The Journey
A newsletter for chapter advisors, chapter officers, and
regional officers.
May 2001
Issue
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Journey Survey!
FIVE STAR
Five Steps for Five Star Goal Setting
The Five Star Chapter Development Program provides chapters with a step-by-step guide to optimizing the benefits and programs offered by Phi Theta Kappa. To participate in this non-competitive awards program, your chapter officers and advisors should review the Five Star Chapter Development Program Guide - Twelfth Edition, mailed to chapter advisors and chapter presidents immediately following your regional convention. Then determine a realistic goal for your chapter.
One of the aims of the Five Star Chapter Development Program is to assist members in developing goal-setting skills. Therefore, when determining the goals your chapter wants to reach in a given year, it is important to carefully consider what is right for your individual chapter. Following are five steps that will guide you on your way to making clear, "SMART" goals.
Simple
Try to express your goals in one sentence or one step. A goal should be
straightforward and easily understandable. For example, "Our chapter will
complete all the requirements for levels 1, 2 and 3 of the Five Star Chapter
Development Program."
Measurable
In order to be able to motivate members to continue a project or program,
it helps to be able to demonstrate progress. One excellent way of doing
this is by including measurable parameters in your goals. For example,
"Our chapter will implement two Honors Study Topic activities this fall."
Accountable
Who is responsible for completing each step in the level the chapter wants
to reach? It is one thing to say "we will," but it can be quite another
to actually get it done. Assign tasks to specific people. For example,
one person may be responsible for checking to see if the advisor has a
Chapter Resource Packet, while another member may check with Headquarters
to ensure that the chapter has bylaws on file.
Realistic
The Five Star Program is designed to help chapters organize and build.
If you were a One Star chapter last year, can you realistically set a
goal of being a Five Star chapter? Perhaps you can, but first, look at
your resources and decide how realistic this is. Remember that you will
be recognized for the level you actually reach, regardless of your goal.
Timely
Don't forget your timeline! Be sure to check the regional calendar on
the inside back cover of the Five Star Guide to see when your regional
year begins and ends. Then schedule your chapter's calendar of events
so you are not scrambling to finish at year's end. Plan to start and complete
requirements such as the Honors Study Topic activities during a period
of time when you will have the most time and resources available.
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