Frustrated with attendence to socials

jessicapbp · #1 10-06-2002, 11:43 AM

okay, so I need some help with ideas about how to get my sisters excited to attend socials. We are a social sorority but everyone seems to think that they are so busy with other stuff that it doesn't matter if they attend socials. At times we have had more pledges attend socials than sisters. I have tried some ideas to get girls excited but I was wondering if any other chapters have had this problem and what was done to solve it. Thanks for your help

HotDamnImAPhiMu · #2 10-06-2002, 12:21 PM

First off, at your next meeting bring this up. Let the girls know it's important, WHY it's important, and that you expect them to be there. They may not realize how few girls are showing up.

Get a new social chair. Start spearheading all kinds of stuff -- different things, too. There're probably some fantastic ideas for mixers in a thread somewhere. Having a variety of events means that everyone's going to have something they absolutely love -- after all, the girl that loves powder puff might not be into getting dressed up for semi-formal.

Consider doing some sisters-only stuff, to renew your bond -- let the girls remember WHY they chose your org. and why it's so great to be in it!

good luck, girly. I'll keep your chapter in my thoughts!
~ Jacquelyn.

sororitygirl2 · #3 10-07-2002, 06:02 PM

Some tips:

First, let them know about events WELL IN ADVANCE. I loved social events, but I usually wouldn't show up if I found out about them at the last minute because I usually already had other plans.

Do something TOTALLY different from what you have ever done before so that girls will be excited. Maybe a 80s-themed roller skating party or something. People aren't excited to go to a party that is exactly the same as the one they had the week before, the week before and the week before, etc...

Publicize your events to the chapter. Do little skits in your meetings... hang posters all over the house... send the girls invitations... call them to remind them...

Let the girls help plan the socials. I am sure you probably have a committee, but open some decisions to the entire chapter. In chapter meetings, pass around a clipboard where they can write down their favorite themes then vote between the top five or so. If you are going to have a DJ, pass one around where they can write their favorite songs. Ask them what fraternities they want to have the event with.

Also, don't let them help plan everything... keep some things a secret. For instance, plan a super formal but don't tell them where it is... tell them they have to meet at the house and arrange for limos or something to take them there. Their interest will be piqued enough that they will probably want to come.

axotiger · #4 10-16-2002, 12:07 PM

We have this problem somewhat too. I mean we have 150+ girls, and if a few aren't there.. big deal you don't notice.. but when half don't show. it just looks bad.

we have a point system (as im sure most do) and you cant do stuff if you dont get your points for the week/month etc. You get like 20 pts for chapter, and other ALPHA CHI things, and 5 pts for mixer, Bible study, Greek week... whatever. and then there's a sign up sheet there.

I don't like this cause I want everyone to WANT to go, not be forced to go. But you do what ya gotta do.

Personally I'd go to a mixer every night if i could.. teehee

33girl · #5 10-16-2002, 01:37 PM

Tell the sisters that if they are not planning to attend the social, they shouldn't vote in favor of it. Sometimes people figure "well I can't go, but I don't want to deny anyone else." Then 3/4 of the chapter does that - and only a few sisters show up at the social. It's better not to have the event at all than to embarrass yourselves in front of the fraternity (who tells the rest of the Greek community) by having one that is so poorly attended.

UofIL AXO · #6 10-16-2002, 03:01 PM

We have a "red" and a "green" list for all events that have had lower participation in the past (usually for philanthropy or all-campus events). We assign one list to the event and if they can't go they have to find a "green" member in their place. This way we can ensure atleast 75 people at each event.

axotiger · #7 10-17-2002, 09:23 AM

Hey, we do that too! Like Greek Week, and stuff... sometimes we split into 3 groups for stuff that last all week or somthing.

KappaTarzan · #8 10-26-2002, 01:30 PM

we make our social events mandatory on thursday when we have socials or rush parties with the fraternities.. then make requirements for the number of events each sister must attend. we also use the point system. it works out, because we have a really high committment level

sunshine98 · #9 10-28-2002, 06:52 PM

Create sub-committees to have the sisters help you to rally in the other girls. You should not be the only one solely in charge of this. If more people are tied into planning and carrying through the socials then, more people will feel responsible for being at the events.

swede · #10 12-12-2002, 12:06 AM

I started laughing when I was reading this. Not that your situation was funny or is not serious or anything. Just that you are having problems getting your members to attend social functions.

I think that most fraternity members here would agree with me that it is just the opposite for us. We get pissed when a bro will show up to a party, but he never seems to make it to chapter meetings, rituals, that intramural softball game or what have you.

It seems like for us, there are quite a few brothers who only will show up for parties and that is pretty much it.

But as far as ideas to help you out in getting your members more involved. Maybe have those members who never show up run a social for themselves. After they see all the hard work (or maybe not so hard) that goes into planning a event, setting up, making sure everything is going ok, and cleaning up; maybe then they will have more respect for the people who are organizing things and actually show up.

White_Chocolate · #11 12-12-2002, 12:54 PM

gosh, isn't it funny? our girls are the same way. we're kind of torn between TKE and PIKE. a slew of us will attend a PIKE social but only about 4 will come to a TKE social. And that's bad.
i try to encourage them through pics. we're building another website. . .and it's going to be pics from parties that we've been to. no big deal, right? wrong. girls get pissed when they keep seeing the same girls on the site over and over and they are nowhere to be found. you'd be surprised at how many girls will start attending a social, mixer, etc just to get their face plastered on a website.

crystalline · #12 12-14-2002, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by White_Chocolate
girls get pissed when they keep seeing the same girls on the site over and over and they are nowhere to be found. you'd be surprised at how many girls will start attending a social, mixer, etc just to get their face plastered on a website.

Appealing to a person's vanity usually does do the trick!