Recruitment starts in just a week and a half! I'm still very nervous and excited. The events are pretty well planned out:
Round 1: This is *technically* not part of COB. Basically, we're inviting PNMs to a previously scheduled sisterhood event to hang out and see how they enjoy our chapter. We won't be rushing them or bumping or anything like that, but of course they'll be under scrutiny (whether they realize it or not).
Round 2: We're making an effort to make COB more like FR (instead of a bunch of girls just chilling in a room), so for this day we'll be doing a small philanthropy craft.
Round 3: The final night will be a little bit dressier, but certainly not on the scale of Pref! The food will be at "stations" around the room so that you need to mingle and walk around in order to eat. By the end of this event, hopefully all the PNMs have met a good number of sisters (and vice versa). The PNMs will be dismissed and the chapter will vote, then bids will be extended over the phone tht night. PNMs will have a little less than 24 hours to accept or decline, because Bid Night is the next evening!
The PNMs are not cut at all between events, although technically the first event is invite-only since it's just sisters bringing their interested friends. I think most of the women participating will be friends of sisters, but we could have a few surprises. We will be inviting all the transfer women to attend (well, except for one, who we just found out is a member of an NPC we don't have at our school... more about this in a minute). If we can get 13 new members... I would absolutely love to make chapter total for the first time!!
In terms of individual new members, I was sad to hear that
Vicky will not be participating. She is very close with a group of sisters and really wants to join, but her parents are against it. It's strange, especially considering her mother is an NPC alum. She would have to pay her own dues, which wouldn't be a big deal except that she just lost her job. She's going to try to rush again this winter.
In terms of general campus stuff - our chapter is doing great! Our PR has been fantastic. Our sisters are wearing letters and meeting freshmen, and we have our name advertised all over campus. I have a close friend who's a freshman here this year, and she's told me that freshmen are very interested. Hopefully we can keep that momentum going when the pre-recruitment tent talk starts setting in. At least we have a whole semester to make a good impression!
The only cloud on the horizon is the threat of expansion. Panhel very much wanted to open for expansion last year, but something *big* happened (kind of like "that thing", but with less sequined hose) that put everything on hold. Now they're trying again with a renewed vigor. I just worry that our chapter is too shaky still to take the hit.
I'll post more as COB gets closer...
