Getting back into the swing of things…and making a clean start.

It is a new semester for our undergraduates which means it is time to get back into the swing of things.  I have been absent from my blog for awhile so I thought this was a good point to start back up.

The fall semester is an exciting time for Fraternity chapters.  We are back on campus with our friends.  We are starting new classes.  We are recruiting new guys.  The year has been reset and nothing but potential exists on our plates.  What better time than now to hit the reset button on all of the things we have done wrong as a chapter or individual in the past.  Here are some ideas of possibilities:

1. Revamp your new member education process.  Maybe you do some things that are not correct (like hazing), maybe your program simply lacks substance or purpose.  Now is a good time to fix that.  The new guys won’t know the difference.  The old guys can be told that “things change and we have to”.  The point is to take advantage of the new year to fix what is broken.
2. Start in the positive financially.  Guys coming back to school are probably going to have more cash right now than any other time of the year.  The reason for this is they have been saving from the summer.  Get them to pay their dues now instead of after they refurnish their rooms, buy new video games or start hitting the campus social scene.  Having all your dues paid up front means the chapter will have less constraints on its activities throughout the fall semester.  It means you aren’t spending precious meeting time harassing the guys that have fallen behind.  It also means the individual members truly know how much they can spend outside of their fixed costs.
3. Recruit the right way.  You have 8 months to find the right men for your chapter.  Take advantage of the time you have to continue to find qualified men.  Don’t stop looking after “Rush” is over.  Don’t settle for less than standard men either.
4. Re-energize your alumni communication.  Create a semester newsletter that tells how the chapter did last year and your plans for this year.  Share with them upcoming event dates like homecoming and Ritual.  Do not ask for money!  Set up a Facebook Page for the chapter, a Twitter account and so on.  Make sure you highlight those information opportunities.

There are probably a lot more things you can do or change.  Start brainstorming now.  Start chapter off right this fall by making the changes you know you need.  The Fraternity New Year is the beginning of fall semester so treat these like your New Year’s resolutions.