Earning our Halo, Wings and ArrowClub Member Recruitment

Communication Programming Connections

Communication Tips• Emails – Short and Sweet

– One-on-one – – End with a question

• Newsletters – Highlight new members– Include a picture of them at events

• Examples: – Nations Cap Weekly Update– Phoenix Social Media

• Snail Mail– Costs Effective – Postcards

• Phone– Do you know them? – Are they from your chapter?

• Social Media– HootSuite

• In Person – Premier hospitality– Educate the alumnae organization– Task members with meeting one new person at each event

• Welcome Packets– Directory – Handwritten Note – Gift

• Name Tags– Ask me about

• Dealing with “Club Cliques”

Programming• Variety! Variety! Variety!• Limitations to dues paying members?New member events

• Networking Night• Swap names of plumbers, babysitters etc– Provide a “Best of City List”

Neighborhood Night• Interest Group Fair• Connection Night

– A meeting focused on recruiting new members• Short Ice Breakers

– Leading with Values

Connections Tips• Utilize roster• Contact new members in advance with a picture of who they are meeting• Coffee date prior to first event• Friends bring friends night• Welcoming Committee/On-Time Person• Personal note to those who have paid in the past three years• Alumnae Initiates• Beta Buddies – Slightly Older Sister• Chapter activities

• Show them lifelong commitment• Engage them early on

• Call or send a note after her first event• Ask her to be part of an Interest Group

• Do not ask her to become President• Dealing with “Club Cliques”

Information From Phoenix, Arizona, Alumnae Club

To be completely honest, I don't know that our original aim was to grow the Young Alumnae segment of our club. At the beginning of last year we had an "a-ha" moment and realized our young alumnae segment had grown tremendously without purposeful actions taken by the club. To put it into perspective, from the 2012–2013 year to the 2013-2014 year, we saw a total increase of 38 percent (37 women in 2012–2013 to 51 women in 2013–2014) in the number of young alumnae members who graduated in the last 10 years. The 51 young alumnae in 2013–2014 represented about 25 percent of the total club membership, which is 204 members. However, in looking back over the prior year, we were able to identify several things we believe drove that increase. As the 2013–2014 year has progressed we increased all of our below efforts specifically for the purpose of recruiting and retaining the young alumnae.  

1) Increase in chapter support activities: We worked to increase the visibility of the alumnae club to the current collegians by partnering with them on philanthropic efforts and holding a chapter and alumnae dinner, which gave the women opportunities for one-on-one interaction. Each of these interactions, cards, small gifts, etc. put the club's name out there for them to remember and hopefully note the fun and friendship that we share. During 2013–2014 we also provided several speakers for the senior transition programming at Arizona Beta including one meeting topic of alumnae life.  

2) Increase in social media: Starting in January of 2013, we increased our social media presence on Facebook® but more importantly on Instagram® and Twitter®. The people we have following our Facebook page are completely different from our followers on Instagram and Twitter. Many of the collegians and young alumnae don't use Facebook anymore but are heavy users of Instagram and Twitter. We purposefully post pictures of collegians and alumnae interacting at events on these two social media outlets and tag the chapter (i.e. @pibetaphiasu for Arizona Beta). We also do lots of posts congratulating the chapters we support for various awards they win, scholarships their members receive, etc. and tag these photos with the individual names if we know them. Our most popular posts with the most likes on Instagram are the ones of the collegians. Many times if we haven't tagged a specific person in a picture, someone will tag them for us. This has all lead to them liking and following us on Instagram and Twitter and increased their interest in alumnae life and our club. On Twitter they retweet any posts we make regarding the chapters and tag away. I recently had a collegian tell me at a philanthropy event how excited she is to

graduate and join our club next year because she see's how much fun we are having.  We also purposefully post pictures of young alumnae at events and highlight the activities of our Young Alumnae Special Interest Group so other young alumnae and the soon-to-be alumnae are interested, see that we have a diverse member base and what we have to offer them.  

3)  Without releasing the tremendous impact it would have, we recruited a recent graduate last year to be the VP Programs of the club and on the Exec Board. That alone, has given us a huge boost. She is from the local chapter and in the past year has brought in her big sis and little sis and now all three have leadership positions for the upcoming year. Again, I have purposefully posted pictures of them on social media since many of the local chapter members will recognize them. We have purposefully gone out and recruited a few

more young alumnae to fill small leadership roles including creating a new position on the Exec Board that we are calling Young Alumnae Representative.  

We are still in the process of giving that role more definition and tasks but one of her responsibilities will be to oversee the Young Alumnae Special Interest Group and continue the growing success of that group. She is also going to hopefully be the one to ensure we maintain focus on the young alumnae members and make suggestions if we are not meeting their needs.   

4)  Our club has had a Young Alumnae Special Interest Group for a while but it had struggled to really get on it’s feet. At the beginning of the 2013-2014 year, the Exec Board held a brainstorming session with those young alumnae who are leaders in the club and developed a plan to revitalize and re-energize this group. Specific needs of that group were identified as follows:

a. Events need to be very inexpensive as this group does not have a lot of discretionary income.

b. The young alumnae like to plan event by event, not months at a time. c. Events, especially at first, need to be at a member's home rather than a public

venue. Young alumnae are nervous about walking into a restaurant looking for a group when they don't know anyone.

d. A specific Facebook page or private group needs to be created so they have a social media outlet that is just for them. These ideas were communicated to the leaders of the Young Alumnae Special Interest Group and as a result, several wine nights at a members’ house were organized and very successful. The Special Interest Group also organized and held several hikes followed by lunch that were well attended. A Facebook page just for them was also created but hasn't been very successful, this is something that we will revisit next year to determine how to meet the group’s communication needs. Recently, I had a

great encounter with a sales associate at a local clothing store. She was ringing up my purchases and I had on a necklace and bracelet with arrows.  I'm not sure what made her ask, but she asked if I was a Pi Phi. I said yes and she went on to say that the previous week another Pi Phi had been in the store and told her all about the Young Alumnae Special Interest Group and how much fun the wine nights and hikes are. She asked if I knew how to get involved and right away handed me her contact information. I got so excited that the word is getting out!

5) One thing we started for all new club members this year is to send each of them a New Member Welcome packet. It contained the annual directory, handwritten note from Exec Board member, welcome letter from Co-Presidents and a small gift that we call a “Follow Your Arrow” bracelet. The bracelet is pretty young looking and fun. I had one young alumnae tell me how nice it was to get the package in the mail. It made her feel special and more welcome, which I think is a feeling that is even harder to get from your young alumnae than your older demographics. They are more insecure and all this is new. They aren't used to getting something like that in the mail, but I think it makes an impact with them and allows them to be more comfortable coming to an event.