I joined UTOC exec last spring as the recruitment officer, and everybody told me that fall was the most important season for recruiting new members. Execs remembered that in the past UTOC had portaged the blue and yellow canoe around campus, and it seemed like participating in clubs fairs also played an important role in visibility. Ultimately I wanted lots of people to see what UTOC has to offer from first year students to upper year PhDs.
During the summer I asked for marketing advice from my coworkers, and they suggested I draw up a plan. First, I wanted UTOC tables to be at club fairs held on different U of T college campuses. I also wanted to print a ton of posters to be stapled on message boards inside buildings and around campus. And last I wanted to bring the canoe back to be portaged all over the place.
During the first week of school there were 6 or 7 clubs fairs, and I was thankful for the help of other execs who staffed the fairs I couldn't attend. In the end we were represented at New College, Trinity, University College, St. Mikes and the Engineering club fair. On top of that I was excited to participate in engineering PRANK, a tradition I knew nothing about. About 8 UTOC exec dressed as lost hikers, some with headlamps and paddles, and stormed into lecture halls during a mock exam hosted my the Engineering Department. Apparently this happens every year and the first year students are caught off guard every time.
Since I last checked, over 200 new members have joined UTOC since August, and we've seen lots of increased interaction on social media as Zoe Fa'iz took the role of Pubs Officer. With more amazing trips being planned and taken, we'll have a prolific first semester of UTOC activity this year. It's exciting, and I'm glad to be a part of it!