Dear Potential New Members,

Welcome to Spring Rush 2017! Let me be the first to tell you, we are all SO PUMPED that you have decided to join our Greek community and that you are wanting to find your perfect house on campus. Rushing in overall such an amazing experience and we are so excited you have decided to come on this journey with us.

Just in case you didn't know, everyone in the Greek community has been on campus already for a full week that we call "Polish Week" to prep for the weekend of rush activities. We have been working so hard this entire week, and even though the days do get very long and tiring, the thought of all our PNM's coming to the house and choosing the perfect house for them is what keeps us going.

I know a lot of you are feeling a lot of different things right now. Some of you are like how I was last year, determined and so excited to rush. Some of you are just trying it out for fun, some are looking for an awesome and supporting community of women, and some are just doing it because their entire friend group is rushing and doesn't want to feel left out.

But wherever you are in those situations, just know that we are all so happy to be welcoming you into our homes and helping you find where you will thrive within the community.

So what exactly happens during rush, you ask? Well here is an overview of what basically happens.

Someone will welcome you into the house and then you start conversations. Conversations will range from what you are passionate about to why you want to join a Greek chapter, even to what your favorite pizza topping is! We will ask you questions, you will ask us questions and we will just be able to get to know each other a little better and see if you click well with the Greek chapter you are visiting.

During these conversations, a lot of topics are covered and a lot of questions are asked. But in the end, this is your time to find what house is best for you and where you belong. So, we want you to ask us lots of questions so you know exactly what you are looking for! Here are some great questions to ask the active member you are talking to:

"What is your philanthropy?"

"What are your dues?"

"What is your policy about living in?"

"When and where were you founded?"

"What kind of social events do you have?"

"What does the weekly commitment look like?"

"What is your required GPA to be a member?"

"What kind of leadership opportunities are available?"

"Do you have events with the other sororities and fraternities?"

There are probably a million other questions that you could ask, but those are just a few that would be able to start with to get some good information about everything in the chapter.

Trust me, the days are going to be long. So bring some snacks, water, gum, a book, some homework, or just something to keep you busy and help pass the time. You spend a lot of time visiting each house, but you also spend a lot of time waiting to go to each house!

Also, dress up a bit! I'm not talking full-on formal or black tie, but wear a nice dress, boots, and some jewelry. Looking nice will only help you in the end. We are all putting in the effort to look nice and polished and we hope the PNM's will recognize that and do the same for us.

So as I finish this little letter to you about some of my tips and advice for the rush weekend, here is something that I think is very very important to keep in mind: we want you to be here. We want you to find your home. We want you to feel welcome and included. The days may be long and we may be stressed out over school and sorority stuff and tests and projects, but in the end, this weekend is about finding our new sisters and helping the women who don't click with our chapter find the chapter they do click with.

Love,

An active member of the Delta Iota Chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta who is so beyond excited to meet all the potential new members of the Puget Sound Greek Community