There’s no question that spring recruitment is a different animal than fall. There are usually fewer men to choose from, and the most eager freshmen have already come forward.

 That being said, spring recruitment also presents some unique opportunities.

1. You have a large group of potential new members to work with.

New members create a whole new pool of potential new members to draw from. Since they’ve only recently joined the Fraternity, they usually have the freshest ties with unaffiliated men whom they’ve met in dorms, classes and other clubs. Use your new members to find other great men you might not be able to find otherwise.

2. You have a new recruitment cabinet eager to dig in.

Although a portion of our new members come from pre-recruitment bids, the preparation leading up to the big recruitment week is essential to a successful spring. At Indiana Beta, we use a cabinet of thirteen brothers all charged with the responsibility of preparing and running spring recruitment. These responsibilities range from communication and public relations to planning events and actually recruiting members. Have your vice president of recruitment select his cabinet members ahead of time so he can delegate tasks and make sure they’re done well. 

3. You have a list of potential new members who didn’t join in the fall.

Following up with your potential new member list is the most important piece of a well-executed spring recruitment. Make sure events are set up so interested men can sign in or leave contact information. Or, better yet, introduce yourself and get their contact information yourself. After each event, brothers should provide feedback on the men they interacted with to the recruitment team. Every PNM should also have a designated point person from the chapter who is responsible for inviting them to future events and meeting up with them on campus. This method helps ensure great potential new members don’t slip through the cracks.

Throughout many spring recruitments, we have found that focusing on getting good referrals from our newest members, using a recruitment team, and relentlessly following up with potential new members have made all the difference in ensuring a great spring recruitment.