I remember sitting in the first week of marketing class, inspired by the confident leaders in the DECA membership video. But as I walked from my last block to the first meeting of the year, fears of sitting alone or not having anyone to talk to filled my head. When I walked in, none of them came true, and I left excited to get engaged.
Your prospective members decide if they're coming back before they leave the first meeting, too. As leaders, you get to design a culture where new members are met with warmth and leave inspired.
Recruitment and retention come down to three internal questions:
- Do I belong in this community?
- Could I be successful in DECA?
- Am I getting value from DECA?
At every meeting, you can intentionally create an environment that answers all three.
Do I belong in this community?
Officer teams should aim to:
- Greet every person as they walk in
- Learn as many names as possible
- Help shyer members start conversations through easy, positive, open-ended questions, like: What was the most exciting part of your summer? How has the start of your year been? What are you most looking forward to this year?
- Be aware of the room - invite people sitting alone into conversations and tables
Beyond meetings:
- Pair new members with upperclassmen for connection and mentorship
- Set up a new member spotlight wall featuring their names and pictures
- Send DECA Grams - handwritten cards to new students in DECA-related classes
Could I be successful in DECA?
- Give new members ownership: invite them to join a committee, have them help run the SBE, or sign them up for a competition. Track every new member and what they're engaged in, so everyone has a reason to stay.
Am I getting value from DECA?
- Connect new members with projects that match their interests. Some members seek business knowledge; others come to serve their community, build their leadership skills, or gain the soft skills that matter in any career path.
You can find more ideas for membership recruitment and retention in Module 11 of the DECA Chapter Leadership Guide.
By leading intentionally, you can create a chapter where members feel welcome and inspired, and where someone notices if they don't attend the next meeting.
