In need of ideas!!!!

[ThetaPrez]

Hello Everyone!

I attend a small private college in Wisconsin, and am a proud member of a local sorority- Theta Phi. Last semester, I was elected President! And I was so excited!!! I love being Greek-everything about it. However, come Formal Recruitment, it is so frustrating that I am ready to give up. My sorority is very small, because my campus is small, but also because we have something unique to our school- "Social Groups". They market themselves as "sororities only without pledging." These social groups are seriously killing out greek life at my school! We lose more freshman to these groups each year! They have no restrictions or anything (as we have Panhellenic Council)....These groups basically say, "Give us $50 and you're in." Girls are attracted to that....not to mention they are all drunks... being associated with a social group basically screams that one enjoys partying to the extreme!

Anyway, since I will be a Senior and we are in serious need of some recruits, I was hoping to be able to chat with a few women who would be able to provide some advice to a very lost President. I want to succeed for my group- they are my sisters and I love them all. But at times they are not motivated. And when they aren't motivated to recruit, then it's hard to make them....so please, if anyone reads this and has some ideas for me....let me know!!! I would really really appreciate any advice or recruitment ideas! Thanks so much!!!

[melsigkap]

My boyfriend is greek at SNC, so I know a little bit of what it's like up there.
When I first heard of the social groups thing, I was like whaaaaat? I'd never heard of it. From what my boyfriend tells me, they are "like a sorority but without the expensive dues." I would say that you would want to make a distinction by telling pnms (although he's said recruitment is weird up there..?) how their experience in a sorority would be different from a social group. Maybe more focus on philanthropy, scholarship, and how special your sisterhood is (since not just anyone can pledge)? It's a tough one, I'll give you that. Positive PR about what you're doing on campus helps attract upperclassmen too.


Although I have to say, your depiction of the social groups is pretty negative. I know several girls in them, and to say "....not to mention they are all drunks... being associated with a social group basically screams that one enjoys partying to the extreme!" is the last thing I could say about them! They are honestly the kind of women who are involved on campus, classy, and smart, and to generalize like that is pretty wrong :| You too are a "social group", and you wouldnt want people classifying your members as that, would you? You may want to watch what you say, whether its on campus or on the internet.

[adpiucf]

This thread may be helpful. It deals more with informal recruitment, but the ideas are good ones to help with recruitment in a chapter who needs to get their numbers up:

http://greekchat.com/gcforums/showthread.php?t=88691

[alrphimu]

if these women really are drunks, why are you worried about losing them to these "social groups"? it is sad, though. are there any regulations that a girl (maybe one of those classy ones mentioned) can or can't be in a "social group" and a sorority on your campus?

[LPIDelta]

Hi--SNC alumna here! I read your other post and thought those fundraising ideas sounded familiar.... :O) If you want to PM me, please feel free.

I thought y'all were affiliating with Theta Phi Alpha--is that not happening?