Does your chapter need help with recruitment?

[Kevin]

http://www.sigmanufraternity.org/rec...tmentvisit.php

If so, please visit this link.

[banditone]

Here are some suggestions I was thinking about recently. Most are probably known and used by many chapters, but maybe not. I'll add new ones if I can think of them.

* Rush Chair: Depending on chapter size, I'd suggest at least 2 Rush Chairs (one as the main). We had a Tulsa and an Okla City chair (since both cities sent the most kids). The Rush "Team" consisted of 10 members to help out (of course the rest of the brothers would chip in when asked).

* Summertime: We had a "Rush Apartment" or a "Rush House" in our campus city during the Summer. The chapter house was closed except for end of Summer parties. So we'd meet at the Summer place. One Summer we had about 6 brothers go in on a Rush House (lease) with a pool. It was a deal closer. I only went back to my hometown for 1 Summer. The other Summers I lived/worked in my campus town to be near the rest of the chapter and help with Rush.

* Utilize technology over the Summer. Definitely look into Vonage for your Rush chairs places. Since they do a TON of calling, why not spend $25/month on Vonage (unlimited local and long distance).

* Can't stress this enough: Contact chapters that you are near. Get to know their officers. Help one another out. Sigma Nu is a very strong national fraternity, and should work together to bring everyone to the top of their campus.

* Alumni!!! You probably have Alumni that can help you in every aspect of Rush. Build up communications. Find the lost brothers. Reach out. The strongest chapters have incredible Alumni Relations.

* If you are going to do something, make it the best. Rush Videos, postcards. Don't half-ass anything. That's for other fraternities.

[TrevorG]

On the subject of Rush videos, when exactly do you use them? Is it something to play in the background during a rush event?

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by TrevorG

On the subject of Rush videos, when exactly do you use them? Is it something to play in the background during a rush event?

For us (and I don't know if we still do this), some older alums chipped in and had videos produced. They were passed out to incoming freshmen on those mini-cd business card things.

[banditone]

Originally Posted by TrevorG

On the subject of Rush videos, when exactly do you use them? Is it something to play in the background during a rush event?

We used the video during formal Rush. When the rush group came in, some chit chat, food and drink, then we played it on the bigscreen.

[ARSigmaNu]

We also use ours during formal rush, there are like 3 sessions that the rushees have to come to and each fraternity does a little schpill. I like it because we never have to say any of the "yeah, we're great, we get all the girls and party, yeah..." We just talk about our awards, how are GPA is always the best, then play the video which shows how much fun we have too.

They are also good for just running on a loop on the TV during rush parties or really just whenever. We always at least have a DVD of pictures running in the background.

[TrevorG]

We don't have formal rush groups at my school. During Rush Week we have two days designated as smoker days, where all the chapters try to do something cool on their front lawn (car smash, BBQ, basketball, ect) and freshmen wander around on their own accord. They aren't required to visit every house. The only rules are really no alcohol, and the rushees cannot be around brothers in between the period that the last smoker ends and bid signing the next day.

Strangely, the Sororities have extremely strict rush rules. Girls aren't allowed to bring potential rushees up to their house. They aren't allowed to have more then three sisters talking to a potential rushee at one time (hotboxing). Rushees are all put into formal groups and led to each house.