the mini yearbook idea is great!
We did something like that one time when Susan Beesley came (she was still our CPP at the time). The chapter was having some rough times. Everyone LOVES a compliment! It takes some time, but I think I still even have mine somewhere. We didn't sign names, that way no one had to feel embarassed or cheesy.
Another thing she did with us was everyone wrote on a notecard something they were most proud of and something no one in the sorority probably knows about them. You didn't sign your name. They all got mixed up, everyone picked one. We went around the room, each person read their card then tried to guess. Usually guessed wrong. So others tried to guess, until finally they either figured it out or they gave up and the person raised their hand.
I think spirit/bonding activities are really important for spring rush. Everyone has the post-holiday/pre valentine's day blues. Compliments and bonding with your sisters can really put a smile on everyone's face and present a much more unified presentation during spring recruitment! It also helps the girls that joined in the fall become more comfortable with the sorority and being a part of it, instead of just being new members.
And the best part about these ideas is that they are FREE!
How many spots do you girls have for the spring? I'm so out of the loop now.
Something else that we did before, I think two years ago, not sure if you were around for it or not, but myself and several other alumnae came in for a rush workshop so the newly initiated ladies could practice rush conversation skills. It works much better than practicing on chapter sisters, because it's hard to pretend to rush someone you already know well! The alumnae could also throw tough questions out and give advice on how to handle them, what a proper response is and what isn't.
Or another idea would be to pair up with another group, and have the new members practice rushing each other.
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