Webinar

Last night, for Delta Zeta, I attended a webinar on recruitment. The program is called Recruitment Boot Camp and it is meant for both sororities and fraternities. When I walked in, I had no idea what was going on. In class, we have talked about webinars and video conferencing, but I haven't experienced them in a long time. The last time I remember a video conference was when I got to watch knee replacement surgery my senior year. And I'm not sure if watching someone cut open a patient's knee really counts as a conference.


Anyway, as soon as we walked in, the guy, David Stollman, was talking and asking questions while the advisors of panhel and IFC typed to him. Everyone else in the room looked genuinely confused. They had no idea why there was a God-like voice talking to them and where the voice was coming from. I turned to the 8 other members representing DZ and told them what this was. I felt extremely proud of myself, that I paid attention in my class and knew what was going on. The rest of the room remained in a state of confusion as the presentation started.



Now, at this webinar, since it's the only one I've been to, there were a number of cool things. First, David Stollman had a powerpoint that he was able to put up on our screen and change the slides from where he was. A chatroom type area was located on the lefthand side of the screen. Other schools that were viewing the same presentation were writing comments and asking questions. I was really excited to see how the whole webinar worked, like the complete social media geek I am.



Halfway through the presentation, David Stollman asked for questions. Here is where I got angry. First, I was upset with the two advisors that neither of them explained to everyone what exactly was going on. Not everyone knows what a webinar is and they were all really taken back by what was going on. It took the room quite a few minutes to be quiet and grasp what was happening. As if that isn't bad enough, some of the other schools were asking questions and typing them into the chat room. David would answer the questions right away. What upset me, was that both advisors were sitting in the back of the room and not asking for us to participate. The point of a webinar is to be able to have an active conversation with the person presenting even though they are not really there. At some points, David Stollman would ask for feedback on if we were following or if we could still hear him. He would ask for each school to type into the chat room if they were doing okay. Well our advisors were sitting in the back of the room and never typed back or participated. I was extremely maddened by this because I am in a social media class and I understand the whole concept, and it's aggrivating that other people are trying to use these new technologies but not in their respectable form.



Aside from my anger, I loved Recruitment Boot Camp. Everything David Stollman said was extremely helpful and beneficial. After leaving the session, I felt so motivated to do more in the chapter. I wanted to make a wish list last year but had no idea if it would be successful. After last night, I know it will be a success. I read "I Heart Recruitment" and that motivated me a little, but this webinar was eye opening.

Boom Boom Boom Boom- Week 4

I know recruitment has been going on for awhile, but last night made it a reality. We had Open House for girls interested in Greek life. After all the planning and getting ready, things went so well! I was really proud of myself to see that I planned and organized this entire party and it was successful. There was a great turn out and my homemade chocolate covered pretzels seemed to be a hit :) Which is good to hear since I stayed up uber late making them. We had so much food left over though. Sisters brought it all to the football game, hopefully they come back empy handed. Recruitment always makes me remember why I joined DZ and a sorority in general. It brings back all of the excitement I felt when I went through. Recruitment just shows me that I made the right choice and couldn't be happier :)

Sorority Forever ♥

So, I just wrote a blog, but I need to get this out there. I have a myspace and I sign on every so often. Well, on the homepage to place my email and password, I saw an advertisement for some Myspace tv show called Sorority Forever. The tagline for the show said "The most beautiful girls on campus have an ugly secret." And all I thought was what a load of bull that was. I really can't believe people feed into stereotypes so much. I was one of those people, that's for sure. I thought Greek life was stupid and full of dumb drunken girls and arrogant self-centered guys. But as a freshman at college, I gave it a try. And thank god I did. I love my sorority. More than anything. And I know people think it's cheesey, but it's the truth. These girls mean more to me than anything. They are some of the most intelligent and genuine people I have ever met. Of course they party, we all party. We are at college for god's sake.

But why must everything having to do with Greek life in the media be so negative. Greek, the show on ABC Family, is really good about balancing stereotypes with real life. But there are books that are published that bash sororities and claim they haze and make it sound like hell. And I will be honest, some campuses have sororities that haze and do terrible things. Yet, there are colleges like mine, where Greek life is so different from what people think. We don't spend every day wasted and we don't force girls to drink. We don't circle girls' fat or make them do things against their wills. We instead have TV nights and sleepovers. And on this campus, all sororities and fraternities get along fairly well. We do philanthropic things almost monthly. We have socials without alcohol and go everywhere together. We are more than just a sorority or a fraternity, but a sisterhood and a brotherhood. We aren't in it for parties and beer, but we do it because it makes us better as students and people.

I have learned so much from my sorority and I still have two years ahead of me. I am currently the Vice President of Membership, which puts me in charge of recruitment. I designed shirts and made books. I organized and planned four mini parties from scratch ranging from theme to food to activities. And all of that applies to my public relations major. I learned how to become a leader, a scholar, a mentor, a sister, and a better person. When my sister's are spending the night studying, it makes me want to study. They make me want to be a better person and I feel that is something no one understands. Greeks aren't just people who hang out. We are a group of friends that are so close, we call each other sisters and brothers. We don't stop at anything to help a fellow member out. When one of our sisters passed away last year, not only did our entire sorority attend her memorial, but the Greek community as a whole went and was there for us. When one of our sister's mother passed away, we all drove two hours to go to the viewing and be there for her.

So this blog is kinda long, but I really want everyone to see the other side of Greek life. I want the public to know that it's not all crafting and partying, but there is substance to sororities. That we may be stereotyped, but that doesn't make those stereotypes true. My sorority is so much more than just a group of friends that I pay for. It is a home away from home, a safe haven. I can cry with these girls or I can laugh with them. A trip to wal-mart turns into a night of fun. But not because we are airheads who drink, party, and get naked. But because we are all individuals who have goals and who study and study hard. We are more than just a sorority ... we are a sisterhood. And i couldn't ask for a better group of friends. And if people want to continue to stereotype and bad mouth Greek life, go right ahead. Because it's not something I can really explain. It can't be written on paper or in a blog. But it's something that needs to be felt and experienced. I could go on for hours, but you still won't understand it until you're a part of it.

Hello Junior Year

Today began my junior year of college. I can not believe I have been in college for three years. Jeez. I spent around 7 hours in the same classroom for just two classes. I had a break in between for lunch in the Mac and the line was insane. I guess there are a lot of freshman this year because it was packed. Seven sisters had to cram into a table for 5. But we did wear our recruitment shirts for Delta Zeta since it's Tuesday. They are a candy pink with white writing. I was really iffy about the shirts at first, but once I saw them, I pretty much fell in love. Sisters also sported our new fleeces. Everyone seems to be talking about them :) I am really proud of myself that they were completed and free. Now, if I can only get everything together for our recruitment practices. That takes a little more time and thought though.