Spring Rush/Recruitment
 

I'm from a small Division II school where recruitment in the fall is usually five-eighteen pledges per fraternity and recruitment in the spring is usually a great deal smaller.
We're currently looking into having a better spring than usual. Right now we're looking at rush ideas for this upcoming semester and I'm looking for any suggestions I can get.

• Our rush must be dry.

• The weather will most likely be cold since rush will take place in January.

• So rush will most likely be inside.

Like I said, any suggestions are welcome.

What specifically are you looking for?

Event ideas? Recommendations on generating leads? Shoulder to cry on?

Event ideas.

Something we're doing this semester is the weekend before formal rush, we are planning to take all of our serious rushees and already committed pledges to the mountains for the weekend. Found a huge cabin in north Georgia for just over $400 for the weekend. We're hoping that is something that will seal the deal on people that aren't sure to join or not. Other stuff...have a cookout/party for the national championship. Go to your school's sporting events and invite them to come. There are also NFL playoffs you can have cookouts for. I hope this helps. I am also interested if anyone else has any other ideas.

I suggest doing stuff rush wide, not just your rushees. Something the IFC is trying to do at my University is have a rush wide flag football game set up so not only to encourage Greek Unity, but also attract more for rush. Now I doubt you could get all that set up, but our average pledge size is about the same (only three fraternities get in the 30s, and they drop nearly half), meaning at one point, things like this were thought up and made a difference to have it come into view.

I expect great things for the Spring, 10 would be nice. Spring is very hard to get people, it is only fair.

Tuffy- Thanks alot! Doubt we could take people anywhere, but a cookout does sounds good.

Jazing- I don't know that our IFC would want to do that. I'll pitch the idea in though. Thanks for the suggestion!

How about something like a poker/casino night? (not using real money, of course) Or just any kind of themed party... night at the races, cajun night (cajun food, music, etc.) [or even mardi gras depending upon when your rush is], luau, etc.

It depends on what you have, but another thing is showing off the house and what it means to be a brother in your fraternity, just setting up different stations where guys can talk about what y'all do.

You could do indoor rockclimbing, shoot pool, etc. I know that it sounds crazy, but depending upon the weather where you're at, we designate one day during rush and we go out and do community service. We've always gotten great reviews from the guys on that one.

The casino night we did last spring and we got three pledges. Not bad for spring at my college.
We currently don't have a house either.
However, I'm really digging the community service idea.
Thanks JD

Casino night is usually really good for getting people in the door, I just hate it because we've never had a person that won end up joining. I do like the community service idea though.

Coming from a campus that does not have houses just yet, I suggest trying to tout any awards or exposure you have around campus during rush. In my chapter, we have people who are involved with Student Government (basically the assistant to the assistant of the President), IFC, Athletics, etc. Such a broad scope can attract people for rush.

Yup...roll this into your ideals somehow, and show how you fulfill them.