Recruitment is full of challenges. Sometimes a potential new member doesn’t have the financial resources he needs to join. Sometimes he feels he doesn’t have time. Sometimes a negative perception of Greek life holds him back. 

Here at Mississippi Gamma, we’ve discovered a different kind of challenge – one that doesn’t stand out quite so easily, but one that we believe is critical to recruiting and retaining great men. This is the challenge of winning over parents.

For the past two years we’ve held a mothers’ luncheon during spring semester in which every member accompanies his mother, grandmother, or motherly figure to a catered luncheon.  At the luncheon, volunteers, alumni and university officials speak on the chapter’s progress and share our goals moving forward. 

In the spring, we also hold a father-son baseball tailgate where potential new members’ fathers can get to know each other and perhaps even reminisce about their own college days.

In the fall, we hold a family cookout where parents can mingle and get to know the chapter. 

All of these events have the benefit of helping parents see SigEp past the surface level. Perhaps even more importantly, they give parents the chance to meet other parents. Often times when we’re not able to answer a potential new members’ parents’ questions, the parents of active brothers know just what to say. After all, they’ve been there. 

Our Founders said “this fraternity will be different.” What separates SigEp from other fraternities today is our ability to adapt and constantly do things better. Take the proactive approach, and you will see things improve at your chapter.