The title of this post is a question that seems to run in a lot of people's heads when we get to talking about recruiting of new members and how it can be done..Well, the short answer to that question in the title is most emphatically yes.
The next question, how do I do it? Easy, open recruitment is all about building relationships and building "up" to asking them to join the chapter. For our NPHC interfraternal brothers and sisters though, the process is a bit different, so let me speak to our IFC and Panhellenic brothers and sisters with this post.
Numerically speaking, roughly, each of us will run into about 20-25 people throughout the course of the week that we have regular contact with that is not already greek affiliated who could potentially be a brother or sister within our (or another) organization. People join people, organizations are often the secondary thought in a person's mind if we really tell the truth about it. How did you build that relationship with people you have called your friends for years? What did that first start as? Same principle here..
Once you have gotten to know someone, introduce them to your chapter friends, start small, build up. Think of it as a trickle down effect. Your relationships that you build with them and that they see between you and your other members of the chapter will ultimately be one of the telling factors in whether they will keep interest. People sell people, and the positive true relationships that you have with each other based on your common bond through ritual, will be the ultimate head turner as you pursuade others to join.
Introduce the idea of being "Greek" and get them thinking in those terms. For some, fraternity and sorority do not necesarily equate to "greek" unless you are talking about the ABC Family Channel show, which is another topic for another time :) This is where, if you haven't indirectly already, you may be stereotype busting, things like "Do I have to buy my friends"..may be things that surface here.
Educate them! Take the time to help them understand completely what they would be getting into, appropriately.
Sell them on the chapter and close the deal.
For some it may be a quick process, you have those you know that will be gung ho joining your chapter and being a part of your organization, others may be a bit more work, and take a bit more investment, but the key is that they are thinking about it and taking it seriously. They are worth the investment just as much as the person who will join you quickly.
Be smart about it all, treat them as you would be treated, respect the frameworks that are in place right now recruitment rule wise and good luck. If you need any help, give the office a shout and we'll be glad to coach you through this in person.
The next question, how do I do it? Easy, open recruitment is all about building relationships and building "up" to asking them to join the chapter. For our NPHC interfraternal brothers and sisters though, the process is a bit different, so let me speak to our IFC and Panhellenic brothers and sisters with this post.
Numerically speaking, roughly, each of us will run into about 20-25 people throughout the course of the week that we have regular contact with that is not already greek affiliated who could potentially be a brother or sister within our (or another) organization. People join people, organizations are often the secondary thought in a person's mind if we really tell the truth about it. How did you build that relationship with people you have called your friends for years? What did that first start as? Same principle here..
Once you have gotten to know someone, introduce them to your chapter friends, start small, build up. Think of it as a trickle down effect. Your relationships that you build with them and that they see between you and your other members of the chapter will ultimately be one of the telling factors in whether they will keep interest. People sell people, and the positive true relationships that you have with each other based on your common bond through ritual, will be the ultimate head turner as you pursuade others to join.
Introduce the idea of being "Greek" and get them thinking in those terms. For some, fraternity and sorority do not necesarily equate to "greek" unless you are talking about the ABC Family Channel show, which is another topic for another time :) This is where, if you haven't indirectly already, you may be stereotype busting, things like "Do I have to buy my friends"..may be things that surface here.
Educate them! Take the time to help them understand completely what they would be getting into, appropriately.
Sell them on the chapter and close the deal.
For some it may be a quick process, you have those you know that will be gung ho joining your chapter and being a part of your organization, others may be a bit more work, and take a bit more investment, but the key is that they are thinking about it and taking it seriously. They are worth the investment just as much as the person who will join you quickly.
Be smart about it all, treat them as you would be treated, respect the frameworks that are in place right now recruitment rule wise and good luck. If you need any help, give the office a shout and we'll be glad to coach you through this in person.
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