I need help:)

Blue Violet · #1 12-12-2002, 07:28 PM

Hey there,
OK, a friend of mine has started a local sorority at her school. She rushed but either got cut or got a bid from someone she wasn't really into...I'm not sure. She has about thirty or so girls in this organization and they have colors/mascot etc. She has asked me for ideas before and I've gladly given what I could. They took a pretty big pledge class this fall. The problem is that they haven't written their inititaion ritual yet. The founders didn't get initiated I guess because they were too busy founding!They have to initiate this pledge class in January!

She has asked me to help her and the other founders write it. Most of them have never been in any sort of initation so they really don't have a clue what to do. They don't want to haze but that is the sort of thing they "know" about initation. They thought you made the pledges do a bunch of stuff and then they were in and I was like NO! No! NO! So my question to all of you is......

What do I do? Without saying ANYTHING close to YOUR ritual, what themes, mythological stories, bible verses, fables, celtic stories/mythes, symbols etc. do you think are sort of cool. I know they have to explain the "symbols" of the sorority in ritual. But they want it to be "cool". Also-any greek/latin expressions that are neat/meaningful/interesting? I do not speak greek so writing anything will be very laborious!! Back on track-That's what I keep hearing, they want it to be meaningful and "cool". Not boring. One of the founders is an ex-pledge of another group. Not sure the history there, but apparently she thought her pledge ceremony was "boring and confusing". She is really the only one who's been in any ritual so she keeps saying to not make it boring.

She's a good friend and I want to help her out. I have read that many men helped the sororities make their rituals and so I don't feel like I am treading on sacred ground-plus they asked. But I am having trouble comming up with themes/ideas/etc. that aren't from my sorority. I certainly don't want to copy anything and I don't want to look at others websites because I don't want to inadvertently copy something there either.

If you have any ideas they'd be appreciated. Or PM me.

KKI
There's a sense of belonging in friendship.
Order of the Blue Blue Violet

FuzzieAlum · #2 12-12-2002, 07:59 PM

Personally, I was so curious to learn more about AXD, I couldn't find my pledging or initiation ceremonies boring! Was this girl just not into it? (Guess not, if she quit.)

The girls should really figure out for themselves what they believe. I could say "character and learning" should be their focus, but if it doesn't resonate with them, it won't help. And as for what's cool, well, they are planning on sticking around longer than five years, right? Cool doesn't last.

Some ideas:
-Delta Upsilon's rituals are open, so it might be worth talking to a DU.
-Flowers have traditional meanings, and theirs should represent something central to them. See http://www.800florals.com/care/meaning.asp

But, cruel as this sounds - if they can't figure out what mythological stories they like, or find a Greek professor to help them out with words, I'm not sure they're ready to be doing this, or that they understand a sorority is about more than social fun.

33girl · #3 12-12-2002, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by FuzzieAlum
But, cruel as this sounds - if they can't figure out what mythological stories they like, or find a Greek professor to help them out with words, I'm not sure they're ready to be doing this, or that they understand a sorority is about more than social fun.

That's exactly what I was going to say. They need to figure out what means something to THEM, not get ideas from someone else. I would understand if they have questions about the mechanics of initiation, who stands where and such, but if 30 girls can't come up with something concrete to base a foundation on, I question their ability to support an organization.

Blue Violet · #4 12-13-2002, 08:36 AM

a little with what you're saying. I can see how they'd look kind of unprepared to soemone who doesn't know them. Actually they are about service and scholorship as well as social fun. They do need help with the mechanics....as someone put it and I've given suggestions there.

Like I said before-the founders ARE helping to write this. They just wanted someone who had done it before to help. I was just asking for ideas because I don't know of any mysteries, myths, bible versus etc. We are getting together over Christmas break to do this. I just wanted some ideas. No offense, because I know everyone on here is nice, but telling me how they ought to do it themselves, they aren't prepared etc. isn't going to help me nor is it what I was asking. If you do have an idea-just pm me. That way this thread won't get too long.

Thank you!

RACooper · #5 12-13-2002, 06:02 PM

I'd love to help you but I need a little more info...

Do they already have a name?
Do they any symbols yet?
What is their mascot?
What is their colours?
Do they have any titles for officers?
What sources do you think would work Greek/Medieval/Celtic?

Tom Earp · #6 12-13-2002, 11:46 PM

COOP, great questions!

I know when I started my local, I had designed everything, but the Ritual.

It was funny, but my coat of arms had:

Clasped hands, and open book, a lamp, the rising sun, and crossed swords!

These are many symbols that are used Nationally.

Ritual, get a skull, coffin, lamp, etc!

According to The Funky XO site, that is what they used so why not take them also!

It depends on what your Group Beleives in and wants to profess to your possible new Associates!

Round your Ritual around that!

Hazing Right, dont!

James · #7 12-14-2002, 12:09 AM

Be a little bit nicer ladies . . . if they managed to form a cohesive group they are way the hell ahead of the average undergraduate.

Also, I have a pretty decent layman's grasp of mythology. I doubt very seriously if the vast majority of your sisters know all that much of the context of their symbolism and its larger historical place or significance.

So do try and be kinder.

That being said: The symbols you pick etc will be the least important thing about your group. It will be the actions that you consistently take that will determine what you are about.

Blue Violet · #8 12-14-2002, 12:36 PM

[B]That being said: The symbols you pick etc will be the least important thing about your group. It will be the actions that you consistently take that will determine what you are about.[B]

Good point James. I will definitely bring that up to them when I see them.

Thanks!

33girl · #9 12-14-2002, 07:55 PM

James,

I don't think FuzzieAlum or I were being unkind, I'm just questioning the point that a large group of college-educated females can't research this type of thing on their own, especially with the Internet.

Also, here's a thought: if they can't come up with any of that type stuff that means anything to them, why use it at all? There should be a reason behind the name they choose (which doesn't necessarily have to be Greek letters), but considering we are no longer in the day & age where people actually study Latin or Greek, why found an org on something that isn't part of daily life? If they want to base a sorority on (for example) Mother Theresa and her ideals, go for it. Better to do that than use a bunch of stuff that really means nothing to you but that you picked because it sounded cool at the time.

Blue Violet · #10 12-14-2002, 10:32 PM

There is no point in this making people bicker. If you have suggestions for me (THANK YOU SO MUCH to those who did-you are wonderful) then PM me. If not-please don't waste your time with this. It was not meant to be that thought provoking.I just wanted some suggestions.

The founders do have ideas of their own. But they want help. MANY GLO's had help from people outside their organization, so I don't want to read about it anymore on here. I'm not being mean, but I am not going to justify or explain things over and over. I just wanted suggestions.

Thank you

texas*princess · #11 12-18-2002, 02:46 AM

blue violet, i tried pm'ing you, but your box was full

Blue Violet · #12 12-18-2002, 12:11 PM

it's clean now sorry!

texas*princess · #13 12-18-2002, 01:12 PM

ok.. well i keep getting the message that your box is full.. probably just GC being silly.

I will just put my post here if you don't mind..

Greetings!

I thought I might be able to help you & your friend out! Some friends of mine started a local GLO a year ago and we needed a ritual ASAP, so I know what your friend is going through! It sounds like they have a good thing going if they have so many girls interested!

Anyway, there is this link that I think might be useful:
http://kiowa.colostate.edu/cwis377/m...r%20Ritual.pdf

You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader for it. It is not organization-specific (it looks like just a resource), so your friends can maybe get some ideas from there about how to make it work.

I hope it helps! Best wishes to the organization!

aopinthesky · #14 12-18-2002, 04:15 PM

>>>The founders do have ideas of their own<<<

It would help if you could say what those ideas are, then perhaps people would know in what direction to go.

GeekyPenguin · #15 12-18-2002, 06:32 PM

I think we all need to stop being so harsh on this chapter...I don't know that any of us could get all of that together like they're trying to do. I have a lot of respect for founding a chapter - my chapter of Gamma Phi Beta was a local for 103 years before we became Gamma Omega chapter. Our first name, Nulli Secundas, was changed because it was incorrect latin. Our second name, Athenaeum Society, held for about 100 years, and then we were Alpha Theta Chi while we were petitioning to be a colony. We had a mistake and bad Latin, yet we were still ok, obviously. And as for outside help, Gamma Phi Beta's motto was suggested by a professor, and our badge was designed by two men. I don't think it's hurt our sisterhood. I wish your friends a lot of luck, Blue Violet!