Presented at the Milwaukee Greek Leadership Conference in 2010, the program involved the basics of new member education and planning an intentional experience.

1. Renee wiedenhoeft Residence Hall director Marquette University a pledge is a promise

2. Use the bright yellow post-it Describe your challenge innew member education what is the biggest challenge of new member education…

3. Try this… Instead of asking what’s wrong with our new members, ask: What’s wrong with our new member education process?

4. [ relevance [

5. How does today’s fraternal organization serve our current students? How does a lifelong promise become personal? How do we help new members succeed? How are we relevant? The future of our organizations forces us to question:

6. Goals – beyond the paper It’s the front cover of your student newspaper. The article is regarding your newly initiated members. What does it say?

8. Have a network of support…Rome wasn’t built in a day and new member education isn’t going to change overnight.

9. Identify unhealthy and risky situations and aim for those first. Those will be the toughest to challenge, but the most important to the survival of your organization. [ [ that’s relevant

10. Have a blueprint Would you ever take a class and not receive a syllabus? Break into small groups – time to craft a new blueprint.

12. Consider learning styles in your syllabus. When you map out the semester it is easier to identify the gaps and needs that are not being met.

13. A syllabus is not the absolute and can involve changes as you go based on the needs of your new members. (*Ahem* Not based on failure to plan, procrastination, or just plain laziness). Remember – it’s a blueprint not a wedding. We’re talking about a plan of action and purpose; not a lifelong commitment. [ [ that’s relevant

14. In the basement in badge attire Expectations are communicated far beyond words. Describe with the person next to you two experiences: The new member meeting The chapter member meeting Then identify one way your new member meeting can more closely align to the chapter meeting experience.

16. Question: why do we have more strict expectations of new members than chapter members or vice versa?

17. Utilize parliamentary procedure, dress in badge attire, and for goodness sake, sit in actual chairs for your new member meetings.

18. Does the time commitment of new member education reflect the time commitment of active members? How do you help your new members prepare for this transition? Fraternal research suggests this is key to new member success in their transition. [ [ that’s relevant

19. Experience BIG Greek Reflect upon the type of membership you want to create. Look at recruitment  what is promised during this process? Look at your current member experience  what is actually achieved? How does new member education help fill this gap? Move from little greek (just your chapter) to BIG Greek (your campus community, national organization and beyond).

21. Promote positive interfraternal relations. Period.

22. Talk with your primary recruitment chair. What will the chapter promote and how will you help to ensure that promoted experience is fulfilled?

23. Catch yourself as you make requirements. Proof versus preparation. Questions your motives. Just because someone else did it doesn’t mean it’s 1) effective or 2) appropriate. [ [ that’s relevant

24. [ [ why relevance?

25. According to the US Department of Labor Statistics and Former Secretary of Education Richard Riley… Today’s learner’s will have 10 to 14 jobs by their 38th birthday By 2018, the US Labor Force will have increased by 10%. However, the majority of these 15.3 million jobs do not even exist in the present. Today’s 21-year olds have watched over 20,000 hours of television and sent/received over 250,000 text messages.

26. a promise is relevant.