Any good Rush Event ideas?

[TheLambdaChiGuy]

Hey guys. So I'm an associate of Lambda Chi Alpha, and I just got nominated for our High Delta office, which is our Rush Chair. Normally, Juniors have held this office, and as a Freshman this year, and an associate as well, this is a big honor.

Next week we give our speeches about why we should be elected. Within my speech, I want to list some ideas of Rush Events and ideas to promote recruitment to give the guys a good idea of what they could expect from me.

So, I was wondering if you guys wouldn't mind taking a look at my ideas and telling me what you think, as well as perhaps sharing some ideas that went over really well for you.

First, a little info about my University. We are rather small, and only have a Freshman class of about 800-900 students a year. Break that in half, and you're down to about 450 guys. Now, we are the largest fraternity on campus, with 24 members. Yeah. Small. We are also considered a commuter campus. Also, there are no Greek houses.
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ _____________________
So here's my ideas:

So I need to categorize my week into different events that will cover the basics that will attract guys. Here are the main points that I want to push-

Brotherhood, Tradition, Girls, Fun, Outgoing atmosphere, Maturity, Craziness.

Here's some event ideas:

Meet The Brothers Bag Toss- All brothers and prospects will meet at a common area on campus where we will have food and bag toss games set up. I will make it every brother's job to try their best to talk to every prospect to make them feel welcome. Normally, we hold a meeting and each brother introduces them self, but I think a more casual and fun atmosphere will make people feel more comfortable and want to come back.

Day At The Beach Foam Party- We will rent a foam machine that will fill an unfinished basement with 3 feet of foam/bubbles. We will invite our sister sorority, Sigma Sigma Sigma, to attend as well. Bathing suits required. Music, Dancing, and Beach Balls. I feel showing ourselves in a social atmosphere will be enticing for prospects, and who can turn down girls in bikini's?

Party Bus To Buffalo Wild Wings- So we have a Buffalo Wild Wings near us, and for those who dont know, it's like a franchise restaurant that excels at chicken. We will rent a school bus to drive us out there together. Prospect's meals will be free, and Brother's meals will be half-price. Free food would definitely bring people out, and half-price for brothers would ensure a good fraternity turn out.

Car Bash- We will have a junkyard donate a car to us. We will rent out a large grassy area on campus. For $1-$5, you get 1 swing at the car using either a baseball bat, sledge hammer, or axe. Proceeds could go to some charity or something.

Scavenger Hunt- An old tradition. Entire fraternity/prospects split into 2 groups and we go around campus doing a list of stupid things on camera. I cant really go into detail. Point is, it's really fun, and really binds the group together.
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ _____________________
So here's my ideas:
I'll add to the event ideas when I remember them all. Here's some promotion ideas-

I plan on getting some shirts made to pass out to girls.

One might say "If I was a guy, I would rush Lambda Chi."

Another might say "Property of Lambda Chi Alpha" on the front, and on the back it would say "If found, please return to a ΛΧΑ brother."

Then, I am going to require that the brothers wear letters every day during Rush week.

[33girl]

I don't think any girl in this day and age wants to wear a shirt that says "property of" - especially if they're just random girls with no connection to the brothers.

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by 33girl

I don't think any girl in this day and age wants to wear a shirt that says "property of" - especially if they're just random girls with no connection to the brothers.

Unless, of course, she's THAT GIRL. THAT GIRL never seems to care what she wears... or doesn't wear, in public.

And that's not exactly the best way to get your name "out there"

[TheLambdaChiGuy]

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

Unless, of course, she's THAT GIRL. THAT GIRL never seems to care what she wears... or doesn't wear, in public.

And that's not exactly the best way to get your name "out there"

Well, we actually had some AST's here (not calling them out, just thought it was a funny coincidence) who wore some shirts a couple years ago that said "Want my attention? Then Rush ΛΧΑ." I thought those were pretty funny, and that's what gave me the idea. Sure, not exactly the same context, but that's the kind of idea I'm going for. Just some ideas to get our name out there and around the new students.

So I think our University has had the idea there. As for the Property shirts, I didn't mean to use it to degrade anyone. I just meant for our girlfriends, and some girls from our sister sorority. We've worn their letters to help them promote before. I was just thinking of a more catchy way of doing so.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by TheLambdaChiGuy

Well, we actually had some AST's here (not calling them out, just thought it was a funny coincidence) who wore some shirts a couple years ago that said "Want my attention? Then Rush ΛΧΑ." I thought those were pretty funny, and that's what gave me the idea. Sure, not exactly the same context, but that's the kind of idea I'm going for. Just some ideas to get our name out there and around the new students.

So I think our University has had the idea there. As for the Property shirts, I didn't mean to use it to degrade anyone. I just meant for our girlfriends, and some girls from our sister sorority. We've worn their letters to help them promote before. I was just thinking of a more catchy way of doing so.

I hate to break this to you, but you do NOT have a sister sorority. You may be close with another sorority on your campus, but it is not an official brother/sister relationship, and promoting the fiction that it is could have consequences for both of your groups.

[TheLambdaChiGuy]

Originally Posted by 33girl

I hate to break this to you, but you do NOT have a sister sorority. You may be close with another sorority on your campus, but it is not an official brother/sister relationship, and promoting the fiction that it is could have consequences for both of your groups.

Alright, sorry about that. Despite the legal terms for it, they are the sorority that we always build floats with, host our white rose formal with, etc. I don't know. We both just do most of our functions with them. Point is, we normally work together for our rush events, and when girls ask us guys for a sorority suggestion, we usually tell them to try everyone out, but we do point them in the direction of them first. They do the same for us. So I'm sure they'd be fine with helping us promote ourselves.

But I wanted to hear any ideas for rush events/party themes that went over well with making new members.

[Midwest]

Anyone have more ideas?

[33girl]

Originally Posted by ree-Xi

SBG - one question about Hookah Bars - what about the people who don't smoke or can't be around it? What would you tell a PNM who maybe had asthma or was an athlete who couldn't attend, and was afraid of missing a chance to meet brothers?

Originally Posted by ScarletBlueGold

1. Hookah Night: my national office and my Greek Life Office really hate the fact that we do this event. I will tell you that it turns off anyone who doesn't smoke, but we usually get a strong showing of people who don't come to any of our other events.

I'm guessing it pulls in a lot of the "I would never join a fraternity, that's so cheesy" type dudes, and then once they see they're wrong, they're more likely to come to other events. Extremely good marketing strategy. The rest of the rushees (who are comfy with their cheesy side, LOL) are already coming to the dodgeball etc. They have multiple events so it's not a question of one and done.

[excelblue]

Remember that events, by themselves, do not get people to join. They only create opportunities for you to meet those who come to the event. Of those who do come to a particular event, they are interested in some aspect of that event.

Think about who you want to attract and how you plan to meet them. Your events should be focused on that. Eg. Buffalo Wild Wings night attracts people who like free food, which is almost everybody, but especially the ones that like to take advantage of others. Foam Party attracts mostly the immature and irresponsible crowd; otherwise, why go to such a crazy party with people you don't know? Bag games are a good idea though.

And, if your real goal is to recruit some people who are down to have a few beers with you, hang out, and enjoy strippers, that's what your events have to incorporate.