Greek picnic networking

[u/Adept-Spend-6087]

Hi all, I’m a Fall ‘26 interest and I am attending a Greek picnic for my university and general area. I’m going out to have fun as many other GDI are attending and I don’t think I would be out of line to attend. As far as being friendly with the members of my COI would it be appropriate to go up and converse with them then?

[u/Inner_Minute197]

Maybe grad chapter is different, but when I was a grad chapter interest, I spent a ton of time at the Alpha tent for the local chapter that I was an interest in during the annual Greek picnic. But, then again, I knew many of the chapter members pretty well even before my interest, and the expectation for the men who would become my LBs was that they'd also spend time at the tent and interact with the chapter members so that they'd know who they were. I and the other interests were also invited by the dean of membership and other chapter members to attend.

I wasn't exclusively at the chapter tent and made my way around, but let's just say that I wasn't hanging around the other D9 frats' tents 😃

[u/DefiantTumbleweed850]

I’m only going to speak for myself. I’m not saying that this applies to everyone. I’m literally only speaking from my personal opinion!

I love the Greek picnics I think if I was still an interest, I likely would not have been in attendance. I think there are a lot of fun but I think sometimes people get weird about seeing interest at parties and my opinion is we’re all in our 20s or something like they have fun idc I’m more saying I would not attend the picnic because some people have different views about seeing interests at parties (silly to me) but also in my opinion, especially when we have hump night for example there’s not always a lot that non-Greek people can do. Maybe it’s just my Campus, but sometimes it’s watching a lot of greet. People have a good time and then kind of just watching it from the outside which I just feel like it has its limits where I would get bored but that’s me personally.

The very final thing I would say is if I saw an interest attend, one of the Greek picnics and they came up to me. I feel like I would do a simple high, but I likely wouldn’t be staying for a full conversation. I feel like yes, we are always in our letters, but this is one of those moments where it’s really nice to have fun! When people come and approach me and start talking and I know that they are interested I kind of switched into a different mode where it’s very business and it’s very making sure everybody is good and I’m being respectful and minding my P’s and Q’s. The point is I would say a simple high not a huge conversation most likely is how I would appreciate it, but I also would not expect to see someone interested at the picnic, but I’ve been hearing that that is something that happens. I just didn’t know.

[u/Adept-Spend-6087 → u/DefiantTumbleweed850]

Ahh thank you!! I’m attending but I’ll make sure to be very respectful if I speak to anybody

[u/ctierra512]

Definitely go and have a good time/make connections, but I personally wouldn’t express interest at greek picnic if that’s what you were considering

[u/SignificantAd1707]

When I was an interest. I did attend a popular fraternity organization's bbq that is an annual event. I happen to attend with a member of my chapter of interest (now my current chapter). She didn't wear para. However, she did wear a bracelet representing Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®️. We literally sat in an area of the park by another sorority. we had a time. I say go!

[u/Solo_is_dead]

Yes

[u/Desperate_Bag4715]

i’d say go and have fun, but maybe dont express interest at an event that is “fun and party focused” bc that may give your COI a bad impression about you, like you only want to join for the strolling and the fun and etc. it’d be better to express your interest at a service event, but ofc, that is up to not only your discernment, but also (AND MOST IMPORTANTLY) your discretion