Now, do you mean to keep people motivated, increase everyone's motivation, or try to encourage certain people to get more involved? Because they're three different things, I find. The best way to keep people motivated or get people more motivated is to keep things rolling, to always be succeeding. Make the expectation that things are going to rock- don't say, 'We need your help, or this isn't gonna work out', say, 'This is gonna be so much fun, you have to come.' Total difference in tone. NEVER act like you need them, even if you desperately do- keep it light, and fun, and generally people will respond better.
For people who aren't motivated at all, it's a tougher thing. We had that problem last year- a lot of older brothers didn't want to contribute anymore, or were getting bogged down about past things, and it became a real problem. I immediately went for help to the woman I turn to for everything- Amy, the Panhel advisor. (And it may be weird that a fraternity president would go to the sorority advisor for help, but I don't care. She's smart, out-spoken, and knows more about Greek life than I sometimes think is really healthy.) Her advice- take them aside, and gently but firmly suggest that if they can't give it there all, maybe they should become inactive for a while. Better to have 30 committed guys working as a team than 40 guys with big holes in the group.
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