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Originally Posted by Pennel1
Alright I have all kinds of problems. The fraternity that I am part of is an off campus fraternity that used to be a 75+ man fraternity it was considered the party house and we would often have just general Friday and Saturday night get togethers that would have well over 150 people. Well three years ago our school allowed drinkin on campus...which was one of the reasons our house was so large. Now with drinking allowed on campus and the fact that most people don't really don't come to our house because it is off campus our numbers have fallen to 25 and they decide to place me as rush chair against my best wishes. I am left with the task of building our fraternity back up and they actually think that i came have 30+ man pledge class this fall.
I need any ideas that you guys in general might have on what type of ways i can pull people off campus and into our house and how we can help present ourselves to the freshman without being on campus and what parties we could throw that would make us look good even with our lower numbers. We are a good fraternity that needs to survive anything will help. Thanks
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I'm not going to address what y'all need to do to sell your chapter. You should be able to do that. I'll just address ways to get guys to your house. Also, I'm guessing that you are referring to the fall IFC campus rush. And that your chapter house is physically located "off campus" and not that y'all were kicked off or underground.
The chapter members should be back on campus prior to when the freshmen move in so that the presence is know. Wear your letters and be on campus as much as you can. Help freshmen move into the dorms. Especially if there are rush parties later that evening. Ask each member to get at least two guys to come to a rush party.
With out telling us the specifics, what is your rush budget? Would you say it is above, below or comparable to other chapters? Because you are off campus, you might have to spend more to get people to come off campus. As such, if your budget allows, hire a limo driver or some sort of shuttle service that will pick up freshmen at their dorms and bring them to your house. This way, all your guys can be at the house rushing. But if you can not afford that, then have a few members alternate picking them up. Or maybe there is a local alumnus who would be willing to help.
Are sororities able to help with rush? If so, ask a different sorority to come a different night. Promise them that the chapter will return the favor in some way. And by all means, keep the promise. Y'all could help them with some event. Or do a day's work at their house or in their yard. Make dinner for them. Anything that will help them down the line and be fun too.
Are there any campus restrictions? Parties may only be from 7 to 10 p.m. for example? Alcohol can not be served? Can be served but only by third party vendor etc.? Parties must either be on campus or at the house? Since y'all are already "off campus", then maybe have an event at a local popular place. Paint Ball for example.
As for on campus (at the house) events, have a different theme each night. Something to get people to come more than just one night. You could have a game watch night - i.e. Monday Night Football or Major League baseball etc. A poker or casino night. Hire a local band that wants (needs) the exposure (i.e. they would be cheep) and have them come and play one night.
Have your full rush schedule in place by the time school starts. Try to have a variety of events.
ABC 2007 Fall Rush Schedule
all events from 7 to 10 p.m.
Monday Night: Hot wings and NFL football with the brothers of ABC and the sisters of XYZ
Tuesday Night: Pizza and Casino night with the the brothers of ABC and the sisters UVW
Wednesday Night: Live Band and Burgers with the brothers of ABC and the sisters of DEF
Thursday Night: Paintball and hoagies with the brothers of ABC and the sisters of GHI (meet at house at 7 p.m. for shuttle to Paintball Heaven)
Friday Night: Smoker (Invite only)
ABC House
1313 Mockingbird Lane
(free shuttle to and from Freshman Men's Dorm ever half hour)
Make copies of your schedule and target every freshman dorm room. Two to a room if you can. Put them up on floor bulletin boards and in the dorm lobbies. Along with any other public space. If there is a university message board, post notices regarding your parties on it.
One other thing that has worked for those chapters who's houses were not located on campus at The University of Kentucky is to rush out of one of the sorority houses (on campus) for the general or open parties. The invite only party is held at their house. It works at UK because enough chapters do it. And it isn't like they are trying to hide anything, just simply a way for the rushees to meet the brothers without having to leave campus. Even one of the top chapters have their first group of parties at a sorority house. And they have an amazing house in their own right.