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Originally posted by aephi alum
I have to agree with what others have said... this is a very dangerous idea. With this approach, you may get a lot of warm dues-paying bodies, but they could be anyone... people who can't make grades, people who get drunk every Thursday and stay that way until Monday, the campus ho, or a group of people who don't fit in well with the sisters and don't uphold the sorority's ideals. Plus, you come across as desperate and willing to take anybody. In the case that KLPDaisy described, it looks like that didn't happen... if so, that chapter is very lucky.
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This can work if you know the pool of women that you're working with (meaning they aren't heinous) and if your chapter needs a revitalization (new ideas, new energy, etc.). There are times where you can get 10-20 women in a group that can help make some decisions for the group and turn it around...but you have to know who you're throwing those bids out to (don't do it blindly). It really depends on the campus as well...while this isn't always a stellar idea and isn't an idea that should be repeated (meaning do it once and don't do it again for many years so that you don't become THAT sorority), if planned and calculated right, it could work. DON'T do it without some thought (and the cajones to live with the consequences!). Be very cautious with this one, and discuss it with your National Staff...they may not like it too well.
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I also agree that holding rush events with fraternities is a bad idea. You might find your PNMs (and your sisters!) treating it more like a mixer rather than a rush event. Plus I think there may be NPC unanimous agreements about that... certainly no men are allowed at formal recruitment,
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Men are not allowed to participate in any sort of recruitment event....however, who says that you have to have a "recruitment event" in order to recruit? If you're doing a philanthropy with a fraternity, invite some unafilliated women along so they can see that side of sorority life. (Invite women that some members know, don't just put out an open invitation on campus...that makes it look more like a recruitment event). If you're having a TAME mixer (don't get wild with it!), invite a few girls that you are just about ready to give bids to, as long as the fraternity is OK with it. Are you having a paper (informal) meeting one night with an educational presentation afterwards? Bring a couple of PNMs (once again, ones that several people know so they don't feel so out of place) to show them the personal development style of sorority. Just make sure that they aren't going to hear things non-members shouldn't hear...planning ahead is key.
My chapter used to kill two birds with one stone...they would do a philanthropy event with a fraternity in the afternoon/early evening, then have a mixer to celebrate that night. It cut down on overprogramming, gave a better image than "we just party with fraternities", and allowed the members to build deeper friendships with the guys (instead of just the "party" type of relationships). PNMs could attend those as well.
The thing to do here is think outside the box. Look at what other groups are doing, what's working, what's not, and try some new ideas. Sometimes if you quit advertising on campus and get a little bit "mysterious" about your "selection process", it piques some interest...a little buzz on campus if you will. Once again, it depends on the campus culture you're dealing with, so brainstorm some ideas.
Good Luck and keep us updated!
PsychTau
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