The first month back on campus is one of the best times to recruit new members to join your DECA chapter. Students are coming back to campus after being away for three months. They want to get involved and meet new people, so show them why joining DECA is their best option—especially first-year college students trying to find where they’ll grow for the next four years.
Keep reading to see different recruitment strategies that could help your chapter grow.
- Club and Organization Fairs: Represent DECA at your campus’s club and organization fair! Students there are eager to join new groups and get involved, so make sure they know about your very successful chapter. You can create handouts telling them about your activities and how they can stay connected. It’s also a great way to see what your campus is looking for in clubs and organizations they’re joining.
- Flyers: Post flyers around your campus that showcase DECA and all the amazing opportunities members can participate in. This is a great way to keep DECA in people’s minds throughout the year. Use fun pictures and creative visual aspects to grab their attention.
- Social Media: Utilize social media and see your membership soar. Posting meeting dates, social events, fundraising opportunities, and more will help showcase what your chapter does for your current and potential members. You’ll also be able to reach members in any location at any time. Don’t forget to tag @Collegiatedeca. We love to see and support what your chapters are doing.
- Share your Story: Ultimately, people want to join clubs and organizations to help themselves grow, have fun and meet new people. The best way to show DECA would be perfect for others is to share your experiences. Tell them about the chapter meeting where you met your now best friend or about your first time visiting California to compete at CICDC.
- Open Meeting Date: Host a meeting near the beginning of the year that allows members to bring a friend or those curious about joining to see DECA in action. This allows potential members to see your chapter’s values and goals. It’s a great way to recruit students who are curious about joining many groups but choose yours because it matches what they seek.
These strategies are just the beginning. There are many other ways to recruit members in your chapter that you can read about here. I suggest trying many different strategies and seeing what works best for your chapter. Every chapter has different needs and recruits from a different student body, so use what works for you!
While recruiting, don’t forget to work with your current members and offer them exciting opportunities. You’ll lose members if your only focus is on gaining members.
