Trying to start a chapter, Need Ideas for recruitment,

[Monarca7]

Hi, I moved about a year ago to Texas. My org only has one chapter here and it is about 3 hours away. I am trying to help expand us out here but it is proving to be very difficult. I am in a LGLO and the Greek culture out here is different from what I am use to. Plus I am not an undergrad. I have one fraternity brother who goes to school as an undergraduate but he is really bogged down with school and work so he does what he can. I would appreciate any help I can get. It is important to note my organization does not allow first smester freshman to pledge. Thanks GC!

[KnightWolf]

Hello, I'll be trying to answer your question today. We'll see how it goes.

[LaneSig]

Monarca -

Are you in graduate school or an alumni who is interested in helping your group expand? I'm asking in order to help give advice.

[Monarca7]

No problem Lane Sig I am an Alumni.

[LaneSig]

Do you have an active alumni group in your area? If not, you might want to get that group started first. Your headquarters should have a list of names that you can contact to see if there is interest in getting an alumni group started.

I am suggesting this step first, because you are going to need alumni support to help you. Starting a chapter is a lot of work and very difficult to do on your own. If there is an alumni group already, start sounding them out about the idea of getting a chapter started.

Also, contact your national office and see what kind of tools they have for building an expansion/interest group. They should have steps or a plan to implement. One thing they might have you do is contact the Greek Life Office or Student Life Office of the campus you are looking into to get their ideas and support. The GLO/SLO might have some ideas of how to get an interest group started.

[Monarca7]

I have actually done all of that already. Not on purpose you see it was just the natural porcess things took. WE only have 5 Alumni in the area and they have all decided to help we formed a group informed nationals they sent us stuff, and I have spokent to school administrators. The issue is many schools will not allow us to advertise or to implement any kind of plan unless we already have interest but the catch 22 is I can't really get interest if I don't advertise you know what I mean?

[knight_shadow]

I don't think LSU has a large presence in Texas. Are there any chapters of MSU in the area? I would think about utilizing their help with expansion if they're already around.

[Monarca7]

Originally Posted by knight_shadow

I don't think LSU has a large presence in Texas. Are there any chapters of MSU in the area? I would think about utilizing their help with expansion if they're already around.

No, we don't have a large presence at all only 1 school but that is also the only school MSU is at.

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by Monarca7

No, we don't have a large presence at all only 1 school but that is also the only school MSU is at.

OK, I see what school you all are at.

When we were expanding to some of the TX schools that we didn't have chapters at, we had brothers come in from around the state to assist with visibility. I'm not sure what school you're at, so I'm not sure how much of a hassle it'd be to get folks to come to you, but if you reach out to the existing chapter and ask if they can send some actives or alums, you may get a little help.

[Monarca7]

I see, We have a chapter at SFA and I'm in Dallas. The brother that is under grad goes to UT Arlington .

[KnightWolf]

Bring it back to the Basic's of Recruitment 101:

Form strong everlasting frienships.
I would use the good samaritan strategy. Start during dorm and student move in days and help out with boxes and stuff. It's kind of crappy but it really gets a good first impression off the start. Then invite them to free food of some kind afterwards or chilling at the commons. All this is not necessarily recruitment but friendship things that happen on a daily basis.

If you still attend the school join groups and then hang out with the members afterward. you want to do a lot of hanging out with gentleman until you can easily just offer them to help you start a fraternity on campus. They would become founders of that Chapter anyway so it caters to extreme overachievers that want their names in the books forever.

[Monarca7]

Originally Posted by KnightWolf

Bring it back to the Basic's of Recruitment 101:

They would become founders of that Chapter anyway so it caters to extreme overachievers that want their names in the books forever.

LOL!!!


I can see the rest of your points though, seems like a good plan. Thanks, I appreciate it. Any other pointers?

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by Monarca7

I see, We have a chapter at SFA and I'm in Dallas. The brother that is under grad goes to UT Arlington .

OK. I actually graduated from UTA and help with advising that chapter. I wasn't aware that we had any LSUs on campus.

Talk to Mike downstairs in the UC. He may be able to give you some help.

FYI - We already have us (ODPhi), Lambda Theta Phi, Sigma Lambda Beta, and Delta Alpha Omega (local). The last time we had a group present, there was A LOT of opposition. Make sure your brother knows people if he wants the organization to even be considered.

ETA: I also got word that Phiota has some buzz on campus, so that's another thing y'all will need to take into consideration.

[KnightWolf]

Yes Opposition is fierce:

The new members MUST:
1. Your interests must be quality outstanding men with extensive leadership activity.
2. Your interests must have a good amount of community service.
3. Your interests must have strong national support and or local support
4. Your interests must have good gpa's.
5. Furthermore it is recommended that you start with more than 10 because they will have large trouble recruiting.
6. It is necessary that you show some kind of need for your organization to join the Council because every other Council Member Fraternity doesn't want more competition. Prove it through numbers.

[Senusret I]

Bump Texas. When is LSU coming to DC????