Raising Total

[axidgl]

Just a little bit from my standpoint....
We are the smallest chapter at a large southern school with 14 other NPC's who (for the most part) continuously over-reach quota and total. We don't. Last year, they raised total by about 10 women, which allowed the largest chapter to recruit during the spring. It was one of the most depressing informal Pan-sponsored spring recruitments we'd ever seen- we extended bids to a lot of women, but all accepted bids elsewhere (at most springs we get 10-20). It has been so hard for us to continue to compete with the other chapters- even the ones that we were comparatively close to in size before. Now we're nowhere near the other chapters, and they just keep expanding (we only got 1/4 of quota, where other chapters that weren't at total were over quota). We'd love to meet total and quota, but it's just not feasible to double our chapter in size where the majority of women would be new members. We continue to recruit to try and at least meet a total set internally by our members to something we think is practical, because our Pan. Advisor doesn't seem to want hear about anything that isn't "hunky-dory." She looks past "dirty-rushing" and the chapters who do it recieve nothing more than a slap on the hand. There were two MAJOR infractions this year committed by other chapters against us specifically, but there was "nothing that can be done now"--I'm not sure if I'm allowed to say the specifics of it until something more is done (our NPC delegate has taken it into her own hands).

[PhoenixAzul]

Perhaps it is easier when there is no total set. Since I'm on an all-local campus, we don't really have a "total", each house just exists as it is. One of the largest now (with nearly 70 members) was only at 6 members less than 5 years ago. They grew with a lot of hard work and have a really strong tradition of leadership in Panhel and on campus in general (they rock).

When I pledged, I think my sorority was at 8 or 9 actuves. Now we're at 20 (2 successful pledge classes of 9, half of quota). going along with what the above poster said...we can't physically/ financially deal with doubling our size with new members. Going from 20 to 40 would be very, very difficult for us to do, since we haven't been at that size since the 80's (perhaps later!). We don't have any experience dealing with that big of a pledge class. Not to say I wouldn't pee my pants in excitement, but the planning would be interesting. Also, if we had more NM's to actives, I'd be worried just because it would be very stressful on the actives to care and attend to 2 littles. We typically have 2 bigs to a little, flipping that ratio would be interesting.

Also, there is the potential for that class to end up running the sorority if they vote as a block, which I'd like to think wouldn't happen, but can obviously happen. A group of girls comes in, puts on the happy-sister garb, and then secretly votes to take over and displace the traditions and hard work of older members. It's something to think about.

[Firehouse]

"...but it's just not feasible to double our chapter in size where the majority of women would be new members."

Yes, it is feasible, in fact it's just about the only way you're going to get good. Slow growth is excellence is a myth. The only wa sa new chapter or a weak chapter gets great is quickly. Slow growth might get you from bad to decent or even good, but never to excellent.
Pledge as many women as you can as fast as you can. Whatever you lose in "control" or in imagined "sisterhood" will more than be made up for in enthusiasm and elevated morale. Plus other sororities will begin to talk about you and that's a plus. No one wants to be unknown or ignored, or pitied. If you have the ability to double your size in one rush, DO IT! And then do it again in the spring. When anyone asks you how you did it or why, just say, "It's our goal to be the best, and we're determined to take the top honors ion rush and everything else."

[axidgl]

In one recruitment in 2001 (I believe) the chapter had 40 going into recruitment and pledged right at that number. There were no more than 8 members left in that pledge class by the time they graduated. It was really hard for them to retain that number of women. One more thing...Do you always associate "good" sororities with being "big" sororities? I love my sorority and love the fact that we are smaller. I can say with confidence and no doubt in my mind that we have the closest bond, and I love knowing that I can walk into a room of my sisters, and know the name of every single one.

[texas*princess]

Originally posted by Firehouse
"...but it's just not feasible to double our chapter in size where the majority of women would be new members."

Yes, it is feasible, in fact it's just about the only way you're going to get good. Slow growth is excellence is a myth. The only wa sa new chapter or a weak chapter gets great is quickly. Slow growth might get you from bad to decent or even good, but never to excellent.
Pledge as many women as you can as fast as you can. Whatever you lose in "control" or in imagined "sisterhood" will more than be made up for in enthusiasm and elevated morale. Plus other sororities will begin to talk about you and that's a plus. No one wants to be unknown or ignored, or pitied. If you have the ability to double your size in one rush, DO IT! And then do it again in the spring. When anyone asks you how you did it or why, just say, "It's our goal to be the best, and we're determined to take the top honors ion rush and everything else."

I think I would have to agree to a certain extent. If so many women are interested in joining and help turning things around in a chapter, why not? They can come with new ideas that the current membership didn't think of.

On the flip-side though, if new women come in and cause turmoil, that could cause the older ppl to want to leave, and then the chapter is stuck in the same situation.

Additionally, I wouldn't just say "pledge as many women as you can and as fast as you can" because that pretty much equates to "bid every girl who isn't already greek" and you definitely want to keep in mind that you need Quality girls, not just quantity.

[Firehouse]

The problems you encounter by growing fast don't compare to the problems that derive from having too few members and all the associated difficulties. Are good sororities associated with big? Yes. That may shift slightly from campus to campus, but in a typical campus world where being cometitive means a Greek house has to have enough members so that everyone doesn't have to do every thing, it is devastating to realize that a chapter cannot compete socially, in rush or on any other level.
If you're at a school where all the prestige houses have only 40 women, then forty is all you have to have to compete. If you're on a campus where the "name" sororities have 150, then your forty will be lost.
Sororities cost money. They are a luxury, and members want value. That value comes in the form of social life, and of interaction with other women like themselves with common interests. What's it worth to you in dollars to be able to walk into a room and "know everyone" regardles of how long or short a time they've been in school? If your sorority is so small that they can't attract enough members to make total or quota, then you're paying a hell of a price for what you want. And, it doesn't appear that the women in other sororities are troubled by being so much larger. Based on their experiences, if those other women had it to do again, would they pledge their sororities, or yours? If YOU had to do it again, would you join the same one, or would you look for a better deal?
It may be that you are absolutely in the right sorority for what you want. But if so, then you cannot complain about the small size and inability to compete.
Look...You have the solution to stability and strength and long-term success. Numbers rule. That's just the way it is.

[honeychile]

It is completely feasible to turn your chapter around while using the Quota/Total system!! Just six years ago, my chapter took only ONE New Member during Formal Recruitment. Two of us sat in at the next meeting and explained, "You are the masters of your own destiny. If you choose to give up, do so now, so that the New Member still has a chance to accept another bid. If you choose to fight, we will back you all the way - but Alumnae are NOT going to pour money down a rat hole!" (Their finances were a mess, too)

They had a series of Pride Meetings that week, and by the next meeting, they were ready with goals and ideas. Some worked, some didn't.

Fast forward two years: they came back in the fall with 12 members and a plan. They did FR nicely, but not expensively, and used the money instead for COB. By the end of the term, they doubled in size. By the end of the second term, they had tripled their original size! They saw that COB was their strength, and ran with it. By last year, they were at Total; by the end of this year's FR, they are 8 away from Total. While the other sororities are either at Quota or otherwise done with Recruitment, they are now playing their strong suit!

I'm really proud of them, as we couldn't COB our way out of a paper bag - we had to kick tail during FR!!

But back to Carnation's situation: to me, I would instead consider asking a new sorority to colonize (or recolonize), and allow the smaller sorority to recolonize. If there were over 10 sororities, I may feel differently, but with only 4 at Total and one not doing well, it sounds to me that another sorority is needed!

[axidgl]

Firehouse: Our dues run along the same lines as everyone else's. I don't know of any other group with significantly less dues or significantly more. Any suggestions on how to keep up with a new member class that equals what you already have? Again, I want our sorority to grow, and you're completely right, it is SO hard to recruit women when you don't have anyone that is as small as we are. Social aspects are easier when there are decent fraternities on campus that are around our size. But yes, decent fraternities aren't nearly as exciting as the "best" ones.
Honeychile- Give me as much advice as you can! FR for us was okay, we took more than last year, but still nowhere near quota/ total. COB hasn't been very good for us either. We have gotten 3 in the last few weeks of COB, but we are kind of at a stand still. I'm not sure why it is that we can't grasp the idea of COB (or formal recruitment for that matter). We just had a change in our membership(recruitment) VP and perhaps that could have hurt instead of helped? I really want to see our chapter succeed, but I really don't know how it's going to happen; I'm willing to give my all, but I can't be the only one. Our exec is committed, then a few other chapter members, and then there are the new members. We have a few great alumni, but the rest don't want to "waste" time and effort, and have pretty much given up. We have the support of Nationals, but they can only help us so much. They can't continue to send our ELC and AF every week.

[Firehouse]

Yes, your dues are the same. So...if you are a looking to buy a car and the Civics cost the same as a Mercedes, which are you going to buy?
DON'T WORRY ABOUT HOW YOU ARE GOING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF LOTS OF NEW MEMBERS. That's like worrying about what you're going to do if you win the Lottery.
Yes, a huge influx of new members does present challenges. The answer is to KEEP bringing new memebrs at the same rate. There's no enb to the enthsuasim. The loudest complaint you'll hear are from the old members who sense their influence slipping away. Tell them they need to provide leadership. Truth is, many will fade away ("This is not the sorority I joined"). They're right, and what you cannot say to them - out of feelings of fraternal affection - is that it is not the same sorority, it's BETTER.

[Tom Earp]

I Think Firehouse has brought up many excelent points.

So, while everyone surmises that each Chapter at a certain school should really work harder is BS!

If, I said If, there is Greek Unity, which there isnt, then the over powerful Sororitys need to be so greedy to just Keep Taking women who may be a great mix with "The Other" Less well to do GLOs.

Are All of These GLO Chapters throughout Colleges all Good, No.

So KKG is a crapy Sorority, I dont think so.

Is GPhiB a slub at all schools, No

How great are all of the NPC Sororitys at each school and can they hang in there if they are getting pushed into a corner by Thier NPC Sisters?

How many National Sororitys are Number 1 in and all campuses?

Go to College Web Sites and see Who is Missing in action!

AXO, XO, DDD, KD, DZ, AGD, Etal.

If you dont think this is a problem, then You are foolish to the Nth Degree.

Help other GLOs? Sounds good dont it? Is it true? No, it is BS.

We Want To Be The Biggest, does that make us the best? Hm, interesting question.

So Grows the Greek Societys on Campus or eventually Die.

Be the big fish and be alone!


WOW, NPC has a degree of relationship, but it sounds good giving lip service!


For the Newbies who are Rushing, there are many Great Sororitys out there. While maybe not on Your Campus, they are Great in their own right.

Be in the Biggest? Why, what can You do to help be a Member of a lesser Sorority on Campus?

Todays Biggies wont be forever! Give something and make something grow!

[doubleblue&gold]

I say leave total alone. And don't expand until all groups are stable and at total.

I see a sinilar situation. There are 3 groups that consistently reach quota or even have quota additions which put them above or near total every year. The 4th group can't seem to close the deal during FR and usually only get about half of quota. They do well at COR but still only end up at 1/3 to 1/2 total.

However, the groups that reach quota and total don't keep their members Women realise too late that joining the "big group" wasn't what they expected or wasn't where they really belonged. All groups eventually COR (yes they make it back to total-----but they don't ever stay there all year.) Unfortunately, the women that drop out or depledge leave the greek system without knowing how wonderful it can be. Raising total would only increase this situation and not help anyone.

[honeychile]

Carnation, is there any special reason why the smaller group's HQ hasn't recolonized/restructured that chapter yet?

[carnation]

A lot of people are wondering that very thing.

I think the campus has that situation where PNMs just won't pledge certain groups and would transfer or be independent before they did pledge them. In this case, the girls are perfectly willing to pledge any of the 4 groups that made quota but not "the one". There were quite a few girls who either left or were released from rush.

[PhoenixAzul]

Originally posted by honeychile
Carnation, is there any special reason why the smaller group's HQ hasn't recolonized/restructured that chapter yet?

...recolonized? As in force the actives to go to Alum or turn in their pins and then start all over again? Would they have to wait till the current members graduated?

[honeychile]

Originally posted by PhoenixAzul
...recolonized? As in force the actives to go to Alum or turn in their pins and then start all over again? Would they have to wait till the current members graduated?

Each GLO does it differently, but most seem to release the current New Members, allow the actives to either take Alumnae Status or deactivate, wait a year, then recolonize.

In this case, if another chapter was colonizing at the same time, and since there's such a huge difference in size, I wouldn't have a problem with allowing the current chapter to have the same privileges as a colony.

Of course, I'm thinking as an alumna, not as an active. I don't believe in pouring good money after bad.