Help with Bid/Pledge Day!

[philambutk]

I'm one of the founding mothers of the University of Tennessee chapter of Sigma Phi Lambda, and we're starting to makes plans for our very first Rush week in the fall. Phi Lamb doesn't cut any PNM who meets our basic requirements (female Christian attending church and Bible study regularly), so I can't anticipate a number of pledges we will have.

We've basically got everything out except Pledge Day, which is the same as what PanHellenic sororities call Bid Day (since we give bids to basically everyone, we changed it to Pledge Day). What elements should we include so that girls used to the idea of the social sorority will feel comfortable with us? From pictures on Facebook, I've seen that it's usually a dressy event at a nice house with a garden, and the pledges get t-shirts and bags and other things like that. What goes on outside the scope of the pictures, though? (I know there may be secret aspects which you can't share. I'm not asking for specifics: just general ideas!)

Thanks so much!!

[DeliaLove]

Hello! Congrats on your chapter, I wish you all of the best! I'm a charter member of Sigma Phi Lambda so I can be the voice to say you will have girls come! The first year is always the most difficult and it is SO important to be able to get your name out there. Our chapter has been through 4 rushes and we now have around 70 girls! We usually do a very informal Pledge Day. It usually includes a formal invitation to pledge Phi Lamb with a flower that is delivered by one of our sisters. It also includes an invitation and directions to our "Welcome to the Family" party. We usually do a big BBQ at one of our member's household so that all of the pledges have the opportunity to meet all of the sisters. We do it on the saturday of rush week, and then we give them their personalized bags there and of course take lots of pictures! I know of another sorority that does do a formal dress up day with flowers and pictures however our BBQ fits us pretty well. We make it a wonderful all day event with a giant slip and slide and lots of food, fun and mingling! I hope that helps but let me know if you need any additional ideas. Good luck!

[alphasamm2007]

I dont know if youre done with rush also i do not if oyu have pledge moms [or whatever] But thats what we revolved our bidday around. We had a luau themed pary [dry of course] at a sisters house and then did a ruby round-up [rubys are our version of pledge moms] the girls got to run around looking for an active with a sign of the pledges name. The girls were really excited and it was something to keep there excitement up on one of the best days ever!
It was super fun
Our activity was pretty informal. We all wore matching shirts shirt for hte actuall bid process and then that night we wore whatever we pleased. The house was decorated in luau decor and signs with the girls names on them saying "ASA LOVES_________!!] With another large sign saying "Welcome to your new home baby alphas" on one wall.