How to keep focus and motivation..ADVICE APPRECIATED

[Ch2tf]

Originally Posted by WannaB3

Hey GreekChat,

I think this is my first post. I have been lurking and searching the boards like you guys always tell people to do when they post a question that has been asked over and over. I have learned a lot from the past threads but I still have a specific issue I'd like to pose for your assistance...

...I am in the process of forming an interest group for a national non-NPC organization. In the 6 months or so I have been carrying out this mission I have:

Had my vp resign;she joined another organization

Encountered numerous struggles with the office for student organizations. We finally got recognized as a registered student organization just last week!

Been shut out by the council that we need to get accepted into in order to proceed with any expansion plans. The council recently expanded and will not even consider expanding again until the orgs the let in become full members.

Tried my best to motivate others in the group to stay the course but slowly one by one people started dropping out of the group...some for legitimate reasons some a little more ambiguous reasons (how is it that you can't make a 30-45 minute meeting , but you got pictures at the university yacht party the same weekend?)...Anyway out of the 6 girls we started with at the beginning of the semester ...we are now down to 4 ladies and 1 is graduating this summer. The other two ladies do not really respond to me when I send out notices for meetings the and will RSVP they can't make it...but this is the time we all agreed upon at the start.

So..I've pretty much thrown my hands up and said fine! I started this on my own so I can surely start OVER on my own. I arranged my own informations, made a PP presentation and sent out invitations to classmates, other student organization and womens' groups, and posted on public bulletin boards. I gotten a response from 3 main girls and have met with 1. I have a formal membership process mapped out which I hope will help them to fully understand all the work that will be involved both as student org and a potential colony.

So I've said all that to ask this...once I do...hopefully..rebuild this interest group how do I ensure that people will not drop out as we continue to wait the 1-1.5 years it may take for the council to open It's a long tough job and I want to be certain that I find women that are up for the challenge and support each other through the struggles. Is this an unreasonable expectation? GreekChat, I look forward to your feedback.

WannaB3

I'm glad to hear that you are working hard. The previous advice offered is good advice. The way to determine the dedication and commitment of the women in the interest group is to form personal relationships with the women as well as observe how active they are in the group, and what kind of initiatives they take to help get the interest group to where it needs to be. If they are slacking now, or going MIA then they are not really committed to the task at hand, or the organization you are seeking to be a part of.

You said this is a non-npc so I'm going to assume it is a cultural/mglo that you are seeking to join. This issue will very much be an issue if you are ever able to colonize. While the work of being a chapter founder is completed, you will have to determine which women that claim they are interested, are in fact truly interested (and for the right reasons) and can uphold the ideals of the organization.

Even though you are only an interest group, I recommend that you continue to uphold the ideals of your group (I'm assuming they are inline with the ideals of the organization you are trying to join), and continue to meet (if not exceed) the criteria that the organization has set for you. It seems that you are getting your name out there, so women with similar goals and ideals will take interest in your group. Having your name out there (in a positive way), is one of the best ways to consistently attract more women.

Good Luck in your journey.

[OPhiAGinger]

I applaud your determination in starting a new organization on your campus. I did that myself as an undergrad, and it was much tougher than I had anticipated!

No matter what you do, no matter how dedicated you believe your potential members are... some of them are going to drop out along the way. This is a normal part of college life. Every semester some of your student members will transfer, graduate, drop out, flunk out, or just get overcommitted elsewhere. So, how do you deal with this?

1. RECRUIT TWICE AS MANY AS YOU THINK YOU NEED. If you must have at least 10 full-time students to be recognized by the university, aim for a membership of 20. (I know, easier said than done....) Get all your core group members involved. Let them know that your target is 20 and make them all responsible for seeking out potential members.

2. Set your scholastic standards high. If your typical member has a GPA of 2.1, the chances of some of them winding up on scholastic probation (or worse, flunking out) are very high. Set the GPA requirement at 2.5 or above to ensure they already have reasonably good study habits. For the same reason, minimize the number of newby freshmen you recruit. It's much better for everyone if they have at least one semester of college-level work under their belt before they commit themselves to your group.

3. Build a sense of ownership in each person. The hardest thing for the initial organizer to do is to let go of some of the key tasks and decisions, but you must give a lot of the responsibility to the other members. If you don't, they will continue to think of this as "WannaB3's sorority" rather than their own sorority and it will be easier to walk away.

4. Set local dues carefully. They shouldn't be so high that they form a barrier to membership, but they need to be high enough that each member feels they have a 'stake' in the organization, something to lose if they walk away. Make it clear that the dues are non-refundable.

5. Focus on the near term benefits. No matter how committed the members are to the eventual goal of being recognized as a new chapter of XYZ, if the meetings and projects of the local group are a snooze they'll drop like flies. Balance your long term goals with the near term need to have fun and develop strong sisterly relationship. If people stop showing up for meetings, etc, think realistically about what they are getting out of the organization right now. Ask the members for candid feedback, and then action whatever you discover. If there is no near term benefit for your members, you'll never reach the long term goal.


Good luck and keep us informed!!