Beyond Bid Day: The Power of COB

Bid Day is probably the best holiday — it counts as a holiday, right? From the creative themes and decorations to new members’ screams of joy when they see Delta Gamma on their bid card, it all feels like such an exciting exclamation point at the end of long recruitment days, weeks and months. 

But Bid Day is also meaningful. Women run home to a Bid Day buddy, members start thinking about littles and grand littles and sisters look forward to sharing Delta Gamma traditions with a new era of Delta Gammas. Collectively, members love sharing this sisterhood and inviting others to join it. Even though sisters play different roles throughout recruitment and recruitment experiences look different across chapters, everyone rallies behind the same idea: the opportunity to grow the chapter with a new member class that will become the future leaders of Delta Gamma. 

Growing Delta Gamma through recruitment is one of the most exciting ways to introduce the Fraternity’s values and sisterhood to the next generation. But the question is: why stop there? Why save all that love for Delta Gamma and pride in introducing this Do Good Sisterhood to potential new members for one week, or a few weekends, each year? 

When momentum is high, why hit the brakes and pause efforts to grow until the next recruitment cycle? For several Delta Gamma chapters, that isn’t the case. 

Alpha Iota-Oklahoma  

Madison Dealey, director of continuous recruitment  

“I think part of our success comes from the way we approach COB opportunities. We don’t view COB as a backup plan or something less exciting than primary recruitment. We see it as another opportunity to welcome amazing women into our sisterhood. We want every woman receiving a bid to feel just as special, celebrated and excited about joining DG as someone who received a bid on Bid Day through formal recruitment. I think that enthusiasm makes a difference in helping women feel confident and excited about saying yes!”

Zeta Psi-Salisbury 

Blair Darmstadter, chapter president  

“I saw COB as an opportunity to bring in new perspectives, strengthen our sisterhood and help our chapter continue moving in a positive direction. It was never just about increasing our numbers, but about finding women who would feel supported, get involved and truly find their place in DG.” 

Eta Gamma-Texas A&M

Addison Zellitti, vp: membership 

“I never want a woman to feel like she missed her opportunity to find her home in Greek life just because primary recruitment is over. COB gives us the chance to meet incredible women we may not have crossed paths with otherwise and allows us to build genuine relationships in a more personal setting.” 

Zeta Delta-Rochester hosted a vision board COB event this fall semester.

COB creates intentional, relationship-driven opportunities for women to experience Delta Gamma. It allows sisterhood to move beyond a single recruitment period and creates more pathways for women to find belonging. While Bid Day will always remain one of the best days of the year, the real celebration continues throughout the year as chapters introduce Delta Gamma to women who may not have otherwise found their way to the Fraternity. 

That’s how Delta Gamma continues to grow, welcoming more than 900 new members through COB last year. More importantly, that’s how chapters foster greater belonging, stronger connection and more opportunities for women to experience the power of sisterhood. 

So why stop at Bid Day?