Sarah -
Thanks for the additional info...here are a couple of thoughts.
I agree with 33 - concentrate on quality, not quantity. Build your chapter up slowly and never make excuses for your current, smaller membership. I think a live-in traveling or graduate consultant is a good idea - they can bring a new perspective to your chapter and will have a lot of experience to help you. I don't know why your nationals seem to have been so laissez faire until now, but mine is not to reason why.
I would suggest a chapter retreat and have a qualified facilitator lead some discussions on why you are having recruitment problems and what can be done to combat the problem. Some things to consider: Overall attitude of chapter, reputation of chapter on campus, image of chapter, what are your goals for the coming year. I suggest that "getting quota next Rush" is not a good goal. Your goal should be something smaller, like "We will pledge and initiate 5 quality women each semester." Write down what makes a quality member - is it grades? commitment to the sorority? looks? Then write down how you can find these type of women? Eliminate those behaviors that harm the image or reputation of the chapter and be very noticeable about the change.
In the interim, your chapter needs to act bigger - be noticed on campus by having everyone in the chapter wear their letters at least twice a week, get some PR for the chapter (a community service event is a great way to do this), be enthusiastic about your chapter (even when things aren't so great) and show the world that you guys are proud and are 'here to stay'.
Plan small C.O.B. events and invite only as many women as you can comfortably entertain - I'd say no more than a dozen if your chapter is currently at 17 members. Plan events that are fun, yet give the potential members time to get to know your chapter and make sure you let the women know all about your chapter locally and nationally. If they question your size, tell them that the chapter feels that quality members are more important than numbers on a spreadsheet, that the chapter invited them (the rushees) for the qualities that they could bring to the chapter. Express to the potential members that your chapter is looking for women that want to be in on a ground-floor opportunity to grow the chapter.
Look at women in your classes and other clubs on campus - make the invitation casual - my sorority is going out for pizza tonight, would you like to come and meet my friends? Make the offer honestly and without pressure. Bring these potential members to community service events and events other than parties. Let them get to know all of you before you jump in and ask them to pledge.
Be selective - there may be women that would LOVE to be in your chapter, but if they don't meet your standards (scholastic or whatever), don't ask them to join. However, I caution you to really get to know someone before dismissing them based on appearance, etc.- it's what is in their heart and their capabilities that matter. I think initially you need to pledge women that are already leaders and elicit their help in developing and attracting more leaders to the chapter.
I've seen a chapter of 3 turn themselves around to become the second largest chapter on campus. Granted, it was a smaller campus, but still, it is an impressive thing to see.
Another thing to consider is the recent trend in the NPC for sororities to help each other. Quite literally, members of the other chapters will Rush on your behalf. Talk to your Greek Life advisor and Panhellenic President. Hook up with a chapter that is successful, but maybe had problems of it's own a few years ago. Find out what they did to turn their chapter around and ask for their help so that you can do the same. One weak chapter on campus hurts everyone - everyone should work together to help you. You can also ask fraternity men you are friendly with to help you by introducing women from their classes to you and your sisters.
If you want to email me privately and let me know what chapter you are in, I may be able to offer a few more specific ideas.
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Fraternally,
Barbara
Zeta Tau Alpha Alumna
If you have to go around telling everyone you're in charge you're not much of a leader.
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