Advice to a small chapter

[Starlite.dreams]

I am seeking advice from those experienced in recruitment. We are struggling right now on ideas for a values based activity for our first night of formal recruitment. I have looked through other threads and haven't found what I was looking for, so I thought I would go ahead and post. If there is a thread that I can be directed to that will answer this question, that would be great.

A little background on the campus if this helps: We were installed on campus in 1923 and left campus in the 80's due to financial issues. We were reinstalled in 2010 and it has been very rocky ever since. Campus total is at 65 with the expectations of 150 going through recruitment this fall. We currently sit at 13 members with one member unavailable due to her role as a recruitment counselor. There are 4 chapters, (one has stated they are already near total and this will be the only time they can recruit, one is at 30 members and is our direct competition, and the other chapter is an unknown) We've never been able to reach quota in the years we've been back and we're expected to get at least half of quota this semester (by our national sorority).

There are four rounds per night and four nights. If PHA reaches their goal, we will have about 40 women per round the first two nights which when you do the math means we will have up to 6 PNM's to 1 or 2 active members. It's not ideal but we're making the best of it. We do run off a RFM system however it's been "modified" to fit the campus' needs (which means we get the short end of the stick when bid night comes around)

We're simply asking for help right now on ideas to get through the first night which is focused on values and philanthropy. We already have the philanthropy down, but don't know the best way to approach the values part of it. If you have any ideas that could help, we would be extremely grateful. Thank you.

[carnation]

Starlite, please call your national HQ. They'll certainly have dealt with this before and they should be able to give you what you need.

[33girl]

Have you been open bidding and having pledge classes outside formal rush? Did your HQ give you assistance with that? Did your chapter charter at campus total?

"Values based" is a silly buzzword. Don't worry about a theme. Just talk to the rushees and try to make as many connections as possible. Avoid one on one conversation and keep it group focused.

If your campus is not using RFM correctly (and with the disparity in chapter sizes it doesn't sound like they are) you need to contact your NPC area advisor. Also, if the majority of groups are not at campus total after formal rush, total needs to be reevaluated.

ETA: In your case, bid day is not the END of rush. Bid day is a little before the middle. Have plans in place for an open bid party as soon after bid day as possible. Then have another one a week and a half later. If it's at all possible and Panhellenic allows it, have them in a member's house or apartment rather than a classroom or wherever you had to hold formal rush activities.

[SoCalGirl]

I agree that values based activity is very buzz wordy. I'm not sure what it means at all. Back in the day first night of rush was chit chat not activities.

Do you have some general descriptions of what your chapter, and others on campus, have done over the years?

eta:

How is your alumnae support? Do you have chapter advisors that are from your own chapter or experienced themselves with the struggles of being the smaller group on campus? Are your alumnae and advisors supportive? Are any National officers or advisors appointed to work more closely with your chapter?

Are you in a leadership role yourself? I'm assuming your VP Membership but I could be wrong.

My own chapter was significantly smaller during formal rush in the fall. We had to double rush a handful of girls each round. It sounds like you'll be expecting all members to triple rush every round. Conversation workshops become critical. Trying to get to know the girls without any single one dominating the conversation is very tricky.


Do you know if your NHQ is expecting half quota from formal or by the end of the fall? I know it's not impossible to double/triple a chapter in one shot during formal but the chapter may be more comfortable picking up more girls during COB/informal recruitment. Anything that allows a more natural "get to know you" phase can help smaller groups.

[FSUZeta]

Does each chapter have to contribute at least one member to serve as a recruitment counselor?

[LAblondeGPhi]

I advised a group in a similar situation: small school, unhoused Greek system (this is an assumption on my part, but I find that small chapters at unhoused Greek systems typically are able to stay small rather than succumb to the pressure of house payments), etc.

Part of the problem, as we all know, is that with these chapters there often aren't the adequate campus, regional or alumnae resources nearby to help out year to year. Often, the Greek life advisor wears 8 other hats, and Panhellenic recruitment is priority #38 on a long list of responsibilities.

Couple of long-term things:
1 - FIGHT for more recruitment parties to get those pnms-per-party numbers down. Panhellenic needs to understand that as long as it gives you 5 PNMs for every member you have per party, they are doing a great disservice to their entire system. Even if this means extra parties only for your chapter (somehow).

2 - NO MORE RECRUITMENT COUNSELORS. I saw this every year with the chapter I advised, and I was livid every time. There should be an exemption for your chapter so that you have all of your women where you need them - recruiting.

3 - Buy and read "I Heart Recruitment" to get your COB game plan in place this year. For a chapter like yours, I'm going to bet that the major turnaround for you comes when you're able to recruit enough women in COB one year so that the next year you have more women to recruit with.

On to action items for this year:
1 - If you are allowed to by Panhellenic, see if you can get recent alumnae from your chapter and sisters from other chapters to help you on the recruitment floor. At this point, you need bodies to manage the PNMs. Alumnae are preferable, because they know the chapter and the campus.

2 - THIS!!

Originally Posted by SoCalGirl

Conversation workshops become critical. Trying to get to know the girls without any single one dominating the conversation is very tricky.

I'm going to bet that your women are a little less confident a formal recruitment conversations than the women in larger chapters on your campus. This often happens for a variety of reasons, but the main one in your case is that you don't have the luxury of selecting only your best conversationalists to recruit. Conversation workshops will be extremely important - practice with alumnae, practice with other chapters, get exercises from your HQ.

3 - Have a story and a "message" about what your chapter is and what it's looking for in new members. Having a clear point of view that has been discussed and practiced among your members will make them more confident in addressing the obvious fact that you're a smaller chapter. If your members are confident in their ability to address the benefits of a small chapter and the specific standards that you look for in women you recruit (notice I didn't say anything about drawbacks here, the point is to emphasize your standards), that will go a long way in winning over PNMs.

4 - Lastly, I had no idea what you meant by "Values-based recruitment activity". I had to Google the term, and I now only vaguely understand what you're talking about. Do you mean some kind of activity that conveys leadership or scholarship (etc.) in order to attract girls who most appreciate those values?

The only thing I can possibly think of that would work for your chapter is if each of your sisters took a subject to discuss (student government on campus, volunteerism, academic excellence, social opportunities, spirit and school pride, dance and artistic pursuits, etc), and you somehow let PNMs go to a section of the room that most interested them for the first half of the party, and then switched for the second half. Each sister could have a small tri-fold board or table (if allowed) showing some of the opportunities, and HIGHLIGHTING what groups your sisters are involved in. That way you *might* be able to get away with one sister doing a brief 2-minute presentation with 5-6 PNMs and then facilitating some questions with and among the PNMs themselves.

You'd have to spend a minute or so explaining the premise at the beginning of the party, and explaining that these are some of the activities and values you hold most dear as a chapter, etc. etc... you wanted to get to know the PNMs in a way that expressed their own interests and hopes for college, etc. etc.

The more I think about it, this might work. In your situation, I'm a fan of anything that helps manage the numbers of PNMs you have, even if that means getting out of the box a little bit and moving toward a more presentation-oriented style rather than traditional conversation.

Good luck!

[FSUZeta]

Originally Posted by LAblondeGPhi

I advised a group in a similar situation: small school, unhoused Greek system (this is an assumption on my part, but I find that small chapters at unhoused Greek systems typically are able to stay small rather than succumb to the pressure of house payments), etc.

Part of the problem, as we all know, is that with these chapters there often aren't the adequate campus, regional or alumnae resources nearby to help out year to year. Often, the Greek life advisor wears 8 other hats, and Panhellenic recruitment is priority #38 on a long list of responsibilities.

Couple of long-term things:
1 - FIGHT for more recruitment parties to get those pnms-per-party numbers down. Panhellenic needs to understand that as long as it gives you 5 PNMs for every member you have per party, they are doing a great disservice to their entire system. Even if this means extra parties only for your chapter (somehow).

2 - NO MORE RECRUITMENT COUNSELORS. I saw this every year with the chapter I advised, and I was livid every time. There should be an exemption for your chapter so that you have all of your women where you need them - recruiting.

3 - Buy and read "I Heart Recruitment" to get your COB game plan in place this year. For a chapter like yours, I'm going to bet that the major turnaround for you comes when you're able to recruit enough women in COB one year so that the next year you have more women to recruit with.

On to action items for this year:
1 - If you are allowed to by Panhellenic, see if you can get recent alumnae from your chapter and sisters from other chapters to help you on the recruitment floor. At this point, you need bodies to manage the PNMs. Alumnae are preferable, because they know the chapter and the campus.

2 - THIS!!

I'm going to bet that your women are a little less confident a formal recruitment conversations than the women in larger chapters on your campus. This often happens for a variety of reasons, but the main one in your case is that you don't have the luxury of selecting only your best conversationalists to recruit. Conversation workshops will be extremely important - practice with alumnae, practice with other chapters, get exercises from your HQ.

3 - Have a story and a "message" about what your chapter is and what it's looking for in new members. Having a clear point of view that has been discussed and practiced among your members will make them more confident in addressing the obvious fact that you're a smaller chapter. If your members are confident in their ability to address the benefits of a small chapter and the specific standards that you look for in women you recruit (notice I didn't say anything about drawbacks here, the point is to emphasize your standards), that will go a long way in winning over PNMs.

4 - Lastly, I had no idea what you meant by "Values-based recruitment activity". I had to Google the term, and I now only vaguely understand what you're talking about. Do you mean some kind of activity that conveys leadership or scholarship (etc.) in order to attract girls who most appreciate those values?

The only thing I can possibly think of that would work for your chapter is if each of your sisters took a subject to discuss (student government on campus, volunteerism, academic excellence, social opportunities, spirit and school pride, dance and artistic pursuits, etc), and you somehow let PNMs go to a section of the room that most interested them for the first half of the party, and then switched for the second half. Each sister could have a small tri-fold board or table (if allowed) showing some of the opportunities, and HIGHLIGHTING what groups your sisters are involved in. That way you *might* be able to get away with one sister doing a brief 2-minute presentation with 5-6 PNMs and then facilitating some questions with and among the PNMs themselves.

You'd have to spend a minute or so explaining the premise at the beginning of the party, and explaining that these are some of the activities and values you hold most dear as a chapter, etc. etc... you wanted to get to know the PNMs in a way that expressed their own interests and hopes for college, etc. etc.

The more I think about it, this might work. In your situation, I'm a fan of anything that helps manage the numbers of PNMs you have, even if that means getting out of the box a little bit and moving toward a more presentation-oriented style rather than traditional conversation.

Good luck!

You have fabulous ideas, but I really like your #4- very innovative! If the chapter tried this, each member who is holding the mini-seminar (mininar?) needs to have prepared and practiced so that each presenter feels comfortable and confident. No winging it!!

[honeychile]

You need to do two things immediately, if not sooner:

1) Call your national headquarters. They already know that you need help; they may be anticipating your call.

2) Learn to EXCEL at COB/COR, whichever your school calls it.

[KSUViolet06]

^^^^Yes! Use your support system.

I work with smaller chapters a lot, here is my biggest piece of advice.

Women join because of the WOMEN in the group.

They don't join tee shirts, themes, and balloons.

That stuff matters, but don't let that be what occupies most of your time and decision-making.

I say that because at times, I'll look at recruitment plans and the plan is detailed to a TEE as to what everyone is wearing, eating, etc. but there is little devoted to conversation and educating members on conversation skills.

[Cheerio]

Originally Posted by 33girl

"Values based" is a silly buzzword.

Thank You. NPC groups, are you listening?

[33girl]

Originally Posted by LAblondeGPhi

I advised a group in a similar situation: small school, unhoused Greek system (this is an assumption on my part, but I find that small chapters at unhoused Greek systems typically are able to stay small rather than succumb to the pressure of house payments), etc.

It's not unhoused. This is most likely a large part of the OP's chapter's problem.

[LAblondeGPhi]

Originally Posted by 33girl

It's not unhoused. This is most likely a large part of the OP's chapter's problem.

Ahhh - Assumption rescinded. That does make things more difficult.


P.S. - Thanks FSUZeta!

Originally Posted by FSUZeta

You have fabulous ideas, but I really like your #4- very innovative! If the chapter tried this, each member who is holding the mini-seminar (mininar?) needs to have prepared and practiced so that each presenter feels comfortable and confident. No winging it!!

[SoCalGirl]

Originally Posted by 33girl

It's not unhoused. This is most likely a large part of the OP's chapter's problem.

Do you have insider info? I'm not seeing where she mentioned being housed. I too would have assumed unhoused but that's my own bias of having been in an unhoused chapter.

[WhiteRose1912]

Originally Posted by SoCalGirl

Do you have insider info? I'm not seeing where she mentioned being housed. I too would have assumed unhoused but that's my own bias of having been in an unhoused chapter.

She has posted enough information that her campus and chapter is easily identifiable using IrishPipes' list.

Edit: That being said, this particular chapter is unhoused, per the Greek Life page. They have a suite. The other NPC chapters have houses.

[Griffins&Quills]

Well, if its the school I think it is, getting their website working might also help.