Need rush events to increase numbers!

[cooper252525]

While increasing number is a must for my chapter in the upcoming year, I believe it is even more important to attract athletic and fratty type recruits in order to improve our image on campus. Anyone have any ideas? We usually do an IFC bbq, a smoker, skeet shoot, formal coffee with an alumni guest speaker, which are very generic events on campus. To top it off, we have an Around the World Party.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by cooper252525

While increasing number is a must for my chapter in the upcoming year, I believe it is even more important to attract athletic and fratty type recruits in order to improve our image on campus. Anyone have any ideas? We usually do an IFC bbq, a smoker, skeet shoot, formal coffee with an alumni guest speaker, which are very generic events on campus. To top it off, we have an Around the World Party.

Have an Ed Hardy shirt burning in the middle of campus. I'm actually quite serious about this.

[Gusteau]

33, that sounds like fun!

OK, seriously, stop thinking about events. Events are a waste of time and money and they are often unsuccessful - especially when you compare success to the amount of effort that went into planning the event.

Start with these articles, and then read the rest of the website. The idea is to meet as many people as possible, make friends with them, and then get them to join your fraternity. You separate the wheat from the chaff by having a set criteria of values you want to promote in your chapter.
http://www.phiredup.com/index.php?op...p=476&Itemid=2
http://www.phiredup.com/index.php?op...p=396&Itemid=2
http://www.phiredup.com/index.php?op...p=102&Itemid=2
http://www.phiredup.com/index.php?op...p=207&Itemid=2
http://www.phiredup.com/index.php?op...&p=80&Itemid=2
http://www.phiredup.com/index.php?op...&p=66&Itemid=2

I know that you're in the South, and many Southern fraternities don't like Phired Up, or think it will work on their campuses (I disagree, by the way), however if you want to improve your numbers and quality it is a surefire way to do it.

[SigmaTri_tz]

Try a well-publicized philanthropy event. It will raise awareness of your fraternity, allow you to invite and visit with potential brothers, and increase your overall reputation on campus, all while doing good for the world.

A very successfull event on my campus is an amateur boxing tournament. The supporting fraternity has consistently good rush numbers.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by SigmaTri_tz

A very successfull event on my campus is an amateur boxing tournament. The supporting fraternity has consistently good rush numbers.

Dudes with shirts off.
Dudes with shirts off.
Dudes with shirts off.

Just sayin' is all

[FleurGirl]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Dudes with shirts off.
Dudes with shirts off.
Dudes with shirts off.

Just sayin' is all

Somehow I feel like sponsoring a women's Jello wrestling tournament might get the fraternity even better results... (Kidding!)

[als463]

So...Maybe it's the recent NFL draft (which I equate to sorority recruitment for me) but, couldn't you and the brothers, during the spring semester, get a bunch of guys together---yes, I realize it's at the END of the semester but, just go with it---and watch the NFL draft together as friends/ just guys? I would think bonding over someone from your school or another local school that you love getting drafted would be really cool. Are there other sporting events like that? I mean, do they do that with basketball? I realize it would be the END of the semester but, it leaves the guys with a great impression of your fraternity for their return in the fall. I would think that might help. Thoughts?

[cooper252525]

first, howd u know im from the south? ha. And I've actually read the PhiredUp articles ha. Thanks yall. And Im already workin on a concert for Lou Gherig's Disease and have a pretty popular band from this area

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by cooper252525

first, howd u know im from the south? ha. And I've actually read the PhiredUp articles ha. Thanks yall. And Im already workin on a concert for Lou Gherig's Disease and have a pretty popular band from this area

You said you wanted to get more "fratty" guys. That was kind of a no brainer.

And...your first post asked if anyone was from Baylor!

[wolffootball37]

i think the most effective thing, rather then big events, are small get togethers where your pnm's will actually have a chance to meet and get to know people. Just go for pizza, a sports game, hang out playing video games. Little things to get to know different people. Usually with big parties you get allot of the rift raft that have no intention of joining a fraternity, they just want free booze.

[echilling]

Originally Posted by wolffootball37

i think the most effective thing, rather then big events, are small get togethers where your pnm's will actually have a chance to meet and get to know people. Just go for pizza, a sports game, hang out playing video games. Little things to get to know different people. Usually with big parties you get allot of the rift raft that have no intention of joining a fraternity, they just want free booze.

I concur!

[Elephant Walk]

Originally Posted by cooper252525

important to attract athletic and fratty type recruits

Opposing things.

Athletic =/= Fratty.

And I'm guessing Baylor Lambda Chi. Don't got a tier system there, so who knows. I know SAE had been doing alright there for awhile.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by Elephant Walk

Opposing things.

Athletic =/= Fratty.

Really?

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by Elephant Walk

Opposing things.

Athletic =/= Fratty.

And I'm guessing Baylor Lambda Chi. Don't got a tier system there, so who knows. I know SAE had been doing alright there for awhile.

Try again...he gave you a HUGE clue.

[ScarletBlueGold]

Try this.

I have been doing it for summer recruitment for weeks now, and it has been working great.

Contact some of the Orientation Leaders you know, and ask them for recommendations. Find one of the recommendations they gave you on Facebook and send a message that sounds something like this:

Hey. My name is John Smith. I'm a brother of the Alpha Beta Gamma Fraternity. We've been looking for excellent students for our Fall 2010 New Member Class. Sarah, Michael, and David from the Orientation Team gave you a really good recommendation, and told me that you would be a great fit for our chapter.

I would really like the opportunity to talk with you. Are you free for lunch any time in the next few weeks? (my treat)

I've done it with ten different people and have not gotten turned down a single time.

I think it is successful for four reasons.

1. Respect - It is a very powerful tool. Telling someone that you have singled them out for something because you think they're special is a very fast way into their heart. On top of that, by telling them that you think they're an amazing person, and that's why you think they'd be good for your Fraternity helps them understand how important your organization is to you.

2. Free Food - They're college-aged men. Some have done far worse than sit in on an awkward conversation for a free meal.

3. Openness and Directness - One of my biggest pet-peeves in the Greek Community is how some people seem to think you can get someone to join by "tricking" them into hanging out at a Fraternity event. I've seen some chapters go so far as to leave their Fraternity name off of an event flyer hoping it will get more people to come.

No. Stop. Never do that. People enjoy it when you're honest with them. If you REALLY want to avoid being treated like a "Frat Guy" stop acting like one. Don't invite them to get trashed, don't try to trick them into coming to your harmless info session, and don't play songs with subliminal messages during Freshman Move-in. Those parlor tricks don't work. Be open about what you want and assertive about why you want it.

4. They are Freshmen - These guys have just had their entire world uplifted. Gay or straight, popular or unpopular, jock or geek. They're lonely. They're worried about making friends. They want to try new things. Capitalize on the fact that they are college Freshmen.

That's my two-cents.