the complete handbook for sorority recruitment...

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The Complete Handbook For

Sorority Recruitment 2020

Presented by: Deep South Texas Panhellenic

Email:

[email protected]

Website: hidalgocountypanhellenic.yolasite.com

Facebook:

Deep South Texas Panhellenic

Instagram: DeepSouthTexasPanhellenic

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Deep South Texas Panhellenic Officers October 1, 2019 to September 30, 2022

President

Jennifer Collins Stone Chi Omega

214-395-7242 [email protected]

Southern Methodist University Vice President

Julia Walker Harris Kappa Delta


Texas A&M University Secretary/Treasurer

Sarah Hinojosa Sigma Sigma Sigma


St. Mary's University Publicity/Webmaster Chairman

Amy G. Stephens Alpha Delta Pi 409-656-5817

[email protected] University of Texas at Austin

Membership Chair Katie S. Hoffman

Pi Beta Phi 817-689-1789

[email protected] Texas Tech University Member at Large

Christine Boudloche Wallace Pi Beta Phi

713-828-7600 [email protected] University of Mississippi

mailto:[email protected]


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Table of Contents

Sororities, Why Join? 4 General Information 5 The Greek Alphabet 8 Greek Glossary 9 What Sororities Look for in Prospective Members 11 Registering With Deep South Texas Panhellenic 12 Directory of Reference Chairmen 14 Deep South Texas Panhellenic Questionnaire 18 Authorization to Use Image or Likeness 20

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Sororities, Why join? A sorority meets the needs of the individual: College offers the opportunity to learn… Sororities provide the motivation. * College life offers a wide range of activities… Sorority life involves members in them. College life offers social events… Sorority life offers social experience. College life offers the benefits of a community… Sorority life involves you in the community.

*(Statistics have proven that more sorority members remain in college until graduation than do non-affiliated students)

A sorority develops leadership by:

Encouraging loyalty… Allegiance to college, to nation and to people. Providing training… Program aimed at developing the individual’s greatest potential. Teaching management… Practice in time organization and decisions about chapter affairs. Emphasizing scholarship… Incentives as well as correct atmosphere and good study habits. Promoting standards… Encouragement of personal ethical values; providing guidelines. Practicing citizenship… Participation in chapter government and campus activities. Showing concern for others…

Participation in philanthropic projects in which members give of themselves to help others.

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General Information What is a “rushee,” “guest,” or “potential new member”? A prospective rushee, guest, or potential new member is any high school graduate, college transfer or unaffiliated student. What is “Recruitment”? Recruitment is defined as any activity engaged in by sorority college members, pledges, alumnae and agents which attempts to persuade or influence a prospective new member in favor of some particular sorority. Recruitment includes participation by prospective new members in the following activities: (1) attendance at a legacy party, a sorority-sponsored mother-daughter affair, or a sorority alumnae function; (2) The writing or receiving of recruitment information letters to and from sorority college members, pledges or alumnae, unless not allowed by a particular College Panhellenic. Are there any rules to Recruitment? Yes. Sorority members, pledges, alumnae, agents and potential new members are bound by College Panhellenic rules. An infringement of the rules can bring penalties to the college chapter of the sorority involved. These rules can be obtained from the Panhellenic office at your particular college or university. The Deep South Texas Panhellenic cooperates with the Recruitment rules of the individual colleges and universities and urges that each potential new member learn and obey the rules for her school. Potential new members who have not yet made a definite choice of campus should be guided by the strictest set of rules among the schools being considered. Potential new members are responsible for knowing and abiding by the Recruitment rules of their College Panhellenics and are subject to penalties for infractions of Recruitment rules. A violation of the recruitment rules could make the potential new member ineligible for pledging. How do I get information on registering for Recruitment at my college? Participation in the forum of the Deep South Texas Panhellenic does not register you for Recruitment with the college Panhellenic of the school you plan to attend. Registration for Recruitment with the specific college Panhellenic is a MUST for each rushee. After the college Panhellenic has received your registration, you will be sent its set of recruitment rules and details about Recruitment on your chosen campus. Recruitment registration is a potential new member’s responsibility.

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What is recommendation (rec’) or reference? When you return the questionnaire in this booklet you are signing-up with the Deep South Texas Panhellenic, and making your personal data available to all sorority women in Hidalgo County. This is a signal that you are ready to go to college and wish the sororities on your chosen campus to consider rushing you. Therefore, it is important to fill out at least one form completely. Have as many copies made as instructed in this handbook or as is required for your respective college. You may use any commercial firm, the library or private office to reproduce the copies. Your high school counselor can tell you your class position and size of class. Once the applications are returned to the Deep South Texas Panhellenic it is the responsibility of the sorority alumnae chapter in Hidalgo County to secure recommendations. Neither the rushee nor her family should seek sorority recommendations, though they may tell friends where she is going to school and that she plans to go through recruitment. It is the sorority’s privilege to choose those who will receive invitations to recruitment and to pledge. Let THEM take the initiative. Why are we sending so many photos with the Deep South Texas Panhellenic form? Many alumnae attach photographs to recommendations or reference forms. Be sure they are a good likeness because members want to recognize you when you arrive at their houses. How do I find out more about a particular sorority? Many sororities now have home pages on the Internet. You can look them up by typing in the full Greek name, or access them through the home page of the school you will be attending. Many are listed under “student activities” or “organizations” on your school’s home page. General information about each National Panhellenic Conference sorority and a listing of their campuses may be read in Baird’s Manual of American College Fraternities. Are some sororities better than others? National Panhellenic Conference, the advisory conference of our Greek-letter sororities, has formally denounced arbitrary priority rating of member groups, either nationally or locally. All groups listed here have similar ideals and goals. All are worthy of membership. What does it mean to be a “legacy”? Each sorority has its own definition of a legacy. It is generally defined as a daughter or sister of an initiated member, and often as a granddaughter. Sororities try to extend every courtesy to legacies and try to get to know them, but sororities cannot guarantee them membership. At times there are more legacies entering rush than a college chapter has membership openings. A legacy must meet the same standards of qualification that non-legacies meet.

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What if I am a shy person? Recruitment is simply the method of getting acquainted with prospective members. Let good taste and good manners guide your conduct during recruitment as at any other time. BE YOURSELF! SMILE AND BE INTERESTED IN OTHERS AND HAVE A GOOD TIME! What to wear during rush?

Please visit Collegefashion.net, mysororitylife.org or on Instagram at @SororityScoop Remember, this is the sororities’ impression of you. Please dress tastefully. You are not going to the club!

Appropriate Attire!

Please avoid these looks!

Nothing short! It’s not glamour shots! No props or tight dresses!

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THE GREEK ALPHABET Α Alpha Β Beta Γ Gamma Δ Delta Ε Epsilon Ζ Zeta Η Eta Θ Theta Ι Iota Κ Kappa Λ Lambda Μ Mu Ν Nu Ξ Xi

Ο Omicron Π Pi Ρ Rho Σ Sigma Τ Tau Υ Upsilon Φ Phi Χ Chi Ψ Psi Ω Omega

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GREEK GLOSSARY Active – Commonly used term to denote an initiated fraternity or sorority member in college. Agent – A person (male or female) who recruits new members in any way for a sorority. Alumna – A fraternity member (feminine) no longer in college. (Plural: Alumnae) Alumnae Panhellenic – An area organization of alumnae of National Panhellenic Conference sororities. Bid – Invitation to join a sorority. Chapter – Membership unit of a sorority. College Panhellenic – The cooperative college organization of women’s N.P.C. fraternities. Deferred Recruitment - Recruitment scheduled sometime after school opening or in the second semester. Dropping out of Recruitment - If it becomes necessary for a rushee to discontinue attendance at recruitment events, she should check with her College Panhellenic as to procedure and registration for Recruitment at a later date. Fraternity – The name that applies to all Greek- letter organizations, characterized by a ritual, pin and strong ties of friendship. Informally, women’s fraternities are commonly called sororities. Guest - High school graduate or unaffiliated college student or transfer who plans to attend (or who is attending) a college which has sororities and who is interested in sorority membership. (This means YOU!) (See also: potential new member). Information File – Card file used by all sorority groups compiled by Alumnae Panhellenic giving information furnished by girls going to college who are interested in Recruitment. Initiation – Inspirational ceremony by which pledges are made members. Intentional Single Preference - Also known as “soloing” and “suicide.” Intentional indication of only one choice at preferential signing. National Panhellenic conference strongly recommends every potential new member list at least a second preferential choice.

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Legacy – Generally defined as a daughter, sister, or granddaughter of an initiated member, although each sorority has its own definition of a legacy. Local – A campus organization, often with a Greek-letter name, which does not have chapters on other campuses and which is not a member of the National Panhellenic Conference. Open Recruitment – A period following Formal Recruitment with informal recruitment and without scheduled events. This is designated by the College Panhellenic. Panhellenic – Meaning “all-Greek”, is the organization nationally, locally, and on college campuses to further the aims of all member groups. Pledge – A young woman who has accepted a fraternity bid, but is not yet initiated. Potential New Member – High school graduate or unaffiliated college student or a transfer student who plans to attend (or who is attending) a college which has sororities and who is interested in sorority membership. (This means YOU!) (See also: guest). Preferential Bidding – A system used at the conclusion of Formal Recruitment when potential new members and sororities indicate choices. Quota – A system used to equalize, in general, the number of members in each campus group. It means the number of girls who may be pledged by each group in Recruitment. The quota is set by the College Panhellenic and depends on the number of potential new members and sororities on a particular campus. Recommendation – Specific information form which sponsors a prospective member. Recruitment – A period of time formally designated by the College Panhellenic for entertaining potential new members. Silence – The period of time designated by each College’s Panhellenic when there is no communication between potential new members and members or agents.

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What Sororities Look for in Prospective Members Scholastic Ability: Since each sorority wishes to maintain a high chapter average, each must consider a rushee’s ability to adhere to its scholastic standards and to attain the grade average required for initiation into membership. It is hoped that each girl pledged will place importance upon the completion of her education, and it is hoped that each has the potential of staying in college the full four years. Most sororities require that rushees have at least a B average in high school. Compatibility: Sororities are based upon friendship, congeniality, and mutual ideals. The ability to get along with others and the enjoyment of being with people of diverse personalities are desirable qualities. Interest in Involvement: Those who are group oriented and who enjoy working with people are more likely to contribute to sorority operation and to benefit from membership. The rushee’s list of activities in high school need not be long if there is indication that she has truly participated in some… rather than being merely a “joiner” in many activities. Clean up your Social Media: Sororities will google you, they have a girl whose sole responsibility is to look at all your social media links. Please clean yours up. Take time to take off anything you would not want your grandmother to see. Financial Responsibility: Sororities are financed by the dues of their own members. Rushees and their parents should be aware of the cost of sorority membership and be willing to accept this financial obligation. Average membership costs for groups at individual colleges can be obtained by contacting the Panhellenic Council at the appropriate college. Remember: Our Sororities, members of the National Panhellenic Conference, are private social organizations whose collegiate members have the right to invite into membership the girls they deem to be most congenial. The privilege of choice is mutual. Although a sorority has the right to choose whom it will invite to pledge, the rushee also has the right to choose which sorority she wishes to join. Do not make up your mind about joining any sorority until you have met its active college members. Remember that you are not joining a “name” but choosing a closely knit group in which you expect to make lasting friendships in college and alumna life. Also, remember that individual sororities differ from campus to campus. At the end of rush you will be asked to list the sororities which you would most like to join. We urge you to list more than one by order of preference—the first being the one that you would most like to join.

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REGISTERING WITH DEEP SOUTH TEXAS PANHELLENIC

STEP ONE: COMPLETE THE PANHELLENIC QUESTIONNAIRE AND PHOTOGRAPH CONSENT FORM AT THE END OF THIS BOOKLET This questionnaire allows the local alumnae of national sororities to review each prospective rushee’s information, and provide a letter of reference to their sorority on the campus that the rushee will be attending. Be sure to include all of your activities and offices held, honors received, volunteer and work experience. List the activities by year in school – freshman, sophomore, etc. Do not be bashful! We want to know everything there is to know about you so we are able to write the best possible recommendation to your college campus. If your resume is longer than one page, please submit a one page resume highlighting all your accomplishments along with your multipage resume. Be sure to add your social media links to both resumes. If you are currently attending college, do not forget to include your involvement in any college activities and organizations. STEP TWO: PHOTOGRAPHS

You will need to include photographs with your questionnaire. The photographs do not need to be done professionally, but is strongly encouraged. However, if you do go to a studio, you need a signed release from the photographer allowing copies or slides to be made of your photograph. The photographs must be 4 x 6 or larger. It is best to provide three to five different poses. Be sure to include a close up and full length shot. The photographs help the sororities recognize you when you come to their house during rush week. Photographs should have your name and the school you are attending written on the back of them. Please place them in a Ziploc baggie and staple them to your questionnaire so everything stays together. You may also include 8x10 photographs if you would like your local sorority representative to make a poster for you. Posters will be sent to sororities at your school. STEP THREE: TRANSCRIPTS

Obtain a certified copy of you high school transcript and make one copy to include with each questionnaire. If you have completed any college hours, you will need both your high school and college transcripts. Do not wait until graduation. We know that your transcript will be incomplete.

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STEP FOUR: PACKETS Place your completed questionnaire, your detailed list of activities and honors, your one page resume, your photographs and/or slides in a Ziploc baggie and a signed release from the photographer, if you used a professional, in a large manila envelope for mailing. We also want a USB stick with all this information as well, it is very important that we have both an electronic version and hard copy of all your information. You will need to make one packet for EVERY SORORITY that has a local representative at the college you will be attending. IF YOU HAVE APPLIED TO MULTIPLE SCHOOLS AND DO NOT KNOW WHICH ONE YOU WILL ATTEND PLEASE ADD A NOTE TO THE REFERENCE CHAIR SO SHE CAN SEND YOUR INFORMATION TO EACH SCHOOL. IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTIFY EACH REFERENCE CHAIR ONCE YOU HAVE A DECISION AS TO WHAT COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY YOU WILL ATTEND. STEP FIVE: RETURN THE PACKET NO LATER THAN MARCH 2, 2020. A completed packet of information must be mailed or delivered no later than MARCH 2, 2020 to EACH Reference Chairman listed in the directory of Reference Chairmen. DO NOT MISS THE DEADLINE! You do not need to contact the sorority representatives to check on your packet. If you have any questions once you have mailed it, or are concerned that it was received, please call the reference chairman or the President, Jennifer C. Stone. PLEASE NOTE THAT REGISTERING WITH DEEP SOUTH TEXAS PANHELLENIC DOES NOT REGISTER YOU WITH THE PANHELLENIC ON YOUR COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY CAMPUS. In order to register on your campus, contact their Panhellenic office directly. If you are attending a summer orientation, you may receive information at that time. Most university websites have their Panhellenic information included, and you can register online for many. Look under student activities or search “panhellenic”.

REMEMBER!!!

You must register with your college’s Panhellenic to go through rush!!

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2020 Deep South Texas Panhellenic Reference Chairmen

Alpha Chi Omega Bonnie Smith, Reference Chairman 2408 Sendero Mission, Texas 78573 956-739-9505 Cell [email protected] University of Houston

Alpha Delta Pi Ann Greenfield, Reference Chairman 9 Villas Jardin McAllen, Texas 78503 956-630-5166 Home [email protected] Southwest Texas State University

Alpha Epsilon Phi

*Looking for Reference Chair*

Alpha Gamma Delta *Looking for Reference Chair*

Alpha Omicron Pi *Looking for Reference Chair*

Alpha Phi Leandra Costilla Ortiz, Reference Chairman 2427 Woodside Brownsville, Texas 78526 956-832-3690 [email protected] Texas A&M University Alpha Sigma Alpha Crissy Garcia Garza, Reference Chairman 3212 North 22nd Street McAllen, Texas 78501 956-792-8603 [email protected] University of Texas San Antonio



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Alpha Sigma Tau


Alpha Xi Delta *Looking for Reference Chair*

Chi Omega Jennifer Collins Stone, Reference Chairman President 200 East Emory Avenue McAllen, Texas 78504 956-627-2040 Home 214-395-7242 Cell [email protected] Southern Methodist University

Delta Delta Delta Mallory Ewing Latham, Reference Chairman 1418 Hibiscus Avenue McAllen, Texas 78501 956-575-6255 Cell [email protected] Texas A&M University

Delta Gamma Sarah Meyer, Reference Chairman 1701 West Iris Avenue McAllen, Texas 78501 956-874-7485 Cell [email protected] Texas Christian University

Delta Phi Epsilon


Delta Zeta *Looking for Reference Chair*


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Gamma Phi Beta Melinda Bosquez, Reference Chairman 1712 West Jonquil Avenue McAllen, Texas 78501 956-605-5787 Cell [email protected] University of Texas at Austin Kappa Alpha Theta Page Moore, Reference Chairman 1520 Violet McAllen, Texas 78504 956-686-0395 Home 956-687-7637 Work 956-821-7322 Cell [email protected] Texas Christian University Kappa Delta Carol Hudsonpillar, Reference Chairman 1921 Anacua Circle Edinburg, Texas 78539 956-383-7120 Home 956-369-0837 Cell [email protected] University of Texas Pan American

Kappa Kappa Gamma Julie Kittleman, Reference Chairman 305 Shasta Avenue McAllen, Texas 78504 956-534-2206 Cell [email protected] University of Texas at Austin

Phi Mu


Phi Sigma Sigma *Looking for Reference Chair*



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Pi Beta Phi Meredith Scroggin, Reference Chairman 1400 Violet McAllen, Texas 78504 956-655-0087 Cell [email protected] Texas Christian University

Sigma Delta Tau


Sigma Kappa *Looking for Reference Chair*

Sigma Sigma Sigma Candi Mitchell Ramirez, Reference Chairman 1521 Xanthisma Avenue McAllen, Texas 78504 214-228-7146 Cell [email protected] North Illinois University Theta Phi Alpha


Zeta Tau Alpha Leslie Ewers, Reference Chairman 704 Tulip Avenue McAllen, Texas 78504 956-605-7637 Cell 956-687-7637 Work [email protected] Texas A&M University Kingsville


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DEEP SOUTH TEXAS PANHELLENIC QUESTIONNAIRE

Name:_________________________________________________________________________________ (Last) (First) (Middle) Email:______________________Home Phone#:____________________Cell Phone#____________________ Home Address:__________________________________________________________________________ (Street) (Apt#) (City) (State) (Zip) Social Media Link (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, other):____________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ Date of Birth:___________________________________________________________________________

High School:____________________________________City:_____________________________________

Graduation Date:_______________________________Cumulative GPA:______________________________

Exact Rank in Class:________________________Number in Your Class:_______________________________

Test Scores: (ACT out of 36)_____________(SAT out of 2400)____________GPA Scale:________________

College You Plan to Attend:_________________________________________________________________

Are you waitlisted at any colleges?____________________________________________________________

Classification: Freshman___________Sophomore____________Junior___________Senior________________

Orientation Dates:____________________________Where will you live?_____________________________

Other Colleges Attended:_______________________Date Attended:________________________________

Major:_________________________________________________________________________________

Father’s Name:__________________________Father’s Occupation:_________________________________

Fathers Phone #:________________________ Father’s College:____________________________________

Father’s Fraternity:_______________________________________________________________________

Mother’s Name:__________________________ Mother’s Occupation:________________________________

Mother’s Phone Number____________________ Mother’s College:___________________________________

Mother’s Sorority:________________________________________________________________________

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Legacy Information:

Please create a list of your legacy information. We want to know EVERYONE you have a connection with in a sorority.

For example, grandmother, mother, aunts, even FRIENDS. Please include your relationship with the person, their

name, what school they attended, when they graduated, and a contact number or email. This really helps us during

recruitment!

EXAMPLES:

1. Victoria Martinez Guerra, Mother, University of Texas Austin, Delta Delta Delta, 2007,

956-330-5584, [email protected]

2. Jennifer Collins Stone, best friend, Southern Methodist University, Chi Omega, 2002,

214-395-7242, [email protected]

PLEASE attach a copy of your high school and/ or college transcript(s), and an updated resume. Please include a detailed list of your activities and interests in your resume. ***************************************************************************************************** I GIVE MY PERMISSION FOR THIS INFORMATION TO BE RELEASED: Print Name_________________________________ Signature____________________________________

PLEASE SUBMIT PACKET BY

MARCH 2, 2020 TO EACH

SORORITY’S REFERENCE CHAIRMAN

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AUTHORIZATION TO USE IMAGE OR LIKENESS

Person Granting Authority, Potential New Member (PNM): Name: ____________________________ Address: __________________________ Age in years (if not over 18, parental consent required): __________________ Recruitment Year: __________________________________ Person Granted Authority: Deep South Texas Panhellenic Council (Council). I, the PNM identified above, hereby authorize the Council, as to the Recruitment Year, and as part of my participation in the Panhellenic Recruitment Process in exploring and applying for membership in a university or college sorority, to: 1. Publicize and inform the Council’s Alumni about my participation in the recruitment process at my chosen or considered university(ies) and/or college(s). 2. Allow the Council’s referring Alumni to write letters recommending me to the applicable National Panhellenic Council Chapters. 3. After completing the Recruitment process (“Rush”), authorize the Council to have access to the outcome of my Recruitment efforts. 4. Use my name, photograph, likeness, school, and home city and/or county, and status with any National Panhellenic Council Sorority (digital or otherwise), in the Council’s emails, publications, newsletters, news releases and social media regarding the authorized matters. I agree that I may revoke this authorization at any time by written notice delivered to any current Council Officer, but that such revocation will not be effective as to matters already “in process” for publication or distribution. In consideration of the Council’s efforts and advice, consent to the terms of this Authorizations. SIGNED and AGREED on _____________________________, 20_____. __________________________ Signature of PNM Printed Name of PNM:_________________________________

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