COB strategy

[33girl]

Originally Posted by AXOrushadvisor

The Chapter that I advise at just went through COB for 14 women and we told every one of them that we had spots available to fill so they knew that we were looking for potential new members. I think the good thing about telling them up front is if they are not interested they will let you know and you wont waste your time.

But the point is they might BE interested once they get to know the sisters. Of course it all depends on the school. If it's one with a lot of Greek interest and a lot of great girls that for one reason or another just had an unsuccessful rush and would be great sisters, then yes, you can do the above.

But if the school is one where Greek life is NOT big and where outright saying "we have spots open to fill" can leave you open to any number of freakazoids or letter pimps walking through your door, then no, don't tell them right away. The girls who may be the best members may have been the ones most turned off by formal rush or the stereotypes, and if you straight up say "we're looking for members" not only might you lose a potential member, you also might lose a friend. ("Oh man...Jessie was only being nice to me to get me to join her stupid sorority. Screw her.")

We basically did what AOIIAngel outlined - got to know people by inviting them them to sit w/ us at lunch, hanging out with them in other contexts, maybe inviting them if we went to a campus theater production. We then had an open bid party so all the sisters and all the girls we'd been getting to know could meet each other at once. Then we voted on who to give bids to. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROCESS and you should be working on it all spring if your formal rush is in the fall, or vice versa, so that if your formal rush doesn't go well, you have those girls you've been cultivating to fill your pledge class. NO, everyone you meet will not be a fit, but if you confine yourself to formal rush only at a school like in my second example, your Greek system will eventually disappear up its own butthole.

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by 33girl

leave you open to any number of freakazoids or letter pimps walking through your door, then no, don't tell them right away.

I'm totes going to use this in real life. Love it.

[psusue]

Originally Posted by 33girl

But if the school is one where Greek life is NOT big and where outright saying "we have spots open to fill" can leave you open to any number of freakazoids or letter pimps walking through your door, then no, don't tell them right away. The girls who may be the best members may have been the ones most turned off by formal rush or the stereotypes, and if you straight up say "we're looking for members" not only might you lose a potential member, you also might lose a friend. ("Oh man...Jessie was only being nice to me to get me to join her stupid sorority. Screw her.")

We basically did what AOIIAngel outlined - got to know people by inviting them them to sit w/ us at lunch, hanging out with them in other contexts, maybe inviting them if we went to a campus theater production. We then had an open bid party so all the sisters and all the girls we'd been getting to know could meet each other at once. Then we voted on who to give bids to. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROCESS and you should be working on it all spring if your formal rush is in the fall, or vice versa, so that if your formal rush doesn't go well, you have those girls you've been cultivating to fill your pledge class. NO, everyone you meet will not be a fit, but if you confine yourself to formal rush only at a school like in my second example, your Greek system will eventually disappear up its own butthole.

So much win in these statements, especially what's bold. I think that you're completely correct in saying this and this has to be something my chapter has to tread lightly around as we are starting to really get into informal recruitment mode.