where are all the betas at?

JerzeeBoy26 · #1 02-28-2003, 10:18 PM

are myself and Betarulz the only two betas on here?! hell we are being outnumbered by kappa sigs and sigeps! (we dont like em much at my school)

ZZ-kai- · #2 03-01-2003, 01:36 AM

zz-kai- in this mother.

Quote:

Originally posted by JerzeeBoy26
are myself and Betarulz the only two betas on here?! hell we are being outnumbered by kappa sigs and sigeps! (we dont like em much at my school)

Coramoor · #3 03-01-2003, 02:11 PM

Beta Psi representin'.

BetaMike24 · #4 07-09-2003, 07:33 PM

Zeta Eta in the mix.

ZZ-kai- · #5 07-10-2003, 02:34 PM

BetaMike,

I met one of your bros. last year at the MOP. Big Chris, he was an intern and I was a facilitator. He is a cool kid...has a good head on his shoulders. Welcome to Greekchat, stick around, we need more "-kai-" in this place.

BetaMike24 · #6 07-10-2003, 06:36 PM

Hey ZZ-kai- that's cool! That's really funny cuz Kris is my Big Bro. He went Alum this last semester so I won't be seein' him that much anymore which sucks. If you're going to Convention he'll be there...hopefully I will be able to go too, but I have some financial problems i have to deal with first. One of our other brothers Jason Chorley is the intern this year so that'll be cool. Zeta Eta will be representin. Later bro.

ZZ-kai- · #7 07-11-2003, 08:36 AM

BetaMike,

I see myself as an 80 year old man, attending my 50th conventions. Unfortunately, this year will not be one of them. My vacation time is all booked up due to my wedding and honeymoon this Sept. Tell Kris that I say hello, he knows me. I am one of the Oshkosh Beta's....the big one. He'll know.

Stick around GC, we need more Beta's in here!

-kai-

CanadianBeta · #8 07-13-2003, 10:19 PM

Would just like to say hey from north of the border. Also, if you guys have any good ideas, or things you do for rush if youd let me know... We have a double cohort coming in this year, so any suggestions to make an even bigger rush would be appreciated. Thanks a lot,
yours in -kai-,
Tim

JerzeeBoy26 · #9 07-14-2003, 06:50 PM

great to see some new guys on here. I met a yale beta alum in nyc the other day and it was pretty cool. strange who you wind up sitting next to on a train sometimes. anyway, its been cool to see BetaRulz's rush thread. always good to see how a good chapter operates. our rush isnt nearly as precise or focused but then again, our process is 4 months long and we only have a week where we can give bids. anyhow, to our canadian bro, how does rush work at your school? I have some ideas but I'd like to know how it works so I can give helpful advice.

also, anyone going to convention? what awards is your chapter up for?

CanadianBeta · #10 07-14-2003, 07:55 PM

Hey,
Here at U of Toronto it starts in september and goes until about 6 mid-october when wed like to have all the guys we're going to pledge pinned so that we can finish the pledge process by the end of novemebr, beginning of december. Then we go on about the same time-frame for a spring rush as well.
Tim

ZZ-kai- · #11 07-15-2003, 11:57 AM

Sweet - Toronto, now THATS a chapter with some cool @ss history.

Anyway, here is how Oshkosh rushes. We have in the past (not so much the past few years) send out a mailing to all incoming male freshman with a scholarship application - if you have a 3.0 in high school, you may apply. From there, we analyze the applications and set up dates for interviews (usually the first week or two of school - during the rush period). From there, we involve all applicants in the rush process, as well as other people that did not apply. We take the top five candidates (best applicants AND guys most likely going to pledge) and award them the scholarship.

On top of R.T.S., we have about 2 weeks of events for rush: Poker night, sorority mixers, take them to dinner at local restaurants, laser tag night, bar-b-ques, info. night (with alumni guest speaker)...etc. On top of "organized" rush events, our brothers go "dorm storming" to get the rushees and take them to the cafeteria with them for lunch/dinner, study with them in the library...etc. They also go party hopping with them on the weekends....basically anything to get the 'personal' relationship with them going; getting to know them outside of the sometimes 'awkward' rush events.

After the rush period, we vote on bids and extend them on a certain date with the expectation of "if you accept, come to the semi-formal" social with ZTA/AXiD/Phi Mu/GPhiB or Tri-Sig....if you show up, you accept the bid to pledge Beta.

Pledge-in is the Sunday night following, and then begins our 8 week program.

PS, the actives (I'm an alum) have recently split the chapter (about 50 guys) into teams of 5, where they focus on certain individuals....at weekly meetings, they report back to the chapter and the rush chair how their rushees are coming along.

-kai-

Betarulz! · #12 07-15-2003, 05:49 PM

ZZ

I think that's a great way to rush guys! I particulalrly like the teams of 5 - totally a fantastic way to get the whole house involved in Rush. I think that would be one weakness we have here at Nebraska...we have weekly barbeques, but it's usually the same people every time from what I hear. And there is a lot of feeling throughout the chapter that the rush chairs should be the ones to meet with guys first - no one else. I think it would be worthwhile just to have anyone who is close-by give the kid a call. I also love the fact that you guys are making friends with the rushees and then signing them.

Anyways, I will say that all you guys must do a great job with rush, I can only imagine having to focus on that as well as everything else that is going on during the beginning of the Semester. At least with Summer rush we can focus only on that for 2 months straight.

JerzeeBoy26 · #13 07-15-2003, 07:22 PM

a little background...

For us, rush lasts from September through December. We are only allowed to give out bids to freshmen beginning the first week of January (the first week back from winter break) and they can only accept then or afterward. we can bid upperclassmen anytime during the year

it starts with.....

The rush chair mails out the RTS applications to all male incoming freshmen during the summer and they must complete them and mail them back to us or drop them off at the house by the end of freshman week. the rush committee (made of the rush chair, the recruitment events chair and four other brothers who are chosen/volunteer) choses the best applicants who are then brought in for 2 rounds of interviews. it is sort of like a job interview - everyone in suits with resumes in hand. there is no set number - last year we recieved over 80 apps and had 30 finalists. after the each 10-15 minute interview, the applicant is rated on a 10 point scale by each of the 2 brothers who met him (grades, athletics, other notable achievements and potential "fit" with the chapter are the primary criteria). each finalist meets a total of 4 brothers as well as the rush chair and recruitment events chair. those who recieve a combined average ranking of 7 and above are invited to a date party the following week. some have already been to the party we throw at the house during freshman week or some of the off campus fiascos that go on almost nightly early in the year. in any case, the date party is a classy event (usually to a nice downtown chicago club) and an early chance in their college career to impress a girl by taking her a beta event.

moving on to....

now the ifc rules state that no freshman may enter any fraternity house during until mid-october (the "Freshman freeze" rule) and while this is broken by most houses it is a strict rule so all of the RTS interivewing and stuff goes on in the student center. fraternities are allowed to have freshman in the house for dinner on sundays from 5-7 only until mid-October. but all houses break the rule and we are no exception but we are VERY careful.

rush is the job of the entire fraternity. mostly it is focused on dorms and the guys who live in dorms. the rush chair is only a coordinator of formal events. we pledge guys that he has never met every year. we rely on parties (both in-house and out), date parties, and exchanges with sororities (what many of you call mixers I think). but mostly, the focus of rush is having guys up to the house constantly for barbecues, kegs and eggs (before football games every saturday) and just to play video games and chill. we try to seek out friends and once we have those friends, we ask them to join our fraternity. we are not one of the big time party houses that people join just for status and to meet drunk chicks. guys who join beta really want it and know its a completely different experience. its why weve grown from 20 guys to 70 in 2 and a half years.

back to story at hand.....

rush is ULTRA competetive because it is spread over 4 months and guys really have a chance to look at a lot of houses (we have 21) and see what they want. because of this we lose some quality guys every year but we also get some quality guys who, in a shortened rush period might just join the first house that approaches them.

my advice would be to work on small groups of guys. have them over the house to chill in small groups with a good number of brothers so they can get comfortable. before you know it, they will be bugging you about when they can come to the house next and hang out. they will also bring their friends. you want to create a true friendship with guys. sure you need your big parties just to flex your social muscle but after having been co-rush chair for our biggest pledge class (27) a few years ago, I had guys tell me it was the little things - like guys taking them to a ballgame or movie that made the difference - not the huge parties. start small, have events every week (pick a night or two every week that you will have guys over or do something with them) and keep them hooked.

I dont know where I went with this really. I hope some of it helps

CanadianBeta · #14 07-21-2003, 10:26 PM

Thanks for the help guys, much appreciated... If you come up with any more ideas if youd let me know...
cheers