Recruitment, the new lifeblood
Jesse Lyons | 4/27/2005

Vocabulary terms in Kappa Alpha Order, and Greek life for that matter, are ever-changing.  As KAs we have our own unique set of terms to describe membership, leadership, and status in our Order.  Some verbiage, though, is universal.  Formal and informal recruitment are two terms that are of a great importance to fraternities and sororities; their implication and effects on Kappa Alpha Order, however, are what concerns us, as brothers, the most.

Formal recruitment (previously referred to as rush) is a set period of time.  The parameters are normally set by an IFC or the college/university.  This period of time may involve different events that most fraternities on campus hold in order to attract, sell, and invite to membership, their future brothers.  Some schools have this period in the fall, or the spring, or both fall and spring.  The point is this:  a majority of higher education institutions have a formal period of rush for fraternities sometime during the academic year. 

When we drift back to our collegiate days in Kappa Alpha Order, rush, as it was known, is paramount in many of our minds.  Men were introduced to many KAs during rush.  Men were shown around the chapter house during rush.  Men went with hundreds of fellow freshmen and hopped house to house in order to seek out their favorite fraternity.  Men met future wives during rush. Men also began to see that the ideals they had grown up with were also the ideals of Kappa Alpha Order.  Rush is also when our brothers first realized they were soon to be accepted into the eternal bonds of brotherhood in Kappa Alpha Order. 

Rush, now formal recruitment, is still a prevalent concept used for membership growth in Kappa Alpha Order and other college fraternities.  But, simply waiting at a formal recruitment event for new freshmen, who are at the beginning of their tenure in higher education, to show up at the chapter house is no longer an absolute method of positive chapter growth.  Aggressive recruitment by active and alumni members throughout the calendar year is nothing short of necessary for our chapters to grow and sustain themselves.  This “informal recruitment” comes in many forms.  Representation of this concept could be brothers and potential members enjoying a simple game of flag football on a Wednesday in September or a beach excursion on a Saturday in April.  Recruitment does not have to be about specific chapter events, though.  Particularly, the way our brothers conduct themselves and portray the values of Robert E. Lee and our ritual on a daily basis, whether on or off campus is informal recruitment at its core.  Also, simply calling potential members to invite them to intramural games, bible studies, or just hanging out; basically everything the chapter does where non-members are allowed to attend qualifies as recruitment.  There is only one rule (aside from any university/IFC regulations) that chapters, members, and alumni must follow with regards to formal and informal recruitment.  This is a section of the Kappa Alpha Laws and our Risk Management Policy.  Potential members must not be recruited with the use of alcohol. 

So, the resounding response that we now hear is, “I want to get involved with recruitment as an alumnus!”  One way that an alumnus may help recruit men for a chapter is through recommendations.  This is a very easy way to help contribute to your chapter or any chapter in the Order.  If you are an alumnus who has a son, grandson, or young man in your family, you may recommend him to membership in a chapter.  This young man could also be a neighbor’s son or a close friend’s relative.  Alumni of Kappa Alpha Order can and should recommend any worthy college bound gentleman to the Kappa Alpha chapter at that particular institution.  The Kappa Alpha Laws state:  “An Active Chapter...shall acknowledge all recommendations made by alumni members and contact every individual so recommended for purposes of his consideration by the chapter.”  An alumni recommendation does not automatically guarantee membership to a young man, but the chapter must contact and investigate the potential member and give him due consideration for membership into Kappa Alpha Order.

There are a number of ways that recommendations can be made.  Some recommendations are made via formal letter to the chapter.  Others may be made via a phone conversation.  Still others are communicated through alumnus advisors, province commanders, or other volunteers.  A way that is quick and easy is through our national website.  Just visit www.kappaalphaorder.org/alumni, then click on the “Recommend a young man for membership” link, you will be able to fill out a form that will be sent to the National Administrative Office.  This form and information will be sent to the Number I and the province commander of the respective chapter.  If you would like contact information for a particular chapter or for a Number I, so you may make the recommendation directly, please visit www.kappaalphaorder.org/undergraduates or call the National Administrative Office at (540)463-1865.  Finally, you may also refer any young man to visit our national recruitment website www.joinKA.com.  This site has much information about Kappa Alpha Order and will also allow anyone to request more information from the National Administrative Office.  The inquiring person will receive a recruitment edition of the Kappa Alpha Journal and the chapter at his school will be alerted to his further interest.

There are other ways that alumni can help contribute to the growth and development of an active chapter.  Alumni chapters can host cookouts or events throughout the summer or school year for the undergraduate chapter and their potential members.  Furthermore, by getting involved with the advising team of an undergraduate chapter, you may also provide needed guidance and input for a chapter’s recruitment.  Contact your province commander for further information involving alumni advisory committees.