National Council Update
This month, National President Donna Chereck shares the following for our National Council update:
Since 2003, the National Council, Foundation Board of Trustees and National Housing Corporation board have come together annually for Strategic Planning Weekend. It is a time we have all come to look forward to as we are all committed to strategic planning for the betterment of our sisterhood and for the need to regularly evaluate the 2005-2010 Alpha Chi Omega Strategic Plan. Recognizing that challenges, accomplishments and changes within our industry will necessitate revisions to even the best strategic plan, all three boards have approved several revisions of the SP the last three years. In August, 2007 the Headquarters staff (led by our new Executive Director, Cheri O'Neill) assumed responsibility of implementing the current Strategic Plan. The first step in assuming that responsibility was to review where we have been, our accomplishments to date and to revise the plan based on what we have "left to do" during the next two years.
Together the three boards and staff have reaffirmed that strategic planning for Alpha Chi Omega has become and should remain standard operating procedure for the organization.
We also reaffirm that this plan (and any future plan) will remain driven by:
§ Sensitivity to member needs
§ Insight into the current and future environment
§ Understanding of the capacity of the organization
§ Effective analysis of the implications of policy and program choices
The three boards agreed that this year's work called for a two-year strategic commitment, running from 2008-2010. That will enable Alpha Chi Omega's three boards to focus their 2009 strategic planning efforts on a new five-year plan, one that covers the years 2010 to 2015.
The outcome measures we agreed upon are ambitious and specific. This spring Cheri and her staff will critically look at the financial and personnel (staff and volunteer) resources of the Enterprise (the 3 corporations), work to prepare the 2008-2009 business plan and budget and present their recommendations to the three boards in June.
For a "sneak peek", I would like to share with you how our 5 major goals have been reworded
1. RELEVANCE (previously engagement of members/attracting members)
2. REPUTATION ( previously external perceptions and relationships)
3. RECRUIT ( previously attracting members)
4. RETAIN ( previously engaging members)
5. RESOURCES (previously resources)
Why make the change?
§ Converts goals into stronger action verbs
§ Separates out need to create relevance in order to attract and retain
§ Shows that reputation-building is both internal and external
§ Converts to measurable recruitment vs. hard-to-measure engagement
§ Easier to remember with "R" device
I want all of you to know that as elected leaders of our fraternity, each and every one of you can plan a vital role in the work we have to accomplish the next two years. My hope is that the innovative thinking of the National Council, BOT, NHC board and Management Team will inspire you to lead and further Alpha Chi Omega's tradition of leadership for years to come. Together we can work together to make our aspirations become accomplishments.
Convention 2008
July 11-14, 2008
Fairmont Princess Hotel
Scottsdale, Arizona
The Schedule, Programs, General Information, and FAQs sections of the Convention pages of the Alpha Chi Omega web site are now updated. Please refer to those pages for your answers to your Convention questions!
The registration form for Convention is also now available on the Alpha Chi Omega web site. Alumnae chapter delegates should register as a General Registrant. PACs should register as Fraternity Guest. If you have questions related to registration, please contact Mendy Tarwater, Convention Registration Chair, at mtarwater@alphachiomega.org or 317-579-5050 ext. 239.
Please let any members who may be interested in attending know that the 50-year and 75-year member ceremonies are scheduled for the afternoon of Sunday, July 13.
Foundation UpdateThe Foundation is working with the Crandall family to establish an endowed fund in memory of former National President Jan Crandall. For now, you are welcome to direct gifts to the Foundation in memory of Jan. The Foundation will process these gifts, initially designating them to the Lifetime Opportunities Fund, but making a note that it is for Jan Crandall. Once the fund is officially established, the gifts will be redirected to the fund in memory of Jan.
