted by aopinthesky
Some organizations do require them. Several people on this thread and other similar threads, have said that, in their sorority, they are required to have a rec on everyone to whom they offer a bid. Other organizations (mine, for one) do not have that policy and the weight given to a rec is strictly at the discretion of the chapter receiving it. As to Panhel requiring recs, that would be the same as the school naking such a requirement. Sororities have different ways of choosing their members and they are allowed to do it in the way they feel is best.

I wholeheartedly agree with you that if recs are really necessary then the PNM's need to be told this. It is going to differ from school to school, however. Many of the members of sororities requiring recs have stated that a rec will be found for anyone they really want to bid. To turn that around, if a sorority does not wish to offer a bid to someone, they can come up with 100 reasons that have nothing to do with recs or the lack of them.

very well stated!

[WCUgirl]

Originally posted by Kristin AGD It is the PNMs that do not frequent this board and blindly walk into rush based on the recruitment pamplet sent to them that concern me.

My whole problem with the whole issue is how many girls do this? Sororities spend so much time telling the girls on campus to "Go Greek" - we're trying to increase Panhellenic numbers by reaching out to the girls on campus who don't know much about sorority life anyways. How are they going to know they need a rec? Again, as honeychile said, honesty is the best policy.

I don't know very much about recs, and as I said in another post on the subject I had never heard of them before coming here a few months ago. I still don't know very much about them but it seems that they are consistently inconsistent from campus to campus.

[rainbowbrightCS]

Thank to both of you (exlurker and FSUZeta)

I am contacting my local alum office (in PHX and GA)


Christia

[pinkyphimu]

Originally posted by AZ-AlphaXi
re: collegiate panhellenic requiring recs

While its not a unanimous agreement there is an NPC written policy that states ("green book" page 39):

Letters of Recommendation

The responsibility for providing letters of recommendation for prospective new members rests with the members of NPC fraternities and recruitment information distributed through College and Alumnae Panhellenics shall contain nothing that infers that letters of recommendation must be secured by the PNM.

i think this bears repeating. maybe this isn't the best way, but this is the current policy. my guess is that most cph's don't put "please get your own recs" in their pamphlets or tell people when they call the office.

Nhfulmer
It is the responsibility of every alumna to send recs on any girl that she knows who is entering college.

i think this is another good point. it is definately easier for a sorority alum whose group doesn't require recs to know if the pnm's college is one for which recs are absolutely necessary.

[AGDLynn]

This is going to be my only comment on recs....

I am not going to post whether I will write a rec or not and I ask that the GC'er not either. Primary reason...just because I think a pnm is the best thing since Godiva double chocolate ice cream or the worst since ...okay won't go there , that doesn't mean whatever chapter I give it to will think the same.

A reminder to pnms...as stated in various posts, it's up to the chapter to know if the pnm will be an asset based on their individual makeup no matter what the written words say.

Other than that...lots of luck and have fun. Recruitment is stressful enough.

ETA, okay it's not my last word, lol Another reason I dont' want to post about any recs is because of all the drama that seems to go on with GC around recruitment time. I know that Christia and other young ladies are getting hyped up about something very important but is still several months away. So, PLEASE take a DEEP BREATH, EXHALE, and do your best!

You've got a lot to offer any organization!