Chapter 43 -- Kathleen's punishment
Once the celebrations from the victory died down and the Four-Beta members returned to the sorority house, President Alexandra called an emergency meeting in the sitting room. She flatly announced the fall election was way overdue and that it was urgent to have the sorority's new leadership elected and in place for Rush Week.
"Unfortunately we'll have to make the transition at the same time we're having Rush, but I've got to step down. I'm not taking classes this fall, and if I'm no longer enrolled I'm not qualified to be in the directorate. So tomorrow night we're holding our fall elections, and we'll swear in the new officers on Saturday. Please consult with your class leaders so we can agree on nominations."
Lisa felt bad for Alexandra, because her presidency was ending without the scandal over the former Sergeant-at-Arms being completely resolved. While it may have been true that President Alexandra was not the best leader the sorority ever had, it also was clear that she was a decent person and that she did care about what happened to the members. Lisa knew that in the end she would be forgotten, that her mixed record and a few lapses of judgment would relegate her service to obscurity within a few years. Once the sophomores graduated, no one in the sorority would even remember her.
Tracy would be very different as president. She had a very aggressive plan that if implemented, would make the Four-Beta Sorority a very serious organization and expand its membership. She wanted being a Four-Beta to be a life-changing experience for everyone who joined and ultimately expand the sorority's influence within the university community. Unlike her predecessor, Tracy would be remembered long after she graduated and moved on with her career. The changes she planned to make would have a permanent impact on how the Four-Betas conducted their lives and saw themselves as a group.
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Lisa was hoping to go to bed and spend some time with Kathleen but, as usual, Tracy pulled her aside and asked her to accompany her into the sorority office. Tracy wanted to "talk shop" with Lisa before releasing her for the evening. Her immediate concern was not the election, but Rush Week. The sorority would be full of prospective pledges throughout the next six days and the members would have to host a series of parties. The sophomores had the biggest stake in the outcome of Rush Week, because they would be living with the incoming group for the next three years.
"You're gonna have to get together with Elaine and do some real mixing with those freshmen. This is really gonna be your show. Also, make sure the members of your pledge group and Brittany and Erin are out there, getting to know those girls. And another thing. We're definitely not the right sorority for everyone. If you don't think we're a good fit for someone or they're not a good fit for us, make sure they know that and make sure you explain why. But at the same time, never be overly insistent about pushing someone out the door. If you don't think they're a good fit, and you try to discourage them, but they seem to insist, send them my way so I can make a final determination. Don't forget, I have no problem taking in the Bernadettes and Kathleens of this world. If they really want to join, and I feel it's for the right reasons, I'll give 'em a contract."
Tracy sat back and tilted her head slightly, which was a gesture she always used when she had something important to announce to her listener:
"That gets us to the next thing I need to settle. I've been talking to the other seniors, and also to Shannon and Elaine, and we've pretty much decided who's gonna get the nominations for the next chapter directorate. The new officers will all be seniors, except Shannon, who's my first choice for the next Sergeant-at-Arms. There's only one spot still open, and that's Pledge Mistress. There's a reason why Pledge Mistress is always the hardest position to fill, and that's because most members don't want it. It's the least glamorous spot in the directorate, and yet by far the one with the most responsibility and the one with the most work. Most of the members are here to have fun, and being Pledge Mistress is not very much fun. However, this year we do have a member who'd make a good Pledge Mistress."
"So who is it?"
"You."
"Me?"
"You're the most logical choice. What I'd like to do is nominate you to be this year's Pledge Mistress and take the word 'Acting' off your title."
"But...I just joined...wouldn't the others have a problem with..."
Tracy smiled and shook her head.
"No. Trust me, the others won't have a problem with it. With as much work as that position is...and the worst part of it is having to put up with me day in and day out...No. They're not lining up to be Pledge Mistress. That job takes a certain personality type, and right now, you're the member in the sorority who's got what's needed to do the job. It doesn't matter that you just joined."
"Well...I guess if the others are OK with it...I'd be honored..."
"And I'll be honored to be working with you in the fall. Even before I started talking to the seniors, you were my first pick to replace me. The others are expecting it. They already have a nickname for you. They're calling you 'Tracy Junior'."
Lisa laughed.
"I 'spose there's worse things they could call me."
"Anyhow, I know you've got Kathleen as your assistant. Actually, she's very good with the stuff you've assigned to her, you know, the rules and history instruction. I suppose she's not ready to take over a group?"
"No. Her strong point is her teaching. She's not a leader. I couldn't picture her bossing anyone around."
"Alright, then we'll keep her focused on instructing and not assign her a group. How do you feel about Bernadette and Cherine?"
"I think Bernadette would make a good counselor, but you're gonna have to be careful about who goes in her group. You'd want outgoing girls with her, but not ones with really strong personalities. I wouldn't put anyone in her group who might challenge her, because I don't think she'd handle that well. Cherine would be a good counselor with quieter pledges, the shy ones."
"Alright, then we've got a Pledge Mistress, an assistant/instructor, and two group counselors. I'll talk to Shannon and Elaine about nominating the others. Now the next thing I want to think about is what the training staff is gonna wear. I'm thinking of assigning uniforms to the training staff, the same as the pledge outfits, except the shirts would read 'counselor' or 'Pledge Mistress'."
Lisa took a deep breath. Tracy noticed her disappointed expression.
"You're not thrilled about having to wear a uniform, are you?"
"Not really. I mean, I already told Brittany and Erin that I wasn't gonna be wearing anything because I'm a nudist and..."
"So, that lifestyle's really that important to you?"
"Yes."
"So, what you're telling me is that you'd prefer to perform your duties as Pledge Mistress in the nude?"
"Yes."
"Well, here's a thought. What if I propose that the uniform for the Pledge Mistress ought to be the same as the pledges? In other words, when the pledges are naked, the Pledge Mistress must be naked too?"
"That's sort of what I wanted..."
