Formal Rush party ideas

[lyly2760]

I think I need to clarify my post a little. We are currently the only Local sorority at my school, so we don't ahve nationals to come in to help us. Our board which sort of acts like nationals is very supportive os us, however they are at a loss for ideas as well. We just had our 73 birthday last week and I would love to see us make 100. Thanks for all of your help!

my original post was:

This year is my sorority's second year participating in formal rush on our campus. we are numbers are hurting. I am looking for any helpfu hints or ideas for rush parties, especially your feedback on skits (we are horrible at these, but really good at creating songs), and themes.We especially need ideas about how to get girls to come to the house for COB, since traditionally this is where we recruit most of our girls. because our numers are so low, this turns most of the rushees towards the other houses and we just can't compete, so any advice will be helpful. Thanks!

[aephi alum]

A suggestion: If your Panhel will allow, try having only COB rush for a year or two. Have an info table during formal rush, or participate in the first round of parties and then drop out. Then, have your first COB rush immediately after formal rush ends. Get the no-bid list from Panhel and invite those women to informal rush. You may pick up people who went through formal rush and became interested in being in a sorority but didn't like what they saw during formal rush, or who didn't match for some reason, etc.

My sorority was in the same situation - 4 sororities at about 80 sisters each returning for rush, and us with about 10. PNMs wondered what was wrong with us that we were so much smaller. We did a LOT of COB rush to get our numbers up, and while my chapter is still about half the size of the other chapters at my school, they compete on a relatively even basis now.

One thing we did, was that we asked all freshmen and sophomores in the sorority to invite one unaffiliated freshman/sophomore (roommate, etc) to each COB event. Even if they thought they wouldn't be interested... we've changed a few minds in that regard