I LOVE Recruitment!

I love recruitment! I love the whole process of getting new members in our chapter. However, after recruitment is over there is always the challenging task of getting to know the new members. There are just so many of them. Here are some fun ideas to get to know the new members and to have some fun in the process.

1. Do a fun bid day activity. I know in many chapters it is tradition to do a formal bid day. However, at some point early in the semester have a fun cookout or gathering at the house. My chapter always rents an inflatable slide for bid day. It is a great way to have fun and avoid the awkwardness that comes with not knowing one another.

2. Host a fall dance and let the new members pick the theme. Having a dance is always a good idea and if the new members pick the theme it gets them involved right away. It will be a good chance for them to bond as a pledge class and feel as though they have an important role in the chapter.

3. Have assigned pals during the first few weeks of school. Give each new member an older member as a pal for the first few weeks. This will give them someone to call for questions. It also helps to keep the often-distant seniors engaged.

I hope you all have had successful recruitments. Please post any other great beginning of the semester ideas.

SaraP is a senior at Western Kentucky University and an intern at CollegeLifestyles (TM)