We invited some of the girls that didn't accept any bids from rush to go out with us the night we got our girls. It worked because we upped our Spring 2001 New Member Class from 4 to 13 http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

I'm a litte confused by your reply. So are you referring to snap bidding? Or do you mean planning an activity for the new members and inviting the pnm's who didn't join to come along the day after bid day?

Oh, sorry I confused you, I didn't mean snap bidding. I did mean inviting pm's to go out with us after the snap bids were finished too. The night of bid day, if that makes any sense. Of course we also had several open houses in the following 2 weeks as well.

What worked: Having rushees over to our house (this was in the winter) for a movie and then we all went outside and made snowmen. Sounds cheesy but it was really fun!! Also, just plain hanging out with interested women and making them comfortable enough that they would come out and say "I'd love to pledge you guys!" Ask your friends who you THOUGHT were anti-Greek. You might be surprised!

What didn't: Anything too structured. The women who come to COB are often those turned off by the structure of formal rush. If you do this at a COB party you are defeating the purpose.

COB
 

Hello, I was wondering if anyone had some good ideas for COB. What worked, what didn't work and why? Thanks!!!!

I agree. Our open houses are very laid back and informal. We always get a lot more girls through COB's than we do through formal rush. It gives the the pm's a chance to relax and get to know us better. Not to mention, we're more relaxed as well!

Something that we found works...do something with them. Don't just invite them to your house or whatever and just sit around and talk. We've done tie dye things, made candles, even did philanthropy COB parties by making baskets for a nursing home. While you're doing this, you can talk to the women and have fun. It helps women relax to be doing something and not focusing on the fact that they are at a COB.

Hope this helps, and feel free to contact me if you need help.

I have found that COB events are better if the focus is the girls. We did one where we were making valentines for a nursing home and because we were doing crafts it made it very difficult to talk to people and it was hard not to focus only on the crafts. One that worked a lot better was a roller skating party. It was a blast and a lot of bonding went on as we tried to stay on our feet. Try to find something that requires the girls to interact and is fun. We've done several lunch get togethers that have worked well.

For COB, we had events during which new members and sisters brought at least one person they knew who was interested. We doubled our pledge class this way, since our Recruitment is at a weird time of the year, and not everyone could attend. We also had a big house dinner at a favorite restaurant, inviting girls we liked.

We've done really casual COB's where we just invite girls we know and put up flyers, and then we've had COB House Dinners, food is always a great thing to have when it comes to girls!

COBs can be anything. I come from a very small sorority and we have to have COBs EVERY week! As the Rush director I promise that anything you do can be turned into a COB. Examples...football games, TV nights, studying, going out to eat, game nights, karyoke, anything. A good idea that I have only had the chance to try once was Dorm Storming. Good luck!

Our chapter did this event after formal rush where we had kinda a COB party but we didn't extend any bids. I guess it was more like an open house informal event. We had sisters, nms and pnms so pnms could see what we all are like and get a small taste of zeta life. hopefully this fall when we have informal rush most of the girls will return...

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~*~to be true to ourselves, to those within and without our circle ~*~

We had a Valentine themed party b/c of the time of year, and made cards for a local nursing home. Crafts made it seem a little less like we were sizing the girls up, ya know? But our most successful event was when we all went iceskating. It was a blast and the girls really had a chance to interact with everyone.

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"Seek the noblest."
Zeta Love! <3