By: Avi Fuld

Welcome back to school, everyone! I am sure you are all very excited to see your old friends, go to parties, and especially get back into Israel activism. While many of you already have a rough outline of the core members of your groups and events you want to run, it is crucial to be aware of one thing during these first few weeks of school: freshmen.

There are tons of freshmen walking around campus and it is paramount that you try and draw them into your Israel groups. They not only are the future leaders of your group, but they also usually arrive with a fresh perspective that may add a lot to your Israel group’s activities.

There are several easy steps you can take to involve the freshmen. First, when you are tabling at your respective club fairs, make sure you are charismatic and sociable. Shake hands, introduce yourself, establish rapport, and invite them to a Israel meeting or event. Freshmen are in a completely new, foreign environment, so an invitation to be part of a friendly social group is the most enticing thing you can offer. That being said, it wouldn’t hurt to have free give-a-ways as well. I know at Brandeis University, we will be giving away shot glasses that read “Israel Gives Peace a Shot.”  Other Israel-themed souvenirs will do just as great.

Another way to reach out to freshmen on a more personal basis is have one-on-one meetings with them. Invite them to get coffee or lunch and connect with them through a great conversation and eventually tie it back to Israel activism and getting them involved. Again, freshmen love to make friends and social circles, so if Israel activism serves as an outlet for that (in addition to helping a cause they believe in), then that is perfect.

There are many other great ways to reach out to the freshmen class, so feel free to use your creativity in finding the best way to recruit these energetic, competent freshmen.