KKG looking for ideas!

onekeythatbindsus · #1 06-20-2001, 03:29 PM

Hi y'all! I'm a Kappa in boston and I'm the new member chair...so, I hope y'all don't mind me posting messages on the site, but I could really use some creative ideas for the new member program.
We don't have a house, instead we have a tower which has a lounge and fifteen singles in it, so it's rather difficult to have big activities in the house. Our chapter has been through some rough times in the past year as well and I was really hoping to think of some new member activities that will really excite the sisters as well.
Let me know if you have any ideas!! Thanks so much!

Casey

Chiocutie · #2 06-21-2001, 02:51 AM

Hi! I'm the New Member Educator (GM) for my chapter also! Well I know for meetings we usually have them in our living room but the way I arrange the chairs is in a circle for meeting. It is a more close, comfortable environment than row by row. It also depends on how big the pledge class is. Does your nationals have a new member program? Ours does and its very specific and very helpful in ideas and things. At the beginning of pledgeship they have Owl Pals which are like temporary big sisters -the point is for them to get to know as many actives as possible to make a better decision as to whom will be their big sister. I think if you want to build your chapter you need to teach them LEADERSHIP, BEING RESPONSIBLE, and SISTERHOOD. YOU are molding these girls, I am also, and I am so honored to have that privelege! You can play different games with them- similar to jeopardy or who wants to be a millionaire and ask them questions about history. Pair them off into teams - they love it and they get to work together. If you'll have quizzes or learning exercises give them an incentive to pass them like a KAPPA cup or sticker. It usually works. Stress scholarship on them! Make your grades, our girls freak out bc they're so scared of not making them. But I'll tell you one thing 95% (?) of them did. 10 out of 11. Also, for pledge retreat I told them that they were to get into teams (put the ones that don't know each other good enough together), pick out a song from any cd, put a little dance together and dress up in costume (nothing extravagant). They had SO much fun!! And it was hilarious to watch!! We also did a new member car wash in which their pledge class got out there and raised about $500 dollars in 3 hours. We did a lot of things with other fraternity pledge classes also, they cooked dinner for Sigma Chi and had a pledge mixer with them. They also had a pledge mixer with Sigma Nu. The point to all that is to let THEM plan mixers, car washes, make banners, skits, etc. so they can LEARN how to program and all that goes into it. They learn to follow through and if they mess up it is their fault and they learn from their mistakes. We would always play ice breakers and you can make up an interview sheet to give to them to interview each other. It gives them a chance to get to know each other well. Oh, and I don't know if you'll do candlelights, but our candlelights are really special. We share alot with each other. I'm so excited about next semester because now that I did this in the spring I know more and can expand in the fall. For instance, I am currently thinking about planning revelation (Big Sis Revealing) a different way. Usually its at revelation but I am going to plan a family field day where we can go have a picnic at a park, do revealing, then let the games begin...I'm not sure on all the specifics yet bc its still an idea but I think I'm going to pair up all the new big and littles - maybe even families and we can all do field day games like three legged race, etc. Then we'll have the best big little team award or something. Hopefully I'll do that next semester. Also, be really open with the girls and let them know you're there for them. Keep the lines of communication open and guide them. LEAD BY EXAMPLE. I totally understand where you are coming from. Just be happy that you are in the position where you can build great members! And build your chapter at that. Its hard work but TOTALLY worth the effort. I devote countless hours to my office, my sisters and my house. I do it and it doesn't bother me at all because it is totally rewarding for me. I found this quote on GC and it says something like..."I do it because I am a joyful girl. I do it because its the least I can do. I do it because the world owes me nothing and we owe each other the world. I do it because I love to." (or something to that effect...) Anyways I love new member stuff and feel free to post and I'll get back to you

. Chi Omega love.

Sue_XO · #3 06-21-2001, 11:14 AM

Chiocutie - your excitement for the position you hold.... it is awesome and gave me a few goosebumps!!! Your chapter is so blessed to have someone like you in charge of new members!!!

Kappa girl! I'm glad you posted your question here- one more to add- we also do secret owl pals within the pledge class. The pledge is given another pledge's name and thru out the pledgeship phase- you leave notes, candy, etc in their mail box- "from your owl pal" - at the end- you finally discover who your pal was.

That way- the new members, from the start, learn that "giving to another sister is more important that receiving"

please let us know how your recruitment goes! Much success to you! Sue

Hootie · #4 06-21-2001, 11:54 AM

A fun way to learn information about KKG would be to split the girls into four groups. Then play survivor trivia. Basically you give them all a notecard with the letter A, B, C, D, or T, F. Then you ask them questions about a previous lession. They can then choose the correct answer and display their notecard. Those who get it wrong are eliminated and the game keeps going until you have one winner...which wins a prize and immunity for the next time you play.
We played this as an active chapter each meeting to refresh our memories on our history. We never did anything really with the immunity, but it was neat to say we -the Juniors - spanked the other groups' booties in the trivia.

onekeythatbindsus · #5 06-24-2001, 04:35 PM

Thank you ladies so much!! It's funny, I posted the same topic on the Kappa page and only my advisor and the president of our chapter responded!!
I'm so glad I found someone who is as excited about thier position as I am. I worked very hard this past semester to make it great, but it took a lot of work and I was often disappointed in the way things turned out. We had a difficult group of senior girls, they weren't pleased wtih the new members from the start and didnt' give them a chance - the new members then felt unwelcome and the rest of the chapter never really seemed to get that involved.
We have a new member program but it's not very detailed. It goes on and on about the things I can't do, but never gives me ideas on what I can do. I am a firm believer that the entire chapter is involved in the new member program, and not just the new member chair. I believe that we first need to work on instilling the value of sisterhood in some of our current sisters before we can adequately mold our new members to be great sisters and leaders in Kappa.
You're ideas are wonderful! I can't wait to start using them. We have Heart sisters, which are the same as owl pals, and I can't wait to start the secret owl pals, but I will call them "key pals".
Our chapter is only about 30 girls and our new member classes are about 7 girls so most of the things we do have to include the whole chapter, the car wash however is a great way for the girls to get some philanthropy hours if they donate the money to a charity.
thanks for all your help, you ladies are fantastic! If you ever want to chat or need ideas, us over at the Kappa forum are always looking for more opinions for our discussions and we'd love to try to give y'all some ideas as well!!

with Kappa love,
Casey

imsohappythatiama · #6 06-26-2001, 05:30 PM

Hello, fabulous women of Chi Omega--

Thanks for all of the great input in response to my sister (onekeythatbindsus)'s post!

You girls rock! Chiocutie--keep up the enthusiasm--the Panhellenic system needs to bring in more women like you!

Panhellenically,
imsohappythatiama

------------------
Oh, Kappa Kappa Kappa Gamma,
I'm so happy that I am a
Kappa Kappa Kappa Gamma,
Nobody knows . . . how
happy I am!

AngelPhiSig · #7 06-26-2001, 11:48 PM

Hi ladies! I am the MOC (Membership Orientation Chair) for my chapter of Phi Sigma Sigma... and I just wanted to post to see if anyone had any ideas for me too

hehe... I will post any I have once I figure things out... Im having a hard time here... lol.....
Love in Greek Sisterhood
Ali

ZTAMich · #8 06-27-2001, 08:17 PM

I stumbled on here again and since I don't think this was posted on zta i hope you don't mind i answer here

When I was a New Mem. our coordinator did this little activity at the house on two different nights. I'm sure though that you could really do this anywhere. She made it 'manditory' for all sisters to come to at least one of the nights to help get to know us all. On one night she had a puzzle made out of our creed that the new members had to put together with help from sisters, but they, the sisters, couldn't talk they could only mumble and whatnot. The second nite we reviewed our founding sisters names...ours all have at least three names that we learn i.e. mary elizabeth smith or mary smith jones so she made a card for each name and we had to make the right sets. I hope i was clear enough here and it's of some help to you. Props to the Chi O's for such great ideas!
In Greek Love,
Michelle

Chiocutie · #9 06-28-2001, 04:41 PM

Thanks you'll! I love being New Member Educator!!
I have another idea that I'm going to start with the new members. Usually for meeting we dress up in Badge Attire (Really Nice Clothes -pantyhoses,etc.) but just to mix it up a little I'm going to designate certain weeks in which they will be a theme to the meeting. Like this week is "wear your favorite Chi O shirt" or wear your pajamas to meeting week. I think it should be fun. We might even incorporate this into our active chapter- meeting should be an enjoyable experience, if it is...they will come. We also might plan on a regular meeting day for everyone to come to meeting as planned but instead - give everyone a day off and it's going to be a "family" dinner day. So your "family" can go out to dinner with each other instead of have meeting - a break! It should be fun. I think I might do that with the newbies but take their whole class out. I'm looking forward to it. I'll let you'll know if I have more ideas...greek love!

P.S. I love everyone's ideas!!! I'm going to definetely try to use some of them!

hoot hoot · #10 06-29-2001, 12:37 AM

Another fun idea we used in order to explain meeting attire was a fashion show for the new members. Exec dresses up in flawed clothing and a narrator comicly explains what is wrong with her clothes. It is a fun way to teach proper attire.