Stop Planning Recruitment Events

by Vince Fabra

Have you ever heard that expression “Work smart not hard”?

When I work with fraternity men, at least the ones who choose to work at all, they seem to be hard workers when it comes to recruitment. They are planning recruitment events, inviting potential new members to the events, furiously calling and texting their brothers to make sure they are coming to the event, grabbing ice, manning the barbecue pit, talking to guys, GOING CRAZY BECAUSE YOUR CHAPTER BROTHERS ARE EATING ALL THE FREE FOOD AND TALKING TO EACH OTHER. Let’s get smart!

Planning recruitment events sucks.

My suggestion: Part 1. Stop planning recruitment events. It takes so much time, a lot of money (depending on the event) and requires that all of your brothers pitch in and help out (“I think I just saw a unicorn”).

My suggestion: Part 2. Start going to events planned by other people. Every campus has a Campus Activities Council that plans fun and free events for students on their campus. It might be a comedian, a musician, a game show, a video game tournament, a lecture on an interesting topic, or any other event that you probably ignored this semester. The Campus Activities Council is always looking to reach more students with their programming, and you are tired of running yourself ragged by planning and executing your own events. HMMM…! How about you just hitch your wagon to their wheel? Meaning, invite people from the names list, not to your chapter house for the fun event, but to the student union/quad/dorm/auditorium for a free night of fun.

Also, you know all of those brotherhood, service, social, philanthropy, your exoteric rituals and intramurals that already fill your calendar? Those are great opportunities to invite people with whom you have a mutual interest. The best way for potential joiners to learn about the organization is by witnessing the organization in a realistic group setting. Rather than standing around on your back deck eating hamburgers and hotdogs, with every member asking every potential new member “Where ya from,” “What’s your major,” “Did you play any sports in high school,” show them what fraternity looks like in a real way.

Pretty soon you can stop planning recruitment events, wasting time and money and you’ll be working smart not hard.