Inaugural Growth Summit breathes new life into proactive recruitment planning for Chapters.
By Dalton Lee, Baldwin Wallace ’11
Participants, volunteers, and staff at the Phi Tau Growth Summit.
For the first time in over two years, undergraduate and graduate brothers from all over the country joined together with a common goal in mind—continuing to grow our organization and sustaining excellence long into the future. Growth Summit was an in-person educational program, taking place May 26th through May 28th in Fort Worth, Texas, comprised of 81 undergraduate members, Executive Office staff members, graduate volunteers, and members of the National Council. All holding leadership positions within their chapters, the undergraduate brothers were provided valuable breakout sessions on recruitment, retention, and risk prevention.
Gamma Alpha Brothers educating peers on recruitment.
With the primary focus of the event being to increase chapter size through real tactics, the Growth Summit attendees not only got presentations from graduate members who were successful during their time as undergraduates, but also from peers from our chapters who regularly recruit the largest associate classes. The Psi chapter at UC Boulder representing the large schools, the Gamma Alpha chapter at Michigan Tech representing medium sized schools, and the Epsilon chapter at Mount Union representing the smaller sized schools. Following the peer presentations, we were able to speak to men from these chapters. There was a resounding since of pride in sharing their accomplishments and helping fellow brothers take some of their most useful tactics back to their chapters. Alongside these presentations from their peers, the attendees received breakout sessions from National Vice President, Barry Mask, Auburn ’78, and National Recruitment Advisor, Taylor Johnson, Auburn ’14. Mask and Johnson were in agreement that the most important takeaway from their sessions and from this weekend is preparation and beginning recruitment process long before the semester starts.
Mountz leading a session on hazing education.
Growth is not only about gaining new members but keeping existing ones. Foundation Development Officer, Alex Haller, Middle Tennessee State ’16, presented on Phi Kappa Tau’s Mark of Distinction Program and new member education; John Mountz, Penn State ’90, led a large group session surrounding hazing myths; and special guest presenters from the Beers Aren’t Bad program discussed proper alcohol use and breaking bad habits. Following the educational events on Friday night, a Foundation Reception was held for alumni in the surrounding area. With graduate and undergraduate brothers gathered in celebration, the reception was a joyous occasion that brought many generations of men together. Not only giving back with their willingness to learn, the undergraduate brothers also donated over $400 to the Phi Kappa Tau Foundation throughout the weekend, each individual receiving a brotherhood pin for their donation. With all the successes over the course of these three days, it was a reminder of the benefits of in-person programming and all that we missed out on over these past couple of years. We look forward to many more programs in the future.