Recruitment
Recruitment
This is the famous Gamma business card. We have our brothers hand them out to students who we think would benefit by learning more about our historic fraternity.
Recruiting - Overall Philosophy
Brotherhood is the glue that binds a Fraternity together, but recruitment is the source of its endurance. Sigma Gamma cannot operate at an optimal level as an ongoing Brotherhood if it cannot provide itself with a steady stream of new members. We endeavor to have enough Brothers to conduct successful academic programs, quality social programs, great service projects and meet our financial and organizational needs. To accomplish all these things, we work together to keep up a strong membership recruitment program. The new Brothers who join Sigma Gamma today will lead our accomplishments in the future.
We know from experience that quantity and quality are not mutually exclusive. Based on the increase in the number of Greek organization at SUNY Oswego, there is greater competition than ever for new members. We are very aware that organizations with a strong recruitment effort grow stronger, while those with a weak recruitment effort grow weaker. New members bring new energy, fresh ideas, additional skills and more able hands to grow an organization and make the Fraternity experience better for everyone. Membership recruitment is the most important activity in any organization that desires continued existence.
Strategies for Recruitment
What is fraternity recruitment? By definition, it is the means by which fraternities seek to expand their membership. Without recruitment, fraternities would eventually cease operations because all members would either graduate or leave school. Therefore, it's obviously beneficial to all Sigma Gamma Brothers to have a thorough understanding of recruitment.
Membership recruitment is the most critical and important activity for Sigma Gamma. Without it there would be no Sigma Gamma. While this set period is necessary in order to commence the pledge semester, recruitment is happening constantly.
Our current membership in this Fraternity is the direct result of the recruiting efforts of past chapter members. If the current collegiate membership is a strong, healthy association, then each current member has the responsibility to devote as much effort to the recruitment of new members as did past chapter members. The way to do this is simple. Each member should recruit at least one or two new members to replace him, so that the chapter will always be strong and healthy.
Who To Recruit?
Around every brother, there are literally hundreds of possible current college students who would be good to start up a conversation about the potential for them to be interested in Sigma Gamma. These students may be in your classes, they may be living in your dorm, they may be in other clubs or organizations you are a part of. Or they may be friends or friends. Or they may be young men you're riding the bus with, or who are shopping in the same store as you are. Or they may be filling up their gas tank right next to you. The point is that they're all around Oswego. And they may not have had any means before your interaction with them to even have considered the prospects of enriching their college experience by being in our fraternity. Don't be shy. Nothing good comes from not pursuing opportunities. And wear your colors or otherwise make it clear that you are a proud member of Sigma Gamma Fraternity.
Also, some of our female friends, including those in other clubs, organizations and sororities may also be great resources to connect to potentially interested young men. Ask them, "do you know guys who might be interested in learning more about Sigma Gamma?" It starts with a conversation. An action. And then, show those interested in learning about Sigma Gamma why we are such a great fraternity. Give them a link to this web site. Go through it with them. Encourage them to speak with and meet our brothers. Introduce them to the Rush Chairs. Introduce them to Sigma Gamma. Give them an opportunity for them to envision themselves being a proud member of the fraternity.
Sigma Gamma’s Recruitment Mission Statement
“The mission of our recruitment efforts are to attract quality individuals and develop them with lifelong bonds of trust, friendship, and unity providing a social, fraternal, professional, and academic atmosphere through which the individual as well as the chapter will excel.”
KEY CONCEPTS GOVERNING MEMBERSHIP RECRUITMENT THAT ALL SIGMA GAMMA BROTHERS SHOULD KNOW AND BE MINDFUL OF
o Think like a guest and you'll be a good host. Remember, a prospective member has probably recently graduated high school and is most likely leaving home for the first time. Make him feel at home.
o A prospective member probably knows very little about Fraternities. Likely, he may not know any more than he's read in the papers and been told by "somebody who knows." He doesn't know the terms we use and doesn't know the Greek alphabet yet. Explain everything. Emphasize the benefits.
o Discuss the benefits of the Greek system first. A prospective member has to be sold on the idea of a Fraternity before you can sell him on Sigma Gamma, and our history.
o Be mindful of what the value proposition is. Essentially, we are selling a group of friends who share the same values, and who can also share the bonds of brotherhood with generations of Sigma Gamma brothers who came before him. Powerful stuff!
o Make friends. Most men join a Fraternity where they have the most friends and believe the other brothers to be the best group they can find. Be yourself and put your best foot forward and try to present yourself as a good example of Sigma Gamma. Be honest, straightforward, and friendly.
o You get what you recruit. The trouble with most recruitment techniques is they attract the more casual, insincere types, and worse, they frighten away or disgust the highly motivated men who will do something for the chapter and in return improve themselves.
o Do not knock the competition. Show and explain why Sigma Gamma has advantages and favorably compares to the competition.
o Keep good records. If you talk to a great guy, it is to your advantage to be sure he doesn't get lost in the shuffle. If you find a successful technique, give it to the Membership Recruitment Chairman. Don't trust your own memory, write it down. Take a picture. Get a name, #, follow up!
o Plan ahead, think, and try. Be positive in your approach and don't pass the buck. Everybody has a job to do and they must all do it in order to be successful.
WHEN IN DOUBT:
˃ SHOW A PROSPECTIVE SOME OF OUR OLD
PICTURES
> SHARE STORIES - WHY DID YOU BECOME A BROTHER? WHAT IS IT LIKE TO BE IN GAMMA? TALK ABOUT IT!
˃ EMPHASIZE OUR AWESOME
HISTORY
> STRESS HOW SIGNIFICANT LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE
˃ STRESS HOW INVOLVED OUR ALUMNI NETWORK IS
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