Informal Recruitment

adpiucf · #1 07-17-2007, 11:02 AM

When I was an adviser, the chapter planned a Picnic in the Park that included food, field games and awards-- it was basically a sisterhood event for the chapter members, but we invited PNMs to join us. It was away from the house, but still on campus.

It was a great way to get to know some new ladies and a chance for them to get to meet sisters in a normal environment. They followed up with some smaller events and inviting them to dinner at the house, and ended up extending bids to about 5 women, I believe, who all accepted.

The nice thing about this event was that it was away from the house-- "the house" can be somewhat intimidating to someone who is unsure of what a sorority is all about. The open field and picnic games were just simple and fun, and the "PNMs" were invited to bring a friend along. It seemed like a no strings-attached chance to have fun and it gave the chapter members a chance to kick loose and have fun with their sisters for a sisterhood event and some new friends.

I do think, no matter what you do for COR, you need to have a plan and a goal in mind, and several tactics and/or events and a goal from each of these, as well. It helps you to see what works for you and what doesn't when you can plan, have a goal and measure effectiveness.

AlphaFrog · #2 07-17-2007, 11:08 AM

One event that we did, that COULD have been sucessful (I don't think we advertised for it enough) was a pajama party in the freshman dorm. They had conference type rooms in the basement, and we decorated it like a bedroom, and brought pillows and stuffed animals.

You don't have to do the pajama party, but I think the idea of bringing the party TO the PNMs could work out well. I know I went to a couple COB events, and it was intimidating walking up to a huge, beautiful house where I didn't know anyone...it helped a little that you could call for a ride, but then you had to get into a car with someone you didn't know.

adpiucf · #3 07-17-2007, 11:12 AM

I also wanted to suggest that COR is only as good as the members can make it. If you include the members in the planning, ideas and execution, they may be more open to participation because it was "their" idea, too.

Appoint a COR member at large from each pledge class to rally their pledge sisters to get names for you to create a master invite list.

Form a COR committee. Maybe you can break the chapter up into COR "Teams" and incentivize them to bring in new members... maybe a contest to see which team can hold the most small events (ie: going out for ice cream with PNM's, tv night participation, participation at all-chapter COR events), etc.

33girl · #4 07-17-2007, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adpiucf

Form a COR committee. Maybe you can break the chapter up into COR "Teams" and incentivize them to bring in new members... maybe a contest to see which team can hold the most small events (ie: going out for ice cream with PNM's, tv night participation, participation at all-chapter COR events), etc.

This is a good idea, BUT....

make sure all the teams are working together toward a cohesive goal. Sometimes the different teams have very different ideas of what and who they want, to the point that the people team A is attracting are those that team B doesn't want to talk to, let alone bid.

That brings up another point. If you have a member who keeps asking back their roommate who no one else can stand, take her aside and have a talk with her. There are people who need time to warm up to a group and vice versa...and then there are people who no matter how much you bring them around, will never fit in.