Rush at UCSC - Page 18

mmcat · #**256** 12-23-2001, 12:03 AM

merry christmas...
you are doing an amazing job
mmcat

wishinhopin · #**257** 12-23-2001, 08:06 AM

Hello all,

I honestly did not ever realize that this would be so much work. I truly realize now how much easier it is to follow in the footsteps of others rather than try to forge your own path. I've been doing alot of thinking about this whole situation, and I'm realizing just how much work I have cut out for me. The fact is, I need more women to be able to have a strong base to appeal to NPC. To get more women, we need to hold a rush. To hold a rush, it seems, we need to have money, and money is what none of us have right now. I would feel awful if I got a bunch of pnm's and then couldn't give them tshirts and bumper stickers and all the fun stuff associated with the beginning of going greek. Thus, I've been working my butt off trying to find ways I can make customized stuff for cheap. Luckily, my co-founder Wendy has a brother in law who is a carpenter, and he's going to help us out alot with paddles and letters and so on. I'm also looking into to finding some cheap silk screening and/or iron on letters so we can make some cute t shirts. Some stuff, such as picture frames and mugs, etc, seem like they should be pretty simple to do it yourself, but things like bumper stickers, license plate frames, and other fun stuff aren't that easy to come by. On top of all this is the fact that I don't even know what to do once we have women involved. I figured the first night we could have an informational meeting, letting everyone know what our deal is, etc etc. And then the second night I wanted to do something charitable- Gamma Phi doesn't do this with their rush and it was disapointing to me, because giving back to the community is one of the best things about going Greek in my opinion. The clothing exchange seems like a fun idea, but in case that doesn't work out, I'm trying to think of something else also. And then for a third night I thought maybe we could have sort of an ice cream social or something kindof laid back, just some fun stuff to make sure everyone can get to know eachother, etc. But then after that, what do I know about initiations and ceremonies all that? The only examples I have to follow are from really cheesy movies of the week that all inevitably have girls signing their names in blood and being hazed beyond all belief, which is obviously not what I want to do. But I honestly have no idea what to do. I want it to be special, but how do I make it work? And even though there is so much that I can make by myself or do to cut costs, the bottom line is that we have like zero funds to start with and so how in the world can we afford any of this? I'm scrimping and saving my projected Christmas money already and I'm still concerned. Is taking out a loan a common practice in this sort of situation? And what kind of pledge fees or whatever do we charge these girls? What is that money even supposed to cover? Aaaaagh so many questions. Thanks for listening, this kind of venting sort of helps me get my thoughts in order, although right now I don't feel like I really have things under control! It's nice to know at least that I'm not in this alone.

mmcat · #**258** 12-23-2001, 08:16 AM

no. 1 don't worry...you are brand new and those walking in the door have to have a notion of that. chocolate covered strawberries come later.
no 2 go shopping a bit and get some prices. fairly simple t-shirts can be had for a decent price. i know they aren't a-line, but again you are starting.
no. 3 be honest with those who you talk with. let them know they are starting a great adventure that for a while might include champagne living on a beer budget.
hang in there and don't scare yourself.
happy holidays
mmcat

AggieDZ · #**259** 12-23-2001, 08:37 PM

LONG POST AHEAD!!!

As far as rush on a budget goes..... Remember that you aren't COMPETING with anyone really. The whole "rush" idea is that it really is MUTUAL selection. The girls who choose your org. will do so because they love it as much as you do! Just continue to be honest and let everyone know that while it will require a lot of effort on their part, getting the whole thing going is SUCH a benefit because they will get to make the organization what THEY want it to be. The girls who see this, and choose your org. will know this. Knowing this, they will be just as excited and motivated as you are!

Let them be! It's understandable that you are worried and may feel like it's all up to you. But, that's just the beginning. If all goes well, the org. will take on a life of it's own and you won't have sole direction "of your baby" anymore. To try to save yourself some of the "empty nest" syndrome, remind yourself of this often, and DELEGATE, DELEGATE, DELEGATE. You're already doing SO well by polling for opinions and ideas here on greekchat! That's aiming in the right direction. Keep it up.

OK for rush..... I have some friends who are involved in a fairly new "christian-based" social sorority (this always makes me laugh, cause most social sororities have a lot of religious foundation....oh, well!). It's a smaller org (abt.100 girls total), so they have a smaller budget, and they don't have a house etc.... What they do for rush is this: First, they wait a few (like 2) weeks into the school semeseter to hold their rush. That way, girls have had a chance to look into other orgs and get settled. They hold 4 days of "rush" and then a bid party. The first two days are informationals. They the same "program" on both days and it's not mandatory to go to both. They just do two in case some rushees can't make it to the first. They used a larger sized room in the Memorial Student Center and just had a lot of chairs set up like for a meeting. This day, the chapter girls wear church-type attire and had nametags made out of a little ceramic figure of their sorority's mascot that had their name on it.(these were SO cute and my friend says that's what stood out the most to her) Each rushee signed in and was assigned to a "rush buddy" who was an active sister. Often an active sister was assigned to two or more rushees. This is a great way to give the rushee a familiar face to look for each day and makes it easier than just trying to walk up to someone randomly. Anyway for the program, they opened with a prayer and then just some history abt. the sorority. When it was founded (10 years ago) how it's grown, how many sisters there are now, what their phil. is, what kinds of activities they participate in etc. They showed a video made from pictures set to music. They had tables set up with sorority paraphernalia(sp?) like stuffed animal mascots, photo albums, etc. so that gave the room all the decoration it needed. During the program each rushee filled out an info sheet/application and the questions on it are the normal name, major, age, and then they also ask cool questions like, what's something special about you that you think we should know? Special talents, achievements? What do you hope to bring to/ gain from the sorority experience? At the end, they gave everyone time just to mingle and ask questions, and before leaving each rushee had her picture taken with one of those little disposable cameras (the kind that makes little stickers) and the picture is added to their info sheet so that the sisters can go through all the info later.
*If you wanted to do a "video" abt. your sorority, then here's an idea for an informal one: Get someone to video tape you and the other founders interview/documentary style answering questions like "what made you want to start a new sorority?" "what's your vision for this organization" "what do you think sisterhood means?" etc.... Now, from what we know that you think about this subject, I know that this kind of thing would be just SO emotional and SO amazing!!!! I think it's a winner. You can take it to one of those video editing shops or the schools communications dept. and edit it yourself and add music if you like for fairly cheap.

Day 3: They did a bible study, but this would be a great time for you to do philanthropy. As far as choosing what you want to do for your org's phil, my advice is to not limit yourself to one thing. You can choose a few things to do locally, and then also have a large, maybe nationally-based phil to work with as your big project. (can you tell I love phil!) If you found a certain philanthropy that you wanted to work with that was a larger group, a lot of times, they will have videos too that show what they are all about. Maybe, you could show one of those.

Day 4. This was their equiv. of a pref. night. It was also held in the Student Center, but in a nicer/smaller room with wood paneling and the lights lowered. The theme was a coffee night. They had tables set up and each girl and her rushee sat with like 4 other pairs. The tables were covered in white butcher paper and the table dec.s were colored crayons (for reasons to be explained later) and their flower and coffee beans were strewn around the middle of the table amidst little tealights. It looks great! They served coffee and tea and little cheesecake squares. (once again, you'd be surprised how cheaply this can be done!) Then, the rush chair had a bunch of coffee-related trivia (she just got on the internet and looked up cool/crazy facts) and asked questions. The rushees were all asked to write down their answers on the table covering with the crayons in front of them. Then the last questions she asked were personal ones like "how did you meet your first love?" and "what's your most embarassing school-related moment?" Then she gives time for the rushees to share the answers to the last two questions with the girls at their table. Then, the rush chair announces the answers to the trivia questions and a prize (small trinket, donated) is given to the girls who answer the most ?'s and then each table shares their funniest story. More time to mingle and ask any last questions then the rushees are told to go home and that they will be notified by midnight that evening if they recieved a bid. The sisters go through voting and then split into teams of two to take the actual bid invitation to the new-member's houses (they got their addresses from the info sheet first night) that night. It makes it really special when they go to your door and invite the girls in person. Lots of screaming and hugs etc....

Their bid party was at a local country club. Early evening, light refreshments. just a celebration.

When a new sorority colonizes here, they do a separate process. Usually just two/three days. First day informational. Then after that, a skit day/meet the sisters day (this is the girls from surrounding chapters who come to help colonize) then an interview day (conducted by nationals rep's) They ask usual, standard questions like "why do you want to join a sorority" "why xyz" "what activities are you involved in?" etc. Then girls pick up their bids (and further instructions, like meet monday at 6 in the MSC) from the greek life office the next morning. For this all girls get an envelope with a card in it (so it doesn't immediately give girls away if they don't get a bid, saves embarassment) there is either an invitation to join inside or a polite regret.

For refreshments and decorations, see what you can get local businesses/restauraunts/grocery stores. You'd really be surprised what you can get for free if you just ask. For the businesses, it's great advertising, and there's always the possibility that you can throw business at them at a later date (have a date party at the restauraunt, or do a phil. for them etc.)
If there is a local party or greek store, go ask them if they can donate some items in your org's colors/mascot to use as "demo"s (you could even return them after rush is done if they won't donate outright). They will be thrilled that you're bringing another org. for them to sell items to it's members. You're bringing them more business.

For ALL of this..... Get creative!! It doesn't need to rival the Debutante Ball to be pretty and exciting. Remember, it's what's in your heart that will really shine through!!! Keep that as your guiding light and you will EXCELL!

Love and Gig 'Em, (that's Aggie for good luck!)
AggieDZ

***check your PM

MoxieGrrl · #**260** 12-23-2001, 11:20 PM

You are doing a wonderful job!! I can't wait to see what happens at the beginning of the semester! Don't forget to take a little bit of break time for yourself this holiday...and I bet I can guess what your New Year's Resolution will be

Maybe for t-shirts, you can buy a bunch in bulk...just solid colored ones. Make up a cute design online and print it out onto transfer paper. Iron on the design and voila! Instant, cheap t's!

wishinhopin · #**261** 12-25-2001, 04:49 AM

Happy Holidays everyone, thank you so much for your continued help and support!!
love, Corina

justamom · #**262** 12-26-2001, 08:15 AM

This may not be the right time as I really am not familiar with this process, but are there any alums in your area of the org you are affiliating with? They may be willing to contribute money, ideas, or just extra hands to get this project on the fast track. Or, do you have to wait till you get to a different level of the founding process?

BrownEyedGirl · #**263** 12-26-2001, 10:35 AM

Corina,
Keep your chin up! There's a lot of work ahead but the rewards will be so much bigger!! AggieDZ's advice was absolutely great, I'd echo everything she wrote. Just keep your eye on the goal (an established sisterhood!!) and your heart as your number one priority. Try not to stress too much and remember - we're always here if you want to talk!

CutiePie2000 · #**264** 12-26-2001, 10:15 PM

Hi Corina,
Here is something that you can do.

A Coloring Book for Visually Impaired Children

-Get a kids coloring book (where the drawings are not too complicated).
-Photocopy some pages (enough for all your rushees to be able to do at least one)
- Buy some "puffy" paint (kind of like tshirt paint, where it has a raised texture? Buy maybe 4 bottles or so)
- Rushees take the puffy paint and apply it only to the lines of the drawings. (Visually impaired children will be able to "feel" and color within the lines)
-When the lines are dried, then take all the pages and combine it into a book (maybe 3 hole-punch the the pages and place them in a duotang?)
-PRESTO! You have a coloring book for Visually Impaired Children that you can drop off at one of the Charities for the Blind

It is easy and kind of fun too. Delta Gamma did this as one of our rush activities and it was well received.

A Cheap Way to Get some Yummy Refreshments
- See if there are any community colleges or vocational institutes in your area with a chef/cake maker's diploma program, etc.

Often times, they will sell their baked goods which their students have made for quite a reasonable price (usually just to cover the price of ingredients, as their labor is free). If you explain to the Head of their Faculty of Food Preparation (not sure what the name would be) or what have that you are trying to get a sorority going and you need some goodies for cheap (or better yet, FREE!), you might hit the jackpot! It is worth a shot! Smile sweetly and ask away! (My Mom got one of my sister's WEDDING CAKES made this way...cheap cheap cheap! and it was tasty, too!)

wishinhopin · #**265** 01-03-2002, 05:09 AM

Hey y'all,

Just returned home from a grueling road trip with my dad and sister through (among other places) AZ, NM, TX, GA, LA, SC, etc etc etc etc. Anyway, I think I have greek on the mind permanently because when we passed by U of Alabama (is that what it's called? it's much too late and I'm much too tired to think) and LSU all I could think was "wow, those are some really competitive greek schools". Anyway. I'm back at school. I'm tired out of my mind and I have a billion and one things to do tomorrow, but one bit of info: I ordered twenty five rush t shirts for our local when I was at home. I'm hoping that the other girls can chip in some money or maybe we can make it up in rush dues, but if not I'm willing to take a 250 buck loss. Anyway, they're super cute, black t's with pink sparkly writing that has Nu Beta Omicron on it. I got them at a store called Tulips in San Diego, they cater alot to SDSU and I was completely impressed with their ideas and options. I'm definitely plugging them here. Anyway, more details tomorrow, I have all kinds of plans, thanks for the advice!!
love, Corina

dzrose93 · #**266** 01-04-2002, 12:55 PM

Corina,

Those rush shirts sound super-cute! And for $250! That's a really, really good deal! Keep us updated!

wishinhopin · #**267** 01-04-2002, 09:25 PM

frustrated!!!!!! ok, so here's the deal. last night the girls came over and we had a talk about rush and what would be going on and what we needed to do, etc. i was super tired and thus somewhat easily distracted, but i participated as much as i could. then, this morning, i visited one of them, and she was like, we're not having rush til spring. which irritated me because no one asked me at all what i wanted to do there. maybe it is a good idea to wait til spring, but it was frustrating to me because i was all excited and motivated and then they just made this decision without me. so im a little on edge right now. plus i have no money and im freaking out about that. i was so happy about finally getting things underway, and now apparently we can't yet. i would have liked to just all sit down and discuss the reasons why instead of being told that my plans were being changed and i just had to go along with it. im probably just being to sensitive, im just really disapointed. any thoughts?

bruinaphi · #**268** 01-04-2002, 09:27 PM

how many of you met?

wishinhopin · #**269** 01-04-2002, 09:49 PM

just the 4 of us who are like the core founders....everyone else seems to have backed out left and right, thus why I feel like we really need to rush to get our numbers up for when nationals contact us. im so confused and overwhelmed!

CutiePie2000 · #**270** 01-04-2002, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by wishinhopin
just the 4 of us who are like the core founders....everyone else seems to have backed out left and right, thus why I feel like we really need to rush to get our numbers up for when nationals contact us. im so confused and overwhelmed!

Don't despair! I am sure that when Nationals start talking about getting in touch with your group, other women will want to sign on, too. It sucks that you have to do a lot of the work and the others will merely want to skate in a benefit later, but keep on persevering! We know you can do this and we're all so proud of you!