| If you have been a member of a Greek | | | | Wondering what is done with the paddles? Most |
| organization or you have known someone who | | | | of the time, they are just used as decoration or |
| has, or even watched movies with fraternities in | | | | memento of joining the fraternity or sorority. |
| them you have seen Greek paddles. This is simply | | | | Most pledges place them on their wall to remind |
| part of the organization, and most of them have | | | | them of their commitment to the group. A lot of |
| a new paddle made for every year or every | | | | alumni keep their paddles in a prominent place in |
| class of pledges that comes through the "house". | | | | their home or their office throughout their life, so |
| The paddles are usually displayed in some | | | | it really does serve a purpose. |
| prominent room of the main fraternity or sorority | | | | Other fraternities and sororities actually have their |
| house to be seen by all who enter. While there is | | | | pledges make paddles for the "brother" or "sister" |
| usually a paddle for every class of pledges or | | | | that is helping them pledge. The idea is to win the |
| every year in operation most fraternity pledges | | | | favor of the brother or sister by making them |
| are asked to make their own. | | | | the most unique paddle. As is the same if you |
| For instance, if you were going to join Tau Kappa | | | | made the paddle for yourself, these paddles are |
| Epsilon you may be asked before you are a full | | | | usually hung on the wall. The idea is to show the |
| member of the organization to make your own | | | | pride you have in the Greek organization and |
| paddle. This is something that most groups require | | | | share that pride with the other members of the |
| that you put a lot of time and thought into, and | | | | group. This can be done in many creative ways |
| often the result is part of what allows for one to | | | | from paint, to fabric, to rhinestones, and more. |
| be admitted into the selective group. Greek | | | | Greek paddles like the one that you would see in |
| paddles look a lot like boat oars, in fact if you | | | | any sorority or fraternity such as Alpha Phi or |
| need to make one you might want to start with | | | | others will have the sorority name and crest or |
| a boat ore that you can decorate as you see fit. | | | | symbol on the paddle that is totally customized. |
| Most paddles are about 2-3 feet in length, though | | | | Many pledges make several paddles before it is all |
| some are bigger. | | | | said and done. |