Point 1: If you're recruiting fresmen and sophomores who are 18 or 19 years old, they probably won't be able to get served at Hooters.

Point 2: Dry rush is fine, but if you're recruiting guys who drink, you might want to see how alcohol affects them before you give them a bid. Guys who are mild-mannered and sensible can turn into the Tasmanian Devil after a few beers.

Point 3: RUSH NEVER STOPS!!! As per a discussion I had with my chapter's High Pi the other day, every time you walk on campus, you are a one-man rush event. Every person who sees you or talks to you is forming an impression of Lambda Chi Alpha. If he sees brothers having a good time in the dining hall, they remember it. If they see brothers talking to hot chicks, they remember it. Conversely, if they see you doing something stupid, they'll remember that, too. Bottom line, wear your letters and go out of your way to treat people well.

I like the Habitat for Humanity idea. Also, talk to somebody in your school's administration and tell them what you're trying to do. Ask if they have a project you could do, along with an undetermined number of non-greek volunteers, that would benefit the campus. (Wait for them to reagin conciousness before you continue.) If you're on campus for your service project, you'll be working right in front of the men you're trying to recruit, so even the ones who don't come out for the event will see you doing it. Try to find an event where you can work in teams of 2, with one brother and one non-brother so you can actually have a conversation. Recruiting is all about making friends.

You made my point before I got around to replying. Freshmen can't order alcohol. It would be kinda awkward to drink in front of them when they can't. We have had the problem of rushing older guys in the past few quarters. Our generation gap is going to catch up with us next year, and a lot of our older guys are going to be gone.

Thanks for the ideas.
 

Thanks, everybody. Well, my chapter's biggest problems have always been lack of committment when it comes to rush and the fact that we don't have a proper house. The latter isn't really fixable at the moment since the housing market in Athens is godaweful, but we've already started fixing the committment problem. We're beginning to realize that after next year, half of our chapter is gone. We had trouble enough getting people to fill officer positions this election (I got hoodwinked into being Theta instead of Phi), I can't imagine how it will be next time when half the chapter is inelgible because they're graduating.

We do tell everyone to submit names for rush, but most people don't do it anyway (I freely admit I didn't because I suck at talking to people). Even with this attempt and an awesome week of Rush events, we only managed to get two people, one of which had already rushed once before but had to leave. I thought our Alumni Advisor was going to kill us. At Founders, he's going to tell our alumni not to give us any money for summer rush efforts, which I think does more harm than good and isn't logical in the least.

Whether you suck at talking to people or not, remember, recruitment is the life blood of any Zeta.

No new members, it dies, period

Graduating Brothers need to be replaced. Who replaces them? Not Grads, the Brothers who are in the Zeta.

So out of curisoity, do you not beleive in LXA, Your Brothers and Zeta?

Do you know who your ECL is? He is available for you, just ask!:) He may not be able to get to your Zeta or email you asap, but He will!

I used to be the same way, but with the work I did with my local and LXA, I was able to do a turn around and as you can see, I am not bashful at all!:D

I Did, You can also! You are not an individual now, You are a Band Of Brothers who are here for you!:)

I have this vision of Ron White using this in a future show....exactly how BAD does it have to get for a HOOTERS to GO OUT OF BUSINESS!? I mean, "you can't fix stupid" and, help me out on this...you've seen one set of (hooters) - you want to see all of 'em....:p

You guys and your hooters. First off that restaurant has the worst wings ever, they make you sick for days. They have the worst service because the girls can't figure out whats going on.

Now i'm sure someone will try and explain that you don't go there for the food, you go there for the "atmosphere". Let's see, ive seen pregnant hooters girls. Ive seen seen hooters girls bring their kids to work, and let them run around. Kinda kills it for you.

I still never understand why guys bring their family's to hooters. Their food is not that good. Seems kinda wrong to me.

First, if you've seen all that, you must've spent a lot of time there.

Second, they serve food at Hooters? Really?

That was all one night. Went last quarter with the house. Ive had my hooters fill for a while.

I've seen a little league team in there a time of two. In uniform, after a game. A Hooter's over by Anaheim Stadium.

And those guys, 11 or 12 years old, they ALL knew what was going on. They were NOT there to study owls.

You win on that point, back when they first started getting popular my Uncle took me there a few times. That was when I was in my middle school days. Always cracks me up when guys drag their wives and daughters in there. My little girl is going to stay far away. Ill invalidate my point however. My aunt used to love coming with us, she liked talking to the girls. She always said how nice they were. Nothing like that southern hospitality.

To get back to the original topic, try rushing during the summer. Dave, see if you can get a list of incoming freshmen from the college. During the summer, the brothers can look up whoever lives near them. Say something like, "I hear you're going to XYU in the fall and thought you'd like to know some of the ins and outs of the campus", or something like that. Then meet somewhere, go clubbing, bowling, or whatever.

They don't even have to mention the fraternity, not at first anyway. But that kid will know at least one person, and then you can invite him to a rush function once school begins, and he'll know you.

I know for a fact this works because that's how I (and another high school graduate) got recruited. The three of us actually ended up driving from NY to FL together. Geno and I were Lambda Chis before we even arrived at the college.

Another Tactic I'd Almost Forgotten
 

Find out what you have to do to get on the Freshman Orientation Team (or whatever your school calls the students that help the freshmen move into the dorms and helps them feel at home.)

You get to meet your prospective new members a week or so before the other fraternities even show up. Invite them over to a barbecue at the house. If you do it right, you'll have them ready to join Lambda Chi before they even find out what the other fraternities' names are.

And as a side benefit, (maybe the primary benefit?) you also get first pick of the freshmen girls.

You guys are always welcome to have a retreat up here at OSU. Quite a few chapters visit us on a regular basis during the football season. Come up for the weekend bring your prospective members. Great atmosphere for a good time.

Yeah, one of my goals has been to try and get up to Marietta or OSU sometime, just to see how other chapters are. I've haven't really met any other Lambda Chis besides the ones from my own chapter. That'll change in the summer with Summer Conference, but I'd like to try and make some trips before that.

I too was a Lambda Chi before I even 'officially' got to school. The guys had a booth set up and talked to me for while and before i knew what was even happening I was ready to join and couldnt wait for to school to start. That was in the Summer of 2005, I got initiated in Spring of 2006, and have been active now for over a year, and absolutely loving every minute of it.

Also the guys did talk to the freshmen girls as well........kinda getting the phone books full of prospects (new guys for the fraternity, and new girls to hang out with ;) )