Rush
 

With our chapter voting to cease having events at the University, it has us looking at different places to hold rush, meetings and other events. Before, things were simpler: If we wanted to have rush on campus, we found a meeting room, reserved it and used it. Our meetings were usually held in one of two rooms on campus as well. Same went for a good majority of our socials and events.

Since none of us are able to meet at each other's homes, which seems to be rather common with Beta Sigma Phi chapters, we've been working on trying to be creative with venues that don't cost a lot to use.

We've found a great new place for meetings and some socials, but rush has proven to be a little trickier.

Does anyone have any kind of ideas? We're rather stuck.

Thanks.

Can I be nosy and ask why you don't use university facilities anymore?

Do public libraries have open meeting spaces that can be used?

I suppose it would depend on what your rush activities consist of. When planning events and meetings for smaller organizations, I run through these nontraditional venues:

* Masonic Halls. Most, if not all, have some sort of fellowship hall above, below, or beside their main meeting area.

* Faith communities. Gamma Xi Phi in DC has a great relationship with a local church. We have meetings in the fellowship hall in the basement as well as some meeting rooms adjacent to the church.

* Other Greek org buildings. Among NPHC orgs, it's not uncommon for the graduate/alumni chapters to own a building and rent it out.

Good luck!

Since we've never been part of the University and are no longer interested in becoming recognized by them, we figured that not using University facilities was most prudent.

We'll check with one of the libraries that has a public room for use by the public.
Thanks all for the great ideas.

Coffee shops frequently have community rooms as do Panera franchises. Coffee and conversation!

*Panera*
We don't have that here *glares at Chipotle down the street and wishes it was Panera*, but we do have coffee shops with lots of private seating set aside.

We'll take those suggestions and run with them. Thank you for your suggestions.

You'd be surprised at the restaurants that will accommodate you, as long as you spend money and tip decent.

I was going to say Panera Bread. Sorry that you are missing the yummy goodness. Not to rub it in. ;)