Back in the day . . .

[fantASTic]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

I'm glad little sisters are gone - they existed for the benefit of the fraternities,not the little sisters. And yes, many girls were little sisters instead of sororities - less commitment, sure - but again, nothing for the members and what about after graduation?
I was a Sigma after graduation - that was the wives of Sigma Chi group that has since disbanded. In fact, I founded the last ever chapter.

See, I've never understood that. I would want to do it because I would want to help them, not because of any other reason..so to me it's like volunteering. You think volunteering's okay, don't you? Even though working at a soup kitchen only helps the homeless and not you?

[SWTXBelle]

I don't REALLY think you are comparing helping fraternity men pass out drinks to pnm to working at a soup kitchen, are you? I have this image of the homeless being helped, and fraternity boys . .. not needing it. And for what it is worth, I did a great deal of volunteering for a chapter of Sigma Chi, but I did not become a little sister. Why? Well, even then my sorority frowned upon it, and because I wanted to do what I did because I wanted to do it - not so I could wear their letters. I'm glad, 33, you had a good experience. I'm sure there were many groups that were above board and did not take advanage of the girls. But there were many who did. At any rate, there's no sense getting into a debate as the question has been decided.

So bring on the little sister group memories, all you Belles and Sweethearts and Little Sigs.

[bejazd]

Not little sisters...but...had to love our Big Brothers who went by the nickname "Moonshiners" They were mostly the GDI boyfriends of the girls in the house, the hashers, a few baseball players, friends who didn't go to school with us..and a smattering of fraternity guys. The different Big Bro groups played broom ball against each other. We usually had a mixer with them. They would have a box dinner auction and the girls would bid for their dinners- which were usually very good..quite elaborate picnic dinners. I remember buying one box dinner where the guys wore tuxes and really did it up!

They were really nice guys. I'm not in any way advocating big brother groups but the guys themselves were truly sweethearts. And it worked out well for more than a few of them who are now happily married to my sisters!

[33girl]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

I'm glad, 33, you had a good experience.

Where'd my post go?

For the record, I was not a little sister...several of my good friends were.

anyhoo....

One of the Sig Eps decided to grow a ponytail and we referred to him as FirstName "I Think I'm Bono" LastName.

[SWTXBelle]

Originally Posted by bejazd

Not little sisters...but...had to love our Big Brothers who went by the nickname "Moonshiners" They were mostly the GDI boyfriends of the girls in the house, the hashers, a few baseball players, friends who didn't go to school with us..and a smattering of fraternity guys. The different Big Bro groups played broom ball against each other. We usually had a mixer with them. They would have a box dinner auction and the girls would bid for their dinners- which were usually very good..quite elaborate picnic dinners. I remember buying one box dinner where the guys wore tuxes and really did it up!

They were really nice guys. I'm not in any way advocating big brother groups but the guys themselves were truly sweethearts. And it worked out well for more than a few of them who are now happily married to my sisters!

We had Big Brothers, too! They coached our intermural teams and did the heavy lifting at rush. It was more of an "honour" than an actual independent group. Our "Moonlighters" were boyfriends and good friends of members.

[RaggedyAnn]

Originally Posted by AZ-AlphaXi

I pledged in the fall of 1970 ...

we had

flowers we got to keep at pref - we went to 3 prefs so by 3rd pref the sisters knew by what flowers you were carrying which 2 prefs (or just 1 pref) you had been to.

our pledge class was Iota and we had pledge class outfits ... awful polyester tunics and pants (yuch!!!)

we wore formal gowns for preference and had actual themes and skits and made name tags for rushees for each party in line with the theme which they got to keep.

as pledges we carried a notebook which had a page for each active. we had to schedule interviews with each active and each week we had to get 5 signatures from actives. we also had to organize and fund a dance for the pledges and actives prior to being initiated. we didn't get initiated until we had grades -- we lost a pledge when she decided over Christmas break she didn't really want to be in a sorority.

candles were real and we never had a problem with anyone getting burned.

1992 minus the tunics. Our pref/greek sing gown was rather classy for the time though. It was a black velvet top with red satin bottom with a big red bow in the back.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

Feel free to post pictures, y'all. I certainly will once I'm moved!

eta - hands up - how many of y'all had a pref song to "The Rose" or "The Theme from Ice Castles (Eyes of Love)"??

Love
is found in Gamma Phi
A love that never dies,
it keeps on something I've forgotten,
how we love our sisters,
how they help us grow,
in Gaaaaaammmmaaaa Phi, we know we have found a home.

We definitely had a pref song to "The Rose" that sisters fought to sing as a solo. My pledge class song (each class had to write one) was to "The Theme from Ice Castles (Eyes of Love)" and was used there after as a pref song. We thought we were sooooo clever! I guess everyone else did too!

[OldAOPi]

Well, it was towards the end of Disco, thank goodness. I hated dancing to disco music, made all my curl go flat.

The song "We Are Family" was our pledge class theme. It was the only disco song I knew the words to - but I did like Meatloaf and STILL know all the words to "Paradise by the Dashboard Lights".

I can related back to colors - our pledge class sweatshirts where white with red writing. Fraternity Sportswear would send a rep with promo pieces and you would order your navy blue sweatshirt with embroidered letters. It was a big deal when in about 1980 they had a light blue hoodie. Woo Hoo!

Quarters was fun...fraternities would steal composites, and serenades were a big deal. We would take our pledge classes around to sing to the fraternities after we got our pledge classes and had a dinner.

Animal House came out around then - so then we all had......TOGA PARTIES!!!

Rush had lots of skits and song. We thought we were all that when we revised our Theme Day skit to a Grease Theme and wore 50's style costumes. And the slide show was made from pictures turned into slides! Took a lot of work!

[SWTXBelle]

AOII Angel - Let me guess - replace "Gamma Phi" with AO II, and you've got your pref song!

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

AOII Angel - Let me guess - replace "Gamma Phi" with AO II, and you've got your pref song!

No, but that would be a nice song too! Instead of "Love" we sang A-O-Pi really drawn out. One line I do remember is:
A-O-II
It is for always
and not just college years

[breathesgelatin]

Well, it took some chapters a LONG time to get rid of candles. My chapter was using them really up until my presidency or maybe the one before me (can't remember). I don't mind using them for certain things, but honestly, and this is just my opinion, using them for things in pref ceremony is super-super lame. We used to do a candle-lighting thing and it wasn't as cool with electric candles. Plus many of the PNMs don't realize why you'd be using electric candles and it seems weird to them too. I think we ended up changing our preference night ceremony when our alumnae got more involved and we had to quit using real candles.

I understand no candles in situations where there are a LOT of candles and maybe fabric around, or even when the candles are 'background items,' but I honestly think that if you're just using one candle, and the candle itself is the focus of the ceremony (as in candle passes or our old preference ceremony) it's pretty stupid to ban it. I just think it's taking risk management too far. I mean with one candle you can pretty quickly respond to any issue that arises. I did my best to obey the rule when I was leading my chapter, and I would in the future if I were in a Pi Phi leadership position, but I just think a lot of the beauty of the ceremony is taken away by using electric candles.

[BBelleADPi]

From MysticCat:
The music would almost always have included hits by groups like The Tams, The Embers, Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs, The Showmen, Bill Deal and the Rhondells, The Drifters, The Band of Oz, and General Johnson and the Chairmen of the Board. "Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy" (The Tams) was sort of the unofficial anthem, although the girls all flocked onto the dance floor for "Carolina Girls" (General Johnson and the Chairmen of the Board); the guys preferred "Sixty Minute Man" (The Dominoes).



Oh, my yes! Along with "Mrs. Grace," "39-21-40 Shape", "Myrtle Beach Days,"
"Johnny Dollar," "Monkey Time", "Far Away Places", "Rainy Day Bells","Little Red Book,"etc. I still listen to this music when I run! Billy Stewart, Georgia Prophets. (And BTW, this was still the music for all of us when hubby was in medical school. We still shagged, and still do to this day. Weddings are always fun!)

And gold and cloisone add a bead necklaces-completely forgot about those, though I know I have saved mine somewhere.

Candlelights, yes, rush w/ everything, dresses all alike, pledge books we had to carry everywhere.

[aephi alum]

Originally Posted by srmom

How about planning/skipping your classes around All My Children, One Life to Live & General Hospital!

I had a friend back in high school who didn't participate in any after-school activities because she had to get home in time for General Hospital. Her only extracurricular was choir because it met during the school day.

This, of course, was in the days before TiVo, but there were programmable VCRs. I went to high school in the Bronze Age, not the Stone Age.

[macallan25]

Originally Posted by Elephant Walk

I'm transported to a much more terrifying place by hearing that song...

Give a frat-wave if you know what I'm talkin about, FH and Old Rowers.

Two fingers up.

[Benzgirl]

Originally Posted by aephi alum

I had a friend back in high school who didn't participate in any after-school activities because she had to get home in time for General Hospital. Her only extracurricular was choir because it met during the school day.

Luke and Laura, and the Cassadines