JessSigKap's Retro UMD Recruitment

[Faith4Keep]

Originally Posted by susan314

/semi-hijack
But, I've witnessed firsthand other chapters project almost what appears to be an inferiority complex - an attitude that says "we don't know why you'd pick us over all the other chapters, but we really hope you'll do it anyhow." It would behoove anyone recruiting from/assisting with a chapter that might have that mentality to read JessSigKap's description and realize what impression that gives a PNM - Jess was excited about them first round because she liked them, and then they sabotaged themselves by not being confident in their chapter.

/end semi-hijack

Continuing the hijaking,

I totally agree. There were a few chapters when I went through rush that tried to "sell! sell! sell!", but I felt there were also chapters who would just stop trying (or worse, not try at all) when the actives realize that the PNM wants nothing to do with the chapter. Nothing depresses me more than a "I give up" attitude.

Okay, how horrible do you think this idea is: have each active in your chapter "rank" all the chapters at the school from the best to the worst on secret ballots, and see where, on average, your own chapter stands (as far as how your chapter percieves itself)? It was just an idea I came up with, but I'm not sure if it would help or hurt the morale, if say your chapter ranked itself 5 out of 10. I think that if you had a very inspirational, motivational officer, that person could turn the whole thing into a learning experience, and try to change the attitudes of actives to a "we are the best!" attitude pre-recruitment. I guess it could go the other way- no one ever really wants to hear where you "rank" unless it's #1!

[violetpretty]

Originally Posted by Faith4Keep

Continuing the hijaking,

I totally agree. There were a few chapters when I went through rush that tried to "sell! sell! sell!", but I felt there were also chapters who would just stop trying (or worse, not try at all) when the actives realize that the PNM wants nothing to do with the chapter. Nothing depresses me more than a "I give up" attitude.

Okay, how horrible do you think this idea is: have each active in your chapter "rank" all the chapters at the school from the best to the worst on secret ballots, and see where, on average, your own chapter stands (as far as how your chapter percieves itself)? It was just an idea I came up with, but I'm not sure if it would help or hurt the morale, if say your chapter ranked itself 5 out of 10. I think that if you had a very inspirational, motivational officer, that person could turn the whole thing into a learning experience, and try to change the attitudes of actives to a "we are the best!" attitude pre-recruitment. I guess it could go the other way- no one ever really wants to hear where you "rank" unless it's #1!

That probably wouldn't be such a good idea. I think it would hurt the morale of smaller chapters. Also, it depends on how you define "best". The chapter where I fit the best? The highest achieving chapter that wins tons of awards? The chapter with the prettiest girls? I think the answer to "best" in each of those categories woulc be very different in one's ranking of "best" chapters.

[KSUViolet06]

Our Leadership Consultants and Advisors told us:

PNMs can sense when chapter members are nervous or not confident. Go into recruitment with the attitude that you are the best sorority on the face of the universe, and make it a point to exude confidence during EVERY round, every day, to every girl you meet.

[SWTXBelle]

When I was an advisor, at a chapter retreat we had the actives decide on a scale of 1 - 10 how the chapter was doing on various levels - and plotted the results. A 10 meant it was plotted at the outside of the circle - a 5 halfway in. It gave a really good visual picture of what the chapter conceived of as their strengths, and what they decided to work on. I like it because you get a chance to celebrate what your chapter excels at, be it sisterhood, or philanthropy, or grades, while still identifying things the chapter is not so strong in - it worked great for our chapter.

[violetpretty]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

When I was an advisor, at a chapter retreat we had the actives decide on a scale of 1 - 10 how the chapter was doing on various levels - and plotted the results. A 10 meant it was plotted at the outside of the circle - a 5 halfway in. It gave a really good visual picture of what the chapter conceived of as their strengths, and what they decided to work on. I like it because you get a chance to celebrate what your chapter excels at, be it sisterhood, or philanthropy, or grades, while still identifying things the chapter is not so strong in - it worked great for our chapter.

That sounds like a good idea. What Faith4keep mentioned was to ask the actives rate where they perceive a chapter to be in relation to the others (i.e. where they are on the "social ladder") which wouldn't do much good in terms of morale before recruitment.

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by JessSigKap

That sounds like a good idea. What Faith4keep mentioned was to ask the actives rate where they perceive a chapter to be in relation to the others (i.e. where they are on the "social ladder") which wouldn't do much good in terms of morale before recruitment.

In general I think the rating overall in the social ladder has potential for disaster, but rating in a bunch of categories is a great idea. It also would be a wonder thing to know as you planned events and programming throughout the year.

Only sort of related: does every chapter have a group of members who seemed to forget how strong other chapters are during rush? They sort of decide that your group can afford to cut a bunch of people that you probably really shouldn't be cutting? (Or if you use release figures, they want to keep a different group than maybe seems wise, like maybe they only want to keep the legacies of the group with 100% returns?) That group might need to see the where-do-we-stand-on-campus survey results.

It might be a wonderful recruitment tool to ask brand new members what there impressions of recruitment were right after recruitment. Maybe not even let the actives see the results, but alums could compile them, so that the following year, you could honestly know what worked and what didn't and what aspects to play up and what to play down.

[dgdramadawg]

Originally Posted by Alphagamuga

Only sort of related: does every chapter have a group of members who seemed to forget how strong other chapters are during rush? They sort of decide that your group can afford to cut a bunch of people that you probably really shouldn't be cutting? (Or if you use release figures, they want to keep a different group than maybe seems wise, like maybe they only want to keep the legacies of the group with 100% returns?) That group might need to see the where-do-we-stand-on-campus survey results.

It might be a wonderful recruitment tool to ask brand new members what there impressions of recruitment were right after recruitment. Maybe not even let the actives see the results, but alums could compile them, so that the following year, you could honestly know what worked and what didn't and what aspects to play up and what to play down.

I totally agree with all of this... it's important for chapters to think about where they are and where they want to be and make cuts based upon BOTH. Of course, though, there is the worry that the legacy at that 100% returns chapter will get cut by everyone else and find herself with only the legacy chapter as an option... I've seen it happen.

[CZAXOTerp]

Originally Posted by Alphagamuga

It might be a wonderful recruitment tool to ask brand new members what there impressions of recruitment were right after recruitment. Maybe not even let the actives see the results, but alums could compile them, so that the following year, you could honestly know what worked and what didn't and what aspects to play up and what to play down.

I think we did something like this- we had a post-rush survey that was anon/confidential, where we asked the NM what they thought of our parties, how we compared to other chapters parties and if they felt comfortable for them to name those chapters, what they did at parties that the NM's liked etc.

Sometimes it's good to know what your competition is doing...