Tools to Success

Allison Johnson

Steps to Success

• Advisors should submit officers to headquarters ASAP

• Plan an officer orientation• Create an officer Handbook• Attend Regional and International Events

Officer Orientation

• Review the three levels of the Society – local, regional and international – and discuss communication on these levels. Officers should know how and when to contact: – Local: officers, advisors, and college faculty, staff

and administrators– Regional: Regional Officers and the Regional

Coordinator– International: International Officers and Phi

Theta Kappa Headquarters Staff

Officer Orientation• Discuss the role and duties of each officer as covered in the chapter bylaws. Each

outgoing officer should individually review responsibilities with his or her successor.

• Explain how to form committees and the function of any current committees. • Discuss delegation of responsibilities as a time management tool and an

opportunity to develop and take advantage of each member’s unique strengths. • Evaluate, as a group, how well the officers functioned during the previous year.

Note any suggestions for improvements or recommended changes in officer duties.

• Inform new officers of their resources and benefits including benefits or resources provided by the chapter or the college.

• Outline a clear transition period for outgoing and incoming officers. • Encourage new officers to view their responsibilities as a challenge, and stress the

rewards of service through leadership. • Outgoing officers should provide their successors with any chapter-related

materials, such as treasury records and the official Chapter Record Book.

Officer Orientation

• Use Competitive Edge as part of your officer training– Communication skills– Interpersonal skills– Problem solving skills– Flexibility/adaptability/creativity– Planning/organizing– Team building– Leadership skills– Analytical/research skills

Officer Handbook

• Chapter By-Laws

• Chapter Resource Manual

Officer Duties• Use Chapter By-Laws and the International

website as guidelines to set up duties• Officers need to know what is expected in

order to successfully complete their terms

College Project

Honors In ActionHonors Program Guide Honors In Action Planning Model

Hallmarks• Honors in Action Project Awards• College Project Awards• The Distinguished Chapter Awards• The Beta Alpha Continued Excellence

Awards• The Distinguished Chapter Officer Team

Awards• The Distinguished Chapter Officer Awards• The Distinguished Member Awards• The Paragon Awards for New Advisors• The Distinguished Advisor Awards• Continued Excellence Award for Advisors• The Distinguished Administrator Awards

• The Shirley B. Gordon Awards of Distinction• The Distinguished State Community College

Director Awards• The Michael Bennett Lifetime Achievement

Awards• Distinguished Regional Coordinator Awards• The Distinguished Region Awards• The Regional Milestone Awards• The Distinguished Regional Officer Awards• The Distinguished Regional Officer Team

Awards

5 Star Chapter Development

• Outgoing officers should explain the procedures involved in planning for a successful year. – Use the Five Star Chapter Development Program as a guide

to plan your chapter’s level of involvement for the upcoming year.

• The program helps chapters effectively organize and prioritize everything from basic chapter operations to involvement in a choice of the Society’s many programs. – Discuss any yearly or traditional events, as well as the

chapter’s opportunities for getting involved in new programs.

Other Leadership Training Opportunities

• International– Leadership Development Studies• As a college course• Leadership Development Study Group on Facebook

– Honors in Action Academy• Regional– Honors In Action Conference– Regional Convention

Set Chapter Goals

• Setting Chapter Goals is the first step to achieving success. Review the Five Star Chapter Development Program requirements and the Honors In Action Guide to determine what you would like to achieve over the next year.

• Goals are crucial in determining if you are on track throughout the year and allows you to measure your accomplishments.

Chapter Calendar

• When planning your chapter’s calendar, include dates for new member recruitment, orientations for eligible students, induction ceremonies, chapter meetings and events. Be sure to consult your college’s academic calendar to avoid conflicts.

• Add Regional Events, Honors In Action Conference held in the fall and the Regional Convention held in the spring.

• Referring to the Society’s Dates to Remember will help you plan for important deadlines and special events on the international level. Two annual events are held each year, including the Annual Convention in the spring and the Honors Institute in the summer.

Chapter CalendarDate Time Event

New Member Orientation (Daytime)

New Member Orientation (Nighttime)

Induction Ceremony

Monday Meetings

Tuesday Meetings

Spring Fling/Fall Fest

Honors In Action Conference

Hallmark Awards Due Date

International Convention

Honors In Action Event

College Project

Chapter Officer/Leadership Challenges

• Officer Turnover• Personality Conflicts• Campus Politics• Lethargic Officer(s)• “Runaway” Officer• Overloaded Calendar of Events

Questions?

Allison JohnsonAlpha Lambda Delta Chapter Advisor

KY Regional Alumni Association Treasurerajohnson0239@kctcs.edu

(502)622-2838