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Posting here in the hopes it is helpful for other rush chairs in addition to you,
1. My first suggestion is that you determine your rush goals. How many men do you want to pledge and initiate in the fall? To get started, take a look at your chapter roster and see who is graduating next year. How many new initiates do you need to keep the chapter the same size next year after older guys graduate? How big do you want the chapter next year? Ask yourself these kinds of questions- and ask the rest of the brothers too- and you will then have a firm number of how many pledges you need to achieve a specific goal instead of just picking a nice round number. Having that specific goal will help you and the entire chapter to move forward.
2. As for shirts and similar items- my advice is be careful about spending a lot of money on those kinds of things. Rushees are interested in the chapter- not in the stuff you hand out. And if you hand out too much stuff, it will make rushees think you are trying to use that stuff to cover up other reasons they might not want to take a bid. I am not saying you have things to cover up, but just be careful about going too far with anything that is not about giving the rushees an idea what the chapter is about because it will appear bad.
3. Next step is to think about why you went Beta, and also ask some other actives why they chose Beta. These are your selling points.
4. Beta chapters vary in character based on what is important to their membership, size, social standing within the Greek community, the school and why people go Greek at that school.
I advise you think carefully on these factors. This is especially important because in my experience (as an active at two very strong Beta chapters during undergrad and an advisor to one of those chapters today), the biggest mistake a rush chair can make is to select and target rushees based on one or two criteria that he personally thinks are most important- without thinking about what the chapter needs as a whole. It is a normal and natural thing to do- but please resist the urge.
Fraternities are like any group of people you will encounter in life- be it social, professional or family. Most people will be on the sidelines helping little, if any. If their views are important and regarded to the leader of a given project, they will get more involved. If they feel like they are being ignored- they will do nothing and blame any shortcomings in the outcome of the task at hand on the leader.
A successful rush relies on a successful rush chair.
A successful rush relies on a chapter that is engaged with at least half the members putting in some effort.
A successful rush chair is one who takes the chapter's views and wishes into account and works not to target rushees for pledgeship- but rather to create an environment in which all chapter members take part in targeting rushees for pledgeship. This is a big job that secures the future of the chapter. You cannot do it alone, but you can create an environment in which you organize and lead the effort- giving all members the chance to participate.
5. Use RTS. That is a great tool offered by General Fraternity and every Beta chapter, regardless of our general nature and aim, can benefit from this. It takes a lot of effort, but it is worth it.
6. Get every active to give you at least 5 names of potential rushees. Force them to do it. Bug them every day until they give it over. Check with your IFC office for a list of incoming freshman who have expressed an interest in rushing. These are your two starting resources for calling/sending invitations to rushees.
7. Keep track of calls and RSVPs you receive from rushees and keep in touch with them! This takes work, but it is key. Drop the ball on this and rushees will think you do not care or are sloppy.
8. Forgive minor mistakes. Rushees are in high school. They make social errors and mistakes that college students would not make. At my age, I see the same in college graduates. If a guy is a douche, drop him and don't waste money rushing him- but if a guy shows some promise, give him a chance and bring him around more.
9. Get your alumni to participate. During rush, have 1-2 dinners where your top rushees, active chapter members and recent alumni go out to dinner. Make it a dry event- no booze for anyone. Parties are fact of life for fraternities, but for these alumni events show the rushees something more. Show the rushees alumni who have gone out and succeeded in the world and who can hang out for dinner, answer questions about Beta in general and give them a glimpse at life beyond college. This is how you will recruit well rounded men who work as hard as they play.
I hope this helps and please PM me or post if I can answer any more questions.
Personally, I think Rush and Philanthropy are the two most important- and also underrated/underappreciated offices in any chapter. You hold the key to your chapter's future, and I wish you well in fulfilling that obligation.
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