We have experienced many different events throughout this process. AOII recruited new members, had personal appointments and recruitment events with all of the potential new members, led a colonization ceremony, and the colony has already had two new member meetings!
But, it all had to start somewhere... and it starts with the University. The University has to see a need for a new greek organization due to an increase in size of their Greek Community, high retention rates in the greek community, and/or many other reasons. The Greek Leadership Council at CSUSM saw the increase in their membership and was looking for another organization to join their community! AOII applied, gave a presentation, and was invited to come to campus to start a brand, new chapter this Spring.
California State University San Marcos!
During the fall of 2011 and continuing into the early Spring this year, we began our public relations efforts through marketing and AOII materials. Then, we participated in the first round of formal recruitment at CSUSM. After the first round, AOII stepped out and let the other 3 women's groups finish recruiting. Beginning the day after bid day, AOII came out to campus with a table on CSUSM's library plaza and gathered names of interested women. We had the support of team AOII, which were members from the Greek Community at CSUSM. We chalked their campus, used A-frames, had team AOII t-shirts, and an informational session for all of the interested women! It was a busy two-week recruitment period, but we had a lot of support from the campus and had a great time! Here are some pictures from our recruitment period:
Alpha Xi Delta supporting AOII!
Everyone wore AOII buttons!
Flyers were hung all over campus!
Then, after all of the interested women signed up, our colonization team came and we had personal appointments with all of the women! At night, we held recruitment events! The colonization team represented volunteers and staff of AOII. Rebecca Herman (XB VP), Linda Grandolfo (Foundation Board VP), Yvonne Sims (ND for Network 8), Jennifer Zoni (NS-D)Troy Leforge (Executive Director), Kara Hopper (Director of Extension and Public Relations), Molly Fenton (Assistant Director of Extension and New Chapter Development), Andrea Theobald (Assistant Director of Chapter Services), and us - the ELCs!
Our first event was, 'Picture Yourself in AOII' and the 2nd was our 'Black Tie Affair', an event similar to a preference ceremony that many of our chapters have. We were lucky enough to have two chapters, Sigma Phi and Chi Psi, that came out to help us recruit the women and assisted in the entire process!
Picture yourself in AOII event!
Andrea with the women of Chi Psi!
After the recruitment recruitment events, Sunday was Bid Day! This was a huge celebration! It is so sweet to be in AOII! The new members enjoyed a candy, their new t-shirts and bid day bags!
Yvonne, Taryn, and Kara
Ladies of Sigma Phi teaching AOII songs!
New members enjoying the candy and sunglasses!
That night, the colonization ceremony was led by Rebecca Herman and all of our new members officially began their journey with AOII. We had students from the Greek Leadership Council, parents, friends, and administrators and staff come to this event and support AOII. 
