Advice On Follow Up

[MBurden]

I have been communicating with one of the higher officers of a sorority I am interested in, via e-mail. She has forwarded my information to the local chapter so that I might be invited to a chapter event to meet the other women and then I am assuming they will assume how to proceed from there.

My question, is how much follow-up should I be making (that I initiate) with the officer I have been communicated with now. I don't want to seem to pesty, but I also don't want to seem that I am disinterested either.

Thanks,

[Jimmy Choo]

This is a tough one.... this is actually the same point that I am at now with one of my groups. I've talked with the local chapter officer but I don't want to seem like a stalker. I would say (rough guess here) no more than a month. But i also would not say check in every week. The way a person's job can go sometimes, they could say I'll get back to you next week, have a god awful week at work, and honestly forget.
Oooops, I just re-read your post and realized you were talking about the length of time in follow-up with your national contact. Definetly give them at least a month if not 6 weeks. Also make note of convention dates (if applicable) so that if follow-up becomes necessary you don't email around or during that time.

Good luck with your journey!!!

[blueangel]

I don't think it's possible give a correct answer to your question, because it all depends on so many things. I found the "waiting for an answer" to be the most difficult part of the AI process. There were so many times when there was complete silence. You never knew if they forgot about you, if they decided you weren't right for them, or what was going on behind the scenes.

I completely understand what you're going through and empathize. It's so hard to know what to do. You want to be proactive without appearing to be a pest.

As hard as it is, I would err on the side of being conservative. Give it a reasonable amount of time and then some. I know how hard it is, it's like telling someone to give her new boyfriend space! But, also stay on top of things. As I said in the other thread, silence doesn't necessarily mean "no." You may have just slipped between the cracks, and the organization needs a reminder.

I wouldn't give up until you get a "thanks but no thanks." However, walk softly and carefully. It's a thin tightrope indeed!

[AGDee]

Originally posted by MBurden
I have been communicating with one of the higher officers of a sorority I am interested in, via e-mail. She has forwarded my information to the local chapter so that I might be invited to a chapter event to meet the other women and then I am assuming they will assume how to proceed from there.

My question, is how much follow-up should I be making (that I initiate) with the officer I have been communicated with now. I don't want to seem to pesty, but I also don't want to seem that I am disinterested either.

Thanks,

Your time frames aren't clear, but I know that *my* alumnae club takes the summer off from all activities. Our last event was in early May and we won't get together again until September. I believe a lot of clubs and chapters operate this way. It's hard to get together during the summer with people's vacations and stuff. I wouldn't worry about it until September.