Getting Ready for Sorority Recruitment

Our Ambassador Mary Kate Lobough recently attended the 2011 Annual Meeting of Fraternity and Sorority Advisors (AFA).  Although SureSister staff members did not deliver an educational session this year, we are happy to provide you with this update written by Mary Kate: Read the rest of this entry »

Technorati Tags: AFA, Association of Fraternity and Sorority Advisors, college orientation, freshman advice, gamma chi, joining a sorority, panhellenic, PETAL System, recruitment, sigma sigma sigma, sorority recruitment advice, sorority recruitment rush conversation secrets tips advice greek panhellenic college book, womens fraternity

If you are a first generation college student or if your parents were not in a sorority or fraternity, they may be wondering how the sorority recruitment process works. Even if a parent was in a sorority or fraternity, he or she may be wondering how “rush” has changed – besides just the name.

These tips will help you talk with your parents about the idea of recruitment and sorority life.

BEFORE:

✽  Research your options with your parents. Tell them why you want to be involved. Let them know about the events you will be attending and any women you have already met. Read the rest of this entry »

Technorati Tags: alpha sorority, college orientation, fraternities, fraternity, freshman, freshman advice, greek, greek life, kappa sorority, parent, parents, phi sorority, sorority gift, sorority recruitment, sorority rush, womens fraternity

What is Panhellenic? It’s a strange word, don’t you think? I do too! Why would anyone choose that name for an organization? Let’s break it down to understand.

The word “Panhellenic” (pan-huh-len-ic) is formed from two Greek words, “pan” meaning “all” and “Hellenic”meaning “Greek.” When you hear the word Panhellenic in reference to a college council, an alumnae association, or a national conference, you want to think “all sororities.” The National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) is the body of 26 women’s fraternities established to support the collegiate chapters of the NPC member groups.

Wait, did you say fraternities?

Yes, I did! In the early days of collegiate sororities, many women’s organizations called themselves “fraternities” until the term “sororities” was coined around 1874. So in the NPC you’ll find a nice blend of both sororities and women’s fraternities. Sometimes these women’s fraternities are simply called fraternities. If you stumble across a Greek fraternity on the internet or elsewhere that is unfamiliar to you, the organization may be for women, men, or both.

Your collegiate Panhellenic Council may go by many names:  Pan, Panhel, PHA (Panhellenic Association), CPH (College Panhellenic), CPC (College Panhellenic Council), or WPA (Womens Panhellenic Association).  Typically alumnae Panhellenic organizations (for women who have left the college scene) are called associations.

At present, nearly 4 million women are members of (National Panhellenic Conference) NPC groups. This figure includes both collegiate and alumnae members (uh-lum-nee).

Note: ‘Collegiate’ is an adjective used to describe a person or thing.  ‘Collegian’ is a noun used to describe a person. ‘Alumnae’ (uh-lum-nee) is the feminine plural form of the feminine Latin word ‘alumna.’  ‘Alumni’ is the plural form for a group of men or men and women together.  One man?  He’s an ‘alumnus.’

SUNDAY TOLLEFSON is an author, professional speaker, coach, and a leading authority on sorority recruitment. She is the author of RUSH RIGHT: Reveal Your Best YOU During Sorority Recruitment and the founder of SureSister.com.

Copyright 2009-2010 Sunday Tollefson, SureSister.com

Technorati Tags: cpc, cph, npc, panhel, panhellenic, pha, womens fraternities, womens fraternity, wpa