This season of COVID-19 has been so challenging for so many, myself included. We have seen the ups and downs of the pandemic on our campuses and within our fraternity and sorority communities. When all of this started, I shared some of my thoughts in a Facebook Live about how we can help to keep our graduating members engaged throughout the remainder of their college career. My thoughts have now shifted to how we can continue to recruit new members into our organizations knowing full well that their experiences are going to be drastically different from what has been considered a “normal” new member sorority experience.
First, let us remember the idea of sorority is one that socially brings together a group of like-minded women to feel connected to, and supported and encouraged by. This is challenging when they physically cannot be in the same space together. Even weekly chapter meetings, where they are usually given the time to catch up, are called into question during this season of COVID-19. How, then, do we advocate for women to join a sisterhood that is in question and help to create a strong sense of community when the very idea of bringing people together does not exist???
I don’t claim to have all of the answers, but here are some of my thoughts…
Create deep connections: That will take work! Our older/more senior women in the chapter MUST help to form and continue these connections even when they may not feel like they have the time or the energy to get onto another virtual meeting. We need to be explaining that this is their responsibility to carry on the legacy of our Founders - they didn’t have the technology we have today and they made it work. Here we are, hundreds of years later, so they must have done something right in creating their deeper connections among women.
Sense of belonging: We know women want to feel that they belong to something and that they often look to the idea of sorority to provide that feeling. We have a responsibility to those women to help connect them to the larger picture of sorority life. No one is alone in this, but its hard! We never heard that it would be easy, nor am I saying that now, but we have a real opportunity to utilize technology to help ease back into a potential virtual semester where women are developing their sense of belonging to an organization that has seen something in them that will help to create an even stronger sisterhood. This is an opportunity for our leaders to showcase what they have to offer in our organizations and get our newest women to feel like they belong to something bigger than themselves.
Loneliness: I have struggled with this myself during this season. Its a big one! As social communities we have a responsibility to create a social environment where women know they can go to one another when they are feeling lonely or sad. They need to know that their sisters are a phone call or Zoom call away. We need to reiterate this with one another and with our chapters. It may be the only thing that helps to get some women through this challenging time!
Get alumnae involved: We want to be able to help when we can. Provide different opportunities for us to connect with collegians and new members throughout the semester so we can also continue to feel connected to our sisterhood. We may be older, maybe wiser, but we all value the same things and we may be able to offer our own experiences to younger members that will assist during this pandemic.
Peer to Peer Connections: Every organization has them! USE THEM!!!! Do not be hesitant to reach out to your sisters to just say hello or tell them that you miss them. The connections formed through sorority life can be life-long if we work at them. We have an opportunity to grow up and grow old together during a really hard time - let’s take advantage of it!
These are just a few of my original thoughts on how to work through this difficult season together. I’m sure there are many more. Here are some additional resources to potential utilize to help bring your chapter together for some fun…
Netflix Watch Parties
Electronic Bingo
HouseParty app
Snap Games
Watson Adventures’ Virtual Hunts
Jackbox.tv
Remote Insensitivity (Cards Against Humanity)
Pictionary Word Generator
Psych! app
UNO app
Mario Kart Tour app
Monopoly app
Sorority life offers a lot of opportunities - a sense of belonging, a sisterhood, a social outlet, academic excellence, leadership opportunities, networking skills, career readiness, wellness, and social justice. This is the perfect time to truly consider how we can all offer these opportunities in a different way. Think outside of the box - you are going to have to do that anyway! BE CREATIVE!!!! Don’t be afraid to spend some money on technology that may have been originally allocated for sisterhood events in order to help bring women together. Be courageous in your approach and think differently. Don’t be afraid to offer new thoughts and ideas to the leadership of your chapter. If you see something that has worked with a different group of people, bring that idea forward. Don’t hesitate to be different. We were all founded on different values and ideals - maybe this is the perfect time to highlight why being different can be so powerful….and think about our Founders! How they were forced to think of ways to be different on their campuses and how successful we are today because of their leap of faith!
