Sisterhood Retreats - Once or twice a year, we pick a place to go and stay overnight. In years past, location has varied from some of our sisters' cabins or farmhouses, to Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia (where Phi Mu was founded). This fall, we are planning a trip to Skye Valley. Retreats give us a great opportunity to really bond as sisters. Sometimes, other Phi Mu chapters accompany us on our retreats, giving us a chance to meet more of our Phi Mu sisters.
Family Weekend - By far one of the busiest weekends on campus. At Phi Mu, we serve our families lunch, and then hold a parents' meeting to get the families involved in the sorority. Family Weekend is also the weekend of the Phi Class Fundraiser.
Oktoberfest - Each year we visit Helen, Georgia for the town's Oktoberfest. Helen, an 'alpine village,' is located in the north Georgia mountains.
Pumpkin Caroling - This tradition is one of our chapter's most unusual, and it is really fun. A few nights before Halloween, we all put on costumes and gather up the pumpkins we have carved. Then, we walk around campus to each of the other sorority houses, where we give them a pumpkin and sing 'pumpkin carols' such as "Pumpkin Bells," and "Spooky Night."
Phi Mu Mafia - Everyone dresses in black, like mobsters, and we kidnap the other sorority presidents. In order to get their president back, the sorority must donate items for the battered women's shelter.
Alumnae Christmas Party - We throw an annual Christmas party for our alumnae. The house is beautifully decorated and we serve refreshments. The most interesting part of the evening is listening to the alums tell the tales of their days as collegiates.
Panhellenic Winter Ball - During this formal dance, held at the Georgia Mountain Center, all of the sororities announce their new members. As they are being announced, the new members walk under a row of sabers held by the men of North Georgia Military College. It is a very special and beautiful event.
Christmas Gag Gift Exchange - About a week before the Alumnae Christmas party, we each draw a 'secret santa' name. In that week, we each have to find out something funny about our person, and buy a gift that relates to that something. After the alumnae party, we exchange gifts...and laugh a lot!
Winter Weekend & The Miss Brenau Pageant - Winter weekend is Brenau's big prospective student weekend. Each year, Phi Mu hosts several prospectives for the weekend, giving them tours and the student perspective on Brenau campus life. The Miss Brenau Pageant is held during Winter Weekend, . The pageant is a competition among freshmen women to determine who best represents the Brenau Ideal. Two women are chosen from each sorority to compete. Last year, Suzanne Griswold of Phi Mu proceeded to the top ten, and won Best Essay.
Founder's Day - We celebrate the founding of Phi Mu and give our Founder's Day Pennies, one cent for every year since Phi Mu's founding in 1852.
Easter Egg Hunt - On a weekday shortly before Easter, we invite the alumnae to bring their children to the house. We hide eggs for the children to find and serve refreshments after the hunt.
Skate-a-thon - To raise money for our philanthropy, Children's Miracle Network, we hold a campus-wide skate-a-thon. We invite all of Brenau and we charge a small admission price. Everyone has a really good time...even those of us that can't skate!
Cotillion - This is Brenau's other big formal dance. Mainly held to honor the seniors, this dance is a blast for everyone, Greek or Independent.
Pink Carnation - Each year, the sisters of our chapter put on a special event for the graduating seniors. Usually, it is a formal, and it is one of the events that marks the transition from collegiate to alumnae member. It is fun, and very sentimental.
May Day & Graduation - The day before commencement, Brenau holds a May Day celebration (one of the school's oldest traditions). There is a May Queen chosen, as well as a May Court. Last year, Colleen McWalters and Amy Bell of Phi Mu were on the court. At Phi Mu, we serve lunch to all of our families, and bid each other farewell until next year.
