As we make headway toward summer vacation, we are all beginning a new set of journeys. Amid our summer vacation, it is also the prime time to get ahead of the game! You can get ahead of the game in your life endeavors and start planning out your DECA year. However, the planning doesn’t have to start at the beginning of the school year. It can and should start now! The most important part of leading a chapter and having substantial growth is focusing on member recruitment. Let’s think about some ways we can successfully recruit members into DECA!
1. Look at School Culture
Every school has a different culture! For reference, your high school culture could be very focused on athletics, academics or career readiness. Asking yourselves these questions will be very helpful in navigating DECA’s interest! When you can comprehend the mindset of the majority of students and what will appeal most to them, you can successfully work with your advisors and teammates on recruiting DECA members.
2. Focus on Member Retainment
It’s not only important to successfully recruit members, but it’s vital to keep them. When you recruit to retain, that’s where the magic happens! Start by planning out potential meetings! You could host guest speakers, mock competitions, community service events or potlucks to engage with members consistently.
3. Work with Other Clubs and Organizations
There is a great success when working with clubs and organizations in your school. For example, you can work with the student council, NHS, Key Club, etc., to host community service, mock competitions, guest speakers or open house events. If your DECA chapter can collaborate and work with any other school club or organization, you can effectively promote your DECA chapter.
4. Make DECA Part of Everything
Working with other clubs and organizations is a great way to spread awareness of DECA. Make sure DECA is announced in your daily announcements and is part of assemblies, sports games and school events. If DECA is shown in every bit of your school’s promotional tools, it will bring more members to our organization!
In light of these recommendations, I also want to highlight the most important aspect of member recruitment: consistency. Consistency is key to not only successfully recruiting members but retaining them. As we head toward chapter planning and our new school year, I wish you all the best of luck with recruitment! Remember, member recruitment is supposed to be exciting and fun, so keep that in mind as you start your chapter planning.
