Little Chapter, Big Recruitment: Spring 2009

[silverpearls]

I'm glad to report that all of our COB New Members were recently Initiated and are now active, integrated, happy new sisters. The chapter is in really good shape. I'm so pleased with how things have done in the (almost) year since I began this thread, and I hope they will continue to improve.

With that, I will bow out. I think this thread has naturally come to an end. I wanted to document the chapter's journey, and I've done that. Hopefully this thread will serve as a good resource, or even just a bit of hope, for chapters who are struggling with their recruitment. I have received so many encouraging, helpful and congratulatory messages since the thread began, and I really appreciate what you have to say. If anyone has any more questions or comments, feel free to contact me via PM.

Thank you to my sisters, no matter your letters, for all your support!

Congrats on all you new members! Yall really worked hard and it paid off!

[xi_pinkrose]

I read this thread throughout my work day today (and actually stayed late to finish it.) What an incredible experience. Keep up the great work, and high energy.

I am excited for your chapters turnaround.

Hope to hear more.

[ComradesTrue]

SilverPearls- are you by chance on the recruitment committee or one of the recruitment officers? Your enthusiasm is so contagious, your attitude is to be commended, and your dedication is evident. You seem (via the internet at least, FWIW) well suited for such a role. If you have not yet run for a leadership position then you should definitely consider it!

Can't wait to hear more from you. Your story (as well as ASTalumna's) is very interesting and a nice change from the other types of recruitment threads. Plus it seems real!

[silverpearls]

Originally Posted by Blondie93

SilverPearls- are you by chance on the recruitment committee or one of the recruitment officers? Your enthusiasm is so contagious, your attitude is to be commended, and your dedication is evident. You seem (via the internet at least, FWIW) well suited for such a role. If you have not yet run for a leadership position then you should definitely consider it!

Can't wait to hear more from you. Your story (as well as ASTalumna's) is very interesting and a nice change from the other types of recruitment threads. Plus it seems real!

Thanks!! I actually am on my second leadership position, though neither have them have been as recruitment chair. I did serve as committee chair for one of the rounds this year, which was fun but exhausting

And yes, it is definitely real! A few experienced GCers actually guessed my school and chapter via PM. I thought I kept it pretty mysterious by not giving the exact number of GLOs here, the location, etc. but with enough work I guess you could narrow it down. Though I won't reveal my school or affiliation in the thread, my chapter is very much in existence!

[PhiMuMagnolia]

This sounds so much like my chapter, with few differences.

I hear ya, Silverpearls! And I'm so glad that your story was SUCH a success!!!

It's can be out there, but one thing I've definitely learned is if you're a good group of girls who stand for the right things and believe in what you stand for, PNM's take note and appreciate the respect that you give both your sisters and your potential sisters.

It really is about love, honor and truth- I'm feeling all Phi Mu proud right now! <3

[silverpearls]

COB is only a month away!

I'm very excited to get things rolling and welcome a new pledge class. I'm pretty nervous, though... we don't have a ton of names and we rely heavily on our sisters to bring in COB women. Unfortunately, COB has a big stigma at our school - that it's only for the "loser" chapters who can't make chapter total, and the COB PNMs are all FR rejects, blah blah blah. It's very disappointing.

Fearing bad campus PR, our chapter is reluctant to advertise our COB events and wants to rely on sisters to bring in PNMs. While I don't think we should be shouting it from the rooftops, I don't see anything wrong with some advertising - especially since few names have been submitted to the recruitment chair. We send a ton of invites but usually get a smaller turnout.

Last year, we invited around 45 women, had 12 show up and bid 6. I'm pretty sure we had almost 100% bid acceptance. The year before that we bid 5, and before that, 2. This year, we're hoping to bid 15 or so, which would put us on par with the other chapters (size-wise) for the first time... ever! After our great success this spring, we're only about 20 women smaller than the other chapters, which are all about the same size. Every year, we go into FR looking really teeny compared to the other groups - and this year, PNMs may not be able to see a difference at all! When I went through recruitment, the chapter was about 1/3 the size of the others and it was VERY obvious. All the PNMs were double or triple-rushed, and in comparison, the other chapters had too many actives for each one to rush a PNM. Though we've gotten bigger, even this year we had actives who had to double-rush PNMs at every party.

But before I get too ahead of myself, dreaming about a successful COB and a big, beautiful room of actives during FR this spring, I should warn you - we only have about 30 names submitted. Of those, 8 are supposed to be women who will definitely accept a bid. I know most of those 8 are women that we want, too, which is great! One of them is a PNM you'll recognize from last Spring - Vicky! She's become really close with a number of sisters this summer and very much wants to become a part of the chapter. She's told us that she dropped out of FR because she was overwhelmed by the intensity of it all, but really regretted her decision this semester. If all goes well, I really look forward to calling her my sister. I don't think she'll have any problem getting a bid.

Right now, we're concentrating on getting our girls - especially the new ones - to dredge up some more PNMs to bring in. I worry that the new girls are a little too complacent. The older sisters who joined the chapter when it was in deep trouble have been working very hard on recruitment stuff, because they know how quickly things can go downhill. Maybe it's just me being an old grouch, but the new sisters seem to take our recent success for granted. They had better not let things slip when we graduate!

COB is so laid-back that we don't need an official Polish week to frantically make decorations and practice bumping, but I'm sure we'll have a few workshops on basic recruiting and conversation. Soon, the party themes will be finalized and we'll really get the ball rolling! I'll keep you all updated!

Best of luck to all of you starting Formal Recruitment in a few weeks!!

[33girl]

Originally Posted by silverpearls

Fearing bad campus PR, our chapter is reluctant to advertise our COB events and wants to rely on sisters to bring in PNMs. While I don't think we should be shouting it from the rooftops, I don't see anything wrong with some advertising - especially since few names have been submitted to the recruitment chair. We send a ton of invites but usually get a smaller turnout.

Regardless of whether or not COB has a stigma at your campus, truly the best way to bring in PNMs is through sisters who know them and have already vetted them. Not only that, if you advertise, chalk and flyer, you are more apt to get women who just want to be in A sorority - not necessarily YOUR sorority. When you are trying to get stronger and rebuild, you need women who are 100% into being an ABC - not those who joined just because they wanted to wear letters, any letters.

[VandalSquirrel]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Regardless of whether or not COB has a stigma at your campus, truly the best way to bring in PNMs is through sisters who know them and have already vetted them. Not only that, if you advertise, chalk and flyer, you are more apt to get women who just want to be in A sorority - not necessarily YOUR sorority. When you are trying to get stronger and rebuild, you need women who are 100% into being an ABC - not those who joined just because they wanted to wear letters, any letters.

Another way you could meet women you don't know, but without making it an obvious COB event is to hold an event for women (women's only yoga class, self defense class, partner with the women's center or women's studies department for a women's hiking or camping trip). Even though you're helping with the event, it doesn't scream SORORITY and if there are women you would never want as members it doesn't matter as it isn't an official recruitment event, it is an event for campus women.

[FSUZeta]

definately have a couple of workshops before you begin your cob. it will be a good refresher for the older girls and help get the new girls on the same page.

good luck and please keep us updated!!

[LadyLonghorn]

Are new transfer students eligible to COB their first semester? If so, is there any way to get their contact information from the administration to invite them to some informal get togethers?

[silverpearls]

Thanks for all the great advice and encouragement, everyone! As for transfers, Lady Longhorn, we're already on it . They're eligible and the Greek Life office is getting us their contact info.

[COBaby]

Silverpearls, this story makes me really happy. My group is the smallest one on campus, but my pledge class is really dedicated to turning it around. It was so nice to read a story that proves it's possible!

[silverpearls]

Recruitment starts in just a week and a half! I'm still very nervous and excited. The events are pretty well planned out:

Round 1: This is *technically* not part of COB. Basically, we're inviting PNMs to a previously scheduled sisterhood event to hang out and see how they enjoy our chapter. We won't be rushing them or bumping or anything like that, but of course they'll be under scrutiny (whether they realize it or not).

Round 2: We're making an effort to make COB more like FR (instead of a bunch of girls just chilling in a room), so for this day we'll be doing a small philanthropy craft.

Round 3: The final night will be a little bit dressier, but certainly not on the scale of Pref! The food will be at "stations" around the room so that you need to mingle and walk around in order to eat. By the end of this event, hopefully all the PNMs have met a good number of sisters (and vice versa). The PNMs will be dismissed and the chapter will vote, then bids will be extended over the phone tht night. PNMs will have a little less than 24 hours to accept or decline, because Bid Night is the next evening!

The PNMs are not cut at all between events, although technically the first event is invite-only since it's just sisters bringing their interested friends. I think most of the women participating will be friends of sisters, but we could have a few surprises. We will be inviting all the transfer women to attend (well, except for one, who we just found out is a member of an NPC we don't have at our school... more about this in a minute). If we can get 13 new members... I would absolutely love to make chapter total for the first time!!

In terms of individual new members, I was sad to hear that Vicky will not be participating. She is very close with a group of sisters and really wants to join, but her parents are against it. It's strange, especially considering her mother is an NPC alum. She would have to pay her own dues, which wouldn't be a big deal except that she just lost her job. She's going to try to rush again this winter.

In terms of general campus stuff - our chapter is doing great! Our PR has been fantastic. Our sisters are wearing letters and meeting freshmen, and we have our name advertised all over campus. I have a close friend who's a freshman here this year, and she's told me that freshmen are very interested. Hopefully we can keep that momentum going when the pre-recruitment tent talk starts setting in. At least we have a whole semester to make a good impression!

The only cloud on the horizon is the threat of expansion. Panhel very much wanted to open for expansion last year, but something *big* happened (kind of like "that thing", but with less sequined hose) that put everything on hold. Now they're trying again with a renewed vigor. I just worry that our chapter is too shaky still to take the hit.

I'll post more as COB gets closer...

[ComradesTrue]

Dear Silverpearls,

You have been one of my favorite posters since this thread was started. However, this line

Originally Posted by silverpearls

Panhel very much wanted to open for expansion last year, but something *big* happened (kind of like "that thing", but with less sequined hose)

just had me doubled over.

Please keep posting.

Love,
Blondie