Fraternity Dad's day

LambdaChindaGuy · #1 07-23-2012, 01:46 AM

I know a lot of your chapters already do this so i figured this would be a good place to get ideas for an annual dad's day in my chapter. We have never done it before but want to start involving our parents a little bit so we can get their support (since parents have common misconceptions about greek life...sort of haha) I have the date set to correspond with family weekend at my university, and there will be a huge football game at 7pm, but this means i need to fill the day from about 1pm up with stuff to do. I planned on having a BBQ/tailgate from 4pm up until the game, but i could use help with ideas on things to do from 1pm to 4pm and also some ideas for actual activities during the tailgate.

FSUZeta · #2 07-23-2012, 11:04 AM

Would there be time to have a mini golf tournament before the tailgate? Is there a museum on campus or nearby where you could arrange a tour and a box lunch-perhaps securing a bus to transport the folks to the museum? What about a tour of the house(if you have one)?

Does your chapter have a parents club or a mom's club? Are you all thinking of forming one? If so, the chapter could host a continental breakfast-doughnuts, sweet rolls, bagels, cream cheese, fruit salad, OJ, coffee and tea and let the parents get the organization up and running.

DeltaBetaBaby · #3 07-23-2012, 11:14 AM

What is the living situation in your chapter? If you have a chapter house, I suggest having a sort of open house, along with formal house tours, and even make it a little like rush, i.e. you stop by the trophy case to talk about intermurals, you put up pictures of guys doing philanthropy and talk about that, etc. Ideally, you have some alum advisors or house corp. members there as well, to whom you introduce the parents.

LambdaChindaGuy · #4 07-23-2012, 03:44 PM

Thanks for the input, we actually dont have a greek row at ODU seeing as how our school hates greek life. But we havent really let that slow us down. We dont have an official house to tour, but i was thinking of making an intro video and having some alumni and officers speak in it.

Also no we dont have a parents club. What is that?

Please keep the idea's coming thanks

FSUZeta · #5 07-23-2012, 04:33 PM

A parents club supports the chapter. The parents might make snack bags for finals week-they might make food for rush events. They might help you raise money for your philanthropy. Some parents clubs support chapters with houses by purchasing items the chapter needs- a nice tv, audio equipment, a deck on the back of the house, etc. They basically just support the chapter as much as they can.

You could check with your Fraternity's headquarters to see if they have any chapters that have parents clubs, and if so, if they have any guidelines or literature that would help you all set up one-if that is something that your chapter would like to do.

LambdaChindaGuy · #6 07-26-2012, 04:48 PM

Thats definitely a possibility. Although I could see that working better with a sorority then a fraternity. Especially one up north where we are for the most part 1st generation greeks. i will definitely look into it though.

SydneyK · #7 07-26-2012, 05:51 PM

How much outdoor space do you have? How many dads will be attending?
Since the event coincides with the university's Family Day, you'll want to make sure you include activities for the moms, too.

Does your chapter have any cornhole sets? If so, set those out for people to play. If not, maybe you could get the materials now, and prepare everything so that on Family Day, the families/brothers could assemble/paint them. (Provide old shirts to protect from paint mishaps.)

Can you incorporate your philanthropy at all? Maybe have a mini food drive where the families bring something to donate. Or have a food drive prior to Family Day and have the dads help box it up or something?

Maybe a 5k run/walk for those active parents. Some kind of physical activity would probably be welcomed considering they'll be spending a few hours eating/tailgating followed by a few hours of sitting/standing at the game.

Have someone taking pictures of the families there, and after the weekend, send out a note thanking them for attending. Include the pics in the email (or set up an online photo album if that's easier).