Category:Contacting Prospective Members

Participation in campus "rush week" activities may be desirable dependent on your campus. If carried on separately/independently of campus rush, your chapter’s concentrated recruitment effort should be started within two weeks of the opening of school. The first contact with prospective members should be made during the summer or very early in the school year; however, recruitment should be considered a year-long activity. Never discourage a good candidate for membership simply because “rush week” is over or pledging has already begun. The calendar should never be used as an excuse to turn away a potential Brother. Instead, stay in contact, introduce the person to other members, invite the person to open activities and events, and be sure that person tops your list for next quarter or semester.

Face to face, in person, real life contact is always the best way to introduce yourself and Theta Tau to a prospective member. Look the prospective member directly in the eye, offer a firm hand shake, and listen carefully to his name. Another way to introduce the Fraternity to the prospective member is to use promotional material available from the Central Office or via your website, Facebook page, or other social media. The national Fraternity information should be weaved together with the chapter’s own history which includes contact information (names, emails, phones) for the chapter’s recruitment committee. During the regular recruitment periods, publications can be handed to those who are contacted personally. They may also be used as inserts with letters distributed during the summer to new engineering students whose records indicate they should be contacted. In some cases, leaflets directed to specific questions, designed to promote fraternities generally may be useful. However, not more than two printed pieces should be handed a potential new member at a time.

A typical summer recruitment letter (Figure 3-1) may be helpful in introducing Theta Tau to a large group of engineering students in a cost-effective and efficient way. Each letter may be personally signed in ink by the Recruitment Chairman. Remember that the first impression of Theta Tau a prospective member receives may determine his future interest — make every effort to make this first impression a good one.

An effective recruitment publication or page (hardcopy or electronic) should be small, of high quality, and professionally done. The topics should be concise, straightforward, and to the point, including:

1. a clear explanation of the nature of a professional fraternity

2. a brief history of the Fraternity and the chapter

3. the chapter’s balanced program of service, professional development, and brotherhood activities

4. thumbnail sketches of outstanding student members

5. mention of outstanding alumni

6. information about new member education process

7. financial and other obligations of membership

8. a chapter picture

9. informal pictures of chapter activities, etc.

10. other information applicable to individual chapter.

Personal contact is vital in recruitment procedures. The members (and pledges) should meet each candidate so they can make an evaluation of him. Many systems can be used to accomplish this:

1. rush week

2. campus orientation, tours, or move-in

3. recruitment events

4. professional meetings

5. dinner dates, cookouts, etc

6. luncheon meetings

7. chapter activities, events, or other functions

Several of these methods should be used by each chapter in addition to others adaptable to the situation. Invitations (printed or electronic) and all contacts should be made as personal as possible.

Chapter Advisers and other Theta Tau members on the faculty should be encouraged to attend and participate in as many of the rushing functions as possible. Their attendance not only makes a favorable impression on candidates, but also gives the faculty an opportunity to meet the prospective members and, if asked, to make recommendations.

Acquainting the prospect with Theta Tau has already been discussed indirectly. Every time a Theta Tau meets people, he is acquainting them with his chapter and its quality through his own actions. Other methods are:

1. Prestige of the chapter on the campus. Is it active and well respected by students and faculty alike? 2. Individual members and their pride in the chapter, shown among friends and fellow students. 3. Word of mouth by the members, to acquaint the candidates with Theta Tau and its members. 4. Faculty members who do not belong to Theta Tau but who are informed about it and favorably impressed by its program. 5. Published (printed or electronic) material explaining the Fraternity and its purposes.