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I got various campus organizations to donate school spirit items and chotchkes promoting their clubs. I put together goody bags for my PNMs and gave them out at Greek Forum when I met them. Other recruitment counselors put together a bag of candies or decorated a mug with the PNM's name on it.

Most of the PNM's I had were underclassmen, so I thought it would be good to get them thinking about all the opportunities to get involved on campus. I also gave them a little gift at the end of each day-- a home made book mark, a bag of candy, a note telling them how wonderful and unique and special they were, etc.

Don't overwhelm them with too much information. They don't need to know terms like COB/CR, snap bidding, SIP/suiciding, etc. Focus very generally when you meet them on how recruitment works-- IE: You'll get a schedule of events and places to be for each day of recruitment.... When you go to an event, you'll be paired with a sorority woman the minute you walk in the door.

Give them tips on questions to ask and questions they should expect from sorority women.

Explain that recruitment is a mutual selection and that it is to their benefit to keep an open mind, be discreet in expressing their opinions about the sororities (you never know who is listening!) and attend the max. number of parties to which they have been invited.

Also explain that some women may not have as many invitations as others. Tell them it is ok to feel a little upset, but to keep a positive attitude and to talk to a recruitment counselor if they are feeling hurt or unsure about recruitment.

Stress the importance of being accessible via cell phone from early morning (depending on how early recruitment begins) for schedule changes.

After pref ceremonies, explain how they should fill out their bid cards. Explain that although the sororities they have preffed have shown a strong interest in them, not every woman who prefs will be extended a bid because the chapter only has a certain number of seats in their new member class. They may receive a phone call on Bid Day morning with this news... but they may also have an opportunity to join another sorority.

Cuts can be very hard on a PNM. Most of these women have never experienced rejection in this way and it can be devastating. Don't get into technical detail-- it will just overwhelm them-- but keep an open door policy and be encouraging as best you can.

Hope this helps.