We need girls!!! HELP!

phisigangelgm · #1 03-18-2002, 05:05 PM

Hey Everyone,

I am the Recruitment Chairman for my chapter of Phi Sigma Sigma. We are in desperate need of a big plege class for the coming semester and I was wondering if anyone had any good ideas for recruitment parties?? Please Share!

Thank You sooo much,

Phisigangelgm

LeslieAGD · #2 03-19-2002, 11:30 AM

IMO, themes and party ideas don't sway the girls as much as the sisters do. Just concentrate on your unity and sisterhood!

DarDar216 · #3 03-20-2002, 01:18 AM

Although i respect what LeslieAGD has said, I kind of disagree. If you have the sisterhood, it will show through, I think that if you are a small chapter, focusing on your sisterhod will backfire. Believe me I know, because the last several years, our focus has been "sisterhood" and we have had terrible recruitments. If you are dealing with a large freshman group fo girls going through, you have to realize that they are looking for fun and t-shirts, and parties, etc. The sisterhood is important yes, and you can't fake that, but if you do not stress your events then you will lose them to larger chapters.

I know this thinking goes against the general advise given, and I might get some backlash for it, but that is ok, because I know that form my experience, I am correct.

Girls want to be in the sorority that is fun and nice and active, not the one that seems to be totally focused on being "friends". I suggest that you focus on making the girls comfortable, they want to hear about your sorority yes, but they also want to feal like you are interested in them and what they are about. It becomes very uncomfortable to listen to someone talk about themselves the entire time. People feel the most comfortable when talking about themselves, so don't be afraid to ask them questions.

And do not worry about your sisterhood, that will show through no matter what you do in your parties.

I also suggest that you really get to know all of your sisters before recruitment, so that if someone is a business major for example, you can link them to all of the business majors in your sorority, because potentials will want to be with people who have things in common with them. story: There was a girl going through who likes to dance, she chose the other sorority because when she mentioned dancing, they were like "oh, i danced in high school" or "well, so and so and so and so dance." We have lots of dancers in our sorority as well, but we were to busy talking about ourselves to make that connection.

This may sound like I am telling you to be fake or superficial, but really I am not. You should be yourself but you also have to be aware of what the average freshman girl is looking for in a sorority.

Sorry this is so long, so i will wrap up. For your parties I would suggest from personal experience that you might want to display your t-shirts. It is really neat to look at the things you will get to wear and can also be a great lead into a conversation about your events. I would also suggest that if you do a slide show, keep it short and to the point and place your girls with the potentials so they can talk and explain things during the show. As terrible as it sounds, food can also be important as well because it is part of what they will remember, and you don't want to be the one "with that terrible drink."

I don't know if this is of any help to you but oh well, hope it wasn't a total loss. hope you have a great recruitment.

CutiePie2000 · #4 03-20-2002, 01:26 AM

One thing that is very attractive in ENTHUSIASM! So if you guys are enthusiastic (but not too hyper) this is quite appealing!

Think energy, enthusiasm and excitement!

DarDar216 · #5 03-20-2002, 01:30 AM

CutiePie2000 is totally right! Enthusiasm is totally important, if you want the girls to be excited about you, you have to be excited about yourself! I don't know why I didn't mention that in mine. Oh wait, it's because i went and rambled for forever and and a day

! so anyway, goodbye again! good luck!

bruinaphi · #6 03-20-2002, 03:42 AM

I agree with DarDar but you should really contact your area or regional recruitment person for phi sig. I know that each of our fraternities has its own recruitment strategy and your advisors and regional officers can help you develop and implement one in your chapter.

LeslieAGD · #7 03-20-2002, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DarDar216
Although i respect what LeslieAGD has said, I kind of disagree. If you have the sisterhood, it will show through, I think that if you are a small chapter, focusing on your sisterhod will backfire. Believe me I know, because the last several years, our focus has been "sisterhood" and we have had terrible recruitments. If you are dealing with a large freshman group fo girls going through, you have to realize that they are looking for fun and t-shirts, and parties, etc. The sisterhood is important yes, and you can't fake that, but if you do not stress your events then you will lose them to larger chapters.

Girls want to be in the sorority that is fun and nice and active, not the one that seems to be totally focused on being "friends". I suggest that you focus on making the girls comfortable, they want to hear about your sorority yes, but they also want to feal like you are interested in them and what they are about. It becomes very uncomfortable to listen to someone talk about themselves the entire time. People feel the most comfortable when talking about themselves, so don't be afraid to ask them questions.

I also suggest that you really get to know all of your sisters before recruitment, so that if someone is a business major for example, you can link them to all of the business majors in your sorority, because potentials will want to be with people who have things in common with them. story: There was a girl going through who likes to dance, she chose the other sorority because when she mentioned dancing, they were like "oh, i danced in high school" or "well, so and so and so and so dance." We have lots of dancers in our sorority as well, but we were to busy talking about ourselves to make that connection.

DarDar, actually, I think you make excellent points as well. When I said that concentrating on sisterhood was most important, I made this point because when some chapters start loosing their numbers, their sisterhood often suffers. Sometimes they aren't playing intramural sports, having as many events, or socializing with other Greeks. They get down because instead of having fun they're recruiting all the time. I know because I've seen this happen. I think your suggestion of knowing everyone's major, etc, is very true but, again, I believe that is part of knowing your sisters.

I guess, in retrospect, I do have some pointers from when I was a Rho Chi. The biggest complaints the girls had were...1) they were asking all the questions/they felt like they were going all the "work", 2) sisters mentioned inside jokes and they felt left out, and 3) they didn't connect with the girls.

Concentrate on your sisterhood, make the girls feel welcome, and keep a positive attitude!

shadokat · #8 03-20-2002, 10:43 AM

I totally agree with DarDar! Freshmen women are looking for sorority life to be fun -- formals, parties, mixers, etc. Focus on all of the fun events that you all have.

Sisterhood is so important, but I believe that's something you build with time, not something you just give to someone. Show the women that you're a fun group to be with, that you have fun doing whatever it is you're doing, and that you are active in every way, and they'll learn about sisterhood during NM Education.

Good luck, and contact your area advisor for Phi Sigma Sigma.

dubyuhnellpiphi · #9 03-20-2002, 10:58 AM

i just went thru rush in january and i think that the women are right for the most part, but you need balance. it is all fine and good to show them how enthusiastic and fun-loving you are, but they also need to see the more serious sisterhood side.
i know that what made me choose to become a pi phi was the fact that the girls were genuine, they were sweet, and they made me feel as though i had been a pi phi all my life and that was where i belonged. I didn't feel forced into the pi phi sisterhood and that was VERY important...

hope this helps! have a wonderful recruitment!

Peaches-n-Cream · #10 03-20-2002, 11:08 AM

Your sororitiy sisters should probably start now and meet the incoming freshmen by volunteering as campus tour guides and peer counselors if that's possible at your college. You can encourage them to go through recruitment.