Dig Deeper to Know Your Sisters!

I think that it is safe to say that every sorority woman could identify one person within her chapter that she wishes she knew better.  This is especially true at this point in the semester when you are starting to create stronger bonds.  It is likely that your chapter has participated in the basic “Get to Know You” games, but now is the time to dig deeper to really discover what matters to your sisters!

Below are three activities for your chapter that focus on more than career choices and hometowns:

1. Create a personal soundtrack

Music is a great way to communicate messages, and music preferences can reveal a great deal about a person.  Ask each of your sisters to create a personal soundtrack with 5-10 songs that describe who she is.  Maybe the song reminds her of a favorite memory.  Maybe she can relate to the song’s message.  Maybe some of the rhythms just make her want to dance.  Either way, you are bound to leave with a better understanding of each sister.

2. Show and tell

It is likely that we all participated in show and tell at some point during our childhood.  Now that you and your sisters are young adults, what would you bring to show and tell?  Perhaps you would bring an award or a favorite photograph.  This can be a fun way for your sisters to share information about themselves while expressing their creativity.  Encourage sisters to think outside of the box.  For example, a sister could bring a deck of cards because she loves activities that involve strategy.  On the other hand, maybe she could bring a deck of cards because her favorite memory is of a family game night.  See the potential?

3. Pairs

This activity allows sisters to express their opinions about a variety of topics in a short period of time.  To set up for this activity, draw a line down the middle of a space.  Duct tape can also be used to create a line on various surfaces.  All participants for this activity start on the line, and as a pair of items is read aloud, each participant must move to the side of the line that is designated for the item of their choice.  For example, pairs could include Coca Cola/Pepsi, Edward/Jacob, Day/Night, Chocolate/Vanilla, and so on.  The facilitator of this activity has a lot of freedom to be creative when choosing pairs.  This activity will allow members to visually determine which sisters share interest in different items.

Knowing your sisters at a deeper level can only help build trust and respect within the chapter.  Activities such as these combined with sisterhood events will ensure that you are creating the lifetime bonds for which Greek life is known!

5 Ways for Your Organization to Create Resources on Campus

1.     Host a Faculty Appreciation Week.

This does not have to be expensive.  Your chapter could set up a booth in your student center and pass out candy reminding students to thank the faculty member that has influenced them the most so far in their college career.  You could also send an E-mail card (to save tress and money) thanking the entire faculty and staff for their contributions to the campus and your chapter.  Perhaps your chapter could host a dinner at your chapter house or another location on campus for faculty.  Each day of the week could be themed, or you could simply have a Faculty Appreciation Day if your schedule is packed too tight for an entire week.  Be creative!

2. Send thank-you cards at the end of each semester to professors that have individually helped your chapter or impacted your members.

This could also double as a sisterhood event.  Your chapter can gather art supplies and have each member create a thank-you card for the professor that has made a difference in their college experience.  This personal touch will really make the difference.

3.     Ask your scholarship team to write a letter that members will give to their professors at the beginning of each semester.

Professors appreciate students that are serious about their academics.  The letter could be sent from the officer responsible for scholarship so that the professors know that your chapter holds scholarship as a value.  You can also request for the professor to let your chapter know about excessive absences or failing grades for members.  This will not only show the professor that your organization cares about its members’ grades; it will also help you address such problems before they become a major issue.

4.     Choose to highlight a member of your campus faculty or staff each month for their efforts and give them an award.

This may take a little bit of time to prepare.  Featuring a faculty member on your chapter website or on a bulletin board in your chapter room/house can help members when choosing professors to take during registration each semester.  Plus, if your chapter prepares a certificate or gift basket for these featured faculty and staff, they are sure to feel appreciated!

5.     Consider having faculty and staff serve as honorary members of your organization.

Some chapters allow members of the community to initiate as alumnae.  If your chapter is new on campus, or has few alumnae in the area, this could be a good solution.  Check with your Headquarters to determine its policy about alumnae initiates.

(Photo copied from http://www.creative-card-ideas.com/images/ThankYou100.gif)

Kristin Studle is a senior at Western Kentucky University where she is majoring in Interactive Design and minoring in Sociology.  She spends most of her time bleeding red, buff, and green as a member of Alpha Gamma Delta Fraternity.  Kristin is constantly inspired by Eleanor Roosevelt’s famous quote, “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”

7 Strategies for Conflict Management During Recruitment

Recruitment can be a stressful situation for everyone involved.  Long hours and approaching deadlines can sometimes produce tense situations.  However,  utilizing the following seven strategies for conflict management can prevent unwanted stress and negative energy:

1.  Give yourself time to calm down before approaching conflict.  If you do not take time to cool down, you are more likely to say and do things that you will regret later.  Several relationships experience conflict damage from snap decisions.

2.  Once you have given yourself time, choose your best method of communication but talk about it.  Though face-to-face interaction is a more direct method, E-mail or a phone call can serve the same purpose if you have a problem controlling your temper.  Use previous experience to determine the best method.  It might also be wise to explain to the other party involved why you chose that method of communication.

As a side note, using Facebook or other social networking sites to vent is probably not the best way to cool off.  These sites are public, at least to your friends, so airing out on these sites can lead to even more conflict.

3. Tone can completely change the intention of what you say in a conversation.  Keep a tone that implies you are seeking information versus accusing the other person of doing something wrong.

4.  Using tact means avoiding phrases, sentences, and even entire conversations that are offensive and/or demeaning.

Example:           

• Not using tact – “Okay, so I hate to say this, but you are really hurting the group.  Like seriously, GET IT TOGETHER!”

• Using tact – “I’ve noticed that you seem distant, and I think it may be affecting your performance.  Would you like to talk about this issue?

5.  Pretending that an issue does not exist could potentially cause a problem to grow.  Instead, being truthful will create an atmosphere of respect and trust.

6.  Give and take can help prevent conflict.  On the other hand, always giving in can lead to negative results.  If an issue is important to you, let the other person know and then work to meet somewhere in the middle.

7.  In general, learning to tolerate the differences in each other will foster teamwork and cooperation.  Different beliefs, backgrounds, and interests make your chapter unique and are an essential part of your identity.  So embrace them!

Kristin Studle is a senior at Western Kentucky University where she is majoring in Interactive Advertising and minoring in Sociology.  She is also a proud member of Alpha Gamma Delta Fraternity, and she admits that she bleeds red, buff, and green.  In the little spare time that she has, Kristin likes to watch musicals, read, and try to make a positive impact on the world around her.