Sigma Kappa Sorority Continuing Membership Chairman Handbook page 2 Sigma Kappa Sorority Continuing Membership Chairman Handbook . page 3 Sigma Kappa Sorority Continuing Membership Chairman Handbook . page 4 Sigma Kappa Sorority Continuing Membership Chairman Handbook . page 5 FOREWORD Sigma Kappa Sorority . Continuing Membership Chairman Handbook . page 6 FOREWORD "The purpose of Sigma Kappa Sorority is to provide women lifelong opportunities and support for social, intellectual, and spiritual development by bringing women together to positively impact our communities." Article II, Section 1 Sigma Kappa Sorority Bylaws This purpose builds on the values of our organization: friendship, loyalty, service and personal growth, all bound by a promise. National council affirms that Sigma Kappa collectively can only grow through the prosperity of each individual chapter. Such prosperity must begin with sound and lasting leadership. Each chapter officer is provided a handbook designed to give her the information needed to perform the duties of her office and assist the chapter in achieving the Sigma Kappa Standards of Excellence. Serving as a collegiate chapter officer exemplifies Sigma Kappa's purpose and values. © 2018 Sigma Kappa Sorority TABLE OF CONTENTS The Social Chairman 4 Resources 4 Advisor to the Social Chairman 5 Social Committee 5 Event Planning Guidelines 7 Planning for Snacks and Refreshments 7 Ensuring a Safe Environment Exists for Sponsored or Co-Sponsored Functions 8 Creating and Managing the Guest List 9 Planning and Executing Controlled BYOB Functions 9 Advisory Board Representatives at Sigma Kappa Functions 10 Contracts and Tax Considerations 11 Reading Contracts Wisely 11 Tax Forms Related to Contracts the Chapter is Required to Prepare Locally 11 Completing the Social Function Review Form (SFRF) 12 Risk Management and Social Functions 13 Risk Management Considerations 13 Frequently Asked Questions on Risk Management and Harm Reduction 14 Fun Event Ideas 16 Sigma Kappa Sorority Social Chairman Handbook page 8 THE SOCIAL CHAIRMAN The social chairman is elected or appointed by the chapter and is responsible for developing and implementing a social program for the chapter. The social chairman reports to the vice president of standards and values (VPSV). In light of these responsibilities, the social chairman must do the following: Read, comprehend and follow the Handbook for the Social Chairman. Access and watch all training modules associated with the social chairman role located in SKILLab: Sigma Kappa's Interactive Learning Lab. Be knowledgeable about all policies and procedures established by the university/college, Panhellenic and Sigma Kappa regarding social activities and risk management. Plan and execute a well-rounded program of chapter social activities. Submit complete and accurate Social Function Review Forms (SFRFs) for each social event at least three weeks in advance to the advisor to the social chairman, advisory board supervisor (ABS) and risk management coordinator. Supervise all social activities of the chapter. Ensure that all SFRF plans are executed as submitted and approved. Work with the chapter president and vice president of finance (VPF) to sign all contracts. Work with the VPSV and vice president of programming (VPP) to plan educational programs about risk management and appropriate behavior at social functions. Help all members understand they will be expected to make responsible decisions about alcohol and illegal substances. Plan and execute non-alcoholic social functions with other sororities, fraternities, student organizations, athletic teams, faculty and alumnae. Re-evaluate social activities which encourage alcohol use or abuse. Look for alternatives that keep the sense of tradition, but reduce/eliminate the risk. Effectively manage a social committee to achieve the social goals of the chapter through delegation. Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the chapter social program and retain recommendations for future events. Sigma Kappa Sorority Social Chairman Handbook page 9 Retain SFRFs until the end of the chairman's term. Retain at least one example of the SFRF for the future chairman's reference. Ensure all chapter members understand the responsibilities of advisory board representatives (ABRs) and/or designated drivers (DDs) for applicable social events. Resources The social chairman must have certain resources and materials to properly do the job. Many of these resources are available on the members only side of the Sigma Kappa website. They are as follows: Annual supplies National Policy Handbook College or university risk management and/or alcohol policies The chapter's current Code of Conduct A list of goals for the office Recommendations from the predecessor Sigma Kappa budget for the office Chapter calendar College or university academic calendar Fraternity/sorority community calendar of events Names and contact information for: Advisor to the social chairman or ABS The social chairmen for other fraternities and sororities on campus College or university officials and pertinent faculty and staff members Sigma Kappa sister alumnae chapter(s) (if applicable) Risk management coordinator Advisor to the Social Chairman The advisor to the social chairman provides continuity in a chapter's social program. She is a member of the advisory board. Review the module in SKILLab to learn more about developing a relationship with your advisor. What If You Don't Have an Advisor? If you don't have an advisor, there are several other resources to look to for assistance: Advisory board supervisor (ABS) Risk management coordinator Collegiate coordinator Contact information for these volunteers is located on the members only side of the Sigma Kappa website. Sigma Kappa Sorority Social Chairman Handbook page 10 Social Committee Effective event planning and management includes the use of a committee to work closely in executing the chapter's social program. Chapter sizes and needs determine the size and responsibilities of the committee. Committee members are selected or appointed by the VPP or executive council. The purpose of the social committee is to work with the social chairman in: Executing the duties of the social chairman (planning a balanced calendar of social activities, completing appropriate paperwork, organizing and staffing social activities). Setting goals for the chapter's social program each term. Planning and implementing the social program each term. Working with the VPSV and VPP to educate members and new members about risk management and displaying behavior in accordance with our values during social events. Assisting in the enforcement of risk management policies in social settings. Evaluating the chapter social program each term. Meetings are chaired by the social chairman and should be held bi-weekly. Meetings are open to any member of the chapter, and should include all committee members and the advisor to the social chairman. Delegation of Responsibilities Each committee member or pairs of members should take responsibility for a different aspect of the social program. For example, the following areas might be delegated: Planning non-alcoholic social events with other sororities, fraternities, athletic teams and student organizations. Planning non-alcoholic social events with alumnae. Planning non-alcoholic social events with faculty/staff. Planning the formal social event. Purchasing supplies. Setting up decorations. Contacting vendors (although the chapter president or VPF must review and sign any contracts). Sigma Kappa Sorority Social Chairman Handbook page 11 EVENT PLANNING GUIDELINES Begin each term by evaluating past social events with the social committee. Feedback from the entire chapter could be collected via surveys to help the social committee best evaluate the events. Brainstorm future events and create goals for the term. Work with the VPP to add social events to the calendar for the term. Be aware of all deadlines. Events should be added to the calendar as it is developed, not after it has already been approved by the chapter. Ensure your chapter has a balanced social program which includes ample opportunities for non-alcoholic social functions with members, other sororities, fraternities, athletic teams, student organizations, alumnae and faculty/staff. Developing a comprehensive social program requires time, creativity and energy. Follow the guidelines below for more information on successful social event planning: Plan events well ahead of the proposed date. Be sure to use the most recent version of the SFRF located in the annual supplies for the social chairman. Submit SFRFs at least three weeks in advance and be sure the paperwork is complete with all attachments included. This form is required and must be approved by the ABS and risk management coordinator in order to proceed with participation in the social event. Sigma Kappa Sorority Social Chairman Handbook page 12 Be sure to review and set guidelines for limiting your guest list. Per National Policy Handbook, open parties are prohibited. Remember: DO NOT SIGN contracts. These must be reviewed by an advisor and signed by the president or VPF only. Caution: the venue paperwork may not look like a contract. Be careful to read anything supplied by a vendor carefully. Review and follow all laws and policies, both local (college/university, city, state) and national, in addition to the policies of any co-sponsoring organizations. Chapter funds shall not be used to purchase alcohol. Have activities, such as icebreakers and games, which give people a chance to get to know one another. The ABS and risk management coordinator must review and approve all themes, t-shirts and/or favors at least three weeks in advance of the event, in accordance with the SFRF. Do not purchase items until approval from the ABS and risk management coordinator is confirmed. If changes to the event plans are deemed necessary by the ABS or risk management coordinator, make changes and resubmit the corrected SFRF in a timely manner. This will help ensure the event is approved. Ensure you have adequate food and non-alcoholic beverages at every social event. See the next section for tips on quantity of food/non-alcoholic beverages to supply at events. Refer to the Fun Event Ideas section for theme and activity ideas Utilize your campus student activities or involvement office, if applicable, as a resource for ideas on creative social event planning. Planning for Snacks and Refreshments When planning a party where alcohol will be consumed, it is important to have plenty of food and non-alcoholic beverages. A good rule of thumb is to plan for/supply about one-half pound of food per person in attendance at the event. Purchase deli trays, vegetable platters, sandwiches, pasta, etc., or arrange catering at the venue. You may also prepare snacks with your committee, if desired. Consider special dietary needs and allergies ahead of time so that all members and guests may enjoy the snacks. Per the grid below, be sure to include the amount of food and beverages planned to be provided on the SFRF. Avoid highly salty, sweet or spicy foods, as they may stimulate thirst and encourage drinking. Consider the following foods: Pizza Sandwich platters Chicken wings Vegetable trays Sigma Kappa Sorority Social Chairman Handbook page 13 Pasta Bread (bagels, rolls, breadsticks, salt-free pretzels, low salt crackers, etc.) Bean dip, spinach artichoke dip, bruschetta, etc. Cheese trays For a three-hour function, you will need at least two eight-ounce non-alcoholic beverages for each person. Use this chart for a quick reference when planning your events: Number of people Quantity of non-alcoholic beverages attending required: 30 6 gallons 40 7 gallons 50 8 gallons 60 9 gallons 70 10 gallons 80 12 gallons 90 14 gallons 100 16 gallons 110 18 gallons 120 20 gallons If attendees are expected to exceed 120 people, please increase the amount of non-alcoholic beverages available (including water) by two gallons for every additional 10 people in attendance. Ensuring a Safe Environment for Sponsored or Co-Sponsored Events The following questions should be asked about each facility that will be utilized for a social function. The social chairman and her committee should review the site prior to the event to determine the answer to these questions: Do the smoke detectors work? Are the exits clearly marked and unobstructed? Are the interior and exterior lights conducive to safety? It is very important to consider the safety and well-being of members and guests when making arrangements for social functions. Sigma Kappa Sorority Social Chairman Handbook page 14 Creating and Managing the Guest List A guest list with specific names and birthdays of all members and non-members who plan to attend the event should be generated at least 24 hours in advance of each function. When co-sponsoring an event with another organization, obtain a list of that organization's members who plan to attend from the social chairman or event planner you are working with. Events that are co-sponsored with another organization may only include members and new members of the co-sponsoring organizations. When planning events where guests/dates are invited, event invitations must be addressed to specific individuals only. Each member may invite a maximum of two guests. Guests/dates may NOT be invited to events that are co-sponsored with another organization. Social events (with alcohol) open to the entire fraternity/sorority community or student population are strictly prohibited. Mass event invitations delivered to fraternities, dorms, etc., are strictly prohibited. Managing the Guest List during the Event There is to be only one entrance, controlled and monitored by security and advisory board representatives. Several exits must be available due to fire codes; however, these exits should not be used as additional entrances. Monitors must check to see if those entering are chapter members or are on the guest list. All members and guests are required to present a picture ID with a birth date. Their birth date should be compared to the birth date provided on the guest list. Members and guests who have shown proof of legal drinking age should receive a non-adjustable, event specific wristband. If the venue prefers to utilize other methods (outside of wristbands,) the methods must be approved by the ABS and risk management coordinator. Individuals' names are checked off the guest list after ID has been checked and wristband distributed to those who are of age and legally able to consume alcohol. All members/guests should check out with an identified person prior to leaving the event to ensure all attendees are accounted for. Planning and Executing Controlled BYOB Events In the event a cash bar policy contradicts the published college or university or Panhellenic regulations for a co-sponsored event, a controlled BYOB function may be requested by petition and reviewed by the risk management coordinator. The petition for special dispensation can be found in the annual supplies for the chapter president. Please allow time for the risk management coordinator to review the petition and respond with any limitations or guidelines. The criteria required, in addition to a Sigma Kappa Sorority Social Chairman Handbook page 15 complete and approved SFRF and compliance with all other stated policies regarding alcoholic beverages, are: A bartender shall be hired to take custody of all alcohol and transport it to the event. The bartender shall not be a member or new member of the sponsoring or co-sponsoring organizations. The bartender should review, sign and return the Bartender Agreement Form. The bartender shall have absolute custody and discretion over dispensing alcohol and shall dispense the alcoholic beverages only to the individual who brought it to the event. Unused alcoholic beverages will be disposed of by the bartender and not returned to those who brought them. Advisory Board Representatives at Sigma Kappa Functions Advisory board approved representatives must be present at every Sigma Kappa social function. They can be advisory board members, other qualified alumnae or collegiate chapter members who are willing to assume the responsibilities. The women serving as advisory board representatives should be selected and trained for each event. As the name implies, these women are to be approved by the advisory board as a whole. If a member of this group does not fulfill her responsibilities, she may not be re-appointed at the discretion of the advisory board and/or risk management coordinator. Duties of this group include: Obtain copies of the guest list and the SFRF before the event begins. Arrive at the event before it is scheduled to begin, or ride to and from the function on the common carrier with the chapter, if applicable. There must be at least one advisory board representative per common carrier. Alcohol is not allowed during transportation to the event. Anyone who appears intoxicated prior to the event should not be allowed to get on the common carrier. Upon arrival, walk through the facility noting any previous damage and confirming details of the event. Ensure that the event corresponds with what is written on the SFRF and is in compliance with all national policies according to the National Policy Handbook, Section VII. Risk Management for Collegiate Chapters. Oversee those checking photo identification at the door to ensure that only those on the guest list are admitted to the event. Anyone who did not arrive via common carrier (if provided) should not be admitted. Deny admission to anyone who appears to have consumed alcohol prior to the event. Explain to anyone who is not eligible to attend why he or she is being denied admission to the event. Seek assistance from the security guard(s) if necessary. Follow the procedure written on the SFRF to ensure that no member, new member, or guest consumes excessive amounts of alcohol. Make sure that no one leaves the event to go to another area, such as the private part of a fraternity house, another part of the facility or outside the building. Sigma Kappa Sorority Social Chairman Handbook page 16 Remain at the event until the ending time. The advisory board representatives are to be the last ones out of the facility following a walk-through of the premises with the social/event chairman, president, and a representative of the facility. Check private areas and bathrooms, if applicable. Ride back on common carrier, if applicable. Confirm with the social/event chairman that a safe ride via common carrier or designated driver program has been secured for anyone who has consumed excessive amounts of alcohol. Escort member/guest to safe ride to send them home. Familiarize themselves and know the procedure to follow in the event of an emergency. Ensure that they have accurate phone numbers. If a serious problem arises, work with the social/event chairman and/or president to cancel the event. Advisory board representatives are not to consume alcoholic beverages before, during or after the event they are supervising. Each advisory board representative must sign the appropriate form found on the members only side of the Sigma Kappa website, which must be signed and approved by the ABS and submitted with the completed SFRF. Sigma Kappa Sorority Social Chairman Handbook page 17 CONTRACTS & TAX CONSIDERATIONS Reading Contracts Wisely Contracts can come in many forms. The document may not say "contract" at the top of the page. It may be labeled "agreement," "order," or some other term, but if it obligates the chapter to do something, it is considered a contract. Only the chapter president or VPF are authorized to sign this kind of document, after review by an ABS or a risk management coordinator. Use of a facility, purchase of favors, food or supplies, or rental of equipment are all examples of agreements that might not be labeled as contracts. It is the social chairman's responsibility to inform the chapter president or VPF of any information about the document since in most cases the social chairman will be the member in contact with the vendor. Any document requiring a signature must be forwarded to the chapter president or VPF. Review the Contract Review Checklist on the members only side of the Sigma Kappa website to help you and the chapter president or VPF when reviewing contracts. If the chapter has any questions about a contract, please contact Sigma Kappa's legal counsel at national headquarters (NHQ). Tax Forms Related to Contracts that Chapters are Required to Prepare Locally W-9 Request for Taxpayer Identification Number Prior to providing services, the W-9 Request for Taxpayer Identification Number form is to be completed by ANY vendor (DJ, bartender, photographer, etc.) that will be paid $600 or more from the chapter this calendar year (January 1 - December 31). The form can be found on the members only side of the Sigma Kappa website. This completed form is to be kept with all VPF materials and not submitted to the IRS or NHQ. If a vendor refuses to supply a W-9, contact the director of finance at NHQ for guidance on how to withhold and submit tax payment. Because the social chairman has more opportunities to need this form, it is recommended that the VPF and the social chairman review the requirements for the use of this form. It may be more convenient for the social chairman to be responsible for the storage of blank forms and the completion of the form by the vendor since she may be in closer contact with these individuals. Please contact your ABS, risk management coordinator or a member of the finance team at national headquarters (317) 872-3275, if you have any questions on these items. Sigma Kappa Sorority Social Chairman Handbook page 18 COMPLETING THE SOCIAL FUNCTION REVIEW FORM (SFRF) The purpose of a SFRF is to provide guidance in planning a social event, ensuring that the risk management policies of Sigma Kappa are being adhered to. Refer to the Risk Management Section of the National Policy Handbook for a complete listing of guidelines for social events and functions. A SFRF must be completed by the event planner/social chairman for the following social events and functions: Any event where alcohol will be present. Any event that requires signing a contract of any kind. Any Sigma Kappa-sponsored philanthropy event involving sports. Follow the procedure outlined in the National Policy Handbook when completing the SFRF. The SFRF must be completely and accurately filled out and sent to the advisor to the event planner/social chairman, ABS and/or risk management coordinator at least three weeks prior to the event to allow adequate time for revisions, if necessary. The SFRFs must be kept on file by the event planner/social chairman until the end of her term, then discarded. Helpful hints for completing the SFRF are located in annual supplies. Be sure to review the SFRF well in advance of any social function to ensure you understand the paperwork involved. This can help you save time when working with vendors, advisors and members, as several signatures are required. Contact your advisor, ABS and risk management coordinator if you have any questions about the SFRF or the additional forms or agreements that need to be attached to the SFRF. Sigma Kappa Sorority Social Chairman Handbook page 19 RISK MANAGEMENT AND SOCIAL FUNCTIONS Risk Management Considerations The social chairman must plan all events in accordance with national policy. When planning events, check the current National Policy Handbook for all applicable policies. An updated National Policy Handbook is posted on the members only side of the Sigma Kappa website each year. Discard all previous versions. Since the social chairman is the chapter officer who often deals with situations that have high potential for risk management violations, it is important for this position to have a full understanding of risk management policy, the risk incident procedure, and the impact of policy violations to the chapter and the individual members. The social chairman is encouraged to work with the VPSV and VPP each year to help present an educational program to the chapter which explains state, college/university, local and national policies regarding social functions and the repercussions to the chapter and the individual members if there are any violations. Ensure the risk management policies from the National Policy Handbook are reviewed and understood by all chapter members. Sanctions for risk management policy violations not appropriately handled by the chapter's standards council may include any or all of the following: A letter of reprimand or letter of challenge to the chapter from national council. The submission of regular reports of chapter and new members activities with the national vice president for collegiate chapters (NVPCC), director of risk management, collegiate district director (CDD), collegiate coordinator, risk management coordinator, NHQ and ABS. National council probation of level one, two or three for a period to be determined. Ineligibility for national awards. A required workshop facilitated by a member of the risk management team with all travel and expenses paid by the chapter. Removal of chapter officers and election of new officers. Members involved in the incident disciplined as appropriate. Sigma Kappa Sorority Social Chairman Handbook page 20 Withdrawal of charter by national council. A thorough analysis of the chapter's risk management education program by a committee of not less than five (5) chapter members appointed by the executive council, with the approval of the advisory board and risk management coordinator, meeting every two weeks and no less than four (4) times. A report of the committee's findings with recommendations for improving the program and bringing it into compliance with national expectations is due to the collegiate coordinator, risk management coordinator, CDD, NVPCC, and legal counsel no later than two weeks after the delivery of the letter. The findings of these reports and its recommendations are to be presented in informal chapter meetings and noted in the chapter minutes. Any other action which may be deemed necessary Why is Risk Education Important for Social Functions? Sigma Kappa Sorority strives to keep members safe, reduce, and manage risk at social events. It is important to learn about our RM policies and educate the chapter on what they are and why they are important in order to ensure that Sigma Kappa events are fun and our members are safe. Failure to follow guidelines may result in injury or distress to our membership and guests or in legal action against our members and our organization. The following frequently asked questions can help you understand and educate the chapter about risk management. How do I present risk management information so that members will pay attention and not feel that these are "rules to end our fun?" The best education is often seeing the policies in action. Instead of emphasizing what members cannot do, plan a social event following all risk management policies to show them what your chapter can do. This can be a fun and effective way to demonstrate proper procedure to the chapter. Before, during, or after the event, point out all of the important steps you took to ensure safety and harm reduction. What is the worst case scenario if risk management guidelines are not followed? The financial cost of a major lawsuit could deplete the Sigma Kappa treasury and could result in personal financial and legal responsibility for claims for any member involved who failed to follow our policies. Only if we follow our policies and procedures, as well as applicable laws, will our insurance cover the costs of legal defense and any judgment which may be awarded. An inappropriate party theme or disorderly conduct could produce faculty, community or national public attention. Regardless of whether or not a lawsuit Sigma Kappa Sorority Social Chairman Handbook page 21 results, substantial damage may be done to the reputation of Sigma Kappa and to the entire fraternity/sorority community. What should be our major emphasis when educating about risk management? Taking care of each other and our property and following federal, state, local, campus and chapter rules and regulations are our main priorities. To protect and care for one another is the foundation of risk management and harm reduction. Do we not have liability insurance that protects us from lawsuits? Having insurance does not protect Sigma Kappa from a lawsuit. Our insurance indemnifies (protects from damages or loss) chapter officers, advisors, and national officers only if their actions have not voided insurance coverage. Intentional or illegal acts will result in denial of coverage. For example, chapter officers may be legally liable if they engage in or have knowledge that the chapter is engaging in the following situations: Having a social activity without properly completing the Sigma Kappa SFRF. Allowing an underage member or guest to consume alcohol at a Sigma Kappa function or with fake identification. Allowing a drinking or intoxicated member or guest to drive. Allowing the mental or physical abuse (hazing) of any member or new member by another. What percentage of a chapter must be present at an event before it is considered a "Sigma Kappa event?" The number of chapter members and new members attending an event is not as important as the general perception surrounding the event. If Sigma Kappa (an individual chapter or the national organization) were sued for damages or injuries resulting from an event that had not been approved through the normal Sigma Kappa channels, it would have to be proven that Sigma Kappa did not have enough knowledge or control to be liable for a claim of negligence. This is where perception comes into play. Questions asked could include: did chapter members or officers help plan and/or publicize the event? Was an invitation issued to the Sigma Kappa chapter alone? Were the Sigma Kappa members in attendance invited because they are members of Sigma Kappa? The answers to these types of questions will determine whether or not Sigma Kappa is judged as liable. If the attendees at an event believe they are there because of their affiliation with the Sigma Kappa chapter, the chapter may find that it is held liable for damages or injuries resulting from the event. Is it the responsibility of the VPSV or the event/social chairman to enforce the risk management procedures at functions? Sigma Kappa Sorority Social Chairman Handbook page 22 The VPSV is responsible for educating chapter members about risk management. It is certainly the responsibility of the event/social chairman to use common sense in planning and to ensure that all event plans are in compliance with established policy and laws, be they federal, state, local, university, or Sigma Kappa. The president reviews the SFRF and is responsible for double checking all plans before she signs it. The ABS and risk management coordinator also are responsible for being sure that plans are appropriate. There is a purpose for every question asked on the SFRF. It assists the event/social chairman in complete planning and helps the ABS and national officers assess whether or not a chapter is exposing itself to a potentially dangerous situation. Actual enforcement of policy, however, is a separate issue. It is the responsibility of every chapter member and new member to ensure that her own actions are appropriate and within established guidelines and that the behavior of her guest(s) is within Sigma Kappa, college/university, local and state policies. It is also her responsibility to support decisions and/or requests made by the advisory board representatives. Each chapter member and new member is responsible for reporting policy violations to the advisory board representatives. Ultimately, the advisory board representatives working with the social chairman, VPSV, and president are responsible for immediate risk management enforcement during an event. Any necessary follow-up is to be handled by the standards council. On campuses located in small towns, what are the options if there appear to be no campus or community facilities available with third party vendors? Brainstorm with your committee to seek solutions and create options that may not, on the surface, appear to be there. Think of every space available in the town, even if you are presently denied access. Go to the proper individuals and plead your case, emphasizing that there will be very strict policies in effect. Ask for their trust on a trial basis. Begin with the university and elicit the help of the administration to find spaces on the campus for use by fraternities and sororities. What happens if Sigma Kappa co-sponsors a function with a fraternity and/or sorority with a stricter policy? Sigma Kappa members will observe, abide by and respect their policies when Sigma Kappa co-sponsors an event with another organization. Sigma Kappa Sorority Social Chairman Handbook page 23 FUN EVENT IDEAS The following ideas can be used for social events. Each chapter should plan and execute several events each term to strengthen chapter sisterhood and get to know members of other organizations. Consider using these events as presented, or as a springboard to new ideas of your own. Brainstorm additional events with your committee! When selecting a theme, think about how our publics could interpret the theme and costumes associated with the chosen idea to determine if it's a good idea to move forward with that theme. Rent a bowling alley for the night and make it a team competition, or turn it into a 1950s or Grease theme. Invite another organization for an ice cream sundae bar, cupcake bar, baked potato bar or other interactive food item. Party Gras: Plan a "Party Gras" party on or near Mardi Gras, where members can decorate masks, string beads and enjoy jazz music. Cajun foods can be served to Sigma Kappa Sorority Social Chairman Handbook page 24 enhance the theme. Purchase streamers, noisemakers, gold-wrapped chocolate coins, confetti, etc., to create a fun atmosphere. Head to a golf course or mini-golf course and split into teams for a golf scramble. Name That Tune: Play short segments of a song, and see who can guess it. Continue until there is one winner. Organize a picnic or visit an apple or berry orchard. Then, have a cooking/baking contest with the picked fruit. Carve pumpkins and then distribute them to the other fraternities and sororities. Consider pairing with another fraternity or sorority for this event! Rent out the recreation center and spend a few hours playing basketball, volleyball, swimming, etc. Fish bowl: Every member puts a fun fact about themselves on a slip of paper, folded up and placed in a bowl. Then, each member draws one slip of paper out of the bowl. They must mingle with each other until they figure out whose fun fact they have. At the end, have everyone read their fun fact and to whom it belongs. Play childhood games, such as tag, red rover, four-square, kickball, etc. Play old movies or TV shows. Serve popcorn and other snacks. Bring your own (B) : Pick a word that starts with "B" and plan an event around it! Bring your own banana, and set up a banana split bar, bring your own blanket, and watch movies on the floor, etc. Create an event centered around a decade, such as the 90s, 80s, 70s, or 60s. Have everyone dress according to the theme and get appropriate snacks. Research activities and games that were common at the time. Contact a local movie theater to rent out the theater after hours, or buy all the tickets to the last showing of a movie. Set up a projector screen or hang up a white sheet to make a "drive in movie theater." Work with the vice president of philanthropic service (VPPS) to organize a service project. Afterwards, go out to dinner together. Rent a karaoke machine and have a karaoke night. Have a dance instructor teach the chapter (and their dates or members of another organization) to salsa dance or ballroom dance. Visit an ice-skating rink and provide hot cocoa or apple cider. DVR episodes of a favorite show and watch them together. Sigma Kappa Sorority Social Chairman Handbook page 25 SIGMA KAPPA Live with Heart 695 Pro-Med Lane, Ste 300 Carmel, IN 46032-5323 Sigma Kappa Sorority Social Chairman Handbook . page 26 317-872-3275 f: 317-872-0716 e: info@sigmakappa.org www.sigmakappa.org Sigma Kappa Sorority Social Chairman Handbook . page 27