Pledging

[slayerzbt]

Originally posted by chideltjen
I dated a ZBT for some time a few years ago. Granted they were a colony, but I SWEAR their "pledge" period lasted longer than 72 hours. I know because I remember my sisters stealing pledge pins from them! (Crazy practice that used to occur A LOT a few years ago.) All my bf at the time said was that they didn't haze and that new members went to meetings. The BDD would hold meetings with the new members at different times, and then maybe a month or two later they'd get initiated.

I can't speak for how other ZBT chapters run things. I was never made to wear a pledge pin. We do have a fraternity pin that we wear with formal attire, but nothing to signify that one is a new member of ZBT. Every chapter is different, and I guarantee that some probably still "pledge" in some way or another, even though it is denounced by our national organization. Nationals try to enforce the rules, but they can't monitor everybody.

[emb021]

Originally posted by AGDee
I think that setting a bunch of new members loose to plan their activity, whether it is philanthropy, social, sisterhood, etc, is asking for trouble because they are not familiar with the structure, rules, budgets, etc. of the organization. I think it is much more helpful to involve them on the chapter's committees so that they are working directly with initiated members in planning all of the events for the chapter, as they will be once they are initiated. Then they can learn with the role modeling of older sisters.

Dee

As someone else pointed out, the pledges are not 'turned loose'. Their pledgemaster is there to oversee things, they are encouraged to involved other chapter officers as appropriate (ie, get the Service VP to help them with their service project, etc). They are also encourage to engage the other members of the chapter. The purpose is to help them get familiar with 'structure, rules, budgets, etc.' by getting their feet wet in an real activity they plan and carry out. Being on a committee won't do that. You learn leadership by BEING a leader. Most of the best leadership development programs I've done have had the participants DO STUFF.

Yes, they should ALSO be involved in chapter committees. This, too, is part of their training/education. Also, they should be attending chapter meetings (chapters can have closed portions of the meetings or special closed meeting, but pledges should be encouraged and allowed to attend open chapter meetings).

[doves95]

Totally.. I know for Sigma Kappa we do involve our new memebers right away in chapter committees where the girls seem interested in helping. Also at many chapters, like mine, we have a VP of new member and an assitant they assit the new members with the sisterhood and social they plan for the semester. Also many GLO's have pledge mom/bi sisters or brothers within the chapter or other "special sisters" like a heart sis or something so the new member has a small group of actives to connect with and helping.

Besides i know when an event is planned by SK we have paperwork to be filled out and so their are exec officers and advisors who oversee the forms to ensure we are following our policies ... besides in your new member ed program some of your "policies/rules" fall under risk management and the new members should know that stuff (at least a general idea) right away since they are members and the chapter is liable if something should happen