{"id":4087,"date":"2015-07-01T08:00:56","date_gmt":"2015-07-01T13:00:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/5bd4f92546.nxcli.net\/?p=4087"},"modified":"2025-04-18T10:28:07","modified_gmt":"2025-04-18T15:28:07","slug":"the-complete-guide-to-managing-bids-in-your-fraternity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bluecotton.com\/blog\/cool-ideas\/the-complete-guide-to-managing-bids-in-your-fraternity\/","title":{"rendered":"The Complete Guide To Managing Bids In Your Fraternity"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"KA-TKE\"<\/p>\n

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If you’re going to take on the responsibility of managing a fraternity<\/a> or sorority<\/a>, membership is among the most important factors to consider. New members are the lifeblood of your organization; they are the ones who will keep the sorority or frat alive once you’ve graduated from college and moved on. You need to make sure they’re the kind of people you want in charge when you’re gone, and that’s something that begins right in the recruitment phase.<\/p>\n

Today, we’re going to take you through what’s involved in managing bids, bringing in new members, handling rush week and hosting a bid ceremony. Let’s dive right in.<\/p>\n

What Exactly Is A Sorority or Fraternity Bid?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Simply put, a bid is an official invitation to join a Greek chapter. It can take many different forms – a formal invitation on paper, a verbal agreement or even an email. The important thing is that it’s generally sent out at the end of the recruitment process, which signifies that the recipient is to become a part of a frat’s brotherhood or a sorority’s sisterhood. If accepted, a celebration will take place that can range from modest to lively. The bid ceremony is also known as a fraternity or sorority bid day, and we’ll go into planning this out later.<\/p>\n

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Recruitment Techniques<\/b><\/h2>\n

First thing’s first, you need to figure out how you’re going to handle the recruitment process on campus. Organizing your fraternity or sorority rush week plans starts with defining your strategy and standards for rushees. How are you going to send out bids to prospective members? Will you be a closed organization that only offers bids to select students, or an open frat or sorority that accepts membership requests from anyone and extends bids to any who wish to join?<\/p>\n

Depending on what your answer was, your Greek community’s going to look very different. You might get a reputation as a highly exclusive sisterhood or brotherhood that accepts only the best, or a welcoming house that anyone can join. On the other hand, you might get your sorority featured in a hazing documentary<\/a> or end up with Sigma Alpha Epsilon’s reputation as the deadliest frat in America<\/a>. Look at the anti-hazing and -harassment policies of other organizations to protect your members from these tragedies.<\/p>\n

Once you’ve worked out what kind of recruitment you want to promote and have protective policies in place, it’s time to get the word out on campus. Help make people want to join you and be excited to get that bid for fraternity or sorority membership. Demand Media’s Chris Blake recommends the following tactics<\/a>:<\/p>\n