Theme Event Ideas
Holiday Themes
Literature Themes
Food Themes
Academic Themes
Gatherings
Competitions
Holiday Themes
- Pumpkin Carving Contest
Pumpkins depict literary figures/characters. - Lovers and Literature
Present your favorite romantic moment in literature, poetry, film, or drama. - Love/Hate Poetry for Scorned Lovers: Poetry for the Bitter
Gather to read poetry denouncing love. - Recreate a Victorian Christmas
- Tree-decorating Contest
- Homecoming Parade Float and Window Decoration
- Holiday Party and Book Give-Away
- Thanksgiving Dinner
For foreign and out-of-state students who can't make it home for the holiday. - Halloween Campfire Reading
- Halloween Lit Readings
You may also want to consider a costume party where members dress as their favorite literary figures. - Christmas (or Winter Solstice) Party
With readings of Christmas (or seasonal) literature. Choose a theme (Dickens, American, African, etc.) for the event. - Valentine's Day Reading
Present readings of great love poetry and prose. - St. Patrick's Day Party
Present readings of Irish literature. - Shakespeare's Birthday Party
Complete with readings, a birthday cake, and performances of the bard's work. This event can be adapted to celebrate other authors. - UNC's Blarney O'Brewery
When Zeta Psi chapter first formed at UNC over a decade ago, one of the first public programs was a celebration of Irish literature on or near St. Patrick's day. Originally held in the University Center's restaurant, "Bentley's," the celebration was named "Blarney O'Bentley." The university community response was so positive that the event has been held annually.
When Bentley's closed, the celebration was moved to a local brew pub, where classic Irish food became available. The name was changed to "Blarney O'Brewery." Though the event sounds rather "boozy," in fact it has expanded to include Irish literature, music, and dance while, at the same time, growing well beyond the original bounds. With 1999 attendance at an all-time high of over 200, Blarney O'Brewery is one of Zeta Psi Chapter's main events.
Literature
- Coffeehouse Open Mike Events
- Lit-a-thon readings
Hold marathon readings of epic works. - Meet the Author Costume Festival
- Dead Poets Reading
- Multicultural Reading Day
- Woman's History Reading Day
- Faculty Poetry Reading
- Black History Month Reading Day
- Beach Poetry Readings
- "Fireside" Poets Bonfire Reading
- Literary Scavenger Hunt
Use clues from a particular piece of literature. - Midnight Poetry Reading
- "How To Turn A Short Story Into A Play" Discussion
- "How To Turn A Book Into A Film" Discussion
- Host a "Shakespeare Birthday Party" during April
- Host a new authors night. Invite newly published faculty and others in the community.
Food
- Around the World in __ Hours: provide food and literature from foreign countries.
- Host a lecture on the Lord of the Rings film, with Hobbit Buffet following.
- Conduct a new officers' dinner meeting.
- Host a medieval feast.
- Combine your membership drive with a pizza party.
- Hold a luncheon for new members; display pictures and records of past activities and outline new activities being planned. Give everyone a chance to get acquainted and to volunteer.
- Hold a spaghetti (chili, crawfish, Mexican, Chinese, etc.) dinner for all members.
- Have a spring picnic and barbeque for all members and faculty to wind up the school year.
- New Members Dessert Potluck: for those who were unable to attend the formal ceremony.
- Fare-Thee-Well-Potluck: to discuss past year's events, share memories of college life, announce new officers for following year, present graduates with honor cords.
- Have a chapter progressive dinner.
- Monthly dinners with faculty
- Freshman/Transfer Honor Tea, complete with scones, cucumber sandwiches, gourmet teas, and real china. Faculty invited. Members escort new students for the event, introducing them, answering questions, and serving as mentors.
- Sponsor a departmental social coffee hour.
- Back-To-School Brown Bag Picnic. Chapter provided drinks and dessert. Conduct open mike readings.
- Champagne and Flower Breakfast honors graduating seniors. Faculty bring the champagne and flowers, students provide the food. Chapter presents awards and provides entertainment.
Suggestions for Hosting Food Events
- Food is always a good draw for new members; combining a dinner with a membership drive often works well.
- Ask if anyone in your chapter has food service experience or is willing to take on the preparation of a meal. Cooking together can be a fun way to get acquainted, and you can really cut costs if you make the meal yourself.
- If you are holding your event on campus, make sure you check for food restrictions in the building you plan to use. An event can be spoiled at the last minute by finding out you can't have food in that building or that you must use the campus catering services.
- Make sure the site you choose is comfortable and conducive to the atmosphere you would like to set.
- ADVERTISE, ADVERTISE, ADVERTISE! Put together a chapter newsletter, published every semester to let everyone know well ahead of time what you are planning to do.
Academic
- Conduct a "How To Get Into Graduate School" discussion led by newer professors who describe their recent experiences as well as what to look for in a grad program.
- Hold a student teaching panel.
- Help host English department orientations.
- Organize review sessions for oral exams.
- Hold a session concerning grammar tutorials for state basic skills test for teachers.
- Invite high school students to a "Joys of Studying English" event.
- Invite Alumni to a meeting to discuss graduate schools and finding jobs after graduation.
- Make posters/brochures and visit English classes to invite members into your chapter.
Gatherings
Hold a social at a professor's house.
- Meet with other honor societies.
- Conduct monthly movie nights featuring films presented by faculty members.
- Hold bi-weekly Shakespeare movie nights.
- Present member accomplishments. Following each member's name, list chapter offices held, other clubs and groups to which the member belongs, honors received, sports involvement, etc.
- Have a bonfire at a local beach or park (where permitted).
- Rent a selection of videos and hold a movie night, either on campus or at an officer or sponsor's house.
- Hold a Sigma Tau Delta open house.
- Conduct a Pass The Hat Ceremony. Needed: four beanie hats (each a different color), with a propeller. After signing name on the beanie, President "passes the hat" to the new president and offers some words of advice. Same with vice president, secretary, and treasurer. Hats are worn at all meetings.
- Hold a "dry run" poetry and paper reading by those heading to the Sigma Tau Delta Convention.
Competitions
- English Faculty Talent Show
- Bad Poetry Contest
- Annual Faculty/Scholars Bowling Night
- Faculty/Student Softball Game
- High School writing contest
- Speed scrabble
Players grab seven tiles and create their own word grid in front of them. The first player to use all seven letters yells "take one" and all other players take another tile. This continues until all tiles are used. Players total their own score, with leftover tiles being subtracted from the total. Highest score wins.
Suggestions for Hosting Competitions
- Consider inviting faculty members to participate in these fun events. Departments are more supportive if they are not just called on to provide funds. Make your faculty an integral part of your local chapter.
- Events need not take a lot of planning or money, but make sure everyone from your chapter feels invited to attend.
- If you are using an off-campus site for your event, make sure you have full permission to use all the facilities.
- Be sure to keep your sponsor well informed about your plans for any event.