Little Chapter, Big Recruitment: Spring 2009 - Page 10

LucyKKG · #1 02-05-2009, 07:03 PM

Yayyyy how exciting! Congratulations, silverpearls!

beccaminister · #2 02-05-2009, 07:42 PM

Many congratulations silverpearls and to the ladies of Venus. Please come back to let us know how COB goes and to show us pictures. I'm sure we'd love to know who "Venus" is!

LadyLonghorn · #3 02-05-2009, 08:43 PM

This was a great story and example of how hard work can start to turn a chapter around. Congrats to you and your sisters!

APhiAnna · #4 02-06-2009, 05:42 AM

I wouldn't worry about it...you got Zoe, Danielle, Lilly and Jenny, four girls you wanted from day one...I am sure if you got those girls, the rest of your 26 girls are fantastic as well! I am positive you are gonna do so well in COB and I can't WAIT for Part II!!! As soon as you are comfortable (if you are ever, I understand if you aren't) I would love to see pictures, or at least know your affiliation. This has been my favorite recruitment thread, bar none. I can't wait until next recruitment season when people steal your idea! This has been more fun than any thread and I am so proud of your chapter.

Emilyzd · #5 02-06-2009, 10:10 AM

Congrats on your new members!!

I have really enjoyed reading this thread!!!!! Good Luck!!

BBelleADPi · #6 02-06-2009, 10:33 AM

Silverpearls:

Thank you so much for posting your chapter's story. There isn't a single sorority that doesn't have a chapter on campus somewhere that isn't now, or has been, in your situation. While we'd all like to think "our" group is always the most wanted chapter everywhere during recruitment, it simply isn't so. We all have chapters that are the best, in the middle, and struggling-and often for similar reasons. I think many of us who have been around for awhile have also seen the turnaround on campuses-where the lofty fall, and the others rise. I actually know of one campus where that is happening right now; a chapter that has always been the most desired has finally succumbed to internal strife, graduating many seniors, and other issues. They have had to COB for the first time in years, and the girls they have taken are ones they would previously have not given a second glance. They have also done their share of dirty rushing in years past with their main competitor. Things can change, both for the bad and the good.

Your story is so heartwarming, and an excellent example of not letting the naysayers get the best of you. I can tell that you and your sisters will "keep on keeping on." Something else to think about-often the "top" chapters aren't as close on the inside as those who are pulling together for the common cause. Stay invigorated, keep the enthusiasm, and enjoy the adventure. And please pass on our congratulations to your girls on a job well done!

Katmandu · #7 02-06-2009, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BBelleADPi

Silverpearls:

There isn't a single sorority that doesn't have a chapter on campus somewhere that isn't now, or has been, in your situation. While we'd all like to think "our" group is always the most wanted chapter everywhere during recruitment, it simply isn't so. We all have chapters that are the best, in the middle, and struggling-and often for similar reasons. I think many of us who have been around for awhile have also seen the turnaround on campuses-where the lofty fall, and the others rise.

This is so true, and that is why hearing about how a chapter worked to turn it around is such a good object lesson.

Recently, I was shocked to hear about the struggles of a group on my old campus. Twenty years ago, they were very competitive, always attracting their share of top new members, active on campus with a good solid reputation, always at full quota and total.

But, take a little internal strife, mix it with a year or two of poor choices for officers, a couple of shaky formal recruitments, and suddenly they were way down in numbers as frustrated members de-activated and new members quit prior to initiation. Following that, several difficult years of struggling to make quota, fill a large house and turn around campus perceptions and stereotypes. One situation leads to another in a cascade effect, and it takes hard work and the cooperation of a lot of people plus maybe a little luck to turn it around.

Perhaps this thread has received such a response because so many of us realize it could happen to any chapter, given the right kindling.

axoalum · #8 02-06-2009, 04:36 PM

Congrats! Ya'll rock!!! I was out of town overnight and away from my computer. The first thing I did when I got back was run to check your thread. I can't wait to hear how COB goes.

AlphaXi_Husky · #9 02-08-2009, 12:34 AM

This is a such a wonderful story. Silverpearls, I am so happy for you and your chapter and wish you guys all the best. Kick butt in COB - and please keep us updated!

silverpearls · #10 02-09-2009, 10:22 PM

COB started tonight! The event went really well - we had 13 girls come out and there will be more at the next event (some couldn't make it because of class conflicts). A fair number of them were girls who dropped out of Formal Recruitment, so I was really glad to see that the were giving us another chance. Two have gone through our COB before and told sisters they didn't receive Bids, so we were a little surprised to see them back.

Overall everyone seemed to be having a great time doing the activity and chatting. Our New Members were great! A few brought friends to COB and all of them were very outgoing and sweet with the PNMs. I can't wait for the next event! And by Friday we'll have our final count for this Spring's pledge class! I'm a little nervous, but even if we didn't get a single one we already have an amazing group.

UGAalum94 · #11 02-09-2009, 10:38 PM

Congrats! It sounds like you all are doing really well this spring and moving in the right direction!

srmom · #12 02-10-2009, 12:19 PM

Good luck - it seems y'all are on the right track!!

AlphaXi_Husky · #13 02-10-2009, 01:30 PM

All of that sounds great, silverpearls! Lots of luck for a successful COB week for you and your chapter!

LucyKKG · #14 02-10-2009, 07:22 PM

Aww yay! I'm sure you girls will do fine.

silverpearls · #15 02-11-2009, 11:12 PM

Tonight was the second night of COB! We had 14 PNMs come out, including some repeats and a lot of new faces... between the two nights, we've had 21 PNMs at COB! It's so exciting that we're meeting so many. We've meet a lot of really high-quality girls, and they seem pretty interested. So far there a lot of girls everybody loves, a few most don't like and only one on which sisters are divided. Luckily there are only 21, so voting on Friday shouldn't take too long.

I'll update again on Friday night to let you know how things go. We'll extend bids by phone late Friday night, so I may know at that point who our final spring pledge class will be... so exciting!! Remember, all we need is 14 to make quota - for the first time ever!!