Need some Advice

gphi2k · #1 03-19-2001, 03:46 PM

Hey everyone,
I couldn't decide whether to put this here or in greeklife, but I thought that it would probably fit best here.

I need an opinion. We have, as I've said at nausiam, a very small greek community at my school. When it comes time for informal rush, my house by and large gets girls to join who are friends of members. I have gotten two close friends to join who between them got 5 more girls to join.

We had a HUGE graduating class last year. Half of our entire house graduated and a few girls just didn't come back, leaving our house with very few actives. We had a great formal rush this year but rush is comprised of girls who are already interested. I'm curious to know what the best way is to get girls interested who otherwise wouldn't be.

The alums are trying to think of some sort of incentive (please, don't go on about how one should not be necessary. I whole heartedly agree, but unfortunately, one IS necessary) to the active girls to recruit in their classes and among their friends, to rush informally. Interest is low on our campus to begin with. We need a way to get girls who would otherwise not even consider rushing, to not only consider it, but to join our house.

I know it's sad, but I am really looking for help to come up with incentive programs for the actives. It bothers me that we need one, but whatever will work, we'll try. And, as sad as it sounds, ideas like a 'get out of meeting free' card won't do it. Any ideas??

Leslie

amycat412 · #2 03-19-2001, 07:51 PM

Hey Leslie,
Did you post this in the GPhiB forum too?

coffeemug · #3 03-19-2001, 09:17 PM

Well one thing is you are making rush a seperate activity from membership. When membership is low you need to make anything (except a ritual meeting) eligible for an event for rushees to come to. Bring them to chapter meetings so they can see what life is like in a house!

Also you need to look outside the actives bringing people in and start rushing strangers!!

33girl · #4 03-19-2001, 09:37 PM

Leslie,

Have the active sisters been doing any inviting of rushees to events at all? If you ask 5 women and get a big fat lack of response, it is a little discouraging.

Do any of the other sororities on campus do open rush/COB? It can be very hard to explain the concept to sisters AND potential rushees if no one else does it. If so you will have to explain it a little bit.

I agree with coffeemug, bring them to all the events you can (although I'm not sure chapter meetings would be a good idea). We used to have what we called "SEX events"....Sorority Educational eXperiences. These could be going to see a play or lecture on campus, having a speaker, etc. We often had rushees and their friends attend these with us. It took some of the pressure off because it gave us something to talk about if we ran out of conversation.

Here's an incentive....tell the sisters that if numbers keep dropping, the chapter will cease to exist. If necessary, get your nationals to tell them that. This isn't a scare tactic, it's a fact of life.

Is the school willing to give you any kind of help at all??

pirate00 · #5 03-19-2001, 11:46 PM

"10" top ways to retain Members...

10. Send Members Birthday Cards
9. Recognize your Organization's Achievement
8. Fellowship Activities
7. Make Members feel special
6. Involve Members in Chapter Goals
5. Don't fall into a Routine
4. Let Members serve one day on E-Comm to feel the pulse of the Chapter
3. More Fellowship Activities
2. A good "big" "little" program
1. Conduct Service that makes a Difference.

gphi2k · #6 03-20-2001, 11:57 AM

hey guys,
thanks for the help.
First of all, no, I have not posted this in the Gamma Phi Forum because I check it every day and no one ever ever ever posts there. I felt i would get a better response from here...

Here's the thing...Some of the alumni are putting forth an 'incentive' program for the active girls. It's not that they need ideas for rush (which is a whole other thread). I told them that I have issues with their idea, and the said 'well then you come up with something better to give the girls a kick in the a$$ and give them an extra incentive to rush girls informally.'

I know that the shear loss of numbers and potential loss of our chapter (not likely but always in the background) should be enough of an incentive. I realize this. And as I said in the original post, I have issues with the whole idea of requiring an incentive at all. But what I need is some sort of replacement plan to hold up to the girl who suggested the incetive program in the first place with a viable alternative.

I know there are many other issues at play here. My school won't do anything to help us cause I've mentioned in other posts, they would prefer all the houses on our campus fold.

Coming up with ways of 'rushing' persay is not what I'm asking. I have a plethora of those ideas. As do the girls. It's inspiring these girls to get out there and do it that is the problem. And my friend/pledge sister/ex president has decided an incentive program may be the answer. I'm not sure I agree...

Leslie

shadokat · #7 03-20-2001, 12:44 PM

gphi2k-

Isn't the incentive to have your sisterhood continue to grow and thrive? Just my take. I know that we had to change our thinking when I was in college because we had very low turnout at recruitment. We had to look at recruitment as a 365 day process, and not just a week each semester. We invited girls who might be interested to all kinds of events from service projects to mixers. We ended up getting a new member class of 13 the next semester instead of 6, which was quota.

Just a thought

Email me if you need any advice on PR though!

gphi2k · #8 03-21-2001, 01:06 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by shadokat:
gphi2k-

Isn't the incentive to have your sisterhood continue to grow and thrive? Just my take. I know that we had to change our thinking when I was in college because we had very low turnout at recruitment. We had to look at recruitment as a 365 day process, and not just a week each semester. We invited girls who might be interested to all kinds of events from service projects to mixers. We ended up getting a new member class of 13 the next semester instead of 6, which was quota.

Just a thought Email me if you need any advice on PR though!

I agree with you 100%. Rush should be year around. And yes, having a strong house should be enough incentive. But it's hard work, especially for a small chapter and these girls need a push. They shouldn't. And just saying 'the house needs you girls to push and try for new members' isn't cutting it.

I'm not REALLY involved in the whole thing. I've been kinda outta the loop these days because I'm working fulltime. This was presented to me by a friend who asked what I thought. So i decided to post this to you guys to see if you had any ideas for what they should do.

ilovemyglo · #9 03-23-2001, 04:15 AM

Okay, I know how you feel EXACTLY!! Last year we lost over 50% of our chapter to graduation, switching schools, marriage, leaving school... etc. which is a lot.. a whole lot. We then had a very unsuccessful rush and then I got Recruitment chair. It has been hard. The greatest incentive came from our finance person... she said that if we don't do something then we will have our dues raised and rent. That gets people in gear... when you say "Dues are going up $100 a semester" that hurts and it actually hurts when rush comes around cause then your dues are higher. We have rocketed in membership since then and our newest sisters are people that we were HIGHLY selective about. I know how the "they have low numbers so they give bids to everyone" thing goes as a rumor but it is really not true. If you need some COB ideas e mail me! I would love to share the ideas we have been given and they have worked really well for us.

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