Need RUSH help

[Pennel1]

Alright I have all kinds of problems. The fraternity that I am part of is an off campus fraternity that used to be a 75+ man fraternity it was considered the party house and we would often have just general friday and saturday night get togethers that would have well over 150 people. Well three years ago our school allowed drinkin on campus...which was one of the reasons our house was so large. Now with drinking allowed on campus and the fact that most people don't really don't come to our house because it is off campus our numbers have fallen to 25 and they decide to place me as rush chair against my best wishes. I am left with the task of building our fraternity back up and they actually think that i came have 30+ man pledge class this fall.
I need any ideas that you guys in general might have on what type of ways i can pull people off campus and into our house and how we can help present ourselves to the freshman without being on campus and what parties we could throw that would make us look good even with our lower numbers. We are a good fraternity that needs to survive anything will help. Thanks

[Tom Earp]

Have you considered affiliation with a Natioinal?

If Party is Your Adgenda then forget it!

Stay a GDI!

[TSteven]

Originally Posted by Pennel1

Alright I have all kinds of problems. The fraternity that I am part of is an off campus fraternity that used to be a 75+ man fraternity it was considered the party house and we would often have just general Friday and Saturday night get togethers that would have well over 150 people. Well three years ago our school allowed drinkin on campus...which was one of the reasons our house was so large. Now with drinking allowed on campus and the fact that most people don't really don't come to our house because it is off campus our numbers have fallen to 25 and they decide to place me as rush chair against my best wishes. I am left with the task of building our fraternity back up and they actually think that i came have 30+ man pledge class this fall.

I need any ideas that you guys in general might have on what type of ways i can pull people off campus and into our house and how we can help present ourselves to the freshman without being on campus and what parties we could throw that would make us look good even with our lower numbers. We are a good fraternity that needs to survive anything will help. Thanks

I'm not going to address what y'all need to do to sell your chapter. You should be able to do that. I'll just address ways to get guys to your house. Also, I'm guessing that you are referring to the fall IFC campus rush. And that your chapter house is physically located "off campus" and not that y'all were kicked off or underground.

The chapter members should be back on campus prior to when the freshmen move in so that the presence is know. Wear your letters and be on campus as much as you can. Help freshmen move into the dorms. Especially if there are rush parties later that evening. Ask each member to get at least two guys to come to a rush party.

With out telling us the specifics, what is your rush budget? Would you say it is above, below or comparable to other chapters? Because you are off campus, you might have to spend more to get people to come off campus. As such, if your budget allows, hire a limo driver or some sort of shuttle service that will pick up freshmen at their dorms and bring them to your house. This way, all your guys can be at the house rushing. But if you can not afford that, then have a few members alternate picking them up. Or maybe there is a local alumnus who would be willing to help.

Are sororities able to help with rush? If so, ask a different sorority to come a different night. Promise them that the chapter will return the favor in some way. And by all means, keep the promise. Y'all could help them with some event. Or do a day's work at their house or in their yard. Make dinner for them. Anything that will help them down the line and be fun too.

Are there any campus restrictions? Parties may only be from 7 to 10 p.m. for example? Alcohol can not be served? Can be served but only by third party vendor etc.? Parties must either be on campus or at the house? Since y'all are already "off campus", then maybe have an event at a local popular place. Paint Ball for example.

As for on campus (at the house) events, have a different theme each night. Something to get people to come more than just one night. You could have a game watch night - i.e. Monday Night Football or Major League baseball etc. A poker or casino night. Hire a local band that wants (needs) the exposure (i.e. they would be cheep) and have them come and play one night.

Have your full rush schedule in place by the time school starts. Try to have a variety of events.

ABC 2007 Fall Rush Schedule
all events from 7 to 10 p.m.

Monday Night: Hot wings and NFL football with the brothers of ABC and the sisters of XYZ
Tuesday Night: Pizza and Casino night with the the brothers of ABC and the sisters UVW
Wednesday Night: Live Band and Burgers with the brothers of ABC and the sisters of DEF
Thursday Night: Paintball and hoagies with the brothers of ABC and the sisters of GHI (meet at house at 7 p.m. for shuttle to Paintball Heaven)
Friday Night: Smoker (Invite only)

ABC House
1313 Mockingbird Lane
(free shuttle to and from Freshman Men's Dorm ever half hour)

Make copies of your schedule and target every freshman dorm room. Two to a room if you can. Put them up on floor bulletin boards and in the dorm lobbies. Along with any other public space. If there is a university message board, post notices regarding your parties on it.

One other thing that has worked for those chapters who's houses were not located on campus at The University of Kentucky is to rush out of one of the sorority houses (on campus) for the general or open parties. The invite only party is held at their house. It works at UK because enough chapters do it. And it isn't like they are trying to hide anything, just simply a way for the rushees to meet the brothers without having to leave campus. Even one of the top chapters have their first group of parties at a sorority house. And they have an amazing house in their own right.

[Pennel1]

Yeah we were not kicked off campus by anymeans the fraternity chose to be off campus in the eighties through early 2000's because of the restrictions on campus. Being that the restrictions are not in place on campus anymore our fraternity is suffering do to the lack of exposure. The intent is not to have parties all the time instead have a few larger parties every couple of weeks. The first two weeks though having a back to back schedule would not be that bad of an idea. What would be some of the ways in which I could go about getting help from the sororities. In the recent years our contact with the rest of the greek groups has deminished due to horrible EC's. And we need to know a way of getting a better light shined on us through the eye's of the sororities any suggestions would be great

[TSteven]

Originally Posted by Pennel1

Yeah we were not kicked off campus by anymeans the fraternity chose to be off campus in the eighties through early 2000's because of the restrictions on campus. Being that the restrictions are not in place on campus anymore our fraternity is suffering do to the lack of exposure. The intent is not to have parties all the time instead have a few larger parties every couple of weeks. The first two weeks though having a back to back schedule would not be that bad of an idea. What would be some of the ways in which I could go about getting help from the sororities. In the recent years our contact with the rest of the greek groups has deminished due to horrible EC's. And we need to know a way of getting a better light shined on us through the eye's of the sororities any suggestions would be great

I'm a tad confused when you say y'all chose to be off campus. What does that mean? More specifically, are y'all a member of the campus IFC and/or recognized by the campus? Does your HQ recognize the chapter? And where - in relationship to campus - is your physical house located. For example, there are physical houses that are directly across the street from campus yet they are considered "off campus". Others can be physically located blocks away etc.

Why this is important is that NPC sororities have certain guidelines they must follow. Some are through the NPC. Some may come from the chapter's HQ. While other guidelines may be specific to the campus and all the NPC chapters have to follow it. As such, often, sororities might not be able to attend events (help with rush) at a chapter that is not recognized or part of IFC. Or if y'all are recognized, they still may not be able to help if the physical house is not considered "official". Perhaps it is a house where a number of members of the fraternity just happen to live. For example, there was a chapter at UK that did not have an official - as in register with the UK Greek Life Office - house. However, five or six members rented a house that served as the de facto "party" house for the chapter. My understanding is that (many/most/all) official chapter meetings took place on campus. In any case, the chapter could not hold any "official" social events for the UK Greek community at this house since it was not "official". This was due to risk management and liability issues. Thus the sororities would not/could not come for mixes etc. or help with any rush events at that location. More so, the chapter was not allowed to rush out of that house. So when the fraternity rushed, they did so out of one of the sorority houses on campus. So it is important to understand what "off campus" means. It can have a impact either way with what some sororities might be able to do. If you are not an IFC chapter recognized by the campus administration, then NPC sororities may not be able to help. If the physical house is not considered official by the campus administration, then NPC sororities may not be able to help.

But for sake of discussion, lets say everything is fine in that y'all are IFC and that your physical house - while located "off campus" - is recognized by the campus administration. Then how should y'all solicit help from the sororities?

First, make sure it is ok to have help before you go about getting it. Just because y'all would like to have sororities at the rush events, it may not be allowed. As such, check with IFC and with the Collegiate Panhellenic Council. If it is not ok by either, then do not do it. It could cause more damage for not only your chapter, but for the sorority chapter. And when other sonorities find out, your chapter's contact with the rest of the Greek Groups might diminish even more.

If both IFC and NPC allows it, then I would suggest that you, as rush chair, the chapter social chair, and maybe the chapter president contact the sorority social chairs and see who would be able and willing to help. You might end up talking with the president as well. Have specific ideas as what y'all want the sorority to do. In some cases, the sorority women do not do anything but simply attend the party. In other case, some might help serve food or drink. Or help with name tags, taking down emails and phone numbers at the door. Very simple "light" stuff. NOTE: They are NOT there to rush the guys. Only the chapter members should be doing that. Also, it would be nice of y'all to offer to do something in return. That will also help your relationship with the Greek Community too. Again, you do not need to offer anything major. And if you are only wanting them to attend, then you are already giving them something - a party. Other possible return favors might be a day of yard work. Or y'all buy them pizza or cook for them. Or buy the chapter cookies. It may be campus culture, but at UK, most sororities helped just for the fun of helping and to simply attend the parties.

Frankly, that is it. Simply put, someone from your chapter (rush chair, social chair, president) needs to contact the social chair and see if they would be willing to attend a rush party. Then go from there.

[UDPhiPsi]

The suggestion to use sororities is definately a good idea. We have had a few girls come out to our events to help take down names and take pictures of the guys who attend the rush events. One thing I would add - try to get girls that you are at least familiar with. Good friends, girlfriends, something along these lines. It can look bad if the girls are uncomfortable or feel out of place.

It seems like the biggest cause for your recruitment problems is the change in drinking policies at your school. While you once stood out as the "party fraternity" and "the place to go", with less restrictions it is easier to find parties somewhere closer to campus. The best way around this is to try to emphasize what you offer in addition to partying. Really stress the benefits of being in your fraternity, and what sets it apart from the rest.

[TSteven]

Originally Posted by UDPhiPsi

It seems like the biggest cause for your recruitment problems is the change in drinking policies at your school. While you once stood out as the "party fraternity" and "the place to go", with less restrictions it is easier to find parties somewhere closer to campus. The best way around this is to try to emphasize what you offer in addition to partying. Really stress the benefits of being in your fraternity, and what sets it apart from the rest.

I complete agree with this. However, if they can not get the guys to attend a rush event because they are "off campus" - and I'm still not sure in what context "off campus" means - then they are not going to have the opportunity to sell the chapter and the brotherhood.

[Pennel1]

we're several blocks off-campus to far to walk...we are still part of IFC....we are just like any other fraternity it just happens that our house is several blocks off campus. We were trying to buy a house that has been empty for a few years on campus but could not sell ours in time for this upcoming rush semester.

[TSteven]

Originally Posted by Pennel1

we're several blocks off-campus to far to walk...we are still part of IFC....we are just like any other fraternity it just happens that our house is several blocks off campus. We were trying to buy a house that has been empty for a few years on campus but could not sell ours in time for this upcoming rush semester.

Thanks for the clarification.

A few things I would like to reiterate from my previous posts that might help y'all with rush.

1. Get the word out.

2. Provide some sort of shuttle service to and from the freshman dorms to and from your house.

3. Have sororities (friends, girlfriends etc.) help during rush.

4. If there is a sorority that has a house on campus (y'all should be on good terms with them), check with them about the possibility of rushing out of their house.

[Tom Earp]

Sorry, for my earlier post, but if you are that large a Local and a part of IFC, who else is on your campus that must be Nationals if you have an IFC?

Many times, the problem with a local is no real extentsion after college for Alums. It is just when We were there and goodby!

I started a local so I have an idea and was tough. But we affilliated with LXA within the school year as that was our agenda originally.

There has to be a reason that members do not want to do anything and that may be your key!

Recruit, build or die. This is the same as a National GLO also.

Many good advice from posters, now to get the members interested!