Need Help for a Revived Chapter
 

Hello Brothers,

I am the new pledge captain for my chapter and we need help. We went through a period of incredibly low membership and very negative attitudes in the last few years and we are FINALLY coming back from it. However, through that period, we have lost a lot of our history. We are growing growing growing, but we're finding that we're not equipped to run a very meaningful pledgeship, because our retention rate is not too pretty. It's getting better, but I'm looking for ideas to spice up our pledgeship and make it a much more meaningful and positive experience.

Any ideas are welcome! Thank you so much!

To be clear, are you looking for traditions to inject into your pledging program that are meaningful, but safe, in a way that gives pledges "wow" and "oh my!" moments that they can look back on fondly, as well as traditions that will make them feel wanted and encourage them to stay active and pass along to future pledges?

Haha, yes I believe so. I think that's what we're in the market for. We have sort of a mundane pledgeship currently.

You are probably interested in activities or ceremonies for:

1) Big/Little revelation
2) Halfway point
3) End of pledging/beginning of neophyte period


I don't feel comfortable putting my chapter's traditions on the internet because they are special to us but I suggest you go to sectional, regional, and national conventions and share some ideas with brothers you meet in person. Also, ask your section chair and advisors.

You could also request an alumni list from the national office and contact your chapter alums.