Hello Everyone!
This week has been a one packed with friends, family, work, and of course Delta Epsilon Chi. I helped my best friend move back to Bryant University, tried to spend time with my family before I move back to school, went to work, and had to get all of my assignments done for Delta. I felt so overwhelmed with it all and then realized that this is all just beginning and in one short week I will have to balance all of this plus schoolwork and living in a crowded college dorm room with all of my friends biding for attention. I became so nervous that I couldn’t even think of what to do.
I then opened my training binder to see what Mr. Collins had taught us at training. He taught us that time management isn’t finding more time to do things, but prioritizing the things that need to be done. As we went through four different categories or quadrants of priority levels, we saw that there are things that need to be done right away and are extremely important like an assignment that is due the next day. There are also less important tasks at the moment and can wait until the extremely important and urgent tasks are done. This would include watching a movie with friends or going out for ice cream. Spending time with your friends is important, but when you have a jam packed schedule, your friends will understand that what you’re doing is best for your future.
At training a past officer said that we will see who our true friends are because they will be the ones who aren’t angry over the missed lunch dates or the lack of hours spent hanging out because they know that what we are doing is important and that this year is the opportunity of a lifetime. This truly is the opportunity of a lifetime and the only way to get through it is to think about what is best for not only myself, but most importantly, for the members of the organization.
As I go through this journey I am learning so many things and taking on so many challenges, but I am quickly realizing that this is one of very few opportunities to learn all of these lessons in just one year and I would not pass that up for anything.
- Samantha, NARVP
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Monday, August 18, 2008
Membership Growth!
School must be back in session! My inbox this morning is full of emails from students recently started or now starting new chapters and ALL are looking for advice. It is so exciting to know that the value of membership in Delta Epsilon Chi is a known fact and that new students each year work hard to bring that value to other students on their campuses. Working with all of our members… helping each individual to be successful… this is what I LOVE about my job!
So – a few quick pieces of advice for membership growth/development and most importantly, Starting a New Chapter:
1. Take it day-by-day, person-by-person.
It can be overwhelming if you look at the big picture for starting a chapter. But rest assured that you can handle it one step at a time. On our website there is a numbered checklist for starting your new chapter.
The BEST advice I can give is to find the select few friends and supporters who can be on your leadership team to get your chapter rolling. When I was a new student at the University of Utah I contacted some of the DECA alumni who would also be freshmen on campus that year. From that group of 5 we started and grew the chapter to 25 in just the first year! And today, ahem... a few years later, we are still good friends. Find your support system and share the responsibility.
2. Use your Marketing 101 skills well!
Whether it’s chalk messages in the quad, PSA’s on the campus radio station, or press releases to the campus paper… get the word out that Delta Epsilon Chi is for everybody. Plan a couple of introductory meetings and get people there. Plan a few events (community service, networking, etc.) that will get people hooked into your growing chapter community. And then get out and market your existence like crazy!
3. Start Planning for the BIG events early.
The Collegiate Leadership Academy (Nov. 6-8) is a great opportunity for you to hook your new members into participating. But honestly, it costs a buck or two! So plan early, start raising funds; build your business partnerships that could help support the cost of sending a few people to New York. The experience is well worth it… but it takes some organization to get everyone there.
The International Career Development Conference (April 22-25) is the culminating event of our membership year and an experience you don’t want to miss! And again, it costs a buck or two to ship everyone out to California. Just like the CLA – plan early, raise funds, get your faculty and administrators to support you and the learning that will take place – and get everyone to Anaheim!
* Big note on fundraising – if people have to put even a few of their own hard earned dollars into going to a conference, they’ll take the experience more seriously and get more from it. Even if you can get full funding for everyone (and that is hard to do anyway) I would recommend you still ask for at least $50 from everyone and then reimburse those who come back having participated in the whole conference experience.
4. What do we do now?
So you’ve turned in your membership in our online system. You’ve raised funds to attend the conferences. Now what? The REAL value of membership in Delta Epsilon Chi comes from what you do in your chapter. For ideas of how to engage in leadership and career learning in your local chapter check out our:
Passport Program
Month of C.A.R.E.
Competitive Events Program
All three programs should give you ideas about what can be done in your local chapter that will create membership value, and they will prepare you to earn awards and compete successfully on the international level at our International Career Development Conference.
Starting a chapter, growing a chapter – these aren’t the easiest things in the world to do. But if you work hard, stick to it, and plan your action and act on your plan – I guarantee it will be one of the greatest accomplishments ever.
Good luck! And as always – if I can help… Email me!
Take Care,
Kyle
Assistant Director, Delta Epsilon Chi
So – a few quick pieces of advice for membership growth/development and most importantly, Starting a New Chapter:
1. Take it day-by-day, person-by-person.
It can be overwhelming if you look at the big picture for starting a chapter. But rest assured that you can handle it one step at a time. On our website there is a numbered checklist for starting your new chapter.
The BEST advice I can give is to find the select few friends and supporters who can be on your leadership team to get your chapter rolling. When I was a new student at the University of Utah I contacted some of the DECA alumni who would also be freshmen on campus that year. From that group of 5 we started and grew the chapter to 25 in just the first year! And today, ahem... a few years later, we are still good friends. Find your support system and share the responsibility.
2. Use your Marketing 101 skills well!
Whether it’s chalk messages in the quad, PSA’s on the campus radio station, or press releases to the campus paper… get the word out that Delta Epsilon Chi is for everybody. Plan a couple of introductory meetings and get people there. Plan a few events (community service, networking, etc.) that will get people hooked into your growing chapter community. And then get out and market your existence like crazy!
3. Start Planning for the BIG events early.
The Collegiate Leadership Academy (Nov. 6-8) is a great opportunity for you to hook your new members into participating. But honestly, it costs a buck or two! So plan early, start raising funds; build your business partnerships that could help support the cost of sending a few people to New York. The experience is well worth it… but it takes some organization to get everyone there.
The International Career Development Conference (April 22-25) is the culminating event of our membership year and an experience you don’t want to miss! And again, it costs a buck or two to ship everyone out to California. Just like the CLA – plan early, raise funds, get your faculty and administrators to support you and the learning that will take place – and get everyone to Anaheim!
* Big note on fundraising – if people have to put even a few of their own hard earned dollars into going to a conference, they’ll take the experience more seriously and get more from it. Even if you can get full funding for everyone (and that is hard to do anyway) I would recommend you still ask for at least $50 from everyone and then reimburse those who come back having participated in the whole conference experience.
4. What do we do now?
So you’ve turned in your membership in our online system. You’ve raised funds to attend the conferences. Now what? The REAL value of membership in Delta Epsilon Chi comes from what you do in your chapter. For ideas of how to engage in leadership and career learning in your local chapter check out our:
Passport Program
Month of C.A.R.E.
Competitive Events Program
All three programs should give you ideas about what can be done in your local chapter that will create membership value, and they will prepare you to earn awards and compete successfully on the international level at our International Career Development Conference.
The greatest accomplishments are the one’s you have to work for.
Starting a chapter, growing a chapter – these aren’t the easiest things in the world to do. But if you work hard, stick to it, and plan your action and act on your plan – I guarantee it will be one of the greatest accomplishments ever.
Good luck! And as always – if I can help… Email me!
Take Care,
Kyle
Assistant Director, Delta Epsilon Chi
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Delta Epsilon Chi and Daily Life
A few days ago I was walking down the street the sun was out and scorching hot. I couldn’t handle the heat any longer as I felt like I was melting. The thought came to my mind that …I wished I was water skiing. I set a goal to get a couple articles written for the Chi Connection, and make contact with some of the local schools in my area that have potential to be really strong Delta Epsilon Chi chapters. I also wanted to write a list of 5 of my friends that I am going to invite to join my local Weber State chapter, and what steps I would take to make that happen. I wrote out my goals, executed, and was able to find a lot of really great leads to work with. It was a very effective week, and now I am water skiing and having a great time. Remember you can never create more time…but you make the most of the time you have. Posted By: Steve Hanson
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
WHERE DO WE START?
As we sat in the “pit” (see picture to left) on the last night of training we realized that this would the last time, sitting here, at headquarters as a team. The passion for this organization and the work of the past national officer team’s filled the air. After spending a week with two amazingly dedicated officers and one advisor whom as we would like to say is “the fire within Delta Epsilon Chi” we looked up toward the atrium and all the events of our training came flooding back.
Upon returning from a long week of shaking hands, sharing personal life-changing experiences, meeting those who have impacted this organization, polishing leadership skills, and forming an action plan for our year…. Team 48 was ready and energetic to hit the ground running.
Emails to write, phone calls to make, thank you cards to send, articles to outline, and research to compile… WHERE DO WE START?
It is the mission of Team 48, as ONE, to empower members to be the ONE to MAKE their MARK on this upcoming membership year by inspiring ONE student to join Delta Epsilon Chi. This ONE person can make a huge difference on the future of our organization.
Eleanor Roosevelt said, “The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience it to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experiences.”
When I ran for national office I was scared for what could have happened but I knew, just as Eleanor Roosevelt shows in her quote that we cannot fear life. If we have a passion we should be able to live it and to taste it every day. My passion is to serve and guide the members of this organization and those richer experiences will be depicted by you, the members.
I look forward to seeing how you experience this next year as a member of Delta Epsilon Chi and I can’t wait to hear how you are MAKING YOUR MARK!
Still don't know where to start... Read the chi connection (also print it for members), visit the website often; http://www.deltaepsilonchi.org/, attend CLA in New York (BRAND NEW FORMAT!), participate in the C.A.R.E. initiative by doing a community service project, or plan activities for Delta Epsilon Chi Week.
Upon returning from a long week of shaking hands, sharing personal life-changing experiences, meeting those who have impacted this organization, polishing leadership skills, and forming an action plan for our year…. Team 48 was ready and energetic to hit the ground running.
Emails to write, phone calls to make, thank you cards to send, articles to outline, and research to compile… WHERE DO WE START?
It is the mission of Team 48, as ONE, to empower members to be the ONE to MAKE their MARK on this upcoming membership year by inspiring ONE student to join Delta Epsilon Chi. This ONE person can make a huge difference on the future of our organization.
Eleanor Roosevelt said, “The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience it to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experiences.”
When I ran for national office I was scared for what could have happened but I knew, just as Eleanor Roosevelt shows in her quote that we cannot fear life. If we have a passion we should be able to live it and to taste it every day. My passion is to serve and guide the members of this organization and those richer experiences will be depicted by you, the members.
I look forward to seeing how you experience this next year as a member of Delta Epsilon Chi and I can’t wait to hear how you are MAKING YOUR MARK!
Still don't know where to start... Read the chi connection (also print it for members), visit the website often; http://www.deltaepsilonchi.org/, attend CLA in New York (BRAND NEW FORMAT!), participate in the C.A.R.E. initiative by doing a community service project, or plan activities for Delta Epsilon Chi Week.
GOOD LUCK!
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