The Journey
A newsletter for chapter advisors, chapter officers, and regional officers.
May 2000 Issue
Your Summer Regional Planning Meeting:
Turn Summer Work into … Summer Fun!
Summer and meeting … two words that don't ordinarily go together. However, if you add Phi Theta Kappa and fellowship, a summer regional planning meeting can be fun, educational and productive.
First, the productive aspect. A summer planning meeting can assist your region in many ways. This is the time to update the region on recent events such as International Convention and Journey Challenge 2000 progress. This is also where chapters put the finishing touches on the regional calendar, making sure everyone knows who is responsible for each scheduled event and ironing out details for your leadership conference, regional honors institute, and regional convention.
Take this time to look back on the past year, listing what did and did not work and why. Evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of your region carves a path into the goals for the coming year. This is also the perfect time to discuss and consider new ideas and share helpful chapter information.
Many regions sponsor Regional Service Projects to get chapters involved on a regional basis. When planning your 2000-01 Regional Service Project, you'll want to keep in mind that the new International Service Program for 2000-02 is America's Promise: The Alliance for Youth. Since this program involves five promises to America's youth, two of which are “an ongoing relationship with a caring adult as a parent, mentor, tutor or coach” and “a safe place to be with structured activities during non-school hours,” many regions will be able to continue with or expand upon service projects which originated with the America Reads Service Program.
Where and when you hold your summer planning meeting is up to the region. Meetings are difficult to schedule no matter what the season, but with vacations, work and family commitments, summer meetings can be even more challenging to set.
Turn this negative into a positive by incorporating a retreat-type atmosphere for your meeting. Think of it as a mini-vacation for your participants.
Use the Scholarship Hallmark by holding the meeting at a historical (read: educational) place in your region. Or tie it to the 2000-01 Honors Study Topic, “In the Midst of Water: Origin and Destiny of Life,” with a stay near a lake or river. Emphasize fellowship by planning a camping trip in the hills. Or take up service by “building” your event around a project such as Habitat for Humanity.
The meeting can be as simple and informal as an afternoon picnic or it can be expanded into a weekend-long session in the mountains as is done in the Greater Northwest Region. The Carolinas Region makes effective use of their time by combining the summer planning meeting with a Regional Officers Training Workshop.
Who attends summer planning meetings varies between regions. A greater number of attendees means a larger pool of ideas. In New York, the planning meeting is attended by the Advisory Board Members, other advisors, regional officers, and chapter members. The meeting can help boost attendance at your regional events and increase participation in both regional and international programs.
A Summer Regional Planning Meeting is an invaluable tool for your region to succeed in having a well-planned, organized and enjoyable year. It is also a prime opportunity for the new Regional Officers to enhance their leadership skills.
For more ideas or suggestions, contact Theresa Burns, Director of Regional Programs, at 800.946.9995, ext. 562.