Why Join?

Sororities promote sound scholarship, leadership, community involvement and life-long friendships. All sororities support philanthropies by collegiate and alumnae chapters. Philanthropies may include aid to handicapped children and adults, support of national health related organizations, assistance to disadvantaged women and children, or support of educational and literacy programs.

If you are interested in participating in recruitment at your college or university and would like information sent to sororities on the campus, fill out the form on-line. These forms are due back to JAAPA by May 15, 2012 for the school year 2012-13. Remember, you must still register with your college to be a part of recruitment:

These forms are not a registration for recruitment at your college; they are for JAAPA use only and should only be submitted by young ladies in the Jackson Metro Area only!

STEP 1 - Register with Jackson Area Alumnae Panhellenic Association JAAPA

You may register with Jackson Area alumnae

Panhellenic Association, JAAPA, by filling our

the form found online: Click here to register.

Please register ASAP and no later than May 15, 2012

for the school year 2012-13.

It is important that deadlines are followed. This allows the local Panhellenic time to ensure your information is passed on to local alumnae groups who may have a sorority chapter at the college or university you plan to attend. Many colleges or universities have early summer deadlines for their alumnae to notify them of potential new members.

Registering with the J.A.A.P.A. allows us to distribute the information you provide to the area reference chairwomen. These alumnae work very hard to ensure that every Jackson area woman interested in formal recruitment is afforded the benefit of a reference or recommendation.

The reference chairwomen and the Jackson Area Alumnae Panhellenic Association. J.A.A.P.A. members work hard to ensure that Jackson area women are well represented at all campuses. In other words, these women work to ensure that your name and accomplishments are highlighted and publicized to the university women.

STEP 2 - Complete and Distribute Information Packets

The purpose of this step is to obtain references or recommendations. You will need to prepare information packets that can be distributed to any alumna that requests additional information. The alumna will then use this information to prepare a reference or recommendation for you. Please note that you can compile these packets before you have made your final choice of university.

Your information packet should consist of a resume',

transcript, and pictures.

Resume': including name, address, phone number, high

school and GPA, school and community activities and

honors, hobbies.

Transcript: An unofficial copy of your transcript will aid

the writer in ensuring the most effective membership

recommendations. It is not required but highly

recommended.

Pictures: Photographs are not a requirement but highly recommended. It is suggested if you choose to include photographs in your packet, they should be recent photos. One full length and one close-up photo are preferable. These do not need to be formal photographs - an informal snapshot is fine. The sorority member will use these pictures to identify you at recruitment. Write your name on the back of the picture in ball point pen not felt tip to prevent smudges.

NOTE: It is always a nice touch to receive a personally written note from the potential new member thanking the alumna for their effort. You will most likely not know when your sorority alumnae contacts have written recommendation for you, but please go ahead and write each of them a personal thank you note a few weeks after giving them your information. They will appreciate it, and if they have not already written their recommendation for you, your thank you note will serve as a reminder for them to do it.

STEP 3 - Register with your College Panhellenic

Registering with the Jackson Area Alumnae Panhellenic, J.A.A.P.A. does NOT register you with your college Panhellenic. You must register separately with your university. Contact the student activities office of your chosen college or university, or access the college's website to register with the university. As soon as your registration with the college Panhellenic is complete, it will be passed on to the participating sorority chapters.

They may have additional photo requirements.

Each campus has individual rules and procedures to guide the potential new members through the recruitment process. Check with your college for their additional requirements and deadlines as soon as possible.

Reminder

It is the responsibility of the sorority members and NOT the potential new member to obtain these recommendation/references. However, it is to your advantage to network among family, friends, teachers, and acquaintances to secure your own recommendations. By doing so, you are assured a recommendation, and it is more likely to be more personal.

If you know more than one alumnus, you should be able to obtain one formal recommendation - that is all that is needed. However, it is perfectly acceptable to request other alumnae to write a letter of support.

THE ALUMNA THAT AGREES TO SUPPORT YOU IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAILING THE RECOMMENDATION TO THEIR LOCAL SORORITY REFERENCE CHAIRWOMAN. IT IS NOT THE POTENTIAL NEW MEMBER'S RESPONSIBILITY.

Many of the schools and universities have a deadline of June 1st to receive these recommendations.

Remember, it is to your advantage to distinguish yourself from other potential new members by following these tips. Completing these steps early ensures that you will not be swept up into the crowd of late applicants.

Jackson Area Alumnae Panhellenic Association, JAAPA, does not acquire recommendation for any potential new member. JAAPA only accepts forms submitted from potential new member in the Jackson, MS Metro area.