Winthrop University
Panhellenic Recruitment
Spring 2010

Recruitment requirements and guidelines:

1. Formal recruitment will be held from January 22- January 24, 2010
2. Prospective Member Guidelines:
   1. Potential members must have at least a 2.3 to be considered for membership into a Winthrop Panhellenic sorority.
   2. All potential members are required to attend the first round party of every sorority and the maximum number of parties allowed (set by Panhellenic) for each round (five, four, two).
   3. From the beginning of formal  membership recruitment through the acceptance of bids, no potential member shall visit a women’s fraternity house, nor shall sorority members (including new members and alumnae) visit a potential member in her residence hall, apartment, or place of residence (exceptions will be made in case of family or roommate).  
   4. When a potential member receives a bid under the preferential system, the signing of the preference card shall be binding for one calendar year.  During that year, she may not be invited to join another sorority on the same campus.  If she transfers to another university, she is eligible to pledge the sorority of her choice at the earliest opportunity.
   5. Potential members will not be allowed to attend any sorority sponsored social event in which dates attend or alcohol is present.
3. Sorority member guidelines:
   1. All members (including alumnae and new members) are responsible for understanding and observing the membership recruitment rules and abiding by the Code of Ethics (see attachment).
   2. The Code of Ethics from the National Panhellenic Council will be read to each chapter in the first chapter meeting of the spring semester.
   3. January 12, 2010 through January 21, 2010 marks the period of Positive Panhellenic contact where chapter members may “meet with” or “go out” with potential new members.  However, contact should not promote a specific organization but Panhellenic and Greek Life as a whole.  All contact is limited to the Physical campus and sorority members are not to initiate social contact (i.e. phone calls, emails, IM’s, text messaging, etc)  Potential new members must initiate all contact.
   • Examples of acceptable contact: Speaking to a potential member about Citizenship, Leadership, Scholarship, and Friendship.  The sorority members must relate these attributes not only to her specific organization, but also to all Greek Organizations.  Lunch at the Café, Dinkins, or Courtyard is acceptable, but it should not be set up by the sorority 
   • Examples of unacceptable contact:  1) Specifically citing activities the member’s organization participates in.  2) Associating Greek organizations with alcohol and parties.  3) Speaking of any negative comments about any Greeks or non-Greeks.  4) Calling a PNM to go out to eat at a restaurant. 
   4. SILENCE is the period in which there will be no conversations about recruitment/pledging/sororities between potential members, new members, sorority members and alumnae outside of recruitment parties.  This includes all reference to sororities-verbal, written, typed, printed, instant messaging or e-mailed.  There will be no “going out with” or “meeting” potential members by sisters.  Silence is designated as the period of time from the beginning of Orientation, January 21, 2010 until Preference parties on January 24, 2010.
   5. STRICT SILENCE is the period from the end of preferential parties on January 24, 2010 through bid acceptance that night.  No sorority member (including alumnae and new members) shall associate with potential members during this time.
   6. No favors or gifts may be given to potential members from the sorority and/or by individual member including preferential party gifts.
   7. There will be no promising of bids directly or indirectly by any member, new member or alumnae of a sorority.
   8. Only national representatives, members, and alumna may assist the chapters with formal recruitment.
   9. NO sorority member or alumnae shall speak disparagingly of another sorority or sorority member to any potential member.
4. Recruitment Guide (Rho Gamma) Guidelines
   1. Disaffiliation begins on November 24, 2009.  It is started with a car cleansing party to remove any and all identifiable markings from Rho Gamma’s vehicles.  After November 24, 2009, no sorority letters, jewelry, pins, emblems, etc… that might hint to a specific sorority affiliation may be worn or displayed in any way.  Membership in a respective sorority may never be implied.
   2. No pictures of Rho Gammas may be displayed in any way, including composites (Organizations must be responsible for checking FACEBOOK, and is subject to fines if all Rho Gammas are not removed.
   3. Rho Gammas may not be questioned by their chapters about potential members.  They must not give alumnae or members any information regarding potential members.
   4. Rho Gammas may not participate in any phase of the chapter’s recruitment process including any discussions about the chapter’s recruitment.
   5. Rho Gammas will not discuss quota or legacy policies.
   6. Maximum availability to potential members is a necessity, but this does not include social outgoings during the week of recruitment.  Rho Gammas should use caution when attending bars, clubs or parties with their potential members, other Rho Gammas or any other member of the recruitment team during the week or recruitment.  No alcohol will be allowed in residence halls during the week of recruitment.
   7. If the Rho Gamma has knowledge that a recruitment violation has occurred by a sorority, she must report the violation to the Panhellenic President, Panhellenic Vice-President of Recruitment, or Director of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs.
5. Recruitment Party Guidelines
   1. General party guidelines
      1. All NPC Unanimous Agreements shall be followed (refer to NPC Manual of Information).
      2. A factual, current financial poster shall be displayed at the first two rounds of each sorority that includes all dues, not just new member fees.
      3. The Panhellenic budget of $2,000.00 will include all donated items.  Any chapter housed in a facility which necessities renting a tent, that chapter will be given $400.00 allowance towards the rental and that additional charge will not be taken out of the $2,000.00 budget.  The recruitment chairman will be responsible for completing the expense report and turning it into the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs by Monday December 7, 2009, by 5:00pm. A $100 fine will be imposed if received after the date plus $25 for each additional day.
      4. No food will be served during the parties.  Panhellenic will feed potential new members during a break.  The chapters will reimburse Panhellenic the week following recruitment.  This money is not to be included in the recruitment budget.  All chapters will pay Panhellenic $50.00 for food and these will be due Monday February 1, 2010 at noon.
      5. Recruitment infractions will be handled within 48 hours according to the NPC Manual of Information.  Mediations will be scheduled as soon as possible.
      6. All potential members accepting a sorority’s “Preference party” invitation must be placed on the sororities bid list. 
      7. Written party plans, videos for Fraternal Values Day, and completed sample philanthropy projects are due on Monday December 7, 2009 by 5:00pm.  Panhellenic will provide all correspondence to potential members (i.e.: nametags, invitations).
      8. The videos used in the Fraternal Values presentation will be returned to the chapters with the suggested corrections on Friday, December 11, 2009 by 5:00pm in the office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs.
      9. Each chapter will follow and implement the NPC endorsed formula regarding Release Figures.  An NPC consultant will be assigned to work in the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs and will provide release figures and quota range information to be given to the chapters.
      10. After party list deadlines are made, a $100.00 late fine will be assessed after the deadline; with the $50.00 to be assessed for every additional one half hour.
      11. ONLY members are allowed inside the individual recruitment parties.  Alumnae, advisors, and volunteers may enter and exit the parties as needed, but are only allowed to exchange pleasantries (i.e. hello, goodbye, thank you, etc…) under no circumstances is there a conversation to take place between a PNM and advisor or volunteer unless there is an emergency.
6. SORORITY 101 – November 18, January 12 and January 20
   1. Sorority 101 is scheduled to take place in Dinkins Auditorium and Dinkins Underground.  Individual chapters will select three representatives to be introduced at each Sorority 101 session.  It is suggested that the two representatives be Presidents and/or Recruitment Chairs. 
   2. Sorority 101 is designed to answer basic introductory questions PNM’s may have about sorority life.  The chapters will have an opportunity to answer questions directed towards them, and the Rho Gammas and Panhellenic executive council will answer the broader questions.  
7. Panhellenic Recruitment Orientation  - Thursday January 21, 2010  
   1. Mandatory Panhellenic Recruitment Orientation will be held at 9:30pm in Plowden Auditorium.  The event will last approximately 1 ½ hours, and the PNM’s will have their first official group meeting immediately following.  Chapters are asked to have the president and either new member educator or recruitment chair at the orientation to answer questions.
8. Service Day – Friday January 22, 2010
1. Time: Each party will last 40 minutes, with 20 minute breaks in between each.  Parties will begin promptly at 2:30 p.m. with a break for dinner from 5:10-5:55
2. Decorations:
   • 5 Tri-fold boards, highlighting your philanthropic or community service events
   • Table cloths may be used
   • Financial poster
   • Service awards
   • Philanthropy video ( must be approved if not supplied by national organization) 
   • Balloons and streamers (no limit)
   • Craft and supplies
   • All items used must be directly related to chapters service project(s)
3. Beverages: lemonade, soda, water and garnish; cups, ice and napkins may be used, straws
4. Clothing: Chapter’s decision.  Discourage elaborate costuming and purchase of special recruitment outfits.  NPC resolution 1991 will be followed.
9. Fraternal Values – Saturday January 23, 2010
1. Time:  Each party will last 50 minutes with 20 minute breaks In between each.  The parties will begin promptly at 10:00a.m.
2. Decorations:
• A video/slide show/ PowerPoint presentations no longer than 20 minutes based on the following categories: friendship, citizenship, leadership and scholarship.
• Anything that is not purchased such as scrapbooks, paddles, letters, composite, awards, framed pictures of sisters (no alcohol) and symbols pertaining to each chapter may be used.  Basically sorority paraphernalia.
• 5 tri-fold boards may be used to display the four “ships”
• Table cloths may be used
• Balloons and streamers (no limit)
• Structure devices for display needs
• All items used must be directly related to Fraternal Values and the “four ships”
3. Clothing: Chapter’s decision. Discourage elaborate costuming and purchasing of special recruitment outfits.  NPC resolution 1991 will be followed.
4. Beverage: water, soft drinks, lemonade, and garnish served in cups with ice and napkins.  Straws, coolers, greenery, punch bowl, or pitchers may be used.
10. Preference – Sunday January 24, 2010
1. Time: Each preference party will be one hour with a 20 minute break in between each.  The parties will begin promptly at 9:30am.
2. Decorations: Chapter’s decision
3. Clothing: Chapter’s decision
11. Bid Night – Sunday January 24, 2010
1. Bid matching will begin promptly at 2:00 p.m.
2. Bids will be extended at approximately 6:00 p.m.
3. Once bids have matched electronically, new members will receive their bids according to Rho Gamma group.  Once a new member receives her bid, she will be escorted to the designated room where she will be greeted by no more than four (4) women representing your chapter.  The new members will remain in that room until all bids have been distributed and someone from Panhellenic comes to notify them when it is time to leave. The new members will then walk with their new sorority sisters to Tillman Auditorium.  The new members will sit in the middle rows of Tillman and all Chapter members will sit on the outside rows.  At Tillman, the new members will be pledged into Panhellenic and the Rho Gamma’s and Panhellenic Executive council will reveal their identities.  Chapters will be allowed to have no more than TWENTY (20) women representing their organization in Tillman Auditorium.  Chapters may display anything for the organization, but they may not give any paraphernalia to their new members.  At the conclusion of the ceremony the new members will meet with the same organization representatives who met them in Dinkins, and as a group you will leave Tillman together to go back to the chapter houses for individual celebrations.
• CHAPTERS MAY NOT GIVE NEW MEMBERS ANYTHING TO WEAR OR DISTINGUISH THEMSELVES TO TILLMAN
• CHAPTERS AND NEW MEMBERS WILL DRESS IN PIN OR PREFERENCE PARTY ATTIRE.  THIS IS SO NO NEW MEMBER WILL FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE.
12. Room Assignments for Spring Panhellenic Recruitment :
1. Chapter Assignments:
• Alpha Delta Pi – Baptist Student Center 
• Chi Omega – Dinkins Auditorium
• Delta Zeta – SAC
• Sigma Sigma Sigma – Dinkins Underground
• Zeta Tau Alpha – Tuttle/ McBride
2. Chapters can start setting up on Thursday January 21, 2010 no earlier than 9:30 p.m.  However it is their responsibility to contact Winthrop University campus police services to arrange for someone to lock up their facilities at the end of setup.  
3. It is up to the individual chapters to find out what is available in the room and to schedule practice times in that space.
4. It is each chapter’s responsibility to contact the Space Use manager to coordinate practice times and to discuss how the rooms can be arranged to meet your needs.  You will need to submit an on-line request for all practice time. 
13. Party Visitation by Panhellenic Executive Council
    1. Council members and Student Affairs staff will attend parties is to make sure things are running smoothly for all involved.
    2. The President, Vice President, and Vice President of Recruitment will come by before the first party of each day, knock on the respective chapters door to review each room with the party plans.
    3. When reviewing the party plans before that day, the above officers will discuss with each advisor if they will be returning for one of the parties later during that day.