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The Fall semester has begun and so have SCTA chapter meetings.  As you plan for the year, here are a few helpful hints:

 

This is a great tool to focus on future accomplishments, as well as help in setting goals.  Sometimes it is hard for chapters to focus on measurable and obtainable goals for the year, but when you spend a few minutes talking about desired results, they in themselves are usually measurable and obtainable.  For example, the West Valley College Chapter spent a few minutes discussing what they wanted to accomplish this year.  They began to imagine the final meeting of the year and what accomplishments they wanted to celebrate.  This could include winning the SCTA award for largest percentage increase in chapter membership or even the Outstanding Chapter award (presented at the annual Representative Assembly in April)!  Discussion ensued as to the steps necessary to achieve these goals.  These small measurable goals were then included in a timeline. (The "Chapter Leaders" section of the SCTA website has more ideas).

 

2. Welcome Everyone!
As most successful chapters have discovered, relationships bring people back to meetings.  It is important to ensure that each member is recognized, welcomed and more importantly remembered.  Do you remember the Cheers television show where customers would shout out "Norm!" as he walked through the door?  You might want to recruit members to be the welcoming committee to ensure everyone is greeted and incorporated into meetings.  Also, maintain a sign-in sheet and member database so you can easily send a welcome letter to new members or reminders about upcoming meetings and events.

 

This sounds so easy, but it takes discipline to remember to constantly cultivate relationships.  During each meeting spend five minutes allowing all members to share.  Have a check-in time where everyone is allowed to express what is happening in his or her life.  At first it seems hard to allocate time for "small talk" when a meeting is packed and exciting.  In the long run, check-in sessions and "small talk" is what many of our members found the most valuable and enjoyable.  Another activity that facilitates getting to know each other are small ice breakers at the beginning of the meeting.  Ask everyone to break into small groups and answer a specific question such as:  "As a child, what was your K-6th experience like?"  "What primary school did you attend?"  "Who was your favorite teacher and why?"  "Who was your least favorite teacher and why?" or  "Where do you want to be in five years?"

 

The best way to build new leaders is by allowing the members to lead.  Figure out small ways to encourage everyone to participate.  This could include designating someone to welcome everyone to the meetings, asking a person to distribute  handouts or draw a raffle ticket.  The next level of involvement is to recruit members to participate outside the meetings by posting flyers on the bulletin boards, painting posters, helping with a mailing, or attending a planning meeting.  The more you engage members to participate in little ways, the more they become vested in the chapter and go on to invest in larger ways.

 

5. Have Fun
The more you enjoy your meetings and activities the more your members will too.  So, relax, have fun, and remember to enjoy yourself.  Another enjoyable activity is attending conferences.  Try to send new members to conferences as well as the seasoned leaders.  Remember to cultivate tomorrow's leaders to ensure your chapter endures even after you graduate.