Updated travel schedule and news you need to know about

Hello Gentlemen and Happy New Year,

I sincerely hope your days have been restful and you're ready for a jam packed semester of service. 

As you may have guessed, I've been busy. Starting in October with a National Council meeting, a presentation for expansion at The College of New Jersey, chapter visits and then the Annual Meeting of the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisers. 

Tom and I have been looking into connections we've made in order to expand at certain campuses, such as U Maine. 

In addition, Tom has been looking into office space in the Cherry Hill region. We think this will make work much more efficient and growth possible at the national office level. Which brings me to a big, exciting announcement! WE ARE LOOKING FOR A SECOND DIRECTOR OF CHAPTER SERVICES!! More information will come but please contact Tom or myself if you have questions. This is a great opportunity for all who want to learn and engage on the national level as well as enter student affairs.

Tom is reworking not only the Oracle, which is nearly printed, but new recognition standards. We have also been planning the 2016 Conclave and beginning strategic conversations about the 2018 Conclave, our 100th!!! 

As you all should know, this is a Conclave year. During conclave years, we hold elections for the National Council. Anyone hoping to apply, this is mainly geared toward alumni or men who will become alumni this summer, should consult the website (http://www.phimudelta.org/?page=NCApplication). Again, Tom and I can answer any questions you may have. This is a major opportunity to plan long term goals for our great fraternity. It is a volunteer position and will require some travelling. Currently, the national council is made mostly of Mu district men, I would hope to see the Nu and Sigma district represented!!

Currently, I'm looking on preparing for Ohio Northern and compiling resources for you all to find on the blog. Things like educational programs or materials that you can use to streamline what you've already got going on. 

I'll leave you with my travel schedule and, as always, stay classy... and warm..

Jan 11 – Feb 9:  Ohio Northern University Expansion
Feb 10 – Feb 14: Mu Rho (Shawnee State)
Feb 15 – 19: Mu Omicron (Frostburg)
Feb 20 – 23: Mu Theta (IUP)
Feb 24 – 26: Mu Epsilon (Penn State)
Feb 27 – March 2 (NGLA)
March 3 – 10: Time at Home in NH
March 11 – 15: Mu Zeta (Lock Haven)
March 15 – 19: Mu Xi (Penn College)
March 20 – 24: Mu Alpha (Susquehanna)
March 25 – 29: Sigma Alpha (Longwood)



Derrick

Director of Chapter Services

derrick.dubois@phimudelta.org

UNH -- Nu Beta, Day 2 and 3

Nu Beta gentlemen vote on a brother of the week at each chapter meeting. A short bio and picture goes on Facebook. Matt K. spearheaded an effort to rebuild a playground for a local community.

Later, at the dining hall in the Memorial Union Building, Nu  Beta got together for a family dinner. Eating happened, but also this. Jared S. gets real creative. 

New signage made in the office 

Tom S. and Andrew O. talk about the future of their chapter in the Office of Student Involvement and Leadership in the student center. 

Grand Chapter

All of UNH Greek Life meets once a semester to address issues and celebrate successes. Panhellenic president and IFC President make a short address and then a speaker is brought in. This semester T.J. Sullivan was asked to run his presentation. 

T.J. Sullivan is a CEO of Campuspeak and well known nationally as a member of Pi Kappa Phi. He writes and speaks about Greek Life in a way that is revolutionizing Greek Life nationwide. Nu Beta had all but a few members in attendance. 

Cody W., Nu Beta president, is asked on stage to give a short plug for the Phi Mudder. 

Cody W. helps T.J. run the first exercise. 

Nu Beta on stage after the presentation, these men hung around afterward to talk to T.J. They certainly impressed myself and others by doing so. 

How to effectively change, rebuild or build your fraternity:

Acquire allies: These can be members within your group, student life professionals, advisers, alumni or just your parents. These are the people that will be there to help you realize resources that you may be unaware of. Campuses are inundated with resources to make your group and your individual members succeed. (Something I didn't learn until I forced myself to ask around) Many of these resources are people who have the experience necessary to take your group to the next level.

Show up bigger than you are: Find ways to be present on campus in ways that are positive and resourceful. This can be through a physical presence on student senate or a witty public relations chair who knows how to use Facebook. Recruitment becomes easier when people see your group for how it is before having the conversations about why/how/what you do.

Identify the needs of the campus, in other words, what roles can your group fill?: This will allow you to address the goals that you'll need to create and better prepare your vision of what the final product will look like.

Set goals and communicate those goals effectively: This is essential for any group's success. Make sure that each member with a position knows what is expected of them and what part they are playing in your groups progress. Take time to include all members in the process and make sure that the goals are group approved. This will generate a more successful group buy-in. You can set individual goals for yourself as well.

Become strategic: Do your best to stabilize the group dynamic and work flow. Put people together based on whether or not they would be suited to get tasks done, not necessarily because they are friendly. It's also important to allow your men to follow their passions. If a brother is passionate about serving in one way, motivate him to do that.

Commit to it: Do something. As long as you are trying to produce positive results, it's okay to fail. Failure will teach you about yourself, your group and your campus. Let those allies know when you are burning out. Burnout is a common symptom for chapter presidencies so be aware of when you may need a pick-me-up.

Learn to motivate: Realize that you are leading a group of men that are NOT your employees. You must tap into the passions and motivations that the men already have in order to generate a path to excellence.

Remain values driven: Hardly an explanation is necessary here. This is at the core of what we do as fraternity men. All goals and actions of the fraternity should be consistent with values.

Do whatever it takes to keep your men involved: Not all of them will be passionate about all aspects of the fraternity but try to take their passions and apply them. This also includes the idea that you must not do everything yourself. If you are working toward a goal it means A LOT more to those in your group when you accomplish it together. Assign tasks and delegate. The men need to know that they are capable of leadership as well  and you can give it to them.

Take from groups and leaders who do their jobs well: It is absolutely no use reinventing the wheel. Look to leaders, from history or on your campus, who have changed their organization for the better. If your organization is administratively failing or inefficient, look to groups on campus that are striving or take ideas from groups that are doing it well.