Membership Retention

Membership Retention means getting active brothers to stay active. For Iota Phi, retention has historically been a challenge because the chapter is so big. The turnover rate is often very high. Usually, Membership Vice Presidents are held responsible for improving retention.

Approaches to Membership Retention

Many different things have been tried over the years to improve membership retention.

Active-Only Events

Membership VPs have occasionally tried creating events that only actives are allowed to attend. This was meant to give actives some time to talk about things that they felt more reserved in talking about around pledges. Officers who try to run active-only events should be careful, however. No Alpha Phi Omega event other than rituals can exclude anyone. This means all pledges, inter-chapter members, or even the general public is allowed to attend. At most, you can emphasize that an event deals with active-specific issues, and would only be beneficial to them.

Active Interviews

Occasionally, actives were given the option of interviewing around 15 pledges for a wildcard. This approach is meant to help actives meet newer members and create more relationships within the chapter, so people never feel too disconnected.

Active Retreat

Membership VPs have tried active retreats with varying success. Usually, this event has worked best before the start of a term. Particularly, ExComm has held pre-retreats to check out the Pledge Parents' intended Pledge Retreat campsite. Actives have often been invited to join in.

Awards

Membership VPs have offered many different kinds of awards to recognize actives for their contributions, and remind them that they are valuable. This is meant to encourage people to stay active. Some awards include Active of the Week or "Awesome Active Awards", Brotherhood Awards, and more. The physical award is usually a certificate, but officers have been known to give out other things, like painted paddles. In Fall 2010, Membership VPs created three awards for actives: a mug to be awarded by themselves, a glove to be awarded by ExComm, and a plate to be passed from active to active.

Incentives

Membership VPs have tried various incentives to encourage actives to come out and fulfill their requirements. In Spring 2010, officers tried financial incentives. For example, for a Baskin Robbins fellowship, they gave discounts for the first 20 members who came. In Fall 2010, they created customized buttons corresponding to each trait in the Scout Law, and passed a different kind out at each meeting.

MVP Interviews

In Spring 2009, Membership Vice Presidents introduced post-rush, mid-term, and end-term interviews for actives. These interviews entailed getting to know actives and trying to figure out their goals for the term, or to help them come up with a plan to make active status. This was intended as a retention tool, and attending all three interviews earned one wildcard. One concern for this idea was that having actives approach the officers was a passive affair that would only attract those who already intend to be active. It did not help with assessing why the more distant members had begun to go inactive.

MVP Office Hours

This idea has been tried occasionally. It is similar to the MVP Interviews, as actives are encouraged to come and talk to the Membership Vice Presidents about plans to make active status. Actives could also talk about any concerns they had about meeting requirements here, and the officers could help them come up with a plan. Also similar to the MVP Interviews idea, this strategy targets those who already intend to be active. However, some people find it very helpful.

Sunshine Chairs

Sunshine Chairs were a short-lived position that existed in Spring 2009 and Spring 2010. The person holding this position was meant to be anonymous until the end of the term. They would give out small birthday cards and other encouraging remarks to boost active morale. The position was discontinued, but the general idea was merged back into the position of Spirit Chair.