Girls Who Dropped on Bid Day

[ForeverRoses]

Unfortunately this happens all too often. In my opinion, I would rather have women drop on bid day or right after than "try it out" for a bit. Mainly because (and this is a RA speaking) it is easier to snap bid or COB right after formal recruitment so that those women can join the NM class fairly seamlessly.

As for not making quota, if you matched quota during bid matching, then you made quota. Even if all of the women didn't stay. For example, if your quota said "50" and you matched 50 on the bid list, then you made quota. Even if you only had 40 stay at the bid day party.

It is situations like this that make year round recruiting so important. Recruitment isn't just a two week frenzy once a year. It is a daily, hourly thing. It is women in letters participating in other on campus activities. It is women inviting friends over to the house or to the philanthropy event or just befriending the shy girl in class that turns out to be a rock star member.

[honeychile]

Originally Posted by ForeverRoses

Unfortunately this happens all too often. In my opinion, I would rather have women drop on bid day or right after than "try it out" for a bit. Mainly because (and this is a RA speaking) it is easier to snap bid or COB right after formal recruitment so that those women can join the NM class fairly seamlessly.

As for not making quota, if you matched quota during bid matching, then you made quota. Even if all of the women didn't stay. For example, if your quota said "50" and you matched 50 on the bid list, then you made quota. Even if you only had 40 stay at the bid day party.

It is situations like this that make year round recruiting so important. Recruitment isn't just a two week frenzy once a year. It is a daily, hourly thing. It is women in letters participating in other on campus activities. It is women inviting friends over to the house or to the philanthropy event or just befriending the shy girl in class that turns out to be a rock star member.

This cannot be stressed enough! As an Advisor, my chapter learned how to do this out of necessity, and eventually excelled in it. Once you ALL realize that recruitment is a 24/7/365 event, your chapter will become so strong that you will be in the catbird's seat on Bid Day.

Congratulations on the New Members you took, and remember to keep their spirits high! Don't give them a chance to regret the decision they made!

[ASTalumna06]

To expand on the year-round recruiting comments:

Your new members are some of your best recruiting tools.

They are generally younger and know other freshman/sophomore women who aren't sorority members. I'm sure they all have friends in classes or roommates or fellow extra-curricular participants who aren't Greek. Remind them that these are all potential members and could join your chapter next semester or participate in recruitment next fall. Encourage your new members to truly get to know them.

I like the 2-1 ratio: if one of your new members thinks a friend would make a great addition to the chapter, have the new member ask her friend to go out to lunch, or coffee, or to a movie. Then have just one other sister go along with them; two sisters to one potential member. It's overwhelming for potential members to meet a chapter all at once. Make the progression slowly (and don't wear letters on your "date"). It should be just one person inviting two people out and introducing them to each other. Then take it from there!

[KSUViolet06]

As to the "I didn't show up" girls, I get it. You did not get who you wanted and it stings.

But really, you are already unable to participate in any recruitment for the year (submitting a MRABA after Preference locks you in whether you show up or not, so it does not matter.) There is actually no "I dropped out of ABC on Bid Day and COB-ed XYZ" because that is not a thing.

That, and if you were gunning for a chapter that is the Phi Beta Popular on campus, you probably are not getting a bid there if you depledge and wait the year out because they are not taking re-rush sophomores that they declined to bid the year before. Unless they just love love loved you and there was some awful mistake. But usually there wasn't.

You may as well give it a shot for a week.

And as for the dynamic recruitment side convo:

Oh, the "recruiting year round" and dynamic recruitment speech.

I worked with collegians for six years in this area.

It was particularly a difficult concept for those chapters who usually always met Q or Q+ but recently had total raised after recruitment or for whatever reason, had openings in Spring semester when they usually had none.

Double hard if you typically shine in formal recruitment. So often, those chapters would want to make COR into a mini formal recruitment with all of these extra events and I would just be like "You guys, be natural. Be you and work smart, not hard."

If you are already ALL going to that Fraternity philanthropy event, you can invite Suzy and Shannon. They need not come to the house for a whole movie night planned just for them.

[thetalady]

Bless your heart, we have all had new members who didn't show up on Bid Day. Please try not to take it personally. Enjoy your new pledge class.

Some of those girls who didn't show might come to realize that they had (as my sister AZTheta says) a Golden Ticket and they rethink their actions. They will find out quickly that they are now without ANY house and won't be able to be considered for membership elsewhere for a full year.

Keep your head up and be proud!

[berumotto]

Thank you all so much for the kind words and helpful advice!

Our chapter has been working hard to plan COB events in the upcoming weeks to recruit new members. We are very satisfied with the quality of the members who have stayed so far. Although we did have another girl drop today, I see it as a blessing in disguise. She made the call that was likely best for her, and now we have left the new members who are excited to be here!

Many girls missed the deadline for formal recruitment, so there was high interest in COB to begin with. I hope that our informal will go just as well!

[QLB817]

Originally Posted by berumotto

Thank you all so much for the kind words and helpful advice!

Our chapter has been working hard to plan COB events in the upcoming weeks to recruit new members. We are very satisfied with the quality of the members who have stayed so far. Although we did have another girl drop today, I see it as a blessing in disguise. She made the call that was likely best for her, and now we have left the new members who are excited to be here!

Many girls missed the deadline for formal recruitment, so there was high interest in COB to begin with. I hope that our informal will go just as well!

My daughter's chapter made quota during formal recruitment, but had several drop on bid day or shortly after. They started COB right away and have picked up several really great new members already. My daughter actually enjoyed the process. She said it was so sweet to take a bid to a girl that had been dropped by all the groups before pref, but took a chance with COB. When they gave her the bid, she burst into tears of joy. Sometimes the craze of recruitment makes it hard for more shy girls to shine and find their home, but COB gives the groups a chance to find those hidden diamonds. Hopefully your chapter has that same experience!

[TLLK]

Originally Posted by berumotto

Thank you all so much for the kind words and helpful advice!

Our chapter has been working hard to plan COB events in the upcoming weeks to recruit new members. We are very satisfied with the quality of the members who have stayed so far. Although we did have another girl drop today, I see it as a blessing in disguise. She made the call that was likely best for her, and now we have left the new members who are excited to be here!

Many girls missed the deadline for formal recruitment, so there was high interest in COB to begin with. I hope that our informal will go just as well!

You've received some great advice here so I hope that it can help your chapter. I'm glad that you've discovered those stars in your Pi Alpha class because they will help the chapter thrive. Good luck with the COB events.

[tcsparky]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

If you are already ALL going to that Fraternity philanthropy event, you can invite Suzy and Shannon. They need not come to the house for a whole movie night planned just for them.

This. I have tried and tried to get chapters that I work with to do this instead of planning special events. To them, it isn't "Recruitment" unless everyone makes a point of attending something special that was put in place just for this purpose. They don't see how the chapter can "vote" unless everyone was there, met her, and hung around afterward. They create more work for themselves!!

[Titchou]

Originally Posted by tcsparky

This. I have tried and tried to get chapters that I work with to do this instead of planning special events. To them, it isn't "Recruitment" unless everyone makes a point of attending something special that was put in place just for this purpose. They don't see how the chapter can "vote" unless everyone was there, met her, and hung around afterward. They create more work for themselves!!

Oh heavens, yes! This drove me crazy! They don't meet all the PNMs during formal and they vote on them. Trust your sisters, ladies!!!!!!!!!!!!!