[smp1027]

I joined my chapter when we were in a similar situation (new, small, no house). What we did was reserve rooms on campus (free!) and did something modeled after formal recruitment, but much more laid back of course. Our formal recruitment at UConn goes: Info Night, Scholarship/Academics Night, Philanthropy night, Movie Night, Pref Night, Bid Day. So, as an example, for movie night, we'd have refreshments (can be inexpensive if you do it right) and show the same slideshow movie we had made for the fall, and had plenty of places to sit and talk. Or, for Philanthropy night, we'd show a video about out national philanthropy (contact your org. they'll probably send you one for free), and have a craft that we'd all make to donate to CT Children's Medical Center, like bracelets, or cards. The PNM's always like that. We still did the whole bump groups thing to keep it organized. Doing it that way is good practice for your girls for formal recruitment.

Also, I was PR chair one spring when we were doing informal/COB recruitment, and basically what I did was plaster the campus. I hung flyers up everywhereeee, made and hung posterboards in every major lecture hall, and used my schools resources. Most schools have a list of ways you can advertise your events on campus on the website, so see if your school has one. Good advertising is the biggest thing, cause you can't recruit girls if no one knows you're recruiting!

And finally, small touches make a huge difference. Balloon arches, for example, are really cheap, really easy to make, and make a great impression. Decoration is key!