The document outlines strategies for member recruitment in student organizations, emphasizing effective communication and personal connections with prospective members. Key elements include understanding the unique aspects of the organization, executing engaging recruitment events, and maintaining communication to ensure retention. Participants are encouraged to practice their recruitment pitches and to focus on authentic interactions that build relationships rather than merely increasing numbers.

1. Member Recruitment
Understanding, Planning, and Executing
Presented by Student Leadership Advocates
Student Organization Summit– Spring 2012

2. Who Is Here Today?
• SLA Facilitator Introductions
• Participant Introductions
– Name
– Year
– Your Organization, why you joined, why you’re still
involved (and here today!), and why would
someone else want to join the fun?

3. What We’ll Do Today
• Discuss the basic elements/Goals of
recruitment
• Focus on interactions between you, your
organization, and prospective members
• Discuss best practices for successful
recruitment of an individual person

4. Get on the (c)Bus!
• What are we “selling”, and how can we make
it different?
– Why did you get involved, is that why you are still
involved?
• 80/20 vision
– Where are you spending your time?
• Understand it, Embrace it, Improve it
– Keeping the flow of new and better ideas,
motives, energy and relationships

5. Formal Vs. Non-Formal
• Events that are separate from regular
organization meetings
• Marketing tables
• Student Involvement Fairs
• Informational flyers/emails, etc.
• Inviting people to attend regular meetings
• Other FUN things you do
• Are you building bonds, or just adding numbers?

6. Effective recruitment starts with
EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION!
• Whatever your publicity method, the
INTERACTION with prospective members is the
MOST important element. That’s what we’ll focus
on today.
• Foundations of Effective communication
– Understanding
– Embracing
– Collaborating
• Again, why is it you’re involved with your org?

7. The Member Recruitment
Process
Initial
Selections
Interaction Pitch Follow Up (if applicable) Involvement

8. The Recruitment Event
Execution

9. Initial Interaction
• First impressions are everything!
– Don’t talk about your organization – focus on personal connections
you have with the prospective member!
– Let them talk about themselves (Everyone’s favorite subject!)
• “F’em” – focus on:
– Friends
– Family
– From (where they live, where they grew up, etc.)
– Fun (hobbies)
• These connections are VITAL to recruiting new members:
“People don’t join organizations, people join PEOPLE”

10. “Pitch”
• After getting to know the person as a PERSON,
you can then talk about your organization.
• Be ready to answer the question “why should I
join?”
• Give them a SLICE of your organization:
– Succinct
– Legitimate
– Informative
– Challenging
– Exciting

11. SLICE: Succinct
• Elevator speech: Can you explain what your
org is about in 2 minutes or less?
• What are the most important things about
your organization?
• Are you sure they’re listening to what you’re
saying?
• Have I repeated any information more than
once?

12. SLICE: Legitimate
• Be authentic and real. You’re not a cheesy
salesperson… we hope.
• Provide a “realistic preview” of your
organization. Would YOU want to join an
organization that was not truthful and/or
open from the beginning?
• Remember: A person begins building trust in
an organization before ever joining.

13. SLICE: Informative
• Cover as MUCH as you can without being
overwhelming:
– Purpose of your organization
– What is your organization’s “X factor”: the thing
you do better than any other organization or that
makes your group unique?
– What are your events/programs?
– How often and where your organization meets
– Any costs associated with joining

14. SLICE: Challenging
• What can YOU and your group do for the
prospective member?
• What can the new member do for your
organization? Why would they be a good fit?
– Example: “I notice that you’re really passionate
about____,” Show them how that passion fits in
with your organization’s purpose or with other
members of the organizations.

15. SLICE: Exciting
• What’s FUN about your organization?
• What do people in your organization like to
do?
• What are the new developments in your
organization?
• How do you see the prospective new member
contributing to the excitement?

16. Selections
(if applicable)
• Determine selections process BEFORE recruiting
begins
• Make sure all members are clear on the
selections process
• Considerations:
– What will your application look like?
– Who is involved with selections?
– When is the deadline?
– Why should a person join?

17. Follow Up
• Maintain communication with the prospective
member
• Answer any questions
• Emphasize the points that the potential
member was most interested in during your
discussion
• Do not forget to thank them for their time and
consideration

18. Reminder about RETENTION!
• RECRUITMENT DOESN’T STOP AFTER THE
FIRST MEETING!!!!
• Make sure you don’t forget about your new
members: continue to reach out to them!
• Continually reinforce the value of your
organization to all members, particularly new
members who are just forming their
impression and expectations of the
organization.

19. Thanks for attending!
WHAT QUESTIONS HAVE WE
CREATED?

20. Continue the Conversation
• Contact SLA
– http://ohiounion.osu.edu/get_involved/csls/sla
– Email advisor Melissa Rocco at rocco.18@osu.edu
– Talk to one of us today!
• Andy Porter
– vanwildporter@gmail.com
• Meredith Kozak
– mlkozak1015@gmail.com
• Websites:
– Coca-Cola Retreat Packages:
http://ohiounion.osu.edu/get_involved/csls/retreat_packages
– Student Org General Resources:
http://ohiounion.osu.edu/get_involved/student_organizations/r
esources

21. ACTIVITY!
• Let’s practice!
• Find a partner and recruit them to join your
organization.
– Remember what we talked about today!
• Are you being REAL?
• Are you learning about this person?
• Are you being CLEAR about your org?
• SLICE