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We don't have Mother/Daughter or Daddy/Daughter weekends, so that's something our chapter does a little differently than y'all's. We actually have two Parents' Weekends...one in the fall (during football season) and one in the spring. The one in the spring is my favorite, and we have a number of activities for parents. This year we're adding a few more as well.
Friday night we're having an informal dinner with our families at a local restaurant, since some parents may still be en route to campus. Saturday morning we have an Open House on the hall (we don't have Greek housing) with breakfast and a tour - gives new members families a chance to see where they'll be living next fall.
That afternoon we take our parents to the Orange and White football game, a spring scrimmage/exposition game. Then in the evening we have a barbeque outdoors at a nice restaurant and then a band. Parents love dancing, so we have a shag (our state dance - very beach music) band for them that plays some favorites we can all enjoy. Last year we had a great band and the parents were dancing ALL night (my non-night owl parents were on the dance floor until midnight!). I think the Flash (photography) people are there at the barbeque (and at the breakfast the next morning) and we get TONS of cute shots!!
The next morning is everyone's favorite. We have a Senior Recognition banquet - a huge breakfast buffet for everyone, with a brochure we hand out to parents highlighting the big achievements of our year so far. Then Dean's and President's list sisters are honored, mothers get their Mother's Pins, and *then* the real fun starts. Each senior submits a baby picture, and we put it up in a slide show. As each picture is shown, the sister and her father walk to the front, and the father reads her a letter about how much she means and all of the meaningful memories they've shared. Never a dry eye! The pictures are hilarious and the letters give dads a chance to share their feelings (something that rarely happens in public!). It's great all around, and all of the letters are bound and given to seniors as a keepsake.
This year we're thinking of adding a golf morning for fathers on Saturday, and a discount at the local Greek Gallery so moms and daughters can shop while the dads are off golfing. We also hope to have a philanthropy afternoon to highlight our service and raise money for it. That may be included in our fall Parent's Weekend, though, where we tailgate before the Homecoming game. That way, parents could participate in our philanthropy before our big event takes place in early spring. We're also hoping to begin a Mother's/Parent's Club this spring!
I'd love any feedback y'all may have about any of this, ideas, what's worked for you, etc. Good luck with yours, ashmi!
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