Saving a chapter? - Page 2

Alumnea33 · #16 01-19-2009, 07:57 PM

KSUViolet06.. I "freaked out" because I asked for help and you were the only person to offer anything of value... at the time. I appreciate the additional posts. I know about the solution being within and all that stuff... I'm looking for stories for encouragement.

I'm not an advisor, just a concerned alumna. I am trying to rally other alumnae (you are right EW, I spelled it wrong) into action. We can't do anything, the recruitment has to come from the chapter itself but we can support the girls, throw money at the chapter for parties, cute tshirts, and great pr, and help encourage the advisors (and step up to be one ourselves) but we are a young chapter with young alumnae who are starting our own families... so I am just looking for examples of chapters that have succeeded in saving itself.

I did search for stories and found great stuff about toast songs and one or two threads about struggling chapters but again, I'm just looking for success stories. Just like we like to read about peoples rush stories, I want success stories. That is all.

Thanks for the help KSUViolet06 and ree-Xi... for what it is worth.

PS KSUViolet06, that was one of the few threads I found.

KSUViolet06 · #17 01-19-2009, 08:06 PM

This thread ha some good recruitment-related info in it, if your chapter's issue is one with recruitment:

http://greekchat.com/gcforums/showthread.php?p=1764632

texas*princess · #18 01-19-2009, 09:21 PM

I just want to preface this by saying I'm not trying to be mean... just trying to be helpful.

* If the OP truly is a "life long" Greekchatter, he / she would know that a lot of the older members like for people to utilize the Search function.

* Without specifics as to what problem is (is it a risk management issue that is hurting the chapter? A money problem? A programming problem? A numbers problem?) there isn't much people can say to help. Therefore you won't really get any posts of "value"

33girl · #19 01-20-2009, 02:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alumna33

. We can't do anything, the recruitment has to come from the chapter itself but we can support the girls, throw money at the chapter for parties, cute tshirts, and great pr

Make sure your shit is straight with (in this order) your nationals, your chapter alumnae, and your college - no monies owed anywhere, no risk management issues, no drama, what's past is past. Do this before wasting money on "parties and cute t shirts."

Then stand back and let the women recruit. As you said, it has to come from them - not you. If they decide they don't care if the chapter dies, you really can't do anything about it.

Reading "success stories" isn't going to help if the ways a chapter turned itself around have no bearing on your situation. It's not going to matter a damn if ABC won Greek week and that turned their chapter around, if winning Greek week is not something people on your campus care about or respect.

Alumnea33 · #20 01-20-2009, 07:48 AM

I am a long time greekchatter but I normally stick to my groups board and sometimes the recruitment board. But this is besides the point...

Don't you all ever like to read or watch encouraging stories about people or groups that aren't "just-like-you"? That is all I am asking about, but maybe you are all right, in that this was a pointless thread. That I won't get anything of value. But atleast I threw the idea out there to ask if anyone had a story to share.

Thanks for all the help.

ASTalumna06 · #21 01-20-2009, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alumnea33

I am a long time greekchatter but I normally stick to my groups board and sometimes the recruitment board. But this is besides the point...

Don't you all ever like to read or watch encouraging stories about people or groups that aren't "just-like-you"? That is all I am asking about, but maybe you are all right, in that this was a pointless thread. That I won't get anything of value. But atleast I threw the idea out there to ask if anyone had a story to share.

Thanks for all the help.

If you just asked for stories, that's one thing. But this was your first post:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alumnea33

Hey all... I need help. I'm an alumnea of my sorority and need some help. Could you all post your stories of a chapter going under and how they turned it around without having to close it's doors for a time.

Thanks!

You said you need help. If you were just looking for encouraging stories, then you might have heard some. But you sounded as if you were originally looking to help turn YOUR chapter around. If that's the case, ask a question, and anyone here would be more than willing to answer it.

ree-Xi · #22 01-20-2009, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alumnea33

Thanks for the help KSUViolet06 and ree-Xi... for what it is worth.

Not sure you even read my post, but I guess the proper response is "you are welcome". This is why I rarely give advice, because people are not really looking for ways to solve their own problems. They don't want to do the work.

I just read that you are an alum. You really have no influence on the chapter as it exists right now. Next time you ask for help, please be clearer in what you are looking for.

By the way, "throwing money at the chapter", cute t-shirts, and the like won't solve the problem(s), which again, you have yet to detail. It's like putting icing on a crappy cake, just hiding what's below the surface.

Good luck with that.

VandalSquirrel · #23 01-20-2009, 09:59 PM

My only advice (has nothing to do with this thread and the postings, just a general situation) is that if you and other young alumnae want to help the chapter, you work with HQ, the chapter advisors, and even the alumnae chapter that may be assigned to help the college chapter. Working together is what needs to happen to support the women, because if anyone gets hurt feelings or their toes stepped on, it could make things worse for the women and close the chapter.

Jimmy Choo · #24 01-20-2009, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VandalSquirrel

My only advice (has nothing to do with this thread and the postings, just a general situation) is that if you and other young alumnae want to help the chapter, you work with HQ, the chapter advisors, and even the alumnae chapter that may be assigned to help the college chapter. Working together is what needs to happen to support the women, because if anyone gets hurt feelings or their toes stepped on, it could make things worse for the women and close the chapter.

This is kind of along the lines of what I would have said. As a chapter advisor myself alumnae help with a chapter, struggling or not, is always welcome. However you do have to go through the proper channels. I know if another alumna just started showing up and doing stuff while I would be grateful I would be a bit miffed as well. So contact your HQ and see how you can help with this chapter and just go from there.