Recolonization!

[HBADPi]

3 closing? I thought it was just 2?

[honeychile]

Originally posted by HBADPi
3 closing? I thought it was just 2?

To my knowledge, it IS two: Delta Gamma and Eta Sigma Chapters.

[adpiucf]

It is three chapters: Sacramento, SDSU and U of AZ, per the memo sent from Grand Council.

[ASUADPi]

Is Delta Gamma the only one right now we (ADPi) is looking at recolonizing in a couple of years? I hope that Sacramento and SDSU will eventually be recolonized also.

[honeychile]

Originally posted by ASUADPi
Is Delta Gamma the only one right now we (ADPi) is looking at recolonizing in a couple of years? I hope that Sacramento and SDSU will eventually be recolonized also.

From the discussion I had with someone at EO, Alpha Delta Pi would like to recolonize at ALL of the closed chapters. Whether or not it's feasible is another story.

They are completely committed to Delta Gamma, though, no two ways about it.

[suzannek]

My chapter, HM, is closing as well. While it is heartbreaking, I do believe it is for the best. I have worked very closely with struggling chapters and after a while, it just isn't a positive experience anymore. It's draining. It just goes to show how hard we all need to work at keeping our chapters strong. Someone mentioned that we are recolonizing in MO...actually, it's a new chapter. We did just recolonize in Florida, though.

[Zillini]

I'm a little confused by this closing with a committment to recolonize soon. If ADPi plans on a major effort to revamp a chapter in just a few years, then why the wait? Could someone fill me in?

Going off on a bit of a tangent and falling under the heading "Wow isn't it a small ADPi world". Eta has an incredible alum named Dr. Ben Avis Orcutt. She recently retired as our House Corp Pres at the young age of 90+ only because she broke her hip. She founded the University of Alabama's College of Social Work and has been incredibly active in practically every service organization there is.

Here's the small world part, Dr. O lived in Arizona for a while and she was one of the alums who helped found that chapter. I'm sure she's heartbroken to say good-bye even temporarily. She may not be around for the recolonization.

FYI - Dr. O will be travelling to Convention this summer and will be awarded the Joan Perry Boatwright Award. She is a wonderful woman and I am so happy that Grand Council has seen fit to honor her. Dr. O is the truest definition of a "Steel Magnolia" I've ever witnessed. She's the only person I've ever seen chew somebody out so politely. She's amazing and I can only hope to someday be like her, even just a little bit.

[HBADPi]

Originally posted by Zillini
I'm a little confused by this closing with a committment to recolonize soon. If ADPi plans on a major effort to revamp a chapter in just a few years, then why the wait? Could someone fill me in?

The decision to wait is to allow some of the current classes at the university to graduate so that the chapter can begin again with a fresh start. That way anyone who was around when the chapter closed will no longer be in school at the time of reconolization. This is to pretty much help dispell the stories/rumors/stereotypes that may or may not have been going around which may have caused or furthered the chapter's problems. 4 years is the average time since the now freshmen will have graduated.

PS Zillini I stayed a night at your chapter house in Illinois and I must say its one of my favorites sooo beautiful and I think if I could do the college process all over again I would have applied to Univ of Illinois.

[jh124]

SDSU is such a new chapter, though. Ok, I guess I'm just getting old - but it was colonized in 1991 so it's only been around for 14 years.

I know we aren't supposed to post anything negative on here, but frankly, closing down chapters, waiting four years, then recolonizing is sort of like saying "hey, you're craptastic. Let's start over again after you're gone." Thanks a lot, EO. Why do they wait for the chapters to so bad they have to close down?

[Zillini]

Originally posted by HBADPi
PS Zillini I stayed a night at your chapter house in Illinois and I must say its one of my favorites sooo beautiful and I think if I could do the college process all over again I would have applied to Univ of Illinois.

First off, thanks for the info it makes sense to wait. Too bad it had to come to that though like JH124 said.

As to UofI's house, thanks...although obviously I can't take any credit for it. I always thought it was beautiful and very unique.

I haven't been there for almost 20 years. I read in the alum newsletter that they've put in alot of money and work into remodelling/restoring the house. A few years back House Corp was able to have the house declared a historical landmark due to it's age and architechual design with the copper roof. The bonus in that is not only the prestige but also all donations for house maintenance are now tax deductible.

[ASUADPi]

Originally posted by jh124
SDSU is such a new chapter, though. Ok, I guess I'm just getting old - but it was colonized in 1991 so it's only been around for 14 years.

I know we aren't supposed to post anything negative on here, but frankly, closing down chapters, waiting four years, then recolonizing is sort of like saying "hey, you're craptastic. Let's start over again after you're gone." Thanks a lot, EO. Why do they wait for the chapters to so bad they have to close down?

I think it's just harder on smaller chapters. When their small and struggling EO really has their eyes on them. I know the girls at Delta Gamma were just really stressed. There were rumors going around about ADPi. They had only about 35 girls and totals around 150. I think they were so stressed that they just got so tired, they just gave up. And you know their only human. I know when I get super stressed out my first inclination is just to give up. Their last two formal recruitments weren't the best and that is a HUGE blow to your self-esteem (can't spell here). God, as much as I don't want to admit this, closing Delta Gamma was for the best.


You know we're just going to come back to that campus. We are going to kick some Greek A$$!!!! And we are going to show them that we are the First and the Finest and a force to be reckoned with!!!!!

(I should be a motivational speaker. )

[onehundone]

So as most or all of you know Eta Sigma was closed this past May. It is a very sad topic even now for the new alumnae. I went Alum a year ago and even now it is hard to think of what to say to these collegiates, yes they are now Pi's but they lost so many Delta years. I just feel so sad for them and International has no intention on recolonizing.

[adpiucf]

Grand Council and the IO Team will never just "close" a chapter. All of our chapters have international resources, trainings and help available to them. For whatever the reason- a track record of inefficient leadership, inability to keep up with the other chapters on campus in terms of numbers and total, a major and unforgivable standards issue (thankfully none of our recent closings are due to hazing or hurting one another!), etc.-- the decision to close is made by several teams and only after the chapter has been given ample opportunity to work toward and attain specific goals set by the IO Team.

A lot of people gripe about totals and quota-- but if a campus total set and the majority of the chapters meet that number -- then the problem lies within the chapter that can't make that number. A sorority is an organization, yes, but it is a non-profit organization-- a business. If we don't make total at our chapter, we can't pay the bills for our chapter-- that trickles "up" as well as down. And sadly, we may want to be smaller, but if your members pay the highest dues and have the least to show for it in activities and honors... what are you paying for other than a street address on Greek Park? Is it worth it to the current collegians?

The system DOES work--- but where there are chapters constantly having to recruit, where members must double up on offices and hold multiple terms, when your chapter house sleeps more members than the number on your attendance roster-- and the IO teams have made every effort in onsite and offsite report, goal setting and ultimatums-- it isn't fair to the existing collegians to live the day-to-day reality of failure. These women are in college to get an education and to enjoy being college students. Where the Alpha Delta Pi chapter has failed, the chapter closing can allow these members to regain a sense of themselves-- they will always be ADPi's and the alumnae of these chapters have no reason to feel shame or loss. Our closed chapter at SMU has brought us some of greatest current sorority leaders-- including our current Grand President!

A chapter that closes isn't instantly able to reopen. In many cases, the sorority must go back into the expansion queue and wait for the university to advertise its interest in expansion. And then we must present our expansion recommendations at that university all over again, even if we once had a chapter there. In rare cases, like with Delta Gamma chapter, we have already been guaranteed a return.

Sisters, a closing is a very serious and emotional event. But remember-- we are more than a string of chapters-- we are a 150+ year old tradition-- with sisters all over the globe. Take pride in the strength of our numbers.

[peanutttu]

Well said, adpiucf!!!

Although I've never experienced what some of you have gone through with your chapters closing, I'm sure it is a very emotional and trying period of time. It has got to be extremely difficult for those still within the chapter. Although the chapter may be closed and some may have not gotten to have the full collegiate experience in ADPi, become active in your local Alumnae Association. I am 300 miles away from my collegiate chapter, but have found many great sisters and a "new chapter" per se by joining the local Alumnae Association. Yes, I do miss my sisters from my chapter, but the sisters I've found here - still have the same bond with me as those who were in my chapter. The first 2 years after I graduated, I did not join an AA and I regret not doing that. I went through ups and downs during that time and I know that I could've counted on any of my sisters I've met through the AA. I'm sure it is different still being in college and be a Pi, but there are plenty of opportunities to have a similar collegiate experience in the Alumnae Association.

I'm a young alumnae so to speak and so are several other sisters in our Alumnae Association. We (young alumnae) have all stepped up and taken offices. 4 of the 6 positions on the Board of Directors are sisters b/w the ages of 23-26. We try to cater our activities to all age groups and have a variety of events that sometimes appeal to our older sisters more than our younger sisters and vice versa.

I'm sure having your chapter close is not easy to deal with and you have mixed emotions running about, but like adpiucf said, "....we are more than a string of chapters-- we are a 150+ year old tradition-- with sisters all over the globe. Take pride in the strength of our numbers."

[ASUADPi]

Does anyone know why Delta Gamma was guareented a return? Is it because we own the house? What I do know I was told by a sister, I probably shouldn't know, but she was nice enough to keep me "in the loop" because DG is my chapter. That wasn't a question I thought of asking. I might of asked her but I don't recall.
I know some of the specifics behind the closing and recolonization but I never asked why we are guareented a return? Anyone?