Greek chapter management is a big responsibility. Sorority and fraternity chapters want to attract a steady stream of new members while also developing the people they have. At the same time, they have to focus on maintaining and improving the chapter’s reputation, planning activities and events, and looking towards the future.
To help you with these and other tasks here’s the first volume of the ultimate guide to managing your chapter. There are several important areas on which to focus in order to ensure your organization is well run. Let’s start with a few of the most vital topics.
How To Improve Sorority and Fraternity Chapter Management?
There are many ways to improve your sorority or fraternity chapter management. This is just volume 1 of the ultimate guide to greek chapter management. Below are three great ways in which you can improve the management of your chapter.
1. Fill Executive Board Positions
In order for your organization to run smoothly, you need to identify positions that need filling and their corresponding responsibilities. Some of the officer positions that may need filling include executive board, VP, treasurer, secretary, housing officer, new member educator, and others.
Finding the right people for these positions helps to create a strong foundation for your chapter. The process involves several steps.
- Clearly define roles and duties for each position. It’s important that applicants understand exactly what’s expected of them.
- Seek people who share your organization’s core goals and values. Remember that everyone you recruit reflects on the fraternity or sorority. Screen applicants carefully and don’t be too hasty in making decisions.
- Make sure your expectations for officers is realistic. Remember that college students need a balance between academics, Greek life and other extracurricular activities (athletics, clubs, etc.). If certain officers are overly loaded down with tasks, you may need to recruit more people.
2. Budget Wisely
Make sure you have an accurate list of your organization’s revenue sources and expenses. Financial matters are largely handled by the treasurer. However, setting a realistic and organized budget is a responsibility for all officers.
Make sure you allot monies for all necessary expenditures, which may include housing and activity spaces, social events, costs associated with recruiting, and other costs. Here are some points to keep in mind.
- Use an efficient record-keeping system with a good software program. Excel spreadsheets are one option but you might also research various accounting and management software. Make sure the treasurer and anyone who needs to input or access this information know how to use the software.
- Calculate dues based on careful analysis of expenses. Use past budgets for reference, but be sure to consider that costs often go up over time (e.g. the college charges more for renting facilities).
- Prepare for rainy days. It’s always better to have a surplus in your budget for unexpected expenses. It’s safe to allocate an extra 5-10% of your anticipated budget as a cushion.
- Issue regular reports to all members to ensure transparency. It’s important that members know where their dues are going.
3. Improve Recruitment
The success of your organization ultimately rests upon the rank and file members. You need an effective yet discerning strategy for recruiting new members. There are a number of points to keep in mind if you want to recruit people into your chapter who turn into high-quality, contributing members.
- When recruiting, emphasize the values and goals of your organization. Make it clear that you’re not simply trying to sign up warm bodies but only people who are in sync with your vision. GreekXperience provides comprehensive recruitment (and Management) tools to help you find the most suitable members.
- Encourage referrals. One of the best ways to find great new members is to encourage your current members to provide referrals.
- Partner with other groups on campus. Co-sponsoring events, not only with other Greek organizations but also with other groups that are aligned with your purposes. This may include teams, clubs, or cause-based organizations.
- Follow-up with good prospects. A basic marketing principle is that potential customers need to see a message multiple times before buying. The same is often true of recruits. Don’t be too aggressive (you only want members who really want to join) but, at the same time, don’t give up too easily. When someone shows an interest, always make a few attempts to connect.
If you like this article, check out volume 2. Additionally, contact us for any questions on how to manage and grow your chapter.
