Life is a balancing act and sometimes it seems impossible to manage everything. Sorority, School and Social. These three S’s probably seem to be running your life. They can also add another S into the mix – Stress. Here are a few ways you can conquer all of them:

Get organized. Utilize a planner or to do lists. Write down when you have due dates or deadlines and figure out ways to break those big tasks into smaller ones. Set target completion dates along the way.

Plan ahead. If you know you have a big presentation coming up but want to go out of town the weekend before, get your presentation out of the way. That way you can enjoy your time away without the weight of the presentation on your mind.

Prioritize. Everything may be important, but rank what is most critical to what is least critical. Then complete tasks in order. You may have to make tough choices and understand that something may have to come off your to do list.

Reach out for help. It is easy to feel like you are over committed. Ask a sister if she could help you study or make the banner for your philanthropy event. Delegation is a great skill to practice.

Take one day at a time. We all get overwhelmed with the millions of things we feel like we have to complete. Know that tomorrow is a new day and sometimes it is better to walk away from a paper, get some much needed sleep and start fresh the next day.

Of course we know that this is easier said than done, but you it is possible to balance them all.

What do you do that is most helpful to balance everything?

Cheers!
Casey, Kate, and Rachel

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© 2013, Sorority Ever After. All rights reserved.

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To each sorority woman it is slightly different, but the general concept is the same. Sisterhood is a bond that unites them together. They hold similar values, are guided by the same rituals, respect the same heritage that their founders created, and wear the same letters of their beloved sorority.

Sisterhood is common among all sororities, but it is also what makes each sorority different. It is the reason to join one vs. another. As you go through recruitment you will hear the word sisterhood mentioned a million times. Though every sorority says it – the word means nothing unless you actually “feel it.”

Sisters are there to support each other, no matter what. No, we are not going to tell you that all sisters are BFFs or that they are all the same – this is not The Stepford Wives – but regardless sisters should respect one another.

When you are talking to different sorority women these are a few signs that can help you tell if sisterhood is something these women feel or if it is just a word they say.

• They talk negatively about their other sisters.
• They don’t seem to enjoy being around each other.
• They say the word without any emotion behind it.
• They don’t know another sister’s name.
• They don’t know another sister’s interests.

What are some examples of how you were able to tell a sorority actually had sisterhood?

Cheers!
Casey, Kate, and Rachel

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© 2013, Sorority Ever After. All rights reserved.

Monique Goring is a member of Alpha Omicron Pi and responded to our prompt: “We’ve gotten some email questions, and we’re looking for your help! Tell us about your positive experience as a minority in a Panhellenic chapter.” We thought it would be more useful for those of you with questions to read someone’s personal story. Monique has also expressed her willingness to speak with anyone individually. If you are interested in doing so, leave a comment or send us an email and we can get you connected with her.

Here is her guest post on her experience joining a NPC chapter. Thanks for the great insight & contribution, Monique! – Cheers, SEA

“Joining Alpha Omicron Pi in my sophomore year of college was truly one of the best decisions of my life. I never planned to join a sorority in college because my family is from the Caribbean, where Greek life is virtually unheard of. But, a sister in AOII drew me in and the chapter immediately welcomed me into their sisterhood. Considering the college and high school that I attended were predominantly composed of Caucasian students,  race and culture were never factors for me in determining whether or not to rush an NPC sorority. When I decided to check out the Greek organizations at my college I just wanted to to feel like I could be myself in whichever chapter I chose. I did and still do however face back lash now and then from other students of color about my decision to join AOII – a reality that future PNMs of color should be aware of but certainly not deterred by.  I think many Greek organizations have room for improvement in the way of cultural sensitivity, but I would not trade my membership in AOII for the world. Even my mother, who didn’t understand my membership in AOII for a long time, has come to appreciate the support my sisters offer me and the ways in which I have grown through AOII. As a collegiate, AOII helped me develop my leadership skills and confidence, and as an alumni, my sisters have helped ease the transition to a new city. I highly encourage any student of color who wishes to join an NPC sorority to give it a try and ultimately to decide which sorority is best for them on the basis of comfort, not color.” – Monique

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Happy New Year! We are a few weeks into 2013 and everyone is slowly recovering from the holidays and getting back to their normal schedules. Starting a new year perhaps means starting new resolutions. What resolutions did you make? One we made for Sorority Ever After is to post more conversational blogs. We want to make this a place for you to come with all of your sorority related questions. Whether you are thinking about going through recruitment; an initiated sister holding a new office; or even an alumni who is looking for ideas to get re-engaged with their sorority. Whatever the topic, we are here to help. We look forward to continuing our journey into 2013 and all of the great questions we get from you.

Cheers!
Casey, Kate, and Rachel

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Initiation is a time to celebrate! You have welcomed your new members into your sorority as initiated sisters.

Here are a couple ideas on how to make the big day extra special:

• Eats & Sweets. Simple, yet always welcome. Socialize around some finger foods and cake.
• Retreat. What a great night for a good ol’ sisterhood retreat. You could plan one the night before or after.
• Gifts. Sounds overdone, but chapters often shower their new members from Bid Day through Big/Little Night. But, what about initiation? After all this is a very significant event. We know a chapter that asked the Bigs to scale back their purchases during Big/Little week and donate money to buy shirts with their sorority’s crest to be given at initiation.
• Discuss the ritual and tradition. Now that the ladies are initiated sisters, they have experienced another ritual and should be allowed the time to understand and appreciate. Ask some older members to explain the symbols, ceremony, history and their importance.

However you decide to spend initiation day, remember that is a day of celebration for the newest members which should be carefully planned by the older ones.

Cheers!
Casey, Kate & Rachel




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Pledging and Initiation are both rituals that sorority members participate in, signifying different steps of their membership.

Pledging is when a woman participates in a ritual ceremony where they commit to being a new member of the sorority. This happens on or within a few days of Bid Day. You are essentially making a pledge to your sisters to learn about the sorority and uphold all membership standards. Your initiated sisters are making a pledge to you at the same time; they are promising to nurture and guide you through the new member period to help you develop into a full-fledged initiated sister. If you compare a sorority to a relationship, think of pledging as an engagement.

Initiation is when a new member participates in a ceremony that marks formal admittance into the sorority as a member. This happens after several weeks of being a new member and learning about the sorority’s history. By completing initiation, the standards will be raised and you will not be allowed to pledge another sorority. Initiation is like the marriage ceremony.

Both of these events are ritual ceremonies that typically date back to the very beginning of the sorority’s founding. They include symbolic gestures, readings, and actions, with the details remaining secret within the membership.

While you may be overwhelmed with emotion or curiosity during the actual ceremony, you should spend time afterwards reflecting on the ceremony and its importance to your sisterhood.

One last note – none of these rituals should include any hazing. If you believe you were hazed in any way you should speak to your school’s greek advisor.

Cheers!
Casey, Kate & Rachel




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Below are a few ideas that we came across or have seen to help get your creative juices flowing.

• Create 2 puzzle pieces out of your sororities’ mascot or symbol. You can decorate it however you like. The little gets the piece with her name and then has to find the match with her bigs name.
• Give each little a box that has a balloon inside. When they open the box have it filled with helium to fly out (make sure it is attached to the bottom) and have their bigs name on it.
• Give littles socks that match their bigs. Hold a blanket in front of the bigs and have the little stand on the other side of their matching pair of socks. Drop the blanket to reveal their big.
• Play an elimination game. Give the little clues about their big. Have people who match the question step forward (i.e. I have brown hair), and continue until only their big is left. 4 to 5 clues would be enough.

Make sure to check your national sorority’s policies regarding the reveal. They may have some restrictions on things like scavenger hunts, blindfolds, etc. Remember that Big/Little Reveal is a celebration, not meant to make any member feel uncomfortable.

How did you find out who your big was? What are some other great Big/ Little Reveal ideas that you have seen?

Cheers!
Casey, Kate, and Rachel

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We asked our readers to share with us why their Big and/or Little(s) relationships were important to them.  We felt that we couldn’t sum up your words any better than the way you said them, so we shared what some of you had to say!

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Are you tasked with planning the new member retreat? If you are the New Member Educator – we are sure you are feeling the pressures of not only planning the overall new member program, but also a memorable new member retreat. Well, we want to give you some ideas on what to include and think about as you are planning this event.

The main goal of this retreat should be to bond sisters together. Sisterhood is an important aspect of every sorority and the retreat is an ideal time to get the newest members to form these connections with other new members and initiated members. The new member retreat is also a great time to show new members that sororities are not only about going to meetings and events, but a time to build lasting memories and to have fun!

Bonding for new members. Though new members already have some shared memories; like Bid Day and eventually initiation. Planning time for the new members to bond in other ways is important. Here are a few activities to consider for your new members:

• A Game. This can be anything from capture the flag to twister. The game should allow sisters to join teams with sisters they don’t talk with every day or a game that allows sisters to let their hair down and have fun!
• Positive Words. Who doesn’t like to hear positive things about themselves? This is a chance for new sisters to start with some positives, not only about themselves, but to express to others. For example, a sister could tell another that she sees her as a true leader or that she thinks she is a great sister because she goes out of her way for others, etc. To save time you could have everyone write their name on a blank piece of paper and pass them around for their sisters to comment on. There are a ton of ways you could tweak this for your specific need.
• Circle time. This may sound corny, but it is a great bonding tool. We have seen many new member classes benefit from allowing each new member the chance to share a story. This story can be as personal as the new member wishes and often these stories allow sisters to connect on a deeper level.

Bonding between initiated and new members. Yes, it is the new member retreat, but your chapter will benefit from inviting the initiated sisters to be a part of this event. We often hear that chapters are having a hard time getting the two groups together and to get to know one another. Take advantage of this time and help build connections.

• Songs, Chants and Cheers. Allow some time for the older sisters to teach their new sisters some of your sorority’s songs. The initiated members should begin to pass down traditions – traditions in which bring sororities and chapters together and back to their history.
• Games. More games can’t hurt. It may sound childish, but a good ol’ game can be the ticket to get the ladies to loosen up. Tie in your sorority’s history into a spin-off game of Jeopardy or Amazing Race.

We are willing to bet that if you plan the new member retreat with bonding as the main goal, you will get the results you are looking for. If your chapter has some traditional activities and they contribute to the new member program, then by all means keep them. If you need some new ideas, think of ways you can foster true sisterhood among your members.

What activities does your chapter incorporate at the new member retreat?

Cheers!
Casey, Kate & Rachel




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Is your new member retreat right around the corner? What should you expect to do at your new member retreat? Whether you are in the beginning weeks or almost at the end of this phase in your sorority life, a new member retreat is a great opportunity to relax with your sisters and to establish lasting relationships.

What to expect:
To talk with initiated sisters. This is a relaxing time to talk and get to know your sisters that you might not see as often. Unlike formal meetings, these women aren’t there to update or inform you about something, they are there to talk and connect with you.

To know your new member class a little better. During this event, you will be able to have more intimate conversations with your sisters – sisters that you have been experiencing so many new and exciting things with. You may hear very personal stories or have more light-hearted conversations.

To stay up late and sleep over. You should be prepared to not get much sleep this night. We all know how it is when a large group of girls are together – we talk all night. Also, you should plan on staying the night or even weekend. Make sure to pack your bag, favorite pillow, and blanket.

To have fun! Having fun is the biggest part of the new member retreat. This is a time to kick back, let your hair down, laugh a lot, and to make some great memories!

What is your favorite memory from your new member retreat?

Cheers!
Casey, Kate, and Rachel

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© 2012, Sorority Ever After. All rights reserved.