Telling the Story of Sorority
The stress a global pandemic puts on recruitment is real. It is heavy. But let’s take a step back and reflect.
Our organizations are more than 100 years old.
They’ve endured plagues, wars, depressions, economic hardship and stereotypical scrutiny.
Recruitment is going virtual for a moment, not forever. What makes sororities meaningful are the people, the relationships, the love, the growth and the support. Now more than ever, we need to tell our story instead of having someone else tell it for us.
Storytelling
Now is the time to take a critical look at the chapter’s social media account.
Who is the account intended for? Be honest.
Is the intent to showcase the experience as a recruitment tool?
As you scroll through the feed, what would an incoming student learn about the chapter?
Can they see themselves in this space?
Is the account showcasing involvement, organizational values or a nice aesthetic with a little fluff? We love a beautiful throw-what-you-know pic, but should it be the main thing you post?
Make sure your content and intended audience align. Here are a few ideas.
Have members take over the account to provide a variety of voices and personal stories. This organically shows off the different reasons and benefits of joining your org.
Knowing why someone joined is important, but what’s powerful is why they stayed. Share these personal stories, too.
Create highlights that showcase the joy and fun of being a sorority member (sisterhood, involvement, service etc.)
Be Honest
Would you sign a contract without reading the details? We wouldn’t either.
Now’s the time to be real about the expectations of joining a sorority.
It wasn’t that long ago that you were on the other side of the experience going through recruitment. You know what questions you had. Get in front of them now. This may feel like a heavy conversation and weird to engage in virtually, but make it fun through a pre-recorded IGTV or a weekly chat session. You can easily follow-up with a Q+A session based on DMs.
Create a highlight that directs potential members to register for recruitment and gives instructions on how to do so.
See Purdue Panhellenic example below
Share the expectations associated with membership.
Time commitments (think weekly and monthly)
Financial commitment
click to watch the Recruitment 2020 highlight
Language Matters | AOII Middle Tennessee
We’ve all been in the setting where a few people laugh at an inside joke and we’re just awkwardly there 👉👈
If we want to engage with all incoming students virtually, now isn’t the time for humor that only makes sense to your chapter or members or to use terminology that excludes or confuses your intended audience.
An incoming student doesn’t know the Greek letters or Greek-letter chapter names. They do know the organization and campus.
Real talk, what does “sisterhood” truly mean? Have you explicitly defined it? Or are we saying the word assuming PNMs are on the same page we are about what that means.
Be clear. Be consistent.
We often talk about how our sisters “help us be better women.” But how is a PNM supposed to know what that means or how that happens?
Have Fun
Change is hard, but it’s also exciting. This is your chance to highlight what makes the chapter meaningful through a variety of creative ways.
Remember:
Everyone has a “sisterhood.”
Everyone has a philanthropy.
Everyone has colors and symbols, and these are important pieces of the chapter, but they aren’t everything.
What makes the chapter dynamic are the people and the relationships. Highlight who you are and what makes the chapter meaningful.
