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Both formal and informal have their merits. Formal recruitment is great for bringing out the guys who are guaranteed to join and are actively looking for a chapter (the NIC likes to say that this is between 10 and 20 percent of the campus population). It does not, however, do much to attract the men who haven't considered greek life. These guys are a far larger pool of the population. This is where informal recruitment comes into play.
I knew nothing about greek life when I first came to my campus and I completely missed formal recruitment. Off of a chance meeting with an expansion consultant nearly a month after the end of formal rush I attended an informational session and became a colonizing member and founding father of the organization which has changed my life.
Despite Elelphant Walk's claim, many valuable members have no intention of joining a fraternity when they come to college. It's not that they are anti-greek but rather that they simply know nothing. I was one of those individuals yet I'd like to believe that I am a great brother and an asset to my chapter. Greek life wasn't even on my radar when I came here and now I'm on IFC's eboard and am my chapter's philanthropy chair. Much of the same can be said for my brothers.
Informal recruitment has largely made my chapter what it is today. Formal recruitment has certainly been an asset. We get about half of our brothers through traditional rush. In the year-and-a-half since chartering, however, we have become not only the largest chapter on campus but also the chapter most recognized by campus. We got there by having a very heavy emphasis on informal recruitment. Formal rush lasts a few weeks at max. Recruitment should take place every day.
Meet him. Make him your friend. Introduce him to your friends. Make him friends with your friends. You and your friends introduce him to your fraternity. 95% chance, he'll join your fraternity.
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