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The AccentCommunication: Not Just a Buzzword! Cont’dSpring 2008 Editioncontact. Create an alumni group on Facebook or MySpace, or just call them and talk to them. Alumni still havegreat ideas and advice to give to your chapter.I hope you have found some ideas in this article to bring to your chapter. As District Secretary/Treasurer,I feel that strengthening communication is part of my job. Take every opportunity to participate in projectslike the Buddy Chapter program and utilize your District Officers-we were elected to serve YOU, the WesternDistrict!In the Bond,Janet “Dagny” Maggio2008-2009 Tau Beta Sigma Western District Secretary/TreasurerEducation, does it ever end?[by Mary “BeAUx Peep” Pagendarm, WD TBS VPM]The easy answer to this question is no, and while post-membership education is a term thrown around quiteoften, what does it really mean? No matter what chapter we come from there are a few basic things that weall learn as prospective members: chapter officers, basic history, the Greek alphabet, and the tenets of ourorganization. Retention of this information however is often scarce at best. I will point out that there areexceptions to this rule, and these exceptional individuals can quote every bit of information they were evertaught but I will admit I am not one of them. I do my best to look to live by the factors, qualities and purposesof my organization but I cannot quote all of them in order off the top of my head. So what can I do about it?One answer to is work on memorization but another is to look deeper. Discussions about the meaning of ourpurposes and how we are living up to them are far more meaningful than pure memorization. As a chapter Iurge you to take a step back once in awhile and really look at what you stand for and how you are living up to it.There is so much to be gained from looking again at everything you were taught as a candidate. Taking anotherstep back allows you to look at your chapter as a whole and have open discussions with your sisters or brothersabout concerns, thoughts and ideas. Sharing with each other is a great way to bond and to increase trust andrespect for each other. Different things work for different chapters but some of my favorites are teambuildingactivities, retreats, and games or challenges about core knowledge. I guess my advice would be to just keeplooking for the opportunities for PME, challenge your chapter to come up with new lessons, bonding activities,and opportunities for growth. Nobody knows everything and we all have something to teach each other, so ifyou have an idea share it with your chapter and please please share your ideas with Adam and myself, we wouldlove nothing more than to hear from you.Much love in the bond,Mary “BeAUx Peep” PagendarmWestern District ΤΒΣ Vice President of MembershipPage 11
The AccentAre you prepared to lead your chapter?[by Tanya Marsh, WD KKY Governor]Spring 2008 EditionIt is that inevitable time of year again…….the summer is coming, the band schedule is wrapping up, and your chapter isgearing up for chapter elections. (Well, most of the chapters are turning over officers at this time of year). Are you planningon running for a chapter office? Have you prepared for your candidacy? This article hopefully will help you prepare andthink about key areas you may not have considered.Running for a chapter office should not be taken lightly, and certainly should be well researched and prepped for. Here aresome items that will make you a better candidate, and in the long run a better officer for the fraternity:1 – Research the position you are running for – First and foremost, head to your chapter and national constitutions toresearch the bare minimum requirements for being an officer within your chapter. After that, seek out the current officer(or past brothers who have filled the role) and ask them about their experience. Inquire about what they enjoyed most,where the biggest challenges were, and what some key areas of success were for them. The more research you do,the more prepared you will be for the office and the less “ramp up” time you will need when transitioning to the new role.Preparedness shows you have a vested interest in the officer position and have weighed all of the benefits with risks.Want to go the extra mile? Call/email the district officer that is aligned with your role, and inquire about theparticular facets of the job!2 – Create a solid plan with ideas – It’s amazing how many candidates spout off wonderful rhetoric with very littlearticulation about their ideas. And sadly, many chapter actives buy this “act” and put those people into office. Quite often,when their term ends they have little action to show for it. When running for office think about two or three major goals youhave for the office, and articulate how you will get them done. That means being able to discuss what your timeline wouldbe, what type of resources you would need, and how you plan to accomplish the goals. You should be able to describehow it will look to actives, how it will feel, and paint an image so the membership will understand how they will know theproject was accomplished. This type of planning demonstrates your commitment to the success of the chapter, and yourorganization and planning abilities.Want to go the extra mile? Create a document that highlights your three main platform ideas/goals, and lists outthe specific steps, communication plans, and/or tactics for achievement! Hand this out to actives prior to yourelections.3 – Don’t be afraid to question conventionality – All great leaders understand the need to take risks. Part of this is alsobeing able to convince others that the risks will benefit the whole. Look at the current position and evaluate the following:What works well, where does the office usually get stuck, and if we could change anything what would it be. Once youhave answered those questions, you should be able to identify for active members where you have creative solutions forthis role! It’s important to evaluate and make changes in any position – even if you have a successful predecessor – youshouldn’t come in just to be a clone of them. Bring your creativity and originality to the role. Being innovative displays yourwillingness to continually push your chapter to the next level.Want to go the extra mile? Talk with other officers in other chapters to seek out different ideas and things they do.Look at the different ideas from around the district or nation; don’t be afraid to introduce something new in yourchapter. Above all, be able to describe the need for your identified changes.4 – Above all, be honest and don’t over commit – Great leaders have one common quality, and that is their abilityto be honest. When you are a candidate for office, be honest about your abilities and don’t just say what you think yourchapter wants to hear. If you are more challenged in an area or less experienced, be prepared to speak about how youwill balance those shortcomings (by seeking resources, utilizing other leaders, or you plan for learning). If you are takinga full class load, but know you can still serve the office then make sure you have a plan outlined for how you will combatthe time commitments. If you aren’t honest when you run for office, you are not only selling yourself short but you arejeopardizing the success of your chapter. An honest candidate is a mark of a good leader, who concerns him/herself withthe livelihood of the organization.Want to go the extra mile? List out a few of the areas you know will be challenging for you in the role, and prepareyour thoughts and plans for how you will overcome these items. Share those with the active members in yourchapter.Page 12
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