What old tradition would you like to see revived?

SWTXBelle · #1 09-28-2007, 10:30 PM

Know of any GLO traditions that have fallen by the wayside that you'd like to see return? I started thinking about this with the lavaliere thread and the mention I made of the old Gamma Phi tradition of using chocolate to announce a candle passing. ( Apparently, not restricted to Gamma Phis!)

So what would you like to see our modern chapters do that was done back in the day?

DUKyleXY · #2 09-29-2007, 11:43 PM

This is more of a chapter tradition, but my chapter used to have fireside chats. According to our archives, the chapter would meet in the chapter room, light a fire in the fireplace and just talk. There would be no specific topic, it was just a brotherhood event! I would love to bring that back!

PhrozenGod01 · #3 09-30-2007, 04:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DUKyleXY

This is more of a chapter tradition, but my chapter used to have fireside chats. According to our archives, the chapter would meet in the chapter room, light a fire in the fireplace and just talk. There would be no specific topic, it was just a brotherhood event! I would love to bring that back!

That's something that every family or group should do consistently.

SWTXBelle · #4 09-30-2007, 09:40 AM

While touring Chi O headquarters, I saw a few lovely china vases in their museum. One of the chapters always gave them as a wedding gift to their members. Also, your big sister would give you an embrodiered handkerchief, to be carried at your wedding. I thought both traditions were really neat.

PhoenixAzul · #5 09-30-2007, 11:00 AM

I'm an alumna of a local sorority, so there's a bunch that I'd like to see resurrected because they're a huge part of our history. I'd love to see our original pins re-cast and worn on a regular basis. We're still sorting through the archives for more info on ritual/the pre-reform history of TD.

Benzgirl · #6 09-30-2007, 02:43 PM

When I pledged, we were told that when we pass away, we were to either be burried with our badges or it was to be returned to the International Headquarters. I see a lot of them on eBay.

macallan25 · #7 09-30-2007, 07:57 PM

Bows and Toes

SWTXBelle · #8 09-30-2007, 08:00 PM

macallan - dare I ask?

icelandelf · #9 09-30-2007, 08:13 PM

I want real candles back. The electric flickr ones just aren't cutting it...

and I want to know about bows and toes too

Cutie_Hootie · #10 09-30-2007, 08:26 PM

I might be in the minority here, but I miss real, good old-fashioned RUSH.

I mean Rush with frills.
-with every wall decorated
-with every girl having to stay up late to get the house decorated after MS.
-with matching outfits
-with skits every party and cool themes
-with beautiful snacks and desserts because you can
-with girls chanting and singing at the door as you walk in and are just overwhelmed by "the moment".
-Oh, and one more thing--definitely with real honest to goodness could burn everyone's house down candles.

bejazd · #11 09-30-2007, 08:38 PM

Wish I had something better to contribute here but...since I don't know what traditions have faded into history...I'll just share a tradition I like.

Every 5-10 years my chapter holds a reunion and invites every collegian and alum to attend. There's usually a pretty big crowd in a big ballroom. It's so much fun to see old friends and see all the "eras" represented. But of course you don't know most of the women there personally.

One year, when the invitations were sent out, they asked you to include your favorite Gamma Phi memory with your RSVP. At the luncheon there were little bells with pink ribbons at each place setting. During the presentation a sister read off almost all the "memories" and if you remembered that story too, you rang your little bell. Needless to say some of the memories were hysterical, and it helped the many women of all ages present feel united as sisters even though of course we did not all know each other!

SWTXBelle · #12 09-30-2007, 08:52 PM

I miss rush,too!

honeychile · #13 09-30-2007, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cutie_Hootie

I might be in the minority here, but I miss real, good old-fashioned RUSH.

I mean Rush with frills.
-with every wall decorated
-with every girl having to stay up late to get the house decorated after MS.
-with matching outfits
-with skits every party and cool themes
-with beautiful snacks and desserts because you can
-with girls chanting and singing at the door as you walk in and are just overwhelmed by "the moment".
-Oh, and one more thing--definitely with real honest to goodness could burn everyone's house down candles.

[b]Yes, yes, and thousand times YES!!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by bejazd

Every 5-10 years my chapter holds a reunion and invites every collegian and alum to attend. There's usually a pretty big crowd in a big ballroom. It's so much fun to see old friends and see all the "eras" represented. But of course you don't know most of the women there personally.

One year, when the invitations were sent out, they asked you to include your favorite Gamma Phi memory with your RSVP. At the luncheon there were little bells with pink ribbons at each place setting. During the presentation a sister read off almost all the "memories" and if you remembered that story too, you rang your little bell. Needless to say some of the memories were hysterical, and it helped the many women of all ages present feel united as sisters even though of course we did not all know each other!

This sounds absolutely charming! I plan to let our chapter know about this. A group of us gets together every 5 years, but never formally. Something like this would be amazing!!

Did I hear that Sigma Chi no longer hosts Derby Days? Those were a LOT of fun! So was the Awards Season, when fraternities named Best Sweetheart, Best Little Sister, Best Sorority President, Best Sorority Pledge, Best Dressed, etc, etc.

We had "Feasts". Yeah, imaginative name! At least 15-20 of us would be going to a concert, with or without dates, and before we left, we would have a major dinner. M-A-J-O-R! Afterwards, we'd quickly tear down the tables, then head off to the concert en masse. I know other sororities did the same thing (or similar) - we used to separate which sorority a PNM would probably select by which concert they were most likely to attend. I can remember a PNM who was several sisters' rush crush saying that she loved Neil Diamond. Later that night, we pretty much shrugged and said that she wasn't going to pick us, but gave her the invitation anyhow. She did go to ABC!!

I've mentioned the other event I miss dozens of times, but it was the Amos Hall Study Breaks. During Finals, we always kept a huge coffee urn full of hot water, along with coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and such on a special table for study breaks. At least one night a week, we'd have a sign in the elevator, inviting all of the other sorority women (NO MEN!) to join us at 11pm> 12 midnight. That way, no one was worried about their attire, makeup, etc, and at 12m, a timer went off so that everyone would go back to work. A lot of NPC goodwill came out of those study breaks!

Benzgirl · #14 09-30-2007, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by macallan25

Bows and Toes

What the......????

sageofages · #15 09-30-2007, 11:01 PM

I miss the rush of days gone by as well.....

I also miss interviews for new members. I just don't see the problem with sitting down together for lunch, etc and chatting to get to know each other.

I miss scavenger hunts too....

And those who might have gone to Wright State, I don't know if it still happens, but I sure miss the Barfly "Pumpkin Hunt" and the "St Valentine's Day Massacre". (RM nightmares

! but tremendous amount of fun!)