It’s that time again!
What time, you say?
Fall Sorority Recruitment Time!
And why would a 30-year-old like myself care, you ask?
Well, because I’m still involved with my sorority, Gamma Phi Beta, at the international level, and have volunteered in several different roles since I graduated from college in 2005.
Currently, I serve as Gamma Phi Beta Sorority’s Regional Coordinator for Alumnae for Region 2, which comprises Florida, the Carolinas, Tennessee, Kentucky, the Virginias, D.C. and Maryland. I’m the go-to for the alumnae chapters in these states.
Two weeks ago, as part of my international officer duties, I had the honor of installing a chapter here locally, in Lakeland, Fla. Here I am with the lovely ladies of Lakeland:
I had so much fun with these women, and it works out well, because I work just one city over in Plant City, and plan to attend their local events!
And so while my volunteer duties are confined to the activities of alumnae, most of the sorority’s energy is spent on the collegiate chapters at colleges and universities. And being an alum of the University of Alabama, I take great interest in what my chapter and the sororities there as a whole are up to. And by golly, are they up to a lot! (And if you want to keep up, subscribe to my Alabama sororities Facebook list!)
First, my chapter recently broke ground on a new chapter house — the LARGEST in Gamma Phi Beta history (via al.com). The 40,000-square-foot, $12 million structure will house 68 members. And not only does it look amazingly impressive, but it will provide much-needed room for the chapter to meet together, as they’ve outgrown being able to have chapter meetings in their own house, and must feed members in shifts during mealtime.
Second, did I already mention that it’s nearly SORORITY RECRUITMENT TIME? Squee!
My old al.com coworker Ben created this great preview video to give you a taste of what the final day of Recruitment — Bid Day — is like.
It’s a take on the trailer for Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I think it really captures the frenzied craziness of what the guys call “Squeal Day.” And I am so excited to see the results of how my sorority, and the rest of Alabama’s Sorority Row, excels on this special day that culminates a week of skits, crafts, chats, chants, tears, smiles, and grueling hard work on the sorority chapters’ part.
Best of luck to my girls at Epsilon Lambda chapter of Gamma Phi Beta, and to all the women going through Recruitment at Alabama and elsewhere around the U.S. and Canada this fall.
Digital Kristen 