Pref Ceremonies
 

I'm looking to change around our preference ceremony and was wondering if anyone would share something that they remember (PNM or Active) that was personally meaningful.

I posted this in the AXO board and didn't recieve that much feedback and it doesn't have to just pertain to Alpha Chi.

Thanks!

Why?

If you haven't asked yourself that question, you need to - and if you have, then the rest of us could probably help you better if we knew what exactly you were looking to change, and your motivation to do so.

If you're looking to change just because it's the same thing over and over, you must remember that you get new girls every year, and THEY'VE never seen it before...and something well-rehearsed always goes better than something new - especially if it's "just because".

Excellent point, AlphaFrog! Are you having problems with convincing PNMs to chose AXO or do you want to update to keep up with other chapters? One thing about pref is that no matter how wonderful you make it, PNMs won't respond to it if they haven't made a prior connection with your chapter on some level.

The ceremony we used last year was kind of thrown together at the last minute and we just feel like it doesn't show just how strong our sisterhood is. I know I shouldn't try to fix what's not broken, but our "pref machine" just isn't running as well as it could.

I feel like for those girls that come into pref on a fence, our ceremony has no help.

I think whatever you choose...songs, a poem, whatever, it's important to LOOK LIKE YOU LOVE EACH OTHER but it's not important to cry...in fact...too much crying is BAD. I noticed that as a PNM and as a recruitment counselor.

A good place to start might be the rush chair of other chapters. I helped out during rush this past fall at my chapter (Beta Sigma) and was lucky enough to sneak in and see our pref ceremony. It made me want to be an Alpha Chi all over again. PM me if you want to talk about it.

- Play to your strengths. Do you have musically talented sisters? Plan for them to play their instruments or sing. Do you NOT have any musically talented sisters? Use a cd from HQ for the music, but have your sisters learn poems/statements that will be heart-felt. Does your campus use videos/powerpoint? Have it done professionally. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE. It MUST run like a well-oiled machine.

- ASK HQ FOR COPIES OF A CHI O PREFS. No need to reinvent the wheel - you might call a successful chapter in your state and pick their brains.
You must both showcase what makes A Chi O as a GLO special, and what your specific chapter sisters have to offer the pnms.

- Work on your pref. night rushing - each and every sister who is preffing a pnm needs to know EXACTLY what she is to do that night. Have a workshop devoted to helping your sisters learn how to "seal the deal". If you don't know what to do, have your advisor see what help she can get you. Maybe a collegiate consultant can come to your work week - HTH

[quote=SWTXBelle;1759084]- Play to your strengths. Do you have musically talented sisters? Plan for them to play their instruments or sing. Do you NOT have any musically talented sisters? Use a cd from HQ for the music, but have your sisters learn poems/statements that will be heart-felt. Does your campus use videos/powerpoint? Have it done professionally. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE. It MUST run like a well-oiled machine.

That says it all. :)

I would definitely email some AXO recruitment chairs for advice.

Also, one common mistake made in pref ceremonies is forgetting to plan the ceremony based on the mindset of a pnm. What are they thinking, feeling? Too often, the ceremony is planned by a senior and plays to the memories, good times, emotion of that graduating group of girls. But the video and music and speaking parts of pref must appeal to a PNM and her current state of mind.

Excellent advice above regarding a workshop on teaching members to seal the deal, etc.

This. The chapter I advised had a "tradition" of the seniors filming footage during work week and then putting together a video that was shown at pref. The intention was to "showcase" how much fun the chapter had together, but it almost inevitably turned into inside jokes and senior memories. While it was definitely fun to watch, I don't think it necessarily was the draw for the chapter it was supposed to be. Personally, I thought it would have been better used during Senior Week. But it was "tradition" so no one wanted to change it.

I think that is a really good point that many people, including myself forget. I know that one of the things we do that I really like is that we have a sister that went through the previous year talk about her recruitment journey.

It helps to bear in mind that at this point, the chapter has decided the pnms at their pref parties are worthy of membership - the focus needs to shift from both selling the chapter and evaluating the pnms to focusing on hearing what the pnms are looking for in a sisterhood, and letting the pnms know what membership in AXO will mean for THEM - how their needs will be met. It's not enough to have a Broadway-quality performance - although that should be a concern - the pnms must feel that they will find their home at AXO, that their particular needs are best met at AXO. Too often the focus is on the glitzy part of pref, and the one-on-one interaction between members and pnms is left to chance. PLAN what the rushers are going to discuss - how they will try to direct the conversation, how they will discuss their experience, how they will make the pnms feel comfortable and able to see themselves as AXOs.

A simple thing I noticed as an advisor: have at least one sister stationed at where she can watch the reactions of the PNMs. Ones who look bored may have already decided how they're going to rank the sororities, and you're not number one. On the other hand, those who look interested are still worth that extra push.

Also, see how they interact with the other PNMs - potentially their new member class.