"I'm rushing 'for' a certain chapter"

[carnation]

OMG! I am currently trying (maybe fruitlessly) to convince some UGa PNMs that no matter what the website says, they HAVE to get recs! Their non-Greek moms keep parroting, "But the Panhellenic site says you don't have to..."

[HQWest]

Originally Posted by carnation

OMG! I am currently trying (maybe fruitlessly) to convince some UGa PNMs that no matter what the website says, they HAVE to get recs! Their non-Greek moms keep parroting, "But the Panhellenic site says you don't have to..."

Now, now - sure, they don't have to have recs, they only have to have recs for chapters they might want to join (or that mom wants them to join.)

(maybe mom doesn't think they are up to recruitment....)

[greekdee]

Originally Posted by carnation

OMG! I am currently trying (maybe fruitlessly) to convince some UGa PNMs that no matter what the website says, they HAVE to get recs! Their non-Greek moms keep parroting, "But the Panhellenic site says you don't have to..."

I had that come up last year with some Alabama PNMs. The statement that it's the sorority's responsibility to find recs was posted near the top of the websites's info section...I think some stopped reading right there, believing they had nothing to worry about. This year, it says in the first few paragraphs that it's not the PNMs responsibility to find the official rec forms alumnae use. The other comment about sororities securing recs is still in there, but tucked in much further down.

[Hartofsec]

Originally Posted by greekdee

I had that come up last year with some Alabama PNMs. The statement that it's the sorority's responsibility to find recs was posted near the top of the websites's info section...I think some stopped reading right there, believing they had nothing to worry about. This year, it says in the first few paragraphs that it's not the PNMs responsibility to find the official rec forms alumnae use. The other comment about sororities securing recs is still in there, but tucked in much further down.

I was typing a post about that very info too. And check the instruction at the end of the page.

From the lengthy page devoted to “Letters of Recommendation” on the Bama Panhellenic site:

http://uapanhellenic.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=15&It emid=32

First sentence on page:

Recommendations/References are not required to participate in Formal Recruitment at The University of Alabama, but they are a helpul tool in introducing the potential new member to the sorority.

Also:

Please note that while potential members can seek out letters of rec; it is ultimately not the responsibility of the potential member to obtain a copy of the Recommendation/Reference Form for the alumna or collegian.

Last (next to last) sentences on page:

*Potential New Members are encouraged to obtain Recommendations/References for all the Panhellenic sororities, however in some instances this is not possible. If a Recommendation/Reference is not obtained, the PNM may send her resume, transcript and headshot photograph to the chapter PO box.

Little wonder that there is still confusion where recs are concerned (at Bama anyway) – especially among moms who are not Greek and using this “official” source of information.

***I've never noticed the "send in your own" suggestion before. Perhaps it has been there in the past, but I never noticed it. And I don't know of any PNMs who have done that.

.

[carnation]

You are kidding. Send in your own? Now who on earth is going to accept that?

[Hartofsec]

Originally Posted by carnation

You are kidding. Send in your own? Now who on earth is going to accept that?

It really doesn't make any sense, especially when the PNM has already submitted the same information to register for recruitment (from Bama's Panhellenic Sorority Recruitment Registration page):



Prepare yourself before you begin to register by having the following items ready:

• Personal Information (UA Campuswide ID Number, Crimson email account, etc.)
• List of extracurricular activities, honors, community service and work experience
• Sorority legacy information
• Digital photograph, preferably a head-shot (1 MB Max)
• Digital Copy of your Resume (1 MB Max)
• Digital copy of your high school or college transcript (1 MB Max)
• Credit or Debt card for online payment

I wouldn't recommend sending in your own info to chapters there. Panhellenic really needs to reword and reorganize the information concerning letters of recommendation to be more accurate.

.

[greekdee]

Little wonder that there is still confusion where recs are concerned (at Bama anyway) – especially among moms who are not Greek and using this “official” source of information.

Amen, I completely see why there is confusion. Parents who attended the Preview Weekend seem to have a much better understanding of what is needed, but some who didn't rely a lot on what they read at the website, and some trust it more than they do a few alums telling them differently. On another note, I had a UGA mom tell me she heard recs were "being phased out" and not a big deal anymore. Wow, wonder what UGA she is talking about? Not the one in Athens, Georgia.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by greekdee

Amen, I completely see why there is confusion. Parents who attended the Preview Weekend seem to have a much better understanding of what is needed, but some who didn't rely a lot on what they read at the website, and some trust it more than they do a few alums telling them differently. On another note, I had a UGA mom tell me she heard recs were "being phased out" and not a big deal anymore. Wow, wonder what UGA she is talking about? Not the one in Athens, Georgia.

The problem is that Panhellenic (the entity) cannot say that recs are recommended, or even required, as they are NOT required to take place in rush (a Panhellenic event). However, to actually receive a bid to the participating partners, you need one.

Analogy: A mall cannot disallow you from walking into the mall without cash, checks or a credit card. However, to buy anything at any of the stores in the mall, you will need one of those things.

[DGTess]

Originally Posted by SydneyK

Little wonder that there is still confusion where recs are concerned (at Bama anyway) – especially among moms who are not Greek and using this “official” source of information.

***I've never noticed the "send in your own" suggestion before. Perhaps it has been there in the past, but I never noticed it. And I don't know of any PNMs who have done that.

.

Or among moms who were Greek, but at a noncompetitive school. (I'm so glad my daughter chose not to rush; I knew NOTHING about Texas and would have given her very very bad information. Even though I belonged to an alumnae group, this was not something we ever discussed.)

For all the people who get told "contact your Greek Life office; a bunch of strangers on the internet don't know" (not only this site, mind you), we shouldn't be surprised that there is confusion among those who weren't raised with the SEC-sorority mindset.

[SWTXBelle]

That's why God invented Alumnae Panhellenics!

Seriously - the vast majority of the GKAP pnms have mothers who didn't go Greek. We work EXTRA HARD to educate both them and their daughters. It's one reason we have such a great percentage pledge - EVEN AT TEXAS AND BAMA! (Love my GKAP panhellenic cousins!)

*GKAP - Greater Katy Alumnae Panhellenic

[SydneyK]

Originally Posted by DGTess

Or among moms who were Greek, but at a noncompetitive school. (I'm so glad my daughter chose not to rush; I knew NOTHING about Texas and would have given her very very bad information. Even though I belonged to an alumnae group, this was not something we ever discussed.)

For all the people who get told "contact your Greek Life office; a bunch of strangers on the internet don't know" (not only this site, mind you), we shouldn't be surprised that there is confusion among those who weren't raised with the SEC-sorority mindset.

Just giving credit where credit is due...
The quote you've presented in this post as mine was actually posted by Hartofsec.

[adpiucf]

Originally Posted by carnation

OMG! I am currently trying (maybe fruitlessly) to convince some UGa PNMs that no matter what the website says, they HAVE to get recs! Their non-Greek moms keep parroting, "But the Panhellenic site says you don't have to..."

"Don't listen to your non-Greek mother on this one."