Keys to Organized Chapter Meetings By Helen Foster, President AK Alpha 2020-2022, AK State President 2008-2010 and Barbara Nore, AK Gamma, AK State President 2020-2022
• The Chapter Executive Board should meet and create the chapter monthly agenda at least 1-2 weeks prior to the chapter meeting. • Create a FOCUS or THEME for each meeting. • Email the agenda to members at least one week prior to the meeting. Ask sisters to make hard copies of the agenda for members who do not receive email. • Have ACCURATE meeting times and dates, and plan out the yearly calendar if possible. • ACTIVELY involve as many members as possible in the meeting. • FOLLOW the agenda. • Plan your PROGRAM at the beginning of the chapter meeting to be respectful of busy active teachers, sisters, presenters and guests. • The chapter chaplain sets the tone with an opening THOUGHT. Some chapters add a closing THOUGHT at the end of the meeting, along with singing “The Lamp of Alpha Delta Kappa.” • Take time to SHARE about chapter sisters who may be absent, ill or out of the area.
• ENCOURAGE active teachers to SHARE what is happening in their classrooms. This is best done prior to the PROGRAM. • Agenda items should be shared by multiple members to INVOLVE as many as possible and to keep them ACTIVELY engaged. • PLAN AHEAD for committee reports: • Keep them brief and newsy. • They can be included in the written agenda as “line items” to save discussion time. • ALWAYS include FRATERNITY EDUCATION: • Remind the chapter chairman 1-2 weeks ahead to prepare a short activity. • Alert chapter members in advance if preparation is required. • Do not forget WORLD UNDERSTANDING. A brief message from this chapter chairman reminds us that we are an international organization. • BE FLEXIBLE. • SISTERS FIRST. Agenda and business come second. • HAVE FUN, LAUGH.
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