Peak Performance Playbook

Closure

2008-12-16T11:51:00.000-08:00

Likely everyone who made the trip to Denver is settled back in their work, and eagerly anticipating whatever seasonal break awaits them in the coming days. Nonetheless, there is unfinished Annual Meeting Business.

First, It is now time to close the opening session!

“It’s never too late to be what you might have been” -George Eliot

After I shared the quote with my father, he lit up in a moment of awakening while a weak smile formed on his face. He then gave me a gift I will always remember. He proclaimed, “I got there!”

That’s what the planning committee, the professional association, and all of us that care for students want for you!

It was an honor. ~ Don

Second, the evaluations are available.

I have said it before but it is worth repeating: evaluations are very important to the Annual Meeting Planning Team. We really, really do listen to the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Everyone involved in the planning wants to craft the best possible experience for you - so take the time to complete the evaluation. You'll find it here.

Days 2-4: Best Laid Plans

2008-12-09T07:43:00.000-08:00

I have to confess that heading into the Annual Meeting I thoroughly believed that I would succeed in getting in a new post every day. Apparently sometimes, we overextend ourselves... :) Oops.

Hopefully everyone has returned home safe and sound and is back in the office catching up. It only took me about 2 and 1/2 hours to get through all the waiting emails - not bad! I suppose I was with the people from whom I get 75% of my emails so I'm guessing that cut down on the attention the inbox needed.

I'm planning two more posts after this before we put the Peak Performance Playbook to bed for the year. But for now, some news and notes about the 2008 Annual Meeting:

In total, we had a record number of 1054 registrants; this was up from 1034 in 2007.
About 280 of our meeting attendees were first timers, many of whom were well served by AFA CONNECTION programming.
We had 151 tables at Fireside Chats. That represents about 90 fraternal organizations, many of which had more than one table to accommodate connections with campus professionals.
There were about 30 associate members in attendance who created a great atmosphere in the Exhibit Hall (please tell me you got some of those yummy desserts on Friday!).
At the Fireside Chats Meet & Greet six umbrella organizations were represented - NALFO, NAPA, NIC, NMGC, NPC, and NPHC. How cool is that?
The addition of the first-year case study challenge allowed us to nearly double the number of graduate students who were able to participate in this type of programming.
With the wonderful gift from Beta Theta Pi, as well as several other cutting-edge organizations we celebrated the creation of 6 endowed funds created with the AFA Foundation that will provide ongoing scholarships for Annual Meeting attendance.

Congratulations again to all of the Foundation donors and award winners who were recognized in Denver. So much to be proud of! And, thank you again to an amazing AMPT - anything and everything you loved was directly related to their work the past 14 months.

Here's to returning those many messages that piled up while you were away!
Thank you for joining us in Denver. I am so glad you were there.

Day 1: Starting the AM off right

2008-12-03T22:08:00.000-08:00

Today a group of AFA members went into the Denver community to volunteer at Project Angel Heart, a local agency that the AMPT chose to support as a way to give back to our host city of Denver. Here's a first-hand account from program coordinator, Josh Orendi, of the experience:

The service plunge supporting Project Angel Heart was better than any of us expected. What an amazing way to kick off this year's Annual Meeting! AFA volunteers joined the kitchen staff from Project Angel Heart for nearly 4 hours this morning.

These guys serve more than 700 clients per week thanks to the work of more than 300 volunteers. However, don't think soup kitchen. Instead, think of a nutritious, customized 'meals on wheels' with a little extra love and attention. The prepared meals are nutritiously dense carrying nearly 2000 calories each. Each meal is prepared from scratch and customized to the unique dietary needs of each client. The meals are frozen and packaged in handmade care bags. Drivers deliver a week's worth of meals to each client.

All of Project Angel Heart's clients are people living with HIV/AIDS, cancer, and other life threatening illnesses that are not capable of preparing nutritious meals on their own. Each client is recommended to the program by a doctor. Thanks to the work of Project Angel Heart's staff and volunteers more than 300,000 meals are served with love every year.

Our volunteers were side-by-side with the kitchen staff chopping vegetables, cutting bread, washing dishes, decorating care bags, processing chicken, and more. This was the real deal! We made new friends, enjoyed a little interfraternal brotherhood/sisterhood, and made a difference supporting a great cause.

Thanks to all those that volunteered.

Day 0: The AM countdown continues

2008-12-02T09:38:00.001-08:00

Safe travels to everyone coming to Denver today!

Here at the Hyatt we're continuing putting together your registration packets with program books, Association information, name tags and meal tickets. The 2008 AFA Board is having their final meeting and graduate staff is in training.

See you soon.

Day -1: Let the AM countdown begin

2008-12-01T09:58:00.000-08:00

Greetings from Denver! By my math, if day 1 of the Annual Meeting is Wednesday, that makes today Day -1.

For most of the folks attending the Annual Meeting, today or tomorrow will be the last day in the office. As you're wrapping up all things December there, here are a couple of last minute to-do items for the AM.

1. Make your shuttle reservations to/from the airport. You can use Super Shuttle or check out this link for more options. A cab could be a good option if you're able to share with one or two other people as the cost will be comparable to the shuttle.

2. Be sure to opt-in to the NEW critical alert text system for the Annual Meeting. Enrollment is not automatic, you'll need to go here to sign up. Alerts will be sent only if critical information needs to be communicated (e.g. if all programs are moved back 30 minutes because of the luncheon runs long) or in case of emergency. The system will not be used for daily updates - room changes, reminders, etc.

As you're doing these things, here in Denver, we'll be making signs so you can find your way around more easily, welcoming the graduate staff, and stuffing our leaner, greener registration packets. Those are our big tasks for today.

Check back tomorrow for more about what's going on behind-the-scenes as more than 1,000 AFA members and partners begin their travels to the mile high city.

Denver in December

2008-11-28T20:14:00.000-08:00

For months I've just been assuming I'm going to freeze my tush off at the Annual Meeting - when I get to leave the hotel, that is. I decided the more responsible thing to do would be to ask The Weather Channel exactly what to expect. Thought I'd share what I found and save ya'll the search:

Tuesday, Dec. 2 - 61/34 (Windy)
Wednesday, Dec. 3 - 49/31 (Partly cloudy)
Thursday, Dec. 4 - 48/31 (Partly cloudy)
Friday, Dec. 5 - 53/33 (Partly cloudy)
Saturday, Dec. 6 - 54/34 (Partly cloudy)
Sunday, Dec. 7 - 50/33 (Few showers)

Seems like we're in for some mild mountain air. But I'm willing to bet that 30-ish feels pretty darn cold when the sun's gone down!

Information courtesy of weather.com's 10-day forecast for 80202 (that's the zip of the hotel).

De-lish, part two

2008-11-28T01:21:00.000-08:00

In honor of the Thanksgiving holiday and the tradition of cooking, cooking, and more cooking, I thought we'd revisit this post.

After reading it a friend sent me this recipe:

Creamy Truffle-Scented White Bean Soup

Look for bottled minced roasted garlic in the produce section near the fresh garlic. It adds a deep, sweet caramelized flavor. A drizzle of intensely flavored truffle oil makes the soup extra special. You can substitute another flavored oil, such as basil oil, instead.

Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 1 cup soup and 1/4 teaspoon truffle oil)

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup chopped onion
1 tablespoon bottled minced roasted garlic
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary
2 cups organic vegetable broth (such as Swanson Certified Organic)
2 (19-ounce) cans cannellini beans or other white beans, rinsed and drained
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon truffle oil

Preparation

Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion; sauté 2 minutes. Stir in garlic and pepper; sauté 2 minutes or until onion is tender. Add rosemary; sauté 30 seconds. Stir in broth and beans. Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat, and simmer 15 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in lemon juice. Let stand 5 minutes. Pour half of mixture into a blender; process until smooth. Pour pureed bean mixture into a large bowl. Repeat procedure with remaining bean mixture. Spoon 1 cup soup into each of 4 bowls, and drizzle each serving with 1/4 teaspoon truffle oil.

A little something in case you're not so much interested in leftovers tomorrow.

What sounds good for dinner?

2008-11-26T20:58:00.001-08:00

One of the two humans in my household inevitably asks this every day. (The other two household inhabitants are terriers.) And usually, the routine is to go through a list of available options or food genres the asker is in the mood for until the askee says, "that sounds good, let's do that."

Easy, because we have the local restaurants down pat. Not so easy if you're in a new place - say Denver, CO and need to find a restaurant that sounds appetizing and fits in that per diem of yours.

For just this reason, the on-site arrangements committee has provided a handy local guide that details all kinds of restaurants near the Hyatt Regency Denver. With price codes, distance from the hotel noted, websites, and information about whether reservations are needed, we hope you find this guide helpful in finding just what you're craving, or planning that reunion meal with friends you only see once a year.

Packing...

2008-11-24T14:30:00.000-08:00

I just got my first out-of-office message from someone who is leaving today and will not be back until AFTER the Annual Meeting. Something about that was wicked stressful. And it sure as heck motivated me to start making lists. I do like lists.

I started with a packing list because I am convinced/paranoid I am going to forget something. It would be especially frightful if I forgot something I told someone else I would bring! Anyway, I learned during my site visit some interesting facts about traveling to Denver for those of us who function at or around sea level most of our days. So, as you're packing, here are a few extra items you might want to include:

Lip balm: what ever kind works best for you, beware chapped lips in the winter that may be made worse by the altitute
Lotion: for the hands, especially, see above item about chapping
Reusable water bottle: one of the biggest pieces of advice about traveling to higher altitudes is to drink lots of water; think ahead and pack your refillable bottle to help us stay green
Pain reliever: all that thinner, drier air may be headache-inducing - good idea to have your fave around (this is especially bad if you don't drink a lot of water - see above)

Happy packing and prepping - for the holiday, for the meeting, and for the Catch 22 that is being out of the office. So nice to get away, yet so much will be there when you return :).

An uncommon opening

2008-11-20T05:46:00.000-08:00

The 2008 opening session - which is the feature program for the entire meeting - will not be:

Passive.
Boring.
Impersonal.
About someone else.
Common.

Choose to commit your morning to this opportunity. Choose to engage with your colleagues in a way that we often talk about but maybe rarely do. Choose to participate. Choose to learn.

choose to CLIMB
Thursday, December 4. Program begins promptly at 8:45 a.m.

Get there early to get a seat.

The other deadline

2008-11-18T19:55:00.001-08:00

Friday, November 21 is also the deadline to register for the Annual Meeting. Go here to register if you haven't! You're not going to want to miss what we have planned.

If you believe you have registered by haven't received your confirmation yet, email info@fraternityadvisors.org or call the Central Office at 317.876.1632 to confirm. It never hurts to check.

Crunch time

2008-11-18T19:33:00.000-08:00

My husband has this saying he uses when someone makes a poor choice: "They were wearing their bad-idea jeans." Well, today I told him that I forgot to put on my crunch-time jeans when I went to the office yesterday.

You see, for the Annual Meeting planners, we are 3 days away from THE deadline. And, somehow I made the transition from Sunday to Monday without realizing that. THE deadline would be the day that all the boxes need to find their way on a [insert preferred shipping company here] truck and begin the journey to Denver.

We have a three day window for packages to arrive, next Monday-Wednesday. Because then Thanksgiving happens. Then travel happens. Then before you know it you're in Denver with about 1,000 of your closest friends.

Every book, supply, sign, pen, and lanyard will arrive at the Hyatt nearly a week before you do. Join me in wishing them safe travels. Because if they don't make it...

Well, we're not even going there.

Ode to planners

2008-11-15T11:47:00.000-08:00

Despite being the Annual Meeting Chair and having been a part of AM planning since 2001, I have never presented an educational program. I can't say that's a good thing, per se, but when I read this blog post I realized why.

It also made me incredibly thankful that so many of our colleagues aren't handicapped by those worries, and serve as presenters every year. There is no learning without faculty and I'm so, so grateful to our Annual Meeting faculty.

Coincidentally, I don't give blood either. No needles for me. We're talking turn green, pass out kinda reaction to them. So in college I planned blood drives. Lots of them.

You've heard the saying, 'those who can't, teach?' I prefer this quote from Jennifer Lopez's character in The Wedding Planner: "Those who can't, plan."

De-lish

2008-11-13T20:51:00.000-08:00

So, this is a high risk thing to share, but I'm gonna do it anyway. As AM Chair, one of the things I get to do is sample the hotel's food and help craft the menu for our two banquet meals.

Anyway, during the site visit in October, we tasted this soup: white bean, truffle scented puree. Now, I'm not really a soup person. And, fun fact, I don't like white creamy foods. (I think it's a texture thing.)

But this soup. The white bean, truffle scented puree. It was PHENOMENAL. I mean, I had dreams about this soup. I have since tried to find something like it in Columbus. No dice. It was SO good.

I was thrilled to learn a few days ago that the magic soup is scheduled to be our first course at the closing banquet. What could be better than four-star, yummy, comfort food on a December night in Colorado? It's delish. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

If not, may I have yours?

Reaching the peak through powerful program performance

2008-11-12T16:55:00.000-08:00

Enjoy today's post from Angie Bong, a member of the Educational Programs Committee. This one is about what they have done to make your educational programs better; read on...

The Association has made so many fantastic changes and additions for the 2008 Annual Meeting, it seems as if nothing is standing in our way of reaching the – the best Annual Meeting yet - which is only 21 days away, in case you’ve forgotten. The Annual Meeting Planning Team has worked tirelessly over the past year because, especially in hard economic times with limited travel budgets, we want you to get every penny’s worth from your Annual Meeting experience.

The Annual Meeting provides a great opportunity for members to reconnect with friends and colleagues, to visit with our associate members about the exciting opportunities and services they can provide, to celebrate with those who have contributed so much to the fraternal movement, and of course, to learn and grow. One particularly valuable learning opportunity at the Annual Meeting is the vast array of programs presented by our stellar members.

The Annual Meeting has featured many amazing presenters and programs in the past, yet the Educational Programs Committee thought we could help provide an even better educational opportunity for our members by creating some resources to help ensure programs are meeting members’ needs. We poured over past Annual Meeting evaluations, consulted with some of the best presenters in the field, and scoured the Web for the best presentation advice we could find, and we are so pleased to present the AFA Annual Meeting – Best Practices for Successful Presentations.

The Best Practices for Successful Presentations resource was designed as a tool for all Annual Meeting presenters to help them design the best possible program based on what you have said makes for a great presentation. It was distributed to a coordinating presenter from each presentation team today: Here’s a sneak peek of some of the best practices we shared with them today:

· Begin with the end in mind. A snazzy title does not make up for a lousy idea. Be thoughtful about your learning outcomes. What do you want participants to learn? What emotions do you want to stir? What are you offering that audience members cannot get elsewhere? How can outcomes be sustained outside the Annual Meeting? Review your learning outcomes with the audience at the beginning of the presentation.

· If you are presenting a best practice from your college/university, organization, or company, make sure you cover how audience members can apply the same concept at another institution, organization or company. Or, do some research on other entities that are implementing similar practices and share how the concept has worked elsewhere.

· Prepare your program ahead of time. Have someone you trust review your content before you present. Participants can see right through a program that was thrown together in the hotel lobby 10 minutes before the presentation. Great presenters who are not prepared can still produce a bad program. You owe it to your audience to prepare well even if you are the best presenter ever.

· Know your audience and develop rapport. Try to imagine who is most likely to attend your presentation. If you were an audience member, what would you want to know or understand? What would be confusing? Let the audience know they are important and are the reason you are there. Mingle with participants before the presentation begins to help build rapport.

· Be enthusiastic. Be sincere. Be authentic. Find your passion and allow it to shine through as you give your presentation. Enthusiasm is contagious and passion will help you connect with your audience.

We hope that you will be as impressed as we are with the great programs in store for you this year. The Association is committed to you and your feedback, and as such is striving to continually improve. Resources like the Best Practices for Successful Presentations are helping us reach the peak. We can’t wait to sit back and enjoy the view.

Eight is enough

2008-11-11T19:21:00.000-08:00

Of the about 950 folks registered for the Annual Meeting as of today, more than 200 are first-time attendees. It's likely that a large majority of those first-time attendees are students in graduate preparation programs who will soon be our full-time colleagues. Students, btw who likely never have seen the TV show that is this post's namesake, save a Nick at Nite marathon.

As a member of the AMPT I have been very, very lucky to meet and work with some amazing up-and-coming professionals as graduate staff members. The thing about grad staff, though, is that we are only able to provide that opportunity to eight graduate members. And yet so, so many of our soon-to be first-year professionals are amazing in their own right; I hope you have a chance to meet them, to offer some words of wisdom, and to challenge them to be the next great thing in the fraternal movement. Tonight I want you to meet the 8 representatives of the next generation that I have the privilege to work with while we're in Denver, and hear a little bit about their interest in serving our Association. The narrarator for this guest post is Tyler Blair (Beta Theta Pi) from the University of Kansas). Did I hear a "Rock Chalk?" Thought so. Well done.

Greetings from Grad Staff!

Each year 8 graduate students are selected to join the Annual Meeting Planning Team to assist in the execution and management of this premier professional development event of the Association. While the Annual Meeting is still 3 weeks away, and we've only been on board for about that same amount of time, the 8 of us are in serious prep mode! On behalf of the team, I'd thought I'd take a few minutes to give you an inside look at our Grad Staff experience thus far.

I had always known I'd apply for Grad Staff - ever since my senior year when my own Greek Advisor was getting ready to attend this thing called the "AFA Annual Meeting," I had known that this was an opportunity I couldn't pass up. Not only have I always been a conference junky who loves the behind-the-scenes aspects of events, but I also knew that being on the Grad Staff would be an awesome opportunity to help myself become an active member of AFA.

Here’s what other Grad Staffers had to say about why they applied:

"I thought it would be a wonderful opportunity for me to network with other professionals working in the field of fraternity and sorority life"

~ John Salazar, University of Maryland, Omega Delta Phi Fraternity, Inc.

“Everyone I had spoken with that had been apart of Grad Staff had such positive experiences and looked back with such fond memories that I knew it was something that would be a meaningful experience in my growth as a professional in this field.”

~ Meg Shamburger, College of William & Mary, Kappa Alpha Theta

“Volunteering is part of my personal and fraternal values. I wanted to give back to the organization that has helped guide me to become a better professional.”

~Alex Snowden, Illinois State University, Beta Theta Pi

“I wanted to be on Grad Staff because I would like to become more involved with AFA and I felt that this position will be a great stepping stone for my future involvement within the Association.”

~ Katelin Getz, Ohio University, Alpha Delta Pi

The other part of our experience is the cohort we will form with one another. Grad staff is a shared experience. The 8 of us will be spending long days and late nights together. We all come from diverse backgrounds, but with similar interests and passions, and have a lot to learn from one another, (hopefully!). For the past 4 weeks, under our fearless leader and Grad Staff Coordinator, Jennifer Leung, we have been busy getting to know each other. In addition to the 7 new Facebook friends each of had within 24 hours of joining Grad Staff, we have all been engaging in weekly ice breaker activities via a Blackboard Discussion board.

Oh, and in addition to all that fun stuff, don't worry, we've been working as well. We've been busy learning about our on-site responsibilities, understanding the role of the Annual Meeting, planning our travel, and filling out lots of paperwork.

And all of this preparation is getting us all very excited. Here is what the rest of the team has to say about what they are most excited about as we prepare for Denver:

"I am looking forward to being behind the scenes of the Annual Meeting and understanding what are the needs of professionals to better assist Greek Students."

~ Daniel Hernandez, Western Illinois University, Delta Tau Delta

“I’m excited to meet the rest of the awesome Grad Staff members and to be surrounded by individuals who are passionate and excited about what they do!”

~ Maria Iglesia, Clemson University, Delta Phi Lambda Sorority Inc.

“I am most excited about meeting everyone and making some new friends. I am also excited about getting involved with AFA and learning more about what all it takes to make the Annual Meeting all that it is!”

~ Ashlee Canty, Western Illinois University, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc.

As the Annual Meeting quickly approaches, we hope you are getting excited too. Whether you attend the Annual Meeting to create or renew friendships, engage in meaningful dialogue, or sharpen your professional skills, the 2008 Annual Meeting has a whole lot to offer. On behalf of the 2008 Grad Staff Team, we are looking forward to being a part of helping you reach your Peak Performance.

See you in Denver!

~ The 2008 AM Grad Staff Team

So, if there are other 2nd year masters students reading this or professionals who think they may be hiring a recent grad this spring/summer, would it be a good time to make a shameful plug for AFA's 1st 90 days program? I'm thinkin' yes. Let experienced members and those who just lived it help those new professionals out there Be. R.E.A.D.Y for anything in their first year. [Disclaimer: Yes, I am definitely on the 2009 1st 90 days committee. Give a girl a blog, and see where she takes it?]

National Hazing Symposium, Wed. Dec. 3rd, 2008, 9am to 4pm

2008-11-10T20:36:00.000-08:00

Did you know that just last month AFA renewed its sponsorship of HazingPrevention.org - the parent organization of programs such as the National Hazing Symposium, National Hazing Prevention Week, and the Interdisciplinary Institute for Hazing Intervention? Organizations such as HazingPrevention.org rely on the many sponsorships that offer their talents and resources to help bring an end to hazing. This year, we are lucky enough to partner with the organization to host the National Hazing Symposium in conjunction with the Annual Meeting. There is still room to register for the NHS, and the late fee has been waived until Nov. 20! Read on to learn about what Tracey Maxwell, executive director of HazingPrevention.Org, has to say about the symposium...

2008 marks the fifth time the National Hazing Symposium has been presented to great feedback every time. This year we have an especially unique program planned, and we are pleased to be partnering with AFA for the second time on NHS. The 2005 program in Atlanta was a huge hit with almost 200 participants, and we expect this one to be as well. I am pleased that AFA has agreed to waive the late fee through Nov. 20th for those folks who would still like to register. Read below for program details and a link to the registration page.

In 2008, the fraternal movement was sent into shock when two university administrators were indicted on charges of aggravated hazing. While the charges were dropped, it marked the first time that university personnel were named in a criminal case. This year’s National Hazing Symposium answers the question of what it may look like for fraternity and sorority professionals to stand trial for hazing incidents.

Since the late 1980s, David Westol has conducted “Hazing on Trial” for hundreds of college and university campuses. For the first time, David is applying his well-known program to the context of fraternity and sorority professionals: one of your colleagues is on trial for their knowledge of hazing activities and you’ll be the jury to determine their future. The mock trial will lead to discussion about how professionals can address hazing culture with attention to the legal environment.

In addition to “Hazing on Trial,” this year’s symposium will serve as a launch pad for increased attention to the necessary steps to address hazing culture. Dr. Elizabeth Allan and Dr. Mary Madden will present on the initial findings of their four-year national study, and participants will discuss ways to address recommendations provided in their report. As the fraternal movement continues to make great progress with how we are a part of the solution, anyone invested in ending hazing culture should consider participation in this full-day seminar.

Hope you can join us!

If you're interested in participating in this pre-conference, be sure to register by Nov. 20th

AFA Legends, Part II

2008-11-07T17:55:00.000-08:00

Today we continue our AFA legends theme and turn to Dan Bureau, 2004 AFA President and committed leader to the fraternal movement. I asked him to share his "can't miss" moment of the Annual Meeting. And here it is:

The can't miss moments are the amazing educational opportunities that are provided each day. Now, this means there are a lot of can't miss moments, but really, the programming at the AM is always very good.

Here are some tips on getting the most out of your educational program attendance:

1. Be intentional. About what topics are you most in need of education? Come to the AM with this list in mind. Then, review the list of educational programs and aim to attend one program about each topic.

2. Come early. Presenters work hard to put the program together and some will be more crowded then others. Out of courtesy to the presenters and in the hopes to get the best seat, come early!

3. Participate. Not every program will be highly interactive (and we should all be ok with that!) but when you have the chance, contribute. This may mean responding to questions, asking questions or simply asking your neighbor what she/he thinks about the topic at hand.

4. Take notes. In an effort to be more sustainable, many presenters will not bring copies. That's ok because copies promote passive learning anyway. Commit to taking notes for each program and then review them once you get back home. List all of the programs you attend and then write down the ONE thing that you took from each that can inform your practice. This will make your learning intentional!

There is so much to do at the AM; however we're there to advance our skills relative to supporting fraternity and sorority communities in student affairs. Attending educational programs and doing so with intention is the most important thing you can do at the AM.

This year we have more than 130 educational programs coming to Denver. Be sure to be on the look out for the Program Book, scheduled to make its debut on the AFA website about the 24th of November, and begin to chart your personal learning experience for the Annual Meeting.

Have your own "can't miss" moment? Log onto the AFA Facebook Group page and share your own "can't miss moment" on the Discussion Board. The Annual Meeting Planning Team wants to hear from you.

AFA Legends, Part I

2008-11-06T14:54:00.000-08:00

Ever wonder what some of the AFA legends think of the Annual Meeting? Lucky for you, I asked!

Jennifer Jones Hall was the 2006 Shaffer Award winner and will attend her 21st Annual Meeting this year. After that great history, she has a list of “can’t miss” experiences for the Annual Meeting. Here they are:

1. The Opening Reception where you get to see everyone involved in the Fraternity/Sorority Movement.

2. The AFA Foundation/AFA Awards Luncheon...this is a great opportunity to really be inspired by the work being done in many different avenues.

3. The Closing Banquet of AFA....again...to see our Schaffer and Anson Award winners be honored for their service to the profession...is just awe inspiring.

Speaking from personal experience, this year’s Shaffer and Anson winners are people you need to know. They are amazing role models, friends and professionals. I can’t wait for you to meet them!

Tomorrow: Find out what Dan Bureau, 2004 AFA President and AFA rock star in his own right, has to say is the best thing about the Annual Meeting.

Not your mama's DRC

2008-11-05T18:27:00.000-08:00

Looking to create a new fraternity/sorority marketing campaign? Not sure how to create the new awards banquet you've been wanting to bring to campus? Want to share with your AFA colleagues that awesome program you initiated last semester? Tonight we turn to Melissa Clarke from the On-Site Arrangements Committee for a friendly DRC plug:

A big warm “hi friends” from Central Kentucky home to the Red Wings Shoe Factory, Centre College and the hub of all things related to the Developmental Resource Center (DRC). A few things you should know about me: 1) I love analogies, and 2) I am truly committed to making the DRC the best it can possibly be. I feel honored, priviliged and a little bit nervous about being the point person overseeing the DRC simply due to the fact that this resource can be such a valuable tool for us as professionals if it is done right and nothing more than a stack of glossy paper if it is not executed appropriately. To me it is the difference between receiving a care package from your Grandma versus another political add flyer in the mail (read … something you are dying to get your hands on versus something you would use to line your bird cage). Clearly I would like the DRC to be more congruent with the former than the later.

Now here is where I need your help, when I think of the DRC I cannot help but compare it to the conclusion of Abe Lincoln’s Gettysburg address “of the people, by the people, for the people.” No matter how excited I am about the DRC it cannot be a success without you and all of the fabulous resources you have created in recent history or in years past (think of bell bottoms, aviator glasses and faux fur - the things that keep coming back because, let’s face it, they work). Everyone has something to contribute, for the betterment of your colleagues and the professional development movement we call fraternity and sorority advising. I am excited to see what kind of resources people contribute and would like to thank you in advance for your submission, I appreciate it!

Don't forget to submit your DRC materials to Melissa by November 15th!

2008-11-03T12:41:00.000-08:00

Besides being election day - did you vote, yet?!? - today is also new-job eve for me. So in honor of all things change (new government, new job, new professionals entering the field at the end of the year) today's guest post is all about preparing for what's next:

I’m Liz Schafer, Coordinator of Graduate Student Experiences (GSE) for this year’s Annual Meeting and Director of Greek Life at the University of New Orleans. I’m thrilled to have the chance to connect with you via the AM blog!

I want to share some exciting developments about the programming the GSE Committee will be bringing you in Denver. “Seasoned members,” don’t stop reading here, because one piece here affects you directly!

Graduate Training Track -- We’ve gone back to basics with the GTT, focusing our curriculum on the Association’s Core Competencies for Excellence in the Profession. We listened to the evaluations too, and as a result we developed learning outcomes for the program that we hope will address the things our graduate members are really looking for.
AFA/Order of Omega Case Study Competition and Challenge -- Again those evaluations! We heard time and time again that we needed to do a better job of reaching our first-year grads. So with the wonderful cooperation of our friends from Order of Omega, we developed the First-Year Case Study Challenge. This new program will feature an educational program with tips about how to approach a case study and then a less-complex case that participants will work on in teams. They’ll present their solutions before a panel of judges, just like the students in the Case Study Competition will.
Project Job Search (this one’s for you, old-timers!) -- We expanded this program to include not just the traditional Resume Reviews & Mock Interviews, but also an Employment Exchange. Though we all love the shout-outs about job openings at our Regional Meetings, we learned that they don’t meet the needs of all our members. The Employment Exchange will be an “AFA mini job fair,” at which institutions with current or anticipated openings can talk to (and even accept resumes from) grad students and professionals looking for positions. You can register for Project Job Search programming on the AFA website.

Lions and tigers and vendors, oh my!

2008-10-31T08:35:00.000-07:00

The first time I sat on the AMPT was for the 2005 meeting in Atlanta. The one time that the AMPT gets to meet in person is at the previous AM - so on the last day in Hollywood ('04) I remember being in a conversation that involved some great visioning about the '05 meeting. As we were discussing the schedule, several folks wondered aloud if we might move a program - don't remember which - opposite the Exhibit Hall. The thought was...there's all this time, why not use it? And, truthfully, that was how I felt, too.

Here's a different perspective from today's guest blogger, Leanna Laskey (hint: she's the one on the left in the pic):

For the past three years, I have enjoyed attending the AFA Annual Meeting as both a graduate and professional member, and this year will be my first as an associate member. Coming from a career in higher education, I recently opted to join the team at OrgSync, a company that provides an online organization management tool for campuses to easily organize, assess, track, and manage students and student organizations.

At previous meetings, I always had viewed the Exhibitor’s Hall as a hot spot for freebies. I learned after my first Annual Meeting the importance of leaving some extra room in the suitcase for all the pens, stress balls, and random desk objects I would find in the Exhibitor’s Hall.

As an associate member myself now, I am excited to see the Association and the Annual Meeting from a different viewpoint. One thing that AFA members should know about associate members is that we aren’t there just to give away free stuff (but don’t worry- we’ll still have the freebies!). We are actually there because we believe that our product is relevant to your job and we want to share that with you.

Please stop by the OrgSync booth in Denver—I can’t wait to see all my fellow AFAers!

Back to my rookie year in '05: We did not program against the Exhibit Hall and we never will. I get it now. That year, as a newbie to the AMPT I really began to learn and understand the value of our associate members. I learned that the very least we can do is provide those members a block of time where they are on center stage. They do so very much for our Association, and so very much for our work. I've never been in the market for new services during the AM, but I do visit the Exhibit Hall - simply to say thank you to each exhibitor for being there. I hope that you'll so the same.

The student becomes the teacher

2008-10-29T16:26:00.000-07:00

I met Eli Ker in 2005 when he was a member of the Annual Meeting Graduate staff. He has been an active and contributing volunteer for the AFA Annual Meeting since. (Well, there was this one morning meeting he slept through, but he was young and he's been forgiven). A member of the First Timers Committee for '08, he continues his service in '09 as the Graduate Staff Coordinator. Here's what he has to say as today's guest blogger:

I cannot begin to explain how excited I am for the Annual Meeting this year. I have been actively involved in the Association for the past three years and have had the chance to volunteer with the Association. I began with serving on graduate staff, have served on the Educational Programs Committee, Graduate Student Experience Committee, and finally this year have had the opportunity to work on the First Timers Committee.

The Annual Meeting is an amazing opportunity to reconnect with old friends, come together to learn something new, and have a chance for intentional conversations that can help to shape the future of our profession. I will also take this opportunity to spotlight the programs sponsored by the First Timers Committee. Please make sure to join us for The AFA CONNECTION Kickoff on Wednesday night. The Kickoff will be a great chance for first time attendees to connect with other Annual Meeting attendees and learn more about the Annual Meeting and highlights from each committee. Also, we will have sponsored meals together for anyone who would like to join, including a night out on Thursday night with dining in downtown Denver.

I hope you are as excited as I am. I cannot wait to see old friends and meet many more. Please find anyone on the Annual Meeting Planning Team if you need help or have any questions.

First timers, you have to meet Eli when you get to Denver. He and the First Timers Committee are working hard to ensure a great experience for you. Which is good, because after mentioning that morning meeting I wasn't ever supposed to speak of again and using a picture of him he hasn't pre-screened for the blog, he may make it a rough experience for me!

Have your people call my people

2008-10-28T19:12:00.001-07:00

This week is meet TEAM DENVER week. There are many, many talented AFA volunteers who are responsible for the great things coming your way in Denver and the blog this week is dedicated to sharing a few of their thoughts, ideas, and voice with you. So, without further delay...

Did you say it’s time for the AFA ANNUAL MEETING? OH YEAH!!! It’s that time of the year again to hang out with those who REALLY understand what fraternity/sorority life is all about!

Greetings and Salutations (as my NPHC President would say)!

My name is Parice S. Bowser and I serve as the Director of Greek Life at the University of Arkansas. My committee has worked extremely hard to provide all attendees with an array of “Peak Performance” educational programs to assist you in taking your fraternity/sorroity community and chapters to the next level. I challenge you to take full advantage of the Annual Meeting this year as a way to rejuvenate including learning best practices, sharing knowledge, and networking with other fraternity/sorority professionals and volunteers around the country.

To all the first-timers…I’ve been in your shoes. It may seem overwhelming in the beginning but hang in there! I promise you will leave Denver ready to conquer the world! Just realize it will take time, patience, and will not happen overnight.

Okay, if you’re like me, I’m sure you are extremely busy right now and are at your peak. Remember, don’t sweat the small stuff! Please make sure you purchase a Because you Believe sticker. Get one for a friend and another for you to serve as a daily reminder why you believe in the fraternal movement. This will get you through those high peak moments when you return from the Annual Meeting.

Well, my time is up…

Don't forget your warm coat and gloves! Denver here we come!

Signing off…psb

Stay tuned for additional members of TEAM DENVER to appear with messages for you throughout the week...

Two for one (Eval reviews #3 and 4)

2008-10-24T08:18:00.001-07:00

I have much guilt about not getting a post up yesterday, so today is a two-fer. Today we look at evaluation comments related to programming - specifically the program book & educational program offerings...

I've provided the comments and a response to it directly below.

Had trouble making sense of some of it - might have been designed for "younger eyes"?

This is great feedback for us. What I know right now is that we have more information we want attendees to have than pages in the book! I hope this year's layout is more user friendly for folks who feel this way - I'll get to see the first draft soon but this is really TBA!

I wish that this would be available sooner.

As of this moment, the book is scheduled to go up on the AFA Website about Nov. 24th. Keep your fingers crossed we don't have any hiccups and you all can view it then!

Maybe use paper that is less slick and easier to write on; minor, minor critique. I wished the inside pages were less glossy ... They'd be easier to write on. AND Would possibly like some pages included for notes.

Again, why feedback is great: this is in the category of "things I've never thought about." What I can tell you is this...we'll look into it. If it's a cost-saving measure, maintains the professional quality we hope for in the publication, and doesn't interrupt our production schedule to switch, we'll try do it. As far as the extra pages...see the first answer about more info than pages allotted - yikes tikes!

Please co-mingle FEA sessions with AFA program sessions. I did not discover the extra 'FEA' sessions until later in the conference and missed some I would have liked to attend. I didn't know to look in a separate place for them.

Done and done! There will be a small icon at the end of the program descriptions that indicates if a program has been highlighted by FEA as a particularly good opportunities for FEA staff and volunteers.

Though it might increase cost, it would be easier to tab, or color code the pages by day, so that it's easier to access what you need quicker.

True story about me: I love me some organizational tools! So I am all about this suggestion. I'm afraid that it's cost prohibitive for us at this point.

Give learning outcomes for the educational sessions or at least more description about the session topic.

Also done and done! You'll see that the last sentence of each program description begins with the phrase "participants will..." This is the primary learning outcome for the program as provided by the presenters.

Additional educational sessions with more variety of topics.

We have about 132 educational programs this year! I am confident that is a record of some kind; while I don't have a comparison from years past I can tell you that about 15% of those programs directly address some kind of otherness fraternity/sorority life - cultural groups, glbtq members, student of color in predominately white groups, etc. Anecdotally I feel like that's an increase for us - statistically I don't know for sure.

Email contact information for presenters printed in the program book (that way we can follow-up on sessions or contact presenters that we were unable to attend).

Also a new addition this year. One coordinating presenter for each program provided the names, institution/organization, and email address of the presentation team. Those will all be printed in the program book.

Whew! That was a long post....but I feel less guilty about skipping a day. Don't forget, the regular registration deadline is one week from today - October 31. It'll be frighteningly sad if you forget to get your registration in and have to pay the late fees. Sorry, couldn't resist the bad Halloween pun...

I wish I could tell you the green is symbolic (Eval review #2)

2008-10-22T08:45:00.000-07:00

A few thoughts from recent AM evaluations:
"Provide a more sustainable conference experience."
"We need to go green."
"Add recycling bins, use less paper, provide non-disposable bottles to refill with water."

A push toward more sustainable practices has been one of the most intentional moves of 2008 for the AMPT. Some of this has been sheer luck because of our host hotel, and some elements we've implemented ourselves. Here are the highlights:

The Hyatt Regency Denver offers single-stream recycling, meaning that any recyclable material can be disposed of in any recycling bin - the sorting happens later.
All guest rooms will have a blue recycling bin.
The hotel only changes sheets and towels upon request or when a guest room turns over, thus saving a great deal of water.
Throughout the public areas of the hotel where the meeting is held, you will see silver receptacles for recyclables or waste.
We will have additional blue bins at the silent auction, AFA registration and hopefully in educational programs rooms.
The AM registration book was provided electronically only. This was a first for the Association, and a great step toward using less paper.
All AM mailings via USPS were printed on 100% recycled paper certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.
Upon registration at the AM, meeting attendees should notice less paper as a part of their registration packet...stay tuned for a full report of how much we're able to reduce this resource.
The Developmental Resource Center (DRC) will be presented 'greenly' this year. Sample materials will be on display with information about how to find and download a copy for yourself.

As a direct result of our efforts to be more green, all information about the Annual Meeting is available on the AFA website. The registration book, first timers information, fireside chats registration, and more can be found there. Check it out!

Me! Me! Pick Me! (Eval review #1)

2008-10-21T08:53:00.000-07:00

A response on the 2007 evaluation: "We need more opportunities to volunteer on site."

Done and done! This is actually one of my favorite things to report, and I'm so, so excited to see how it plays out.

For the first time we were able to provide AFA members an opportunity to assist with the meeting in Denver in a done-in-a-day AFA volunteer role. With the regular volunteer interest cycle, a new interest form was added for members to select how they would like to help during the Annual Meeting. Eighty-six members completed interest forms.

Kara Miller, incoming AM chair, oversaw the process and matched those who showed interest with the needs of each Annual Meeting committee. These one-time volunteers will fill roles from case study judges, to connection captains for first timers, to greeters and floaters. This year, we were able to place every member who wanted to volunteer at the meeting.

Because it's year one of this project, we know there will be great opportunities to collect feedback about the process and the experience. Thank you to all of the members who are giving their time to help make the meeting that much better. Welcome to TEAM DENVER!

Interested in being an AFA volunteer? Appointments for standing committees or positions for 2009 were made in late-September, but the Involvement Form is available year-round. Just note that forms submitted by September 5, 2008 were given priority consideration for appointments in 2009.

Beauty and the Beast

2008-10-20T14:39:00.000-07:00

You know how the fable ends, right? Beauty loves Beast despite his outward appearance. Happily ever after and such. I was thinking about this beauty-in-the-beastly concept today when I challenged myself to reread the Annual Meeting evaluations from the past three years.

I did this knowing that I would be proud of the Annual Meeting team and the ways they have responded to your feedback for 2008, and that I would be reminded of some beastly things as well: the suggestions we can't quite bring to life just yet, or the comment that reminds me that I didn't do as well with communication or transparency or education as I could have in my role that particular year.

There are two things I can promise you about AM evaluations:

1. We listen.

The AMPT reads, reviews and reflects on the evaluations meeting attendees submit. Thank you for your thoughts in the past. Please, when the time comes, share them again (go ahead and mark your calendar for the week after the Annual Meeting).

2. You can't please all of the people all of the time.

We want to; I assure you we do. But as my husband says, when I want the new bag or the new shoes I found at Nordstrom (not on the sale rack...), "it's a dot edu business you're in, Ryan." Many others can back up my claim that I would love to have the the shiniest and the fanciest that convention planning has to offer. I may or may not have asked about linen napkins for the closing banquet that match the logo colors - this is how I think, people.

I point all of that out because the beauty of the evaluation is that we can improve in the ways that you want; some of the best ideas and suggestions that frame the AM experience come from them. Then there's the beast: some feedback - even great feedback - doesn't feel good to get, and even some of the best of it ends up on the cutting room floor.

This week I'm dedicating the blog to AM evaluations - each day I am committed to providing a snippet from recent evaluations to share with you how we have, or haven't, acted on them during the 2008 planning. And to tell you why.

My hope is that you'll learn a little more about what's in store, you'll see our commitment to transparency, and I can brag a little bit about the great things your Annual Meeting team has accomplished.

Commercial Interruption

2008-10-17T13:45:00.000-07:00

Funny thing happened on my way to today's blog post; I was skimming the new items in my Google reader, and I found this post about leadership and tribes from Seth Godin.

Seth is an author, a marketing guru, and some other things. I can't tell you much more because I don't really know what he does, but I know that I like a lot of what he says. I think "how true" or find myself asking more questions after I read what he writes. And often I find what he says applicable to our work in fraternity/sorority life. But if I'm being honest, we're probably not on a first name basis...that's how little I really know.

But when he started his tribes project, of which I am a part, and then gathered case studies for the ebook that was just published I have devoured much of it. So while the real post for today is still in the may or may not phase of getting published today, I pause to share with the leaders that are AFA members and Annual Meeting attendees some neat thoughts about leadership, courtesy of Seth Godin.

Look, Dad!

2008-10-13T14:07:00.000-07:00

As an undergraduate, I attended the University of Kansas. This was not surprising as my father used to sing me to sleep with the alma mater a nd the Rock Chalk chant. A perk of being a parent, I suppose; you get to influence your kiddo early.

I was a third-generation Jayhawk and I take my KU heritage seriously. It just so happened that when I arrived at KU, I wanted to major in journalism and I graduated with a degree as such.

Since I'm not so much a full-time (or even sometimes) journalist now, I like to point out moments in my working world when I do use the myriad skills I learned as a student at the William Allen White School of Journalism. It's my way of making my Dad feel better about supporting that four (and a half...shh) year endeavor.

And today is one of those very make-Dad-proud kind of days. It's program book day!

Yes, the 30-some page guidebook that you will receive when you check-in at the Annual Meeting begins the writing and editing cycle almost three months before it lands in your hands. And today we send the information to associate member Innova for them to work their design magic.

My eyes are officially crossed from the days of editing but at least I know Professor Eblen would be proud of how many dependent clauses now are comma free.

BTW, have you registered for the Annual Meeting yet? You know there are only 19 days left until the registration deadline!

It still has that new hotel smell....

2008-10-10T18:34:00.000-07:00

The Denver Hyatt Regency at Colorado Convention Center is only about two years old. It's swanky, shiny and bright. True story.

The last two days were the final site visit at the hotel to ensure that all the ducks are waddling to their row for our meeting. Jason Pierce, director of programs, and I met with our convention manager, scoped some restaurants, tried some meal samples from the executive chef, and figured out just where to put extra signs so meeting attendees won't end up in Quartz when they are supposed to be in Limestone. (Did I mention all the meeting rooms have geological names? It's a thing.)

I took lots of pictures, which I will try very hard to add to this post after I get home and find the usb camera cord I should have packed.

Have you made your hotel reservation yet? You should! Reservations for our meeting should be made through the group page.

AFA Annual Meeting joins the blogosphere

2008-10-08T14:34:00.000-07:00

We're so excited to have you - the members of the Association that we serve - join us for a behind-the-scenes look into the weeks that lead up to the Annual Meeting. Subscribe to Peak Performance 08 so you don't miss a single update.

Thank you for being part of this journey! We can't wait to see you in Denver.

~ The AMPT

Annual Meeting Mission

2008-07-22T12:07:00.000-07:00

The 2008 AFA Annual Meeting will assist attendees in executing their work to the highest degree through intentional and accidental learning experiences that are both passive and active; with formal and informal networking opportunities for all membership categories; and by providing portals to connect with and support the mission of the Association of Fraternity Advisors.