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Question:
How do I instill pride into my pledges?
Answer:
Here are 10 ways:
1) Include them!
Not only do they need to be a part of your everyday operations, but as soon as possible your new members need to be involved in important decisions and events.
2) Open the door
This piggy-backs off of #1. Present your newest members with opportunities to demonstrate their skills and abilities. Take time and effort to find the right committee or chairmanship to unleash their full potential
3) Avoid the language of hierarchy
Just because they are your newest members doesn’t mean you can treat them like lesser people. Retention rates trend upwards when not just actions, but language used, demonstrates acceptance and camaraderie
4) Meet, and beat, your expectations
Ever hear the phrase “lead by example”? If you want your newest members to have pride in your chapter and strengthen your fraternity, your current actives better act that way as well. Current members set the tone from the start. Which leads to…
5) Positive Peer Pressure
So what if it’s 10am on a Saturday and the last thing you want to do is community service or run in your philanthropy’s 5K? Peer Pressure works. Positive Peer Pressure works even better. If everyone is encouraging and everyone goes to your service programs with enthusiasm, so will your new guys. You can only say, “hey, the entire chapter is doing it” if it is true.
6) Utilize a strong Big Brother program
Typically, the Big Brother is the main reason a person joined a chapter. The Big Brother doesn’t stop being a Big once someone gets initiated. Keep those bonds strong among chapter families and use Big Brothers as a way to increase your brotherhood. During new member education, the Big Brother needs to be supportive throughout.
7) RECRUIT!
I have always maintained that every problem is a fraternityrecruitment problem. If you can’t find potential new members that have the character and drive to strengthen your chapter and leave a positive legacy, it is a recruitment problem. Smart, targeted, year round recruitment makes a difference.
8) Cut out chapter cancers
It sounds harsh, but it’s called “dead weight” for a reason. Get rid of your slackers that drag everyone else down or minimize their roles in your chapter. Again, it may sound harsh, but it is important to keep the big picture in mind.
9) Tap into campus competitions
Intramurals are probably the best example here. Win intramural championships and your members will have something to hang their hats on. Take that same competitive mentality to canned food drives, clothing drives, service hour competitions, etc and you will see that your members will be incredibly proud to show their letters off.
10) Use your nationals
I hear often how consultants and alumni volunteers want to be more active on the chapter level. Use your nationals to tap into resources to help support your new members and your chapter. Often times new members have no clue how large a national fraternity can be. Sometimes seeing the broad scope of your fraternity can be just what your new members need.
This question was submitted by one of our readers. If you have a question you want me to answer go here to submit it: Fraternity Advice.
This answer was written by Joe Russo, an alumni brother from Phi Delta Theta and contributor for the thefraternityadvisor.com. If you are interested in writing for thefraternityadvisor.com – let us know (CLICK HERE)!