Ideas for Greek Paddles
For many college students, the opportunity to join Greek life on campus is a collegiate goals. Fraternities and sororities take in new members, called pledges, after they go through a period of training where they learn about the organization. One of the rites of passage in Greek life is being a Little Brother or Sister to an already established Big Brother or Sister in the organization. The pair exchanges gifts, with the Little creating a wooden paddle--for decorative purposes, not for hazing or punishment--symbolizing the Greek organization.
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Colors
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Each fraternity or sorority in the Greek system usually has a minimum of two colors it takes as its own. Members of the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity, for example, claim emerald green and white as their colors. Sorority sisters in Delta Phi Epsilon use royal purple and gold as their colors. On a trip to the craft store to gather supplies for your paddle, consider using your Greek colors as inspiration. While there may be a variety of paints ranging in hues called “royal purple,” choosing something in the general color scheme will make your paddle more significant. Paddles often have small wooden letters spelling out the Big's and Little's names. Paint these letters in alternating colors or each name in a different color. For artistic pledges, consider painting a design directly on the wood base of the paddle before adding the small wood pieces.
Symbols
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Every Greek order is represented by a symbol. Often, fraternities and sororities claim more than one symbol. While symbols may be used on the organization’s website, letterhead or other communications materials, they can help personalize a paddle as well. You’ll find many options for symbols in a craft or hobby shop, such as small flat wood designs that may be painted in the organization’s colors, miniature replicas of the symbol and even foam cut outs for scrapbooking. Members of Alpha Sigma Rho, for example, use the scales of justice, a book and scroll, a swan, an opal and a calla lily as their symbols. A quick trip down the aisles of a craft shop will produce many options to create a 3-D paddle. Another idea is to cut images of these items out of magazines or take photos yourself to create a collage directly on the paddle by gluing the snippets on to the wood and sealing them with polyurethane or cling film.
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Quotes
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While almost every paddle features words (the Big's and Little's names and the name of the Greek organization), you can personalize your paddle further by inscribing it with words of a notable quote concerning the Greek system. You’ll find quotes on website such as SororitySisters.net, offering options that may apply to both fraternities and sororities. Use tiny wood letters to spell out the quote painted in your Greek colors. If you have a steady hand and enjoy artistic styles such as calligraphy, paint the quote directly on the paddle, such as on the long neck or around the base. Another option is the type the quote on the computer, print it on a piece of paper colored to your theme and glue it to the paddle. Finish the paddle by decorating it with colored glitter.
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References
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