Recruiting Students
To Attend Eevents

Prepare to Ask

Make a list of every possible person you could ask

Be clear about why it is important for them to attend and why you are attending.

Do you believe in the quality of what we’re offering?
Do you know your students well enough to be able to articulate how attending this conference will meet a felt need (social as well as intellectual and spiritual)?

Be conversant in the basic details:

D. Decide whether you are recruiting people to attend as a group (your exec, the chapter), as individuals or both

Ask

A. Recruit leaders/influencers first, so they can help you recruit others

Personal invitations are always better than group announcements or email
Multiple invitations may be necessary
Personal invitations by more than one person are effective
Student testimonials from the prior year are good
Put something in their hands
Follow up (in person is better) and keep notes
Ask early so their calendar is more likely to be open
Consider what you put in the “ask”: do you paint a picture of the event, express enthusiasm, and have command of the logistics?

Pitfalls

Depending on announcements
Depending on others’ initiative
Waiting until the last minute to ask
Starting or finalizing the planning late enough that it is not possible to ask earlier
Asking in a casual, offhanded or general way
Asking at a time or place when you or they are rushed or distracted
Being unclear about the logistics
Deciding for them: they are too busy, it costs too much, they wouldn’t be interested, and they won’t attend more than one event, so I’ll decide for them
Not removing barriers to attending: they need a ride, for example