Simply the Best!
Insider Tips for Great Chapter Meetings
Chapter meetings are your best opportunity to connect with members and maximize your chapter's impact through participation. Chapter meetings should be fun and accessible to increase both attendance and productivity. Check out these creative ideas!
Outside the Meeting Box
Spice things up by including fellowship as a staple of your chapter meetings. Chapter president and Missouri Regional President Sarah Eiker explains that her chapter at Penn Valley Community College has post-chapter meeting fellowships at local coffee shops, restaurants and even at her college. "These events include games, food, music or even a special guest." You can also use chapter meetings to recognize members for their hard work. Sarah's chapter awards its membership with certificates for their efforts. She suggests, "Name awards appropriately to give credit for the job done, such as a Communications Award, Most Enthusiastic Member or the Gold Star Award." Her chapter uses a computer to make their own certificates. "Seeing others receive recognition also motivates less active members to get involved in chapter programming."
Pass the Popcorn, Please
Consider offering door prizes and snacks during each chapter meeting to energize the crowd and hold everyone's attention. The chapter at San Antonio College in Texas attracts a crowd with door prizes and chips and salsa during their chapter meetings. Chapter president Pedro Ledezma says, "After we gave away a few Phi Theta Kappa bracelets, shirts and other door prizes, more members showed up and one even became an officer." Lorraine Perez, chapter president at Tidewater Community College- Portsmouth in Virginia, found that her college can provide food for meetings free of charge! Lorraine explains, "Student Services pays for food at events if it is open to all Phi Theta Kappa members and all those interested in Phi Theta Kappa." Her chapter uses this to their advantage and invites everyone to their events.
If They Can't Come to the Mountain...
Instead of bringing members to chapter meetings, try taking the chapter meeting to them! The chapter at Broome Community College in New York uses email distribution lists to reach members with chapter business. Chapter president Christina Torres explains, "New inductees are put into an e-mail distribution list, which is used to send out service project notices, meeting reminders, meeting minutes, Satellite Seminar information, and regional and chapter newsletters." The chapter also uses focused distribution lists, which allow two-way communication among members participating in specific programs. "We have distribution lists for those going to Honors Institute, Regional and International Convention, Relay For Life, etc." says Christina. "Officers coordinating specific projects like to create these types of lists because it is a quick and easy way to communicate. Since communication is not time or place dependent, more and better discussions ensue."
Keep It Simple
Make chapter meetings more accessible by repeating them on a specific day, time and place. The chapter at Green River Community College in Washington has had success by establishing a regular chapter meeting time. Former chapter president Riley Relfe says that, "Our chapter has regular member meetings on a regular day at a regular time at a regular place. There is no confusion; it's a constant occurrence, so members can expect that Phi Theta Kappa meets on that day and time." Once you determine how often your chapter should meet, try your best to stick to it.
