Recruiting professional members into your chapter not only expands your membership but also encourages more members to become actively involved at both the local and international levels. These members can share helpful insights into the future careers your members will be entering and how being in Collegiate DECA prepares them for these careers. Additionally, if the professional members are also alumni, they can share what made DECA special to them and encourage your members to become more involved.
I gained many of the insights I know from a fellow member, Tim Nelson, from Butler University, who currently has 31 professional members. We hope the insights gained from them can help other chapters have numbers as large as theirs! From these conversations, I developed a helpful list of frequently asked questions to assist your chapter in navigating the process of recruiting, utilizing, and retaining professional members.
What are the ways that professional members can be beneficial to my chapter?
- Guest Speakers – Most will be more than happy to speak about their roles within their companies and share how the knowledge members are currently acquiring through Collegiate DECA can benefit their future careers.
- Network connections – Members in your chapter can grow their networks and gain valuable insights from them.
- Job opportunities – The company they work for may be hiring, and they could put in a good word for your members or help them through the application process.
- Mentorships – You can connect your members with mentors based on their future career aspirations or their participation in a competitive event, helping them gain a competitive advantage in the workforce or competition.
- Sponsorships – The professional member, or the company they work for, may be interested in sponsoring members to attend conferences.
- Practice Competitions – You can ask professional members to help host mock competitions to prepare your members for state or international competitions.
What recruitment strategies can help me gain new professional members?
- Personal referrals – If you or someone in your chapter knows someone whose values or career align with DECA’s values and mission, then they may be the perfect fit for membership. Since you already have the connection, it makes the process of asking easier and increases your likelihood of receiving a yes.
- Guest Speakers – If you invite a guest speaker to your chapter, consider offering them the opportunity to join as a professional member. They already dedicated time to speaking with your chapter, so they’re likely willing to help out in other ways.
- Note: Once your chapter has a wide array of professional members, you can also utilize their connections to find others who would be willing to join.
How involved should I be with professional members in our chapter’s activities?
- Don’t over-involve your professional members. Remember to be mindful of their time and other commitments. Invite them to significant events your chapter hosts that would be beneficial for them to attend, such as guest speakers, mock competitions, or networking events.
- To keep them involved with what is happening in your chapter, you could send them bi-monthly newsletters showcasing what your chapter has accomplished over the past two months and highlighting any significant upcoming events you’d like to invite them to join.
- If they donate money to the chapter or sponsor events/members, consider sending them a follow-up email detailing how their donation or sponsorship helped. This showcases how they were able to assist your chapter and demonstrates that your chapter is grateful for their help, as evidenced by this personalized message.
What is the cost for a professional membership?
- $10 + Association Costs – If your association is chartered, the amount can be found on https://www.deca.org/associations
- Note: A great way to build a connection with these business professionals who are guest speakers or mentors to your members could be to present them with the membership paid for by the chapter. This helps to recognize their support in helping your chapter grow and encourages them to become more involved with your chapter. Hosting a fundraiser could be a great way to accomplish this.
For more information on gaining professional members and even alumni, consider checking out this article written by one of last year’s executive officers!
