Recruiting and Membership Tips

[GammaDelt]

I think our problem has two parts: first, we can't "legally" advertise on campus, because we don't have campus recognition. So that puts having on-campus events, like speakers, and resume writing how-to's out. The other part of the problem is that I think the girls are dropping out a) because of the time commitment, and b) because they can't figure out why it's worth it to pledge. Maybe we're not welcoming them enough, maybe we're not giving them enough. I think they come in expecting a Greek experience of a huge university, and then decide it's not worth the time. So I really don't know how to communicate the close-knitedness (excuse my made up word), and I guess I'm just frusturated because I see girls who we genuinely like leaving us.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by GammaDelt

I think they come in expecting a Greek experience of a huge university, and then decide it's not worth the time. So I really don't know how to communicate the close-knitedness (excuse my made up word), and I guess I'm just frusturated because I see girls who we genuinely like leaving us.

This sounds like the crux of your problem. They think it's going to be like Cornell where they have intramurals and big houses and stuff like that. Explain that as different as Ithaca is from Cornell, that's how different the sororities/fraternities are.

Again, contact your alums. Have several of them come to speak at rush parties and talk about the friendships they made that still exist - even without national recognition.

Don't "water down" your pledge program, but take a long hard look and see if you can get everything done you need to get done in a shorter period of time. Don't keep it at 8 or 10 or how ever many weeks just because that's what it's always been at.

Make sure you have a myspace or facebook group (an open one, keep any private business off of it) and that everyone in it also joins the Ithaca groups for incoming freshmen - that way you'll show up in "related groups" and girls might click on it and check you out.

[OPhiAGinger]

Originally Posted by GammaDelt

.... I think the girls are dropping out a) because of the time commitment, and b) because they can't figure out why it's worth it to pledge. Maybe we're not welcoming them enough, maybe we're not giving them enough.... So I really don't know how to communicate the close-knitedness (excuse my made up word), and I guess I'm just frusturated because I see girls who we genuinely like leaving us.

Every college student has to make difficult decisions about how they will spend their time. Obviously, the scholastic commitments have to take priority over sorority commitments. New members may also need to work part time, and they may reserve significant amounts of time for their significant other. To address the time conflict issue, you need to design your new member program to enhance their other commitments rather than detract from them.

First, build in flexibility into the new member schedule. Eliminate as many "mandatory" activities as you possibly can. Let the new member class decide as a group when to have meetings and complete any required education tasks.

Then build study time into the culture of your sisterhood. Set up a (voluntary) study-buddy program where sisters meet together twice a week at a pre-scheduled time. Whether it's chemistry or accounting, it's good to have a study partner when you're prepping for a big test! Figure out who among your current members is strongest at writing, and have them offer to proofread essays for the new members.

Finally, make sure your sisterhood is not alienating your new members' boyfriends. If the boyfriend doesn't feel welcome, he will be fighting for his girl's time and she will feel torn. And more than likely, she'll pick the boyfriend over her new sisters. But if he feels like her new sisters are his new friends, too, suddenly the conflict evaporates.