NO MORE BORING WORKSHOPS!

I am always looking for a way to spice up what could be a very boring meeting. Whether it's with my charming personality or incorporating some fun little activities or including pressing issues that create dialogue I think there is a way to make a meeting a little more lively than just perusing through the agenda like Charlie Brown's teacher. The same can absolutely be said about recruitment workshops. I have sat through and led some doozies in my day. Did I learn from those experiences? Absolutely! I learned that never again did I want to lead a workshop that people dreaded coming to and wanted to leave after the first 10 minutes.

I think it also goes to show that you care about what you're trying to teach if you put a fun spin on it. Obviously you think it's important for your members to learn how to have meaningful conversations with PNMs, to bump, about your voting procedures, and your overall vision for recruitment. But you have to make your members believe it is important too. And sitting through six hours of non-stop ranting or monotony is not going to get them there. Here are some ideas to make your workshop more fun and interactive:

1. Play pump-up music when everyone is arriving. Who isn't inspired by Beyonce? Turn on Beyonce or Spice Girls (a personal favorite) Pandora and let everyone know that they are in for some fun before they even find their seats.

2. Begin with an overview for the day. Nothing is worse than not knowing what to expect and feeling like the day is never-ending. Not to mention, are we getting bathroom breaks or a lunch break? Review your expectations for the day and let your members know your plans unless you want a bunch of hangry sorority girls stewing in their seats.

3. Start with an icebreaker. Yep. I just went there. Get people out of their seats and talking. Chances are your chapter hasn't really spent time together since school got out so get them talking to each other and excited about your sisterhood.

My personal favorite is Bear/Man/Gun. It's like rock, paper, scissors but everyone is up and moving around! The symbol for Bear is your hands up, man is waving, and gun is like you're pointing a gun. The players stand back-to-back and yell "bear, man, gun" then turn around to reveal their pose. If they tie, do it again. Whoever, wins moves on to another team and the loser travels around with the winner cheering them on as loud as they can. When another wins, their little posse follows cheering on the winner until there are two winners left. They come together for the final battle and the ultimate winner can win a prize or the love and adoration of all your sisters.

4. Your first session should be whatever topic is most pressing for your chapter. If your chapter really needs to work on their conversations start with that. They will be most focused at this point during the day and may check out later on. Like I suggested in the Recruitment Questions post (linked above) play a game like Jenga with the questions written on the blocks. Put your sisters in groups and let them answer the questions. Be intentional about how you would like people paired up so that strong conversationalists are working with weak conversationalists.

5. Let your members share their worries. Whether this is their first year recruiting or their senior year, it is likely all of your members have questions on how to handle different recruitment scenarios. Let them voice these concerns publicly and address them individually. You can do this by members calling out their concerns one at a time or collect their concerns in a hat and discuss them all. It helps everyone realize that you're all in this together (HSM, anyone?) and no one is really an expert when it comes to recruitment.

6. Bring snacks. This goes back to #2. Unless you want a bunch of hangry sorority girls, you better have snacks there!

7. Know that you have a plan of action, but hear others out. Just because you have done something a certain way for years does not mean you have to continue. A new member to your chapter may have a better idea for bump groups than what you've done in the past. Even if it is different that what other chapters are doing, if it follows the recruitment rules, try it out and see how it works for your chapter. Your chapter gets new members every year and loses members every year. You are constantly changing and the way that you do things can change too.

8. Work smarter, not harder. Being Recruitment Chair or in a leadership position doesn't mean you have to be the end all, be all of knowledge on the topic. Bring in people outside of your chapter to help educate your members. Whether that person is your campus advisor, a representative from inter/national, or an alumna member bringing someone else in will help break up who is talking and help you understand their expectations.

9. Review your recruitment rules. It has probably been a few months since you've gone over them with your Panhellenic Association. This will serve as a fun reminder of what you can and cannot do before the semester and recruitment starts.

10. Plan a photo shoot for afterwards. Tell your members to bring cute colorful outfits and have someone take pictures of all of you around campus. Bring props and get creative! These pictures can be used as decorations in your room or for slideshows. It is such a fun way to end the day before you part ways.

BONUS: If a photo shoot isn't in the cards, plans a s'mores night with your sisters.


What do you have planned for your Recruitment Workshop?

GLITTER DIPPED COFFEE MUG DIY

Over the weekend I found the cutest coffee mug on Pinterest, but no instructions on how to make it. I'm actually not sure if it was a DIY project or not. Looking at it though I didn't think it could be that hard to make. I've been feeling pretty crafty, but with work and school starting back up things have been hectic. This little DIY took a total of maybe 1 hour including the time it took to go buy a coffee mug and then to decorate it.

I think it is a really cute little thing that you could give to a little or big, make as a sisterhood gift, or even fill with candy to recognize a sister for outstanding scholarship. Once you begin making one I see not difference in making two or three since then process is the exact same and it really wouldn't require that many more materials.

I chose gold glitter and a white coffee mug because I like how it looks, but you can choose whatever colors you want. I also didn't think about having a paint brush until I was about to do this little project. Luckily, I had a few of these paint sponges on hand and didn't have to make a special trip to the craft store. I think it would work just the same as if you had a sponge or brush.

1. Pour a generous amount of Mod Podge and glitter into a bowl that you don't mind destroying and mix it together with a spoon you don't want to ever use again.

2. Decide how far up the mug you want the glitter to go. I decided to go about halfway up the mug from the bottom. Begin "painting" the Mod Podge/glitter mixture on to the mug.

Don't worry if you go over your line. You can easily wipe the mixture off the mug with a paper towel.

3. The first coat you apply will not be very thick. Let the mixture dry a little onto the mug before applying more and more and more until your heart is content with glittery goodness.

As you apply the mixture it will move around a little leaving holes like in this picture. You can easily dab some of the mixture onto the mug here to cover up the hole. Also, the mixture may get a little clumpy. Make sure you are stirring it so it won't harden in the bowl.

After this part I decided it was time for bed so I put the mug in a cabinet (upside down) so that it wouldn't be bothered during the night. I woke up this morning to a lovely little glitter dipped coffee mug!

Mine is by no means perfect, but I like that the glitter fades up a little. I was very happy how this project turned out. It was so easy and quick. If you would like, you can also add a little text to the top of the coffee mug for your little or big or whoever. I didn't have any Sharpies on hand and I have the worst handwriting ever.

On a scale of 1 to 10 on how easy this was I would give it a 3. Anyone could do it! The hardest part was keeping the glitter in a specific place, but even that wasn't difficult.

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TABLE: TRANSITIONING SMOOTHLY OUT OF YOUR EXECUTIVE BOARD POSITION

At the beginning of my freshman year, I joined my sorority intending to jump into leadership as soon as I could. I was then elected Vice President in the spring before my sophomore year. I had a great time as VP, but with plans to study abroad in the spring of my junior year, I chose not to run for an executive position this year. Our first chapter is two weeks from today, and I will be rejoining my sisters, this time on the other side of the exec table. It will be strange not sitting on the exec board, but I have some strategies to make this transition smooth.

Use my previous experience to help the new exec board.
All but one member of our exec board this year is new to exec, which means there will be a big learning curve. I can use my experience from last year not only to help the new VP adjust to her job, but also for the whole exec board, remembering what did and did not work last year.

Give the new exec board their space.
While my exec experience can and will be valuable to share with the new e-board, it's important that I not act like I'm still on exec. That would infringe on their space and diminish their impact on the members if I try to take part of that influence for myself. Additionally, this would cause other active members to become resentful of me - who am I to act like I'm above them when we're peers in the organizational structure?

Find other ways of developing leadership.
Leadership is one of my sorority's cardinal principles, so developing leadership is essential for all members. Although I'm no longer on exec, I applied for and received the position of Homecoming Coordinator, so I will still have the opportunity to grow as a leader and leave my mark on my sorority. Many sororities have "smaller" ways of helping out - find one that fits your skills/interests and go for it!

Enjoy your new found free time!
Being on the exec board takes time, what with exec board meetings, planning, and outside work involved. You deserve a break!

I know that in many sororities, most exec members are sophomores or juniors who don't participate on the exec board for their senior year, so if this isn't you now, it very well might apply to you someday! If it is you - I hope these tips helped, enjoy your year!

Alex Welch is a junior at the University of Kansas and a member of Omega Phi Alpha, a national service sorority. Her blog, Undergraduate Style, focuses mostly on personal style with elements of Greek Life and life as a Resident Assistant. You can find her at undergraduatestyle.com or on Instagram at @undergraduatestyle.

UP YOUR GAME: RECRUITMENT CONVERSATIONS

Recruitment is by far my favorite time of the year. Yes, it can be a little stressful, but the excitement seems to overshadow all the craziness for me. When I was in chapter the cause of most of my anxiety associated with recruitment had to do with having meaningful conversations with PNMs. We always had a consultant visit our chapter to host a recruitment workshop during Work Week. Year after year the consultants always told us to ask more than the superficial questions. Knowing what I know now, I think it is important to ask those superficial questions, but it is more important to delve into real conversations to get to know these PNMs.

By superficial questions, I mean:

• Where are you from?
• How is your recruitment going? (Be careful asking this question because it could be against your Panhellenic recruitment rules.)
• Are you living on-campus, off-campus, etc.?
• Did you play sports, do journalism, etc.?
• What's your major?

You can begin with these questions, but I think by the second and/or third night of recruitment you should not be asking these superficial questions. These are the same questions she will be asked in her other recruitment parties and she will be tired of answering them. You absolutely do not want to stagnate your conversation!

Below are a list of meaningful questions to have good conversations with PNMs. These will help you get to know her and for her to get to know you and your chapter. By talking with her about these topics you can learn if her values are in line with your chapter's values or if she has a talent that your chapter is lacking.

• What is something that makes you happy?
• What is your favorite TV show?
• Where were you born?
• What is the most daring thing you've ever done?
• What do you like to do in your free time?
• Who do you most admire?
• What is one thing you wish more people knew about you?
• Where is your favorite place?
• What is your favorite type of music?
• Which celebrity do you get mistaken for?
• What do you want to do after graduation?
• What was the last experience you had that made you a stronger person?

These are just a few, but the possibilities are endless. I hope these suggestions have sparked some ideas for you also. These should be questions that generate a response other than "yes" or "no." Just keep in mind what your recruitment rules are on what you can and cannot ask PNMs. 

A fun way to practice this with your chapter would be during Work Week or a conversation workshop with Jenga blocks. (Here is a video on how to make your own custom Jenga blocks.) You and your sisters could brainstorm together for beforehand and then practice the questions together.

Make sure you listen to the PNM and that she is comfortable answering your questions. Also, if she asks you a question like this make sure you can answer it comfortably. By asking these types of questions, you will hopefully open up to each other and you should be prepared for her to respond by asking you questions too.

Most importantly, be kind to her. Don't rush her through a list of questions. Take your time and listen to get to know her!

What meaningful questions do you ask during recruitment or when getting to know someone new? Share in the comments below!

LIVING WITHOUT FEAR

As a freshman in high school, I was asked the same question over and over, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" Throughout high school my answers fluctuated from a writer, to an architect, and finally to an engineer. I was not entirely sure what I wanted to be, but one thing was for sure and that was I did not want to work with kids... at all. My mother is a teacher and has always warned me not to be a teacher because it is becoming a less stable job and I agreed with her. My father is an engineer and by my junior year I knew I, too, was destined to be an engineer. I would study civil engineering and spend my days (hopefully) designing bridges. I have and have always had sort of an obsession with buildings and bridges and the work that goes into designing them to be stable.

Little did I know that halfway through my senior year everything would change. In January of my senior year, we were required to take a job shadowing day. I searched everywhere around my small town for an engineering firm I would shadow for the day and was turned down by several places. I was running out of time and needed a place to shadow. At this time, I had currently been working as a tutor at a local learning center that offered tutoring, individual instruction, and therapy to children with special needs, so I signed up to shadow one of the therapists.

It was the day of my job shadow and I was so excited. I would be shadowing an occupational therapist. It was the day when I fell in love with occupational therapy. That being said, I had already been accepted and enrolled in environmental engineering for the upcoming fall semester at Mercer University. I had also received a heft scholarship for engineering and I knew I could not afford to give that up. I stressed myself out for weeks debating whether I should continue to attend college for engineerings or switch to occupational therapy. I could no longer see myself being happy as an engineer but was afraid to tell me parents that I wanted to give up my scholarship to pursue OT. It took me a while and support from many of my friends to make the leap in informing my parents and switching up my degrees, but I finally did it.

Now I am currently pursuing a biology degree on the pre-OT track and I could not be happier. Mercer does not offer graduate school for OT so I will have to go somewhere different in four years, but knowing that I will be doing a job that I love for the rest of my life is enough to keep me going strong. I have completed my first semester as a biology major and I sometimes look back and wonder if I would be as happy as I am if I had chosen not to change my major and I am 100% sure I would not be.

I think it is so silly of me that I almost let me parents dictate my future for me. One of my favorite quotes is by Babe Ruth and it states "Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game." Needless to say, Babe Ruth meant this about baseball, but I apply this to my life in so many ways. I was afraid that my parents would be disappointed in my decisions to change majors and I was afraid they would not support my decision. However, I overcame this fear and chose to do what truly makes me happy.

I learned from this experience to not have fear to chase your dreams. Whether you desire to change your major, join a new organization, or apply for that extremely selective internship, I hope you go for it fully, without fear. Make this your semester to live without fear!
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RELAX

School may have just begun, but I'm already busy every second of every day. From learning my new schedule to sorority recruitment, these past two weeks are drastically different from my lazy winter break days. A schedule this hectic tends to be accompanied by stress levels that can go through the roof on some days. Luckily, I've been testing out some new ways to relax. Here are my five favorite ways to de-stress:

MOVE YOUR BODY - When you're constantly on the run sometimes it's good to just go for a run. Exercise is the perfect stress release for a busy body. It's a great time to free your mind from all of your worries. It can be 30 minutes or even two hours, but whatever it is make sure to focus only on your activity at hand. If you go for a run or a bike ride make sure to take in the scenery. This is also a great opportunity to listen to some chill, calming music. Instead of blasting Eminem and Ke$ha, try some Bastille or Trevor Hall. Use music to let your mind wander, not to get you overly pumped and aggressive.

EMBRACE YOUR INNER-CHILD -  College is hard. You're on the brink of adulthood, but you're still clinging on to the last remnants of your childhood. Why not embrace the innocence of your youth? Whenever I was stressed during recruitment, I would whip out my coloring book and 64-pack of crayons. Just a few minutes of coloring would instantly calm my mind. You could also make friendship bracelets or work on a puzzle. These types of activities give you a few minutes of peace away from the stresses of the big, scary adult world.

WASTE YOUR TIME - One of my biggest stressors is having too much to do and not enough time to do it all. But every now and then it's good to take a break and do absolutely nothing productive. Whether it's watching the latest episode of The Bachelor or flipping through the pages in this season's fashion magazines, do something that makes you feel good. When you're done, you'll be more ready to tackle the long list of to-dos that have been waiting for you. Just make sure to set a time limit for your unproductivity. You don't want to sit down for one episode of The O.C. and find yourself in the same spot three seasons later.

LOVE YOUR SOUL - Stress is a sickness of the soul. Constantly worrying and fretting will dampen your spirits. So when you're taking a break from you busy day make sure to spend a little time fixing your soul. There are a variety of ways to do this, but yoga and meditation seem to be the most popular. If your school offers yoga classes, give them a shot. Otherwise, the internet is full of yoga and meditation videos for varying degrees of skill. If you're really pressed for time, taking ten minutes to just sit and focus on your breathing can also do wonders for your soul.

EMPTY YOUR WALLET - I'm not suggesting that you go into debt because you're stressed about your Biology midterm, but buying a little treat for yourself is never a bad idea. Personally, I love the mall. Just walking around the mall will put me at ease. But picking up a new top can really brighten my day. New clothes give you the confidence to stack the obstacles ahead of you. Clothes aren't the only thing you can buy, though. A new CD or book can also be the perfect pick-me-up.

There are a thousand different things to stress about on any given day, but there's a million different ways to relax. When you take a break in your day to do what makes you happy, you are more likely to be successful in handling the things that cause you to stress.
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