By now, you’ve heard a great deal of information about PAM, Phi Theta Kappa’s Personal Assistant Manager for advisors, which offers features that help chapters with their membership recruitment campaigns.  Even advisors using PAM very effectively can get current officers and members set to contribute to the campaign too.  Attention to four types of “sets” will maximize effectiveness and get your chapter set up for a great membership recruitment campaign.

• Mind set - Help everyone brush up on the benefits of membership in Phi Theta Kappa
• Skill set – Practice speaking persuasively about Phi Theta Kappa; develop an “elevator talk” that lasts only a minute or two
• Tool set - Find and use the online resources for membership campaigns that you will find when you click on the “Membership Campaign” task link available with PAM
• Support set - Explain to everyone the importance of making the administration, faculty, and staff aware of who has earned invitations to become members and asking them to encourage the potential members to accept their invitations; research has shown that the most important motivators for students are faculty recommendations that they accept their invitations to membership; develop knowledge and support from others on campus by downloading and distributing the Faculty Awareness Flyer and the Informative Flyer for Administrators

Effective projects or initiatives of any kind benefit from paying attention to all four sets over the length of the effort. 

[Monika Byrd, September 2008]

Questions or Comments about Phi Theta Kappa Leading Leaders articles may be directed to Monika Byrd, Dean of Leadership Development for the Honors Program Department.