Coming Out Party

lucky2bKD · #1 11-16-2009, 09:10 PM

Hey guys,

So I just got elected VP New Member Education of my sorority for next semester's pledgeclass of about 25 girls. Normally during the first week of spring semester after they rush, we organize a bunch of mixers with different frats every night so that they can meet them, as is customary for most sororities during that time at my school. However, now that mixers are banned (long story) I need to find an alternative for getting them introduced to other people (aka other frats) on campus.

Something that I discussed with my Greek counselor (who thought it was a great idea) was a coming out party for them during the first week. We'll probably rent out a reasonable place and each girl will bring a date, etc. The emphasis will be on introducing the girls to their future sisters and the friends of the sorority. sort of like a bid night, but more of a party and with dates present.

This is the first time we are doing something of this kind, and I really want it to be special and memorable for the girls. I really want to stress that this party is all about THEM and that they are the focus of the evening, and make a fuss over them basically. I had a few ideas to make this special, such as getting a big cake, giving the new girls tiaras to wear...

Does anyone have any more ideas as to how I can make the girls feel special at their "coming out party"?

DrPhil · #2 11-16-2009, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lucky2bKD

Hey guys,

So I just got elected VP New Member Education of my sorority for next semester's pledgeclass of about 25 girls. Normally during the first week of spring semester after they rush, we organize a bunch of mixers with different frats every night so that they can meet them, as is customary for most sororities during that time at my school. However, now that mixers are banned (long story) I need to find an alternative for getting them introduced to other people (aka other frats) on campus.

Something that I discussed with my Greek counselor (who thought it was a great idea) was a coming out party for them during the first week. We'll probably rent out a reasonable place and each girl will bring a date, etc. The emphasis will be on introducing the girls to their future sisters and the friends of the sorority. sort of like a bid night, but more of a party and with dates present.

This is the first time we are doing something of this kind, and I really want it to be special and memorable for the girls. I really want to stress that this party is all about THEM and that they are the focus of the evening, and make a fuss over them basically. I had a few ideas to make this special, such as getting a big cake, giving the new girls tiaras to wear...

Does anyone have any more ideas as to how I can make the girls feel special at their "coming out party"?

(I assume she doesn't mean "coming out party" as in NPHC does.)

Is this after they've been introduced to the other sororities?

Maybe I'm missing something here.

lucky2bKD · #3 11-16-2009, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrPhil

(I assume she doesn't mean "coming out party" as in NPHC does.)

Is this after they've been introduced to the other sororities?

Maybe I'm missing something here.

huh? no, this is the week after they have received their bids. the coming out party is something for them so that they can have a night out where we're throwing a party for them, celebrating that they have joined, and getting to know them as well as introducing them to some of the fraternity brothers in our greek community.

Senusret I · #4 11-16-2009, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrPhil

(I assume she doesn't mean "coming out party" as in NPHC does.)

This is what they should do.

Masks and EVERYthing.

What...is....a KayDee?

A KD is what a Pi Phi ain't
What a Kappa wanna be, what a Theta can't
What the Tekes like, what the Pikes love
What the S-A-Es can't get enough of!

33girl · #5 11-17-2009, 02:43 AM

Is it mixers that are banned, or mixers with alcohol? Either way, a mixer should be for THE WHOLE fraternity and THE WHOLE sorority to interact, not to put your pledges on display. If they were not held in this manner, then it's a good thing that they were banned.

If you have sisters bring dates, won't they be with those sisters? Do you really want to put the pressure on the pledges to find fraternity men for dates? What if they date independents - will they be allowed to ask them? If you want to have a party, that's one thing, but I would caution against it being a dated affair for girls who are so new to Greek life.

Try holding mixers in the proper way and eventually they will meet people in the Greek community. You don't have to shove the whole thing in their face the first week they're affiliated with a sorority.

Leslie Anne · #6 11-17-2009, 03:15 AM

With all due respect, 33girl, I think you're misunderstanding this. There was some discussion about this exact type of thing in ellebud's Recruitment story for her daughter. The whole point of it is to put the pledges on display. It's a "debut" of sorts for the pledges to enter Greek life. My campus did this. I posted about it in ellebud's thread.

I agree with you on the rest of what your wrote regarding mixers, etc.

lucky2bKD,
Take a look at the discussion in this thread starting at post #78:
http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/sh...=107143&page=6

33girl · #7 11-17-2009, 03:39 AM

I HOPE I'm misunderstanding it. I understand the "presents" concept and all that. I don't have a problem with that at all, it's a lovely idea. However, what I'm not down with here is what she's talking about that was banned - I've heard of too many times where the pledges are the only ones who go to mixers and are basically "thrown to the wolves" with very few sisters around to get them out of what might be uncomfortable situations.

If they wanted to do something like Presents at the California schools, that would be a much better plan than a dated function. I know that even on our bid night, we bucked tradition (at the time) and held a party to which we could invite any friends/boyfriends, rather than a mixer as most groups did. Mixers put too much focus on men when the focus should be on sisters. There's plenty of time for men later.

Leslie Anne · #8 11-17-2009, 04:31 AM

Oh, okay. I misunderstood. I thought you were against the debut part.

I'm completely on board with you about the mixers.

ilpwineg · #9 11-28-2009, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 33girl

If they wanted to do something like Presents at the California schools, that would be a much better plan than a dated function. I know that even on our bid night, we bucked tradition (at the time) and held a party to which we could invite any friends/boyfriends, rather than a mixer as most groups did. Mixers put too much focus on men when the focus should be on sisters. There's plenty of time for men later.

Is Presents just a California thing? I never knew that! Is there some variation of it that other people do?