Conversation from the "Other Side"

[KappaKittyCat]

We're a relatively young chapter at a small liberal arts school that has the traditional "liberal arts" anti-Greek mindset. Sororities are looked on as little better than cults. We have deferred Recruitment, so freshmen have an entire term to become involved and busy beyond all belief before Recruitment. A large majority of them have already found their niche with teams, clubs, ensembles, etc., and many fall prey to the stereotypes. It's hard enough just getting women to go through Recruitment. Most women who go through just do it to get their RC off their back. We usually have 60 women come through and 30 drop. Our Panhel is horridly weak and does more infighting than self-promoting.

My chapter basicly re-colonized this past year. We were down to 4 women on campus first term and had our best rush in years. We'll have fourteen girls on campus in the fall and one coming back for winter. Most of our girls are young (sophomores) and will be recruiting for the first time. The other thing is that many are incredibly shy. My chapter never did well in Formal Recruitment. I wasn't taught to recruit at all. I wasn't taught what to say to PNM's or how to talk to them about Kappa at all. Those who trained me for Recruitment basicly taught me to be afraid of the PNM's.

So my question for y'all has two parts, really.

1) How do we encourage women to try out Recruitment? I've used every argument I can think of and we still have lousy turnout.

2) How do I help my little sis who's now Membership Chair (and, bless her heart, went through Recruitment twice so she really knows what PNM's are looking for) train all of our new girls to recruit for the Greek system in general and Kappa in particular?

Thanks for your help.