Retro Recruitment as we wait . . .

[SweetTeaParty]

Finally . . we come to the Scary house!







Now YOU can learn WHAT it was that made them SCARY.










After years of falling numbers, they hadn't taken a single member the previous year! There were only 8 of them left on campus. Now, this was NOT due to some rule violation or social probation – no, they were wonderful sweethearts! They had what I now recognize as a “weak recruitment skills” chapter. Nice ladies who didn't have good leadership or strong interpersonal skills. And THIS is the reason NPC made such a good move with the RFM recruitment.

Then, the doors swung open to reveal two dozen drop-dead gorgeous women singing songs and we were welcomed into their beautiful, beautiful house. They had invited a stellar chapter from another school to help them with recruitment, it seemed a little disingenuous to us.


(But, what did we know? We were PNMs!)



They sang and clapped and praised their philanthropy, but it made no difference. We were silent as we left – really there was nothing to say. We all knew they were dying.

[SweetTeaParty]

Later that night I got together with my roommate to ask her what she thought.

“It's all a bunch of bunk,” she said. “I can't believe my family is forcing me to go through this!”

She was impressed only with the non-sorority Gingers. “If only they weren't so intellectual and bookish.” (She hated studying) “Maybe,” she mused, “I should just join the Scary house. I could do what I want and my family can't say I didn't join a group.”

I was mortified. Weren't you supposed to be a sister and love your GLO? Who would join just to pacify someone else?

[ladybug12]

Loving this! Just what we needed as recruitments kick off!

More please!!!!!

[SweetTeaParty]

I had made plans to join a study group the next morning in the library. While there, the talk turned to recruitment. That's when I learned the 'facts' from a sophomore gossip girl (incidentally, she had resigned her bid the previous year):

Posh would only take whatever quota would end up being. Posh was the best at recruitment, and they were at house limit already (60) – A poll of the PNM's would have revealed that at least half of them wanted this group.

Sporty was another strong recruitment group. They could take a few more than the projected quota before they reached the house limit of 60.

Baby was a medium recruitment group. Their “girly-girl” attitude was actually a hazard to them. Most college women wanted a more adult attitude by the time thery were upperclasswomen, so members lost interest in a few years. They managed to hit quota most years. (Still, Kathy and I LOVED them.)

Ginger was not as strong a recruitment group – but usually came within 4 or 5 of quota. They projected that alternative ideal of independent strong women. Some did like their attitude.

Scary was toast. We all knew it.

The skits started up that night! The skits were all based on Broadway musicals. I was so excited! I had been in the choir in HS and we had sung Broadway songs all the time. Plus, I participated in the Drama Club and we had done musicals every spring. There would be little time to talk to the members as they would hand us snacks, seat us and start the show.

I couldn't wait.

[SweetTeaParty]

Posh: Once again, they surprised us by covering the upstairs opening to their TV room with a curtain. While we were seated in the chapter room, the curtain opened up with all of the Posh ladies crammed into the opening. They were all dressed as Victorian “Newsy-girls” and they sang songs to an awed audience. The way they cleverly used their open upstairs in the skit was amazing and one member was even raised up on a swing to the higher level, while singing!

No wonder they were considered the top recruiters!

Sporty: Their show had an 1950's theme, complete with poodle skirts and a soda shop. The “non-skit members” were dressed as waitresses and we were served milkshakes! I still could see myself in this group. I tried to tell my hostess this, but they had to get us out for the next group.

Baby: Once again, SO CUTE! They had a tropical island (Hawaiian) theme. Their costumes were adorable hula skirts and sarongs. I loved it and gushed all over my hostess! In fact, I was mentally picking out my Letter-tee!

Ginger: They had a dark-themed show (Chicago) – and I didn't like it. It wasn't bubbly and fun. They came across tawdry and a little low-life.

Scary: They also did Chicago! Their imported chapter had used it for their own skit. It was much better than Ginger's because it didn't concentrate on the dark-theme. They even had an entire line of tap dancers for the finale (All that Jazz).

At the end of the night I was confidant that I was Baby-bound.

[SweetTeaParty]

That night was the only round of releases. The PNMs didn't rank; after we received an envelope with cards from our invite chapters, we could only accept 2 parties. You would sign the back of the two cards you accepted and then drop them into a box.

Mentally I ranked them as:

Baby
Sporty/Posh
Ginger
Scary

Hopefully, I would have a perfect round and get to drop Ginger/Scary and THEN I would decide between Sporty/Posh.






As you can guess, it didn't turn out that way.

[SweetTeaParty]

On Sunday, we sat in the social 'parlor' in our dorm to open our envelopes. Here's how our cards went:



Deb: Posh, Sporty, Baby, Ginger & Scary. She regrets Baby, Ginger & Scary.
Kathy: Posh, Baby, Ginger & Scary. She regrets Ginger & Scary.
Sandy: Ginger & Scary. No regrets allowed.
Me: Ginger & Scary. No regrets allowed.








and,









Roomie: Posh. (her legacy chapter) – even Ginger & Scary released her.









AND don't forget . . . Trish.

[tinydancer]

This is such fun!

[AlphaXi_Husky]

I am very much enjoying your story!


And feel badly for the Scary house. What a tough situation for them.

[SweetTeaParty]

All the PNM's gathered that evening in a large auditorium to sign their intention cards. We had to wait for all the cards to be signed and turned in (or the PNM dropped out) for anyone to be able to leave. It was a nervous crowd.

I SIPed the Gingers – I wasn't taking even the outside chance that I would get the Scarys.

Finally, we were allowed to leave; we were tired and emotionally drained. The next day would reveal our bids! I felt very secure in my choice as I did every time I had run into a disappointment – I would just have to make lemonade out of those lemons!


On Monday afternoon, we were to meet in the parlor room of our dorm to receive our bids. We found out that those PNM's who didn't receive a bid were called earlier and were not there. But, Sandy, Roomie and I didn't get those calls – we were in. So were Kathy and Deb.

Our Rho Chi handed out our bids. Even Roomie was excited.

(Really, those Poshes must have had an exceptional preference party.)

We opened them to loud whoops!


Sandy and I held hands and shouted, "WE'RE SISTERS!!"

Kathy (Baby) and Deb (Sporty) were very happy about their bids!

Even Roomie teared up a bit.

[SweetTeaParty]

Now, let's have a little side trail over to Roomie's story.

She had gone through recruitment under duress and had joined the same way. Her family should have known what would happen – but, they were too intent on her being a different person than she actually was.

To tell the truth, the Posh house had invited her under duress too, as she was a triple legacy. Her family was EXCEPTIONALLY wealthy (think, Paris Hilton-wealthy); I'm sure they donated frequently to the Posh National. She absolutely DID NOT fit into their group. Yet, there she was, sitting on their perfect furniture, make-up free, untamed waist length hair, unshaven legs (and underarms) and (slightly) smelly. Not to mention that she believed in “free love” (oh yes, she used that moniker) and tried to get stoned every day. I'm guessing they didn't want her either.

What to do???

I know the Posh house thought she'd get a preference invite to the other houses and like them better, but the others all released her. As she was a legacy, I'm also sure she had to go on their 1st bid list. Sad, really.

But, I'll have to give the Poshes a hand for trying.

They really went out of their way to be friendly and inclusive. They coated our door with welcome cards and posters. They dragged her to their table in the cafeteria every day. They showered her with gifts. They dropped by the room to visit. (Rah, Rah! Posh!) But, it didn't work. Within a few weeks Roomie resigned her bid. She just WAS NOT GLO material.

[33girl]

Oh, here is my other question. If no one actually lived in the houses, who cleaned them?

[jolene]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Oh, here is my other question. If no one actually lived in the houses, who cleaned them?

It seems weird to have a house no one lives in. I can understand if it's a chapter suite or lodge, but with a townhouse or regular house, I'd think sisters would live there.

[SweetTeaParty]

33: Oh yeah, we didn't eat in our house - - except for snacks or events. We had designated tables in the cafeteria. Events would have had a cleaning committee.

Our active members 'cleaned' the house every other Sat morning - - or you were fined. (You rotated through vacuuming, dusting, kitchen and bathroom duty)

The Babys/Sportys did the same - - it was rumored the Poshes hired a cleaning service.

Actually, it was fun, you could hear the other ladies' music in "Sorority Yard" and we usually ended up in a party . . .

[SweetTeaParty]

Jolene: It WAS weird - the house sat silent and empty A LOT. One night a group of us went over to study (I THINK we finally got around to studying!) and totally freaked out campus security.

They didn't know and thought someone was trespassing.

After that, you had to tell the security office that you were there.