Best Work Week activity
 

Hey guys, what's the best activity that you did before recruitment to prep the chapter? i'm trying to come up with fun ideas to entertain sisters but at the same time give them all of the info they need to know :)

Before recruitment, we have a recruitment workship. The Recruitment Chairman hands out a folder to each member full of details on recruitment - how each party will run, reminders on what to wear, conversation tips, interesting facts about Pi Phi to share with PNMs, etc.

During the recruitment workshop, we do a lot of activities which simulate interaction with PNMs. This is especially helpful for first time rushers. For example, the RC will hand out a list of typical questions asked by PNMs and we all get into groups and come up with good answers to these questions. They might include questions about joining a greek organization in general, our philanthropy, questions about money, etc. and some tougher questions, too. In these groups, we also brainstorm topics to discuss with PNMs (classes, how she's enjoying her first week of college, roommates, etc.) and ways to start conversations with PNMs (what did you do over the summer, etc). Sometimes, making small talk and answering tough questions about your house or Greek life in general are the most difficult part of recruitment, and it helps to practice this before you actually have to do it.

Practicing any songs you plan on using during recruitment (entrance and exit songs and chants, etc.) is also a good idea. If your chapter is anything like mine, everyone most likely needs the practice. ;) Plus, doing the songs and chants is a fun "break" from the stress of preparing for recruitment.

Generally, we hold a recruitment workshop the evening before Formal Recruitment begins. After the workshop - you know, when everyone is good and stressed out about the coming day - we usually do a fun sisterhood activity. This year, for example, the recruitment chairman had purchased a bunch of facial and manicure supplies. We dimmed the lights, put on soothing music, and enjoyed pampering ourselves before the craziness of recruitment began the next morning. Thus, not only was the evening productive, it brought everyone together for some fun and relaxation - two things often mission from the recruitment process.

(Apologies for the length of this post!)

This probably ins't THE ABSOLUTE BEST idea ever, but it really helps girls think about things to talk about during actual recruitment. Divide the girls up into groups and send them to different places in the house (this activity works best with small groups). Have your group leaders lead the activity.

Give a piece of paper to each girl. Ask her to write her name on it going down. For example:

S
A
R
A
H

Then have each girl write down things they can talk about coorisponding with their name. For exmaple:

S - Sports - do you play any sports?
A - Activities - what HS activities did you do?
R - Recruitment - what made you decide to Rush?
A - Actors - who is your favorite actor/actress?
H - High School - what HS did you go to?

It's a good activity because in the heat of RUSH, sometimes sisters blank and don't know what to talk about...well everyone remembers their own name (I hope!!!) - so they can just think about the letters in their name to come up with things to talk about!

I think that's a REALLY good idea- and something new that I've never heard of before. Thanks!

Our members go on a fun outing during Spirit Week at a water park or something like that to just get to hang out with each other.

We have spirit breaks during the week that our competitions between rotational groups. Limbo contest, new cheer, hula hoop the longest. They win fake dollars that they can spend on ADPi merchandise for themselves or one of the new members.

But the best preparation we have for crecruitment besides all the workshops is a practice with the Delta Gammas on campus.

We run through our open house round and rush them and then switch sides and they rush us. Afterwards all the women join together to give each other constructive feedback. It is great practice and a good panhellenic activity.

The KD's and EK's copied us this last year and have started doing the same thing.

I would recommend doing this with anyone on campus. Either ask a struggling chapter to participate or a group that can help you get better if you are struggling. We started this by asking Delta Gamma when they were new and had not been through recruitment before as actives. They are now (less than 4 years) as strong as any chapter on campus and have developed good recruitment tools from the beginning.