I do not have personal experience with Bama recruitment, but that said, I have some general comments/advice:
When getting those recs (remember, we're thinking 2ish for each chapter), use the alumnae to prep for conversation. She likely didn't go to Alabama, but she likely HAS had many conversations with PNM's (or "rushees" at the time) about topics you'll be covering. You will want to be comfortable enough to be able to talk to a brick wall, haha.
See if there is a local Alumnae Panhellenic in your area. You'd be surprised that there are active APH groups outside the South
Boston, for instance, comes to mind. Like I said, there may not be 'Bama alumnae in the group, but they will do their best to prepare you for an SEC Recruitment!
I imagine there will be A LOT of PNM's from Alabama, Georgia, Florida, throughout the Southeast & South. You won't be from one of the cities many others are from- Atlanta, Mobile, wherever, so they won't know your prep school, church, country club, etc. BUT they will likely remember you because you are the one person from Ithaca or Philly or wherever.
I would skip the Honors School week and to Formal Recruitment instead, and here's why:
I don't see that as "not putting school first." I see that week as really the only time to participate in Fall Formal Recruitment your Freshman year, and something I would not advise you to miss at Bama. Also, I feel that you would meet many students from the Honors program in your classes, would you not? You'd all be in classes together, right? I mean, a few of them will have already met each other, in that week prior to classes, but I don't see why you couldn't make up that program/college-specific socializing in the first few weeks.
Best of luck to you, and, again, this is Northern Yankee Big Ten alumna giving advice so a Bama lady's advice would likely trump me
as it's more school-specific, but I thought I had a few points to add.
Happy school hunting, and enjoy your last semester of high school!