We're going to be near 60+ members this Spring, and one thing we haven't done in my 4 years as a Brother is do a retreat, especially since this the biggest we've ever been. Does anyone have any suggestions for what they've done in the past? I'm also treasurer, so if you have any cost suggestions, that would be great as well.
Posted Jan 17, 2016, 6:52 AM UTC
Want an epic, once every four years adventure, that is fun, bonding, and fodder for stories for decades? It's admittedly expensive, and I have no connection to this company beyond my enthusiasm for their trips:
http://www.theyachtweek.com/#prettyPhoto/0/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOZ70FVcUls
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wC721zLZz4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Khbeg4oVb00
6-12 guys to a boat - or invite girls to go and charter the boats mixed. Between your Brothers, you might charter 10-20 boats (depending on whether you bring girls). The company provides a Captain (and a Hostess if desired), and you sail in a flotilla with other boats filled with other groups of US college aged guys and girls and with boats of Europeans who are mostly twenty-somethings. There are usually a few Fraternity Chapters flying their colors on every flotilla. Most of the routes are European, but they stage flotillas in the British Virgin Islands as well. At each overnight anchorage, the company stages a big private party with live music or a good DJ. It's a great adventure. Sun, sand, and you learn how to sail.
Wow for once I'm seeing an original answer in one of these threads. That is badass
That is badass
In the most badass of badass ways. It is epic.
My chapter goes camping for a couple of days (in tents) and just does shit like river tubing, football, fishing, etc while we're out there and we all get hammered the whole time. Then the last day we do a golf outing what we invite the alumni to.
The golf outing definitely sounds more doable, since it's a lot of us, and it's kinda cold (I'm in the midwest) so the wind chill is about to drop harshly. Did everyone pay per hole with clubs/etc., or how did you organize that?
What kind of retreat? What are your goals?
This would be a retreat to get better acquainted with our brothers, especially since we've increased membership over 50% over the past 4 years, and recently had larger pledge classes. We'v never had the ability to go somewhere that wasn't "campus" and hang out and refresh, beyond province events, which are cool, but still have business elements. Our nationals is building a retreat center, but it won't be ready for at least 2+ years.
So, our goals are to bond with our brothers, especially those who were initiated in the past year or so, to better interact with them and hang out.
I'm sure there are plenty of corporate-type retreats you could go to if you look. I'm guessing you want something like a place with cabins where everyone can bunk, but also have a main building with a meeting space. You could try your alumni in the area; they might have connections. Or your college; ours puts on a leadership retreat every year at a nearby outdoor center, so they might know a good place too.
The most important part is building a structure to the meetings. You're going to need to go in with an actual agenda, or you're going to quickly get off track and get nothing done. The facilitator is important too, because they need to guide the meeting.
And of course remember balance. It's good to spend some time during the day hashing out business, but afternoon/evening should have fun bonding time too (and not just some MBA's shitty bonding activities).
rent a cabin
Cocaine
If you wanna hangout, you gotta take her out
She don't lie, she don't lie
Cocaine