1 · from discussing panhellenic matters with nonmembers, in accordance with the dignity and good...

1 | PHA RECRUITMENT GUIDE

WELCOME TO THE WESTMINSTER COLLEGE PANHELLENIC COUNCIL

NAME: _____________________________________________________

PHONE NUMBER: ____________________________________________

RECRUITMENT COUNSELORS: __________________________________

GROUP COLOR: ______________________________________________**You will complete this section on campus in August.

Welcome!Welcome!Welcome!Welcome!

Register for Recruitment

We are excited to provide you with information regarding Women’s Greek life here at Westminster College! We hope this packet will cover everything you may need to know about Greek life on our campus. Feel free to explore and learn about the positive opportunities that the Greek community can offer to you during your college career and for the years after.

Greek life at Westminster has been an important part of Westminster’s community for over 150 years. Our sorority women are talented individuals who pride themselves on academic excellence, a commitment to service, and leadership development. Each woman is continually supported throughout her time here and is guided to reach her full potential. Greek women also have many other opportunities such as applying for scholarship and leadership programs, participating in intramural events, attending social gatherings, and alumni networking. The friendships we create last a lifetime as we strive to be a close-knit community of determined women.

We highly recommend that everyone participates in recruitment, as it is an excellent opportunity to meet many women from your class, and of grades above you. It is the perfect time to develop lasting bonds and friendships, regardless of whether you choose to join or not. Some of our chapters’ most dedicated women also came to Westminster uncertain of whether Greek life was for them, so we highly encourage you to take advantage of the opportunity to get to know what we are about!

If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us at the email listed below or visit Westminster’s Greek life website. Also, visit our Instagram page @wcpanhellenic to see updates about recruitment and our monthly Panhellenic events and programs!

Sincerely,

THE PANHELLENIC [email protected]

WESTMINSTER COLLEGE | 2

Register for Sorority Recruitment for Fall 2020 using the QR Code


WESTMINSTER COLLEGE PANHELLENIC COUNCIL

The Panhellenic Council at Westminster College is the governing body of the 3 NPC sororities. The council is composed of 6 executive officers, along with a delegate from each sorority. The Panhellenic Executive team are current members of the three sororities on campus and they serve the sorority community through programming, educational opportunities, and advocating for the best interests of the sorority women. During recruitment, the Panhellenic Executive team are unaffiliated from their chapter to provide potential members with unbiased support.

HANNAH SCHROEDERPANHELLENIC

PRESIDENT

ALLIE RODGERSVP OF PROGRAMMING

& OUTREACH

SARAH AYERSVP OF

RECRUITMENT

COLETTE FAIELLAVP OF FINANCE

& RECORDS

ZOE MERKEL VP OF

PUBLIC RELATIONS

BAILEE ZEMIANEKVP OF MEMBER DEVELOPMENT


RECRUITMENT COUNSELORS

Recruitment Counselors are active Panhellenic members selected to be mentors to PNMs throughout the Formal Recruitment process and beyond. Each Recruitment Counselor is an active member of her chapter. Women selected to serve as Recruitment Counselors have undergone training programs on recruitment topics to be prepared for any situation a Potential New Member might need assistance. Since these women have been both a Potential New Member and an active Panhellenic sorority woman, Recruitment Counselors have the knowledge and experience regarding Formal Recruitment and can provide support throughout the process.

During the week leading up to recruitment, Recruitment Counselors will meet weekly with their group of Potential New Members to discuss important information regarding topics that a PNM might need to be aware of. During recruitment week, Recruitment Counselors will hand out schedules and monitor outside of chapter facilities to ensure that everything runs smoothly. Most importantly, they will ensure that Potential New Members are safe and taken care of. After formal recruitment, Recruitment Counselors will continue to be a point of contact within the Panhellenic community.

ABBE SUTTERFIELD

ANNA KOESTNER

KAMRYN GLEESON

SHELBEY JOHNSON

ERICA SCHRADER HALEY WOMICK

HALEIGH ST. CLAIR VALERIANNA GENTZSCH


NATIONAL PANHELLENIC CONFERENCE (NPC)

NEW MEMBER BILL OF RIGHTS

The National Panhellenic Conference is made up of 26 member organizations, and it is the world’s largest umbrella organization specifically charged with advancing the sorority experience. Through its advocacy, NPC seeks to enlist nearly 5 million sorority women in its efforts to showcase the transformational power of the sorority experience.

As values-based organizations, the 26 members of NPC live their missions with their members providing millions of dollars in philanthropic support to dozens of worthy causes and pursuing millions of additional hours in community service. From supporting victims of sexual assault, to leading bystander intervention programs, to fighting for body-positive campus cultures, sorority women are at the forefront of solving some of the most pressing challenges facing collegiate women today.

NPC also supports a national network of collegiate and alumnae Panhellenic associations that are crucial to nurturing healthy fraternity and sorority communities. Through its programs and initiatives, NPC encourages the sharing of information, resources, and best practices to ensure the sorority experience continues to meet the needs of today’s collegiate women.

• Be treated as an individual

• Be fully informed about the recruitment process

• Ask questions and receive true and objective answers throughout the recruitment process

• Be treated as a capable and mature person without being patronized

• Ask how and why and receive straight answers

• Express opinions to the diverse members

• Have confidentiality when sharing information throughout formal recruitment

• Make informed choices without pressure from others

• Be fully informed about the binding agreements implicit in the preference card signing

• Make one’s own choices and accept full responsibility for the results of that decision

• Not be persuaded by a fraternity member to resign his bid during the new member period

• Have a positive, safe, and enriching recruitment and new member period

In conjunction to the inherent rights of all students and members of our community, each potential new member has the right to:


WESTMINSTER PANHELLENIC CODE OF ETHICS

We, the members of women’s sororities at Westminster College, agree to promote honesty, respect, sisterhood and cooperation within the College Panhellenic and our respective chapters, and in our daily lives. This code of ethics is designed to inspire our members, reinforce exemplary conduct and values-based leadership, and perpetuate lifelong membership to enrich the sorority and Panhellenic experience.

We, as Panhellenic women of Westminster College, agree on and commit to:

• Uphold and demonstrate the Panhellenic spirit in thought, word and action through our chapters as well as individual members.

• Demonstrate ethical behavior and conduct ourselves in a manner consistent with the mission and values of the College Panhellenic, each inter/national organization and our institution.

• Respectfully adhere to the Unanimous Agreements and all policies established by the National Panhellenic Conference.

• Avoid disparaging remarks about any sorority or collegiate woman and refrain from discussing Panhellenic matters with nonmembers, in accordance with the dignity and good manners of sorority women.

• Recognize friendly relations with all collegiate women, both sorority members and nonmembers, realizing the importance of creating and building friendships.

• Plan recruitment events that provide opportunities for the greatest possible number of women to become sorority members while protecting the rights and privileges of individuals and the chapters.

• Provide a safe, positive and enriching recruitment experience, understanding that membership is a social experience arrived at by mutual selection.

• Strive to be truthful, honorable, open and friendly to all potential new members during all recruitment events.

• Be respectful of the rights of every potential new member to make her own choices, including the right not to join the women’s sorority community.

• Refrain from limiting a potential new member’s chances of becoming a member of the Panhellenic community by encouraging her to make a single intentional preference or to limit her choices.

We, as Panhellenic women of Westminster College, also agree on and commit to:

• Respectfully adhere to the bylaws and recruitment rules of the Westminster College Panhellenic Association.

• Abide by all local and federal laws and NPC inter/national member organization bylaws.

• Hold one another accountable to these standards, remembering at all times that we represent not only our individual chapters but also the Panhellenic community as a whole.

As Panhellenic women of Westminster College, these are the tenets by which we strive to live.


NPC POSITION AGAINST HAZING

The National Panhellenic Conference (NPC), one of the world’s largest organizations advocating for women, is the umbrella group for 26 inter/national sororities. NPC supports efforts to eliminate hazing. NPC has adopted Unanimous Agreement IV, which condemns hazing and hazing-related behaviors. Hazing and hazing-related activities contradict all expectations of the proper behavior expected of the undergraduate and alumnae members of NPC member organizations as set forth in Unanimous Agreement IV, Standards of Ethical Conduct.

Each NPC member organization has its own set of bylaws, policies and rules condemning hazing and governing the investigation and discipline involving hazing allegations, as is the case with each individual college or university — whether public or private.

A strong majority of states have adopted legislation that makes hazing a crime which can be punished by fines and/or imprisonment as a misdemeanor or felony. Any allegation of sorority hazing is taken seriously. NPC offers its members education about risk-based behaviors through its “Something of Value” programming and supports nationally recognized HazingPrevention.org. Several of its 26 member sororities also support a national anti-hazing hotline: 1-888-NOT-HAZE or 1-888-668-4293.


Being a member of sorority does require a financial commitment. For the 2019-2020 academic year, the range for dues for the first semester for sorority community was $400—$700. This range provided is subject to change for the 2020-2021 academic year.

During the formal recruitment process, potential new members have the ability to hear chapters present on the financial commitment for each chapter they visit on day two of formal recruitment. This financial presentation will break down the costs so potential new members understand what the dues are being used for and the cost for membership in a sorority.

SORORITY COMMUNITY EXPECTATIONS

Per National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) policy, there is not a GPA requirement to participate in Formal Recruitment at Westminster College. The members of the Panhellenic community at Westminster College strive for academic success throughout their collegiate experience.

Historically, the All Greek Average GPA is higher than the campus-wide GPA. The Panhellenic community hosts study sessions, that allow for women from all three sororities to come together and study or work on group projects. In addition, the individual chapters have a commitment to scholarship, as they host study sessions, have mentor programs, and celebrate their sisters who are achieving their goals.

At a chapter level, there are academic requirements for membership in a sorority. If you have questions about academic expectations, please talk with a Panhellenic Executive Officer.

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS

FINANCIAL COMMITMENT


RECRUITMENT TERMINOLOGY

POTENTIAL NEW MEMBER: An individual participating in the Formal Recruitment process

ACTIVE: An initiated member of a fraternity/sorority chapter

ALUMNA: A sorority member who graduated and is no longer an active member of a Collegiate sorority chapter.

BID: An invitation from a sorority or fraternity

BID DAY: The final day of recruitment when potential new members receive bids to join a chapter and become new members

CHAPTER: Group of collegians, officially chartered and recognized at a given college or university

PHILANTHROPY: Work done by members of a fraternity or sorority to support an organization, cause, or the greater community

CONTINUOUS OPEN BIDDING (COB): Panhellenic sororities term for ongoing, informal recruitment; chapters participate in COB if they have not yet met house total limit set by Panhellenic

GREEK: Term applied to all sororities and fraternities

MRABA (Membership Recruitment Acceptance Binding Agreement): A document from the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) that is signed by a potential new member immediately following preference round. This binding agreement states the potential new member would be willing to accept a bid from any sorority they list on their preference card and would not be able to accept a bid from another chapter until the next Formal Recruitment period.


RECRUITMENT TERMINOLOGY

INITIATE: A man or woman who has undergone the initiation ceremony into a sorority or fraternity

INITIATION: The process by which a new member becomes an active member of an organization

COLLEGE PANHELLENIC (PHA): The governing body of the 3 Panhellenic sororities at Westminster College

INTER-FRATERNITY COUNCIL (IFC): The governing body of the fraternities at Westminster College

LEGACY: a potential new member whose relative is an initiated member of a fraternity sorority

PI CHI: A member of a Panhellenic sorority who assists potential new members through the recruitment process

CHAPTER: Group of collegians, officially chartered and recognized at a given college or university.

PHILANTHROPY: Work done by members of a fraternity or sorority to support an organization, cause, or the greater community.


FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT SORORITY LIFE

Why should I join a sorority?

As a sorority woman, you will have a close group of friends who can help you adjust to your new life on campus. Sorority members are involved in many other organizations, they serve the Fulton community, and they enjoy spending time bonding with their fellow sisters. No matter which sorority you choose, you will find a special bond of friendship within your chapter and the Panhellenic community that you can carry with you the rest of your life.

What is Formal Recruitment?

At Westminster, formal Recruitment is a process that allows interested women to get to know each sorority chapter before deciding which organization is best for her. During formal Recruitment, you will visit the three of Panhellenic Sororities on campus and get to know the women in each chapter. Each round consists of different planned events. These events are designed to help the potential members to figure out the values and personality of each chapter on campus and to help you decide which chapter is best for you. Keep in mind that Recruitment is a mutual selection process, so while you are deciding which chapters you feel most comfortable with, the women in each chapter are also trying to figure out which women would fit best into their sorority.

Can women who are not freshman go through Formal Recruitment?

Yes! Panhellenic sororities accept women of all academic class levels as long as you are an undergraduate, full-time student on campus.

What is New Member Education?

All new members in each chapter will participate in New Member Education programs outlined by their respective chapters.


What does the fee for recruitment cover?

The fee that a potential member pays to participate in Recruitment covers a processing fee, one Recruitment t-shirt, and the pre-recruitment events where potential members get to meet with active sorority members and learn more about sorority life at Westminster College.

What is Continuous Open Bidding or COR?

Upon completion of the formal Recruitment period, in some cases, sororities will have the option to extend additional bids, which is known as Continuous Open Bidding.

What resources are available during the recruitment process?

Each individual participating in the formal Recruitment process is assigned to a group leader, known as a Recruitment Counselor (Pi Chi). The Recruitment Counselor assists in the logistics of the Recruitment process and serves as a guide and support for the women in their group. The Westminster Panhellenic Executive Board and the Panhellenic Advisor are also available for assistance and support.

What does mutual selection mean?

Westminster Panhellenic utilizes a “mutual selection” process where chapter votes and potential new member (PNM) rankings are considered a PNM’s Recruitment schedule, and ultimately, their bid.

What is a Recommendation Letter?

Letters of recommendation are letters written by a sorority alumna recommending you to her sorority. While recommendations are appreciated, they are not required to receive a bid at the end of the Recruitment process.

If I go through the Formal Recruitment process, am I obligated to join a chapter?

You are not obligated to join a sorority just because you participate in formal Recruitment. You are encouraged to participate in Recruitment because it is an excellent opportunity to learn about sorority life and meet new friends. You can withdraw from the process at any time by working with your Recruitment Counselor.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT SORORITY LIFE


PANHELLENIC FORMAL RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE

Open House – Round 1

DATE: August 21, 2020

LOCATION: Sloss Lounge

TIME: 5:30PM to 10:00PM

NUMBER OF CHAPTERS VISITED: All three sororities

Philanthropy Event – Round 2



TIME: 12:30PM to 5:00PM

NUMBER OF CHAPTERS VISITED: Up to three sororities

Preference Event – Round 3



TIME: 8:00AM to 1:00PM

NUMBER OF CHAPTERS VISITED: Up to two sororities

Bid Day


LOCATION: HAC Gym

WHAT TO EXPECT: You will meet with your Recruitment Counselor and group in HAC gym to review your membership invitation.

**Attendance at Formal Recruitment Events is required. Please let your Recruitment Counselor know if you have a conflict with these dates.


WHAT TO WEAR & CONVERSATION TOPICS

What to Wear: Most women wear cute and casual clothes to this event, such as t-shirt dress, jean shorts, tennis skirt, cute t-shirt. This event will require standing, so wear comfortable shoes! (picture 1)

What to Discuss: Get to know basic information about the three chapters on campus. Ask questions about their chapter colors, mascot, values, and philanthropy organization, along with what organizations members are involved in.

What to Wear: Most women wear cute and casual clothes to this event, such as t-shirt dress, jean shorts, tennis skirt, cute t-shirt. (picture 1 or 2)

What to Discuss: Get to know basic information about the three chapters on campus. Ask questions about their chapter values and philanthropy organization, along with what organizations members are involved in.

What to Wear: Most women wear dressy casual attire, such as a dress, skirt, or pants with a blouse, paired with comfortable shoes! (picture 2)

What to Discuss: Get to know basic information about the three chapters on campus. Ask questions about their chapter colors, mascot, values, and philanthropy organization, along with what organizations members are involved in. You can also ask questions about their specific facility (sorority floor and lounge).

MEET THE GREEKS

SISTERHOOD EVENT

SORORITY FACILITY TOURS


FORMAL RECRUITMENT EVENTS

What to Wear: Most women wear dressy casual attire, such as a dress, skirt, or pants with a blouse, paired with comfortable shoes! (picture 3)

What to Discuss: Identify the chapters’ core values and your values; how are they alike? What attracted you to Panhellenic Life? What are you doing currently to get involved on campus? What do you hope to gain from sorority membership?

OPEN HOUSE ROUND

What to Wear: Panhellenic provides you with a Philanthropy Day shirt to wear for the Philanthropy Round, and the rest is up to you. Most women wear jean shorts/skirts, dressy shorts/skirts, tennis skirts, or anything they feel comfortable in. Remember to wear comfortable shoes! (picture 4)

What to Discuss: What service activities were you involved in during high school? Do you have a philanthropic cause that is important to you? How do active members actively support their philanthropy? What service projects does the chapter participate in throughout the year that might interest you?

PHILANTHROPY ROUND

What to Wear: This round is more formal attire, such as a semi-formal business attire (a cocktail dress is fine), paired with comfortable shoes! (picture 5)

What to Discuss: What attracted you to this chapter? What are this chapters values? How do active members actively live out their chapter values? What have active members gained from membership? What does this chapter mean to its active members? What does it mean to be a member of this chapter? How are you feeling at this moment?

PREFERENCE ROUND


GET TO KNOW THE SORORITIES AT WESTMINSTER COLLEGE

The Kappa Delta Chapter of Alpha Gamma Delta was founded at Westminster College on December 5, 2009. As Alpha Gam’s we take pride in promoting academic excellence, philanthropic giving, ongoing leadership, personal development, and a spirit of loving sisterhood. Guided by our Purpose, Alpha Gamma Delta’s strive to attain a higher standard. The sisters of Alpha Gam aim to improve their lives, the lives of those around them, and the communities in which they live. Together, Alpha Gam’s continually work to: Inspire the Woman, Impact the World.

Alpha Gamma Delta’s love to grow in leadership and personal development. Our sisters are involved in various campus organizations including: Campus Activities Board, Student Government, Peer Health Educators, Remley Women’s Center, and more. Our sisters are on multiple athletic teams as well. The sisters of Alpha Gamma Delta are dedicated to academic excellence as we promote multiple resources and opportunities to study together. In the past two years, the Kappa Delta chapter has won multiple awards at Westminster College. These awards include: Best Greek Organization of the Year, Most Philanthropy Service Hours Completed, Greek Standards of Excellence Distinction, Greek Senior of the Year, Greek Junior of the Year, Best Campus Collaboration, and the Drosten Cup Award.

Alpha Gamma Delta’s national philanthropic focus is Fighting Hunger. In America, one in eight people struggle with hunger and it is a cause that knows no bounds. Alpha Gam partners with The Food Bank for Central & Northeast Missouri, Fulton Food Bank, and other local organizations to make an impact on our communities. In the 2019-2020 academic year, our sisters have packed 5,000+ pounds of food for those in need. They make monthly trips to the food banks to help in the best way they can. The Kappa Delta chapter hosts multiple events to raise money towards our foundation to help fight hunger. Some events in the past have included: Cram with Alpha Gam, Mac & Cheese with AGD’s, Taco Jam, and more. In Fulton, our local philanthropy is Coalition Against Rape and Domestic Violence (CARDV). As an example, the Kappa Delta chapter gave birthday bags to the local CARDV in Fulton this year that included cake mix, candles, icing, and a personal card. As Alpha Gam’s, our sisters included our

love of fighting hunger with giving back to families in need.

Although the Kappa Delta chapter focuses heavily on philanthropic focus, academic excellence, and leadership opportunities. Our sisters love spending time together through other outlets. We celebrate our sisterhood with sisterhood events, socials and formals, mixers with other Greek organizations, our annual Mom and Dad’s day events, playing intramurals as a team, and other fun events. On top of our fun events - we love having movie nights together, going on fast food dates with our sisters, spontaneous Columbia trips, and more! Through all of this we create a long-lasting sisterhood that promotes support, love and interpersonal development.

ALPHA GAMMA DELTA


The Epsilon Iota Chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta was established at Westminster College in 1982 serving more than 37 years of loyal sisterhood, leadership, scholarship, and service. Our sisters stay busy with their philanthropic events, campus involvement, academic groups, and dedication to sisterhood. We have members in over 40 different organizations on campus including Student Foundation, Student Ambassadors, Blue Blazers Investment Committee, Student Government, and many others where members hold leadership positions within these organizations as well as within our chapter. The Epsilon Iota chapter encourages sisters to get involved and be leaders creating positive change on our campus and throughout our community while striving towards personal excellence, and in the Fall of 2019 we had a chapter average GPA of 3.593.

Together we host events to raise money for our national philanthropy, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), which trains volunteers to speak for abused and neglected children in court. Some of these events in the past have included Cupcakes for CASA, Kicks for CASA, Quiz for CASA, and many different dodgeball, softball, and volleyball tournaments. In Fulton, we volunteer and work with our local animal shelter, the Sam and Daisy Grabb Animal Shelter, where we walk dogs, play with cats, and assist with everyday tasks. We have also been involved with other philanthropic events such as shopping for needy families at Christmas time and some members have even volunteered at the local YMCA to coach different children’s sports teams.

Along with growing our sisterhood through service, we spend time together playing

intramurals, dressing up and dancing at formals, our annual Mom and Dad’s day activities, and many more planned sisterhood activities. Outside of the planned events, there are often spontaneous movie nights, trips to get ice cream or pizza, and many late-night study sessions that create bonds that last a lifetime and encouragement to push each member to be their best self.

KAPPA ALPHA THETA


The Zeta Zeta chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma was founded on Westminster College’s Campus on February 20, 1982. The women of Zeta Zeta take great pride in their academic integrity, campus involvement, philanthropic actions, and continuous enrichment of Kappa’s virtues: Respect, Connection, Knowledge, Optimism, Trailblazing, and Truth.

On campus, many of the women of Zeta Zeta are also members in other campus organizations including the Skulls of Seven, Blue Blazers, Student Ambassadors, Student Foundation, and Student Government. The Kappa’s at Westminster College are dedicated to their academics with a chapter average GPA of 3.52.

Zeta Zeta is continuously recognized for our service on campus and in the community. For the past 8 out of 10 years, our chapter has received the Drosten Cup Award. This award is given to the overall best program on Westminster’s campus that encompasses scholarship, leadership, and service.

We also perform acts of service at the national and local level. Our national philanthropy is

the nation’s largest children’s literacy non-profit, Reading Is Fundamental which we support through the annual Kappa Klassic Golf Tournament and the Reading Is Key event. In 2019 the Kappa Klassic raised more than $7,000 and Reading is Key held at the local library encouraged literacy for children of all ages, all in benefit of Reading Is Fundamental.

As our local philanthropy, Zeta Zeta volunteers monthly at the Special Learning Center in Jefferson City, where we play with children that have developmental delays and disabilities. We also organize philanthropy events which raise awareness in the Greek Community and around campus for the philanthropies we support.

KAPPA KAPPA GAMMA

WE ARE EXCITED YOU HAVE CHOSEN

WESTMINSTER COLLEGE!

Go Greek!Go Greek!Go Greek!Go Greek!

We value the sorority experience because…

“I have gained friends and

valuable leadership skills”

“It has made me a leading woman”

“IT HAS ALLOWED ME

TO GROW AS A PERSON”

“I have made true sisters and become more outgoing because

of my sorority.”

“MY SISTERS ALWAYS HAVE MY BACK.”

“IT HAS MADE BE A BETTER PERSON AND GIVEN ME MY FUTURE FRIENDS AND BEST

MEMORIES.”

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