So we started recruitment today for PHA, and thinking about what we discussed in class yesterday about creating a valued-based community I am starting to question if our recruitment process fosters our purpose as a community. We assemble a ton of women and allow them to meet each chapter for 20 minutes rounds on the first day to learn more about the chapters. This process continues with each round increasing in duration and learning more about the chapters, but how do we really know the individuals on a personal level and know that they are true in what they say and are not all just talk? I know that when I went through formal recruitment I loved my experience and chapter I joined, but it still makes me wonder how do we get the women that join to really understand that they are joining a valued-based organization? I knew going in that fraternities and sororities valued brother/sisterhood, service, philanthropy, leadership, and academic success, but no one ever explicitly said you are joining a valued-based community... Maybe that is understood? I do not really think that though...
I really am not sure if we display that enough. Yes, we share with them our philanthropies that we participate in and how we succeed academically, etc., but what about the other side of our reputation. We still hold the reputation of college students who spend too much time drinking... Though drinking typically encompasses college life, I do not think we just want to recruit individuals because they know how to have fun. Again, I do not think that every chapter does that, but we still have chapters getting in trouble for these behaviors.
I guess what I am wondering is how do we foster the development of a valued-based community if we are inherently not always recruiting members that truly uphold these values? Or maybe part of the challenge for us is to determine how we can create a New Member Development Program that focuses on the values of our community and expectations as members?
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I'm really glad that you BLOGGED about this! It's something that I think I've been struggling with, especially with being on the other side of recruitment. While I absolutely love recruitment and the time I get to spend with my sisters during it, sometimes, something just doesn't feel right. Ask anyone what they like about Greek life..they will say the parties, meeting new people, making life long friends, etc, etc...but it seems like we all place so much emphasis on service and philanthropies during recruitment. But..all this talk and it doesn't seem like the Greek community as a whole is able to live up to all this wonderful work that we supposedly do. Don't get me wrong..yes, it is awesome that we have the opportunities to support causes we may not have otherwise supported had it not been for Greek life, but it just seems like we should be doing way more. What got me really thinking about your post is that I am the incoming head new member educator for my chapter. One of the things I am going to emphasize from the start is our values, how to live our values daily, and how to inspire others to start living by the same values. It's going to be tough with all the other distractions of Greek life, but it's a challenge worth taking on. I know it starts with me and setting a good example, and who doesn't need a little self refreshing once in a while? I really don't want to see any more time go by with the diminishing value of our values...time for a refresher my new little members :)
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more with what you are saying about values! I think thats where its starts too; we need to recruit individuals that uphold the same values that we stand for. What also got me thinking was how you were talking about your new members I think you should send an email to Jeff Pellitier and have him do his Ritual talk for your new members, maybe even your whole chapter. It will really get everyone thinking about what Alpha Xi Delta and Ritual is about! Just let me know if you want any more info on Jeff:)
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