Recruitment problems

[HomegaTgrl1990]

Hi I am currently new to this and I hope it can help my chapter solve some of the problems we have been having.

We are a local sorority and with new nationals on campus this year at our school (which is small and not such a big greek school) we are having problems recruiting girls. Its definately hard because we are a small chapter with 6 active sisters undergrad. and it is esp hard to comptete with national sororties with 35 members and growing everyday.

I am not sure what we can do to help with our current situation, because it seems at our school girls just want us to hand them our letters but we cannot do that. Its all about quality over quantity, but its becoming a big hurdle for us. Its basically us 6, and its up to us to save our chapter.

Can anyone make some suggestions?

[kddani]

Originally Posted by HomegaTgrl1990

it seems at our school girls just want us to hand them our letters but we cannot do that.

If by that you mean that you group hazes, no wonder they don't want to join.

[Stef the Pef]

My suggestions?

*Wear letters everywhere, with the exception of when you're going out and/or drinking. The six of you need to make your chapter as visible as possible, start making lots of friends outside the chapter, and then trying to bring them into your chapter.

*Along with that point--don't do anything stupid in letters. If PNMs see you drunk/high/smoking/swearing/etc. in letters, that can be a huuuuuuge turn-off.

*Bring in an "image guy." Our chapter usually brings in a husband and wife pair we call "Ronnifer" (there's a Ron and a Jennifer and they're practically attached at the hip) and they rock. The token "image guy(s)" can show you all kinds of tips and tricks for winning people over during rush and/or COB.

*Do your all-campus events big. Make them fun. Make others interested in joining your chapter and being a part of the planning for it. If you don't have a big event, maybe you should consider it? Things like concerts, field days, Greek-vs.-Greek competitions, open parties, battle of the bands events, and even guy invites like crushes are great ways to get the rest of the campus involved in and excited about your chapter. The more folks see your name on event shirts, the more folks see your chapter. Plus, big events can sometimes be a good way to raise money for your philanthropy.
*Be nice to everyone. Even guys. Even other sororities. Nobody wants to join a chapter they see as small and bitter over everyone else's success. I don't know if that's a pervasive attitude or not, but that tends to happen a lot in smaller chapters and can really make one or two members bring the rest of the chapter down.

*If there's in-chapter trouble (even the small stuff), try to keep it under wraps. Don't have sisters talking smack in public about how ________ is a crappy officer or _________ is going to be a lame event. Keep that kind of stuff between yourselves.


And I know this is a stretch because if you're a local, you're dedicated to your local--but have you considered trying to affiliate with a national sorority? One that closest matches your local's ideals and traditions? If you're losing that many girls because they want to be a part of an inter/national sisterhood, that may be something to consider.

[PenguinTrax]

Originally Posted by ta kala

I think she means that her sisters are willing to let anyone join, regardless of how well they fit into their organization.

No, I believe she's saying the PNMs want an easy in because they are a local group and small. The PNMs feel that the group must be desperate at that size. They may be, but they aren't going give up a membership selection process.

[OrigamiTulip]

I looked at your sorority's website, and I'm going to be blunt here for a minute. Using puns on your sorority's name, such as saying "Come have your chance to meet a HOT sister," "Proud to be HOT,"and holding events like "Meet Market" are probably not helping to attract quality women. Your national website doesn't have any of those things on it, and I didn't see it on any of your other chapters' websites, so it's probably safe to say that HOT isn't your official nickname. Stick to using your full name, or appropriate nickname, instead of making low-brow puns.

Will that solve all of your recuritment problems? No, but its a good place to start.

[PenguinTrax]

Originally Posted by OrigamiTulip

I looked at your sorority's website, and I'm going to be blunt here for a minute. Using puns on your sorority's name, such as saying "Come have your chance to meet a HOT sister," "Proud to be HOT,"and holding events like "Meet Market" are probably not helping to attract quality women. Your national website doesn't have any of those things on it, and I didn't see it on any of your other chapters' websites, so it's probably safe to say that HOT isn't your official nickname. Stick to using your full name, or appropriate nickname, instead of making low-brow puns.

Will that solve all of your recuritment problems? No, but its a good place to start.

I agree. It also doesn't help that the national website hasn't been updated in close to a year - it tells the potential members that there isn't an infrastructure to support the chapters and basically, that people just don't care.

Your pics pages show alcohol use (beer bottles, wine glasses, etc.) and this is a turn-off.

It sounds to me, from what little I've heard and seen on the web sites, that more than anything your group has an image problem. It's a tough row to hoe...hopefully your chapter and your national authority are up to the challenge.

[HomegaTgrl1990]

In response to the hazing comment, no we dont haze at all but there is an educational process. We want to make sure the girls are serious and will work together with us and not flake out, I am sure you understand this.

Thanks for all the feedback, I understand that the website has not been updated and need to be ASAP. We are in the process of getting the information from an older alumni sister. And efinately need to make changes to that and the whole posting of in appropiate pictures. We are in a kind of rebuilding stage.

I understand the puns, and should use our full name instead of "HOT" as our nickname, the feed back is great and is very helpful in fixing our image!!

Thanks so much and if anyone else has any other things to offer thats awesome

[HomegaTgrl1990]

And I know this is a stretch because if you're a local, you're dedicated to your local--but have you considered trying to affiliate with a national sorority? One that closest matches your local's ideals and traditions? If you're losing that many girls because they want to be a part of an inter/national sisterhood, that may be something to consider.

I do not think we have considered that, and I'm not sure that it is an option as of yet. It may be a last resort but its up to our Alumni officrs.

[KSUViolet06]

Please note that no one here is picking on you, we're just offering some constructive criticism to help. I'm sure you want us to be as honest as possible.

Some of you may not agree with or understand this next piece of advice but:

Honestly examine how you market yourselves. Do you market yourselves as the "anti-sorority" group? The group that is "different from your typical sorority"? I feel like everybody's campus has a sorority that advertises itself as this. The "different" sorority experience. That doesn't always work.

Girls who join sororities are looking for a certain experience. They're looking for sisters, letters ,date parties, formals, etc. Some girls might think that because you're a local, you don't offer the same things as the other national groups do. Show girls that you are offering an experience that is compaprable to the other sororities on campus. Let girls see that the women in your sorority are different and unique, but what you offer is just as good as other groups.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by HomegaTgrl1990

I do not think we have considered that, and I'm not sure that it is an option as of yet. It may be a last resort but its up to our Alumni officrs.

I'm so confused - you have 3 other chapters but call yourselves a local?

That may be part of the problem.

[HomegaTgrl1990]

Oh I totally understand it is all constructive cristicism, and I am all about blunt honest answers. I appreciate all of it!

Yes we have other chapters but one other then us in Texas is acitve.

Honestly examine how you market yourselves. Do you market yourselves as the "anti-sorority" group? The group that is "different from your typical sorority"? I feel like everybody's campus has a sorority that advertises itself as this. The "different" sorority experience. That doesn't always work.

We haven'tmarketed ourselves as the anti-sorority at all but I am in the process of making a marketing plan for us. I am working on what to market ourselves as. I see what you mean about the whole "different" sorority thing. I think people on our campus feel like alll of them are the same, but yes i agree that every sorority does have something different to offer.


I appreciate your feedback and thank you

[HomegaTgrl1990]

I'm so confused - you have 3 other chapters but call yourselves a local?

Sorry I am used to this whole system, so excuse me if I reply alot.

We are still considered local until I believe we get atleast 5 active chapters in NY then we become regional.

[ΑΓΔSquirrelGirl]

I'd say that since you are very small, and the other chapters are larger in comparison, market yourselves as very seriously dedicated to sisterhood, while acting like a traditional sorority in some ways (mixers, formals, being in greek week). Honestly if I were rushing at a school with locals I would prefer a national/international over the local because of the networking, resources, and infrastructure. But if a local presented themselves as a traditional sorority, just with a huge emphasis on a tight sisterhood, I would really take a second look. You could play up the fact that you are small BECAUSE sisterhood is so important...sometimes in larger chapters people get lost in the shuffle, and sisterhood doesn't always stretch as far as it should. With six members, you have a lot to offer as far as a close bond of carefully selected sisters. That's what I would play up...you can't compete with a chapter five times your size in flash and gimmicks, but you can compete with the tight sisterhood angle.

I didn't see the website, but I would definitely remove pictures with alcohol. Truthfully a lot of college freshman girls won't be interested in a dowdy or anti-social group, but you can look like you have a good time without advertising alcohol use. I remember when I went through that was a factor for me...I'm not up tight at all, I do go out and party, BUT I didn't want to be associated with a group that appeared to do nothing but party and drink. And freshmen women who don't have a lot of time to really get the feel for the groups on campus will believe what they're shown and what they're told.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

What are you offering women that the national groups aren't?

[ZTAmillz]

What does the "H" stand for?