A chapter recruitment story.

[33girl]

^^^Concur completely. The best COB "events" are, like Seinfeld, about nothing. Don't try to think up themes and decorations and all that, the effect is just of having constant formal rush which drains the members and results in a very visible "FML" thought balloon over their heads. Just get to know unaffiliated women in ordinary, everyday settings, like class or extracurriculars or fraternity parties. When you have enough of them, have a party and invite them so the rest of the sisters can meet them.

Also, whatever you do, no matter how much your national might push it, do NOT have COB parties with open invites. No chalking, flyers or facebook/twittter posts. The effect is exactly what everyone is saying - that you will take anyone. No one should be at these parties who doesn't have a prior personal connection to at least one sister.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Also, whatever you do, no matter how much your national might push it, do NOT have COB parties with open invites. No chalking, flyers or facebook/twittter posts. The effect is exactly what everyone is saying - that you will take anyone. No one should be at these parties who doesn't have a prior personal connection to at least one sister.

Well, at some schools, there is middle ground: women contact the GL office, and their info is forwarded along to chapters.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

Well, at some schools, there is middle ground: women contact the GL office, and their info is forwarded along to chapters.

If that is the case, I honestly think that a sister (perhaps one who has something in common with her like hometown, major, dorm, etc etc) should reach out as an individual to the woman before the party, rather than just having her show up and be a random person who knows no one.

[Larkspur12]

Originally Posted by 33girl

If that is the case, I honestly think that a sister (perhaps one who has something in common with her like hometown, major, dorm, etc etc) should reach out as an individual to the woman before the party, rather than just having her show up and be a random person who knows no one.

My chapter does this for all COB events -- each invited woman is contacted by a member (someone she knows, if possible, but someone new is fine too) beforehand. We have them walk to the house/event location together, too -- that way the intimidation factor of showing up alone and not knowing what to do or who to talk to isn't an issue.