It's Here!

No, I am not talking about Black Friday or the best deals on the hottest items this year. I am talking about the 2009 Annual Meeting Program Book, and it's available here.

One of my goals this year was to provide this book for attendees in advance so that you have time to become familiar with the opportunities that await you in Jacksonville. There is a lot happening at the Annual Meeting! This sneak preview allows you to take some time at your leisure to select educational programs to attend and to familiarize yourself with the schedule.

Like always, attendees will receive a printed copy of the Program Book at Registration.

A Time for Thanks

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I thought it was appropriate to take a moment to thank the team that has been working very hard with me this past year to plan the Annual Meeting. Our gathering in Jacksonville has a lot of people working behind the scenes to allow you to have the best possible experience. While a public shout out is the least I can do, I still want to take a moment to say
THANK YOU:

2009 Annual Meeting Planning Team
2010 Annual Meeting Chair
Andrea Weber, Missouri State University
Educational Programs Coordinator
Jennifer Leung, College of William and Mary
Fireside Chats Coordinator
Michael Steele, Clemson University
First Timers Coordinator
Lauren Moran, Sigma Sigma Sigma
Graduate Staff Coordinator
Eli Ker, Clemson University
Graduate Student Experiences Coordinator
Kimberlee Monteaux, University of Vermont
On-Site Arrangements Coordinator
Patrick Romero-Aldaz, University of South Florida
AFA Central Office
Linda Wardhammar, Executive Director
Jason Pierce, Director of Programs
Sarah McCracken, Director of Member Services

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2009 Annual Meeting Committees
Educational Programs: Dennis Camacho, John Jay College of Criminal Justice; Brandon Cutler, Kansas State University; Leslie Fasone, Indiana University; Sara Jahansouz, University of Tennessee, Chatanooga; Matt Matson, Phired Up Productions; Laurel Peffer, Lafayette College

Fireside Chats: Jennifer Fitzwater, University of the Sciences in Philadelphia; Marlon Gibson, Georgia State University; Tyler Havens, Monmouth University; Ryan Lovell, The Ohio State University; Kaya Miller, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

First Timers: Amy Colvin, Millikin University; Angela King, Middle Tennessee State University; Josh Orendi, Phired Up Productions; Carol Preston, Ohio University; Neil Stanglein, William Woods University; Liz Schafer, Tulane University

Graduate Student Experiences: Krystal Clark, Duke University; Scott Clark, University of Missouri; Susan LeGalley, Pennsylvania State University; Victoria Lopez-Herrera, Columbia University; Darren Pierre, University of San Francisco; Natalie Shaak, Drexel University; Thomas Whitcher, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis

Graduate Staff: Lauren Berman, University of Louisville; Susan DuMont, University of Delaware; Matt Knickman, University of Central Missouri; Wes McCormack, Texas A & M University; Josh McKenzie, University of South Carolina; Mary Phillips, Bowling Green State University; Maritza Torres, University of Florida; Allen White, University of South Florida

On-Site Arrangements: Dan Kennedy, Barton College; Jessie James-Stinson, University of Northern Iowa; Jennifer Jones, Valdosta State University; Michelle Marchand Rebholz, Lehigh University; Marlena Martinez, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Kari Murphy, University of Missouri, Kansas City

My best wishes for you and yours to have a Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you enjoy the extra few days after the holiday this year before you travel to Jacksonville.

Got Seasoning?

Seasoned Professionals:
Our Piece of the Fraternal Puzzle
Sponsored by Zeta Tau Alpha Fraternity and Foundation

Wednesday | 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Wednesday | 2:15 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

The Annual Meeting Planning Team continually strives to support our members at all levels of experience. We discovered that our seasoned professionals would benefit from more intentional programming aimed at their level of experience, and thus, with a kind sponsorship from an interfraternal partner, Zeta Tau Alpha Fraternity and Foundation, this program was born.

This double session for Seasoned Professionals (those with 7+ years professional experience working with fraternities and sororities) will challenge participants to contemplate the future of the fraternal movement within higher education and the roles that seasoned professionals can play. The first part of this program will expose participants to the thoughts and perspectives of senior student affairs officers through a panel discussion, moderated by Dr. David Grady of the University of Iowa. In the second session, Ginny Carroll will facilitate meaningful conversation around current and potential best practices, hoping to inspire and sustain participants in their roles as seasoned professionals. Participation in the Annual Meeting Educational Program will allow our seasoned professionals the opportunity to engage with others who have committed their careers to the advancement of the fraternal movement.

Calling All Presenters!

As you prepare for presenting educational programs at AFA, take a look at some words of advice and encouragement from leading presenters in the field of Fraternity and Sorority Life.

“A successful presentation in my opinion is one that challenges participants to think critically about the topic, provides clear guidance on how to apply the knowledge gained, and ends with participants feeling that session was about what it was marketed as.”
~Kim Novak

“Practice. Know YOUR stuff, understand the RESEARCH or PRACTICAL implications, be able to talk about it in a way that engages people, but don't sacrifice content for entertainment. I would much rather sit through something a little more "dry" or less "interactive" than be doing team builders for an hour. I want to LEARN.”
~Dan Bureau

“Actually prepare. Too many in our field prep the week before...or on-site...and it shows. Don’t waste my time or the others in the workshop.”
~Mike McRee

“As a presenter, make sure the topic is something you feel comfortable with and have credibility in this area. Be very deliberate on what points you want to get across and what you want participants to leave with.
I never (ever) think of myself as a speaker. I am facilitator who can engage hundreds of people in a conversation. As the presenter, think of yourself in that light. You are there to facilitate the conversation.”
~Lori Hart Ebert

“Although it is quite the old saying, I believe being you is the most important part of delivering a good program. If you are passionate about the topic and if that shines through that is ok. What one should never do is not be open to differences of opinions. In fact, if there are people at your program that don't agree with your perspective on the topic asking them how and/or why they disagree is a great way to engage the participant and enhance the level of discourse among the participants.”
~Monica Miranda Smalls

For more tips from our experts, click here.

Operation Gratitude @ the Annual Meeting

This year the Annual Meeting Planning Team worked diligently to provide a service opportunity to our members in Jacksonville. In 2006, many members gave back to our host city of New Orleans to help the rebuilding efforts there post Hurricane Katrina. In 2008, we invited members to join us at Project Angel Heart in Denver.

While I certainly do value the service opportunities in the streets of our host cities, I want to make the opportunity available to as many people as possible. This was challenging to do if extra fees, early arrival, etc. were involved. Thus, an idea was born to have the service event occur in the hotel so everyone who chooses can participate.

We are pleased to announce that this year's onsite service project is Operation Gratitude. Operation Gratitude provides care packages and letters to service men and women who are currently deployed. We will be hosting a letter writing campaign between 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 6, 2009. Please join us for a few minutes to stop in and write a letter. If you would like to write a letter beforehand you may drop it off in Jacksonville. You may also consider asking your students to write letters beforehand. Jacksonville has a strong military presence so we are proud to give back to our host city in this way.

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Dan Kennedy, Onsite Arrangements committee member, is spearheading this service opportunity and may be contacted for more information.

That's Right,......We're T - 28 Days!

It's true. The Annual Meeting will "open" in 28 days as the counter at the bottom of this blog predicts. My apologies for the small lapse in blog posting. As you can imagine, many things are happening behind the scenes to make this an enjoyable and stimulating professional development experience for you. One of the most exciting things we are working on is the Program Book. It is my hope to be able to provide it for you (online) at least one week in advance for those "planners" out there. Every attendee will receive a Program Book once they register in Jacksonville. The Program Book provides pertinent information including the educational program descriptions.

Here are a few things we are finalizing that may be of interest to you:

• An onsite guide to give you more information about the surrounding area (There is a Starbucks near for those who require it. I'll see you there).
• A two-part educational program for Seasoned Professionals to attend.
• A service opportunity that will take place in the hotel on Sunday. Stop by when you have time.
• Two excellent General Programs: Steve Farber and Bernard Franklin, PhD.
  
• A Project Job Search: Employment Exchange opportunity that will be passive. We will post any job descriptions we are given and we will provide, "I'm Hiring," buttons to those who have positions available.
• An exciting and informational AFA Connection Kickoff for our first timers, who are actually about 1/3 of the attendees.
• Exciting opportunities for our graduate members in the form of a Graduate Training Track, Project Job Search: Resume Review and Mock Interview opportunity; and a case study opportunity for first and second year graduate students.
• Annual Meeting Ambassadors, members who have signed up to give the Annual Meeting Planning Team a hand onsite, will be given further details.
• Fireside Chats: The deadline was Friday. Now the bid matching process will begin.
• Graduate Staff members are being trained.
• Associate members have signed up for the Exhibit Hall and are preparing for their booth.
• Speaker Showcase presenters are finalizing their presentations.
• AFA Foundation Silent Auction materials are still being accepted.
• The Developmental Resource Center Posters are being reviewed.
• The Developmental Resource Center is still collecting materials from members.
  
• Annual Meeting Advance Programs (formerly Pre-Conference) are being prepared.

And, hopefully, you have registered (or will do so soon), and are preparing yourself for our Annual Meeting.

For more details on anything mentioned above, click here.

On behalf of the Annual Meeting Planning Team, we are excited, we are ready to execute, and we are looking forward to seeing you in Jax!

DRC Needs Your Help!

The Developmental Resource Center (DRC) is a tool we provide at the Annual Meeting to allow colleagues to share ideas and best practices with each other. Examples include:

• Recruitment Manuals
• Emerging Leaders Retreat Curriculum
• Officer Transition Programs
• Council Constitutions
• Housing Leases/Contracts
• Award Applications
• End of Year Report Processes
• Parent's Brochures
• Hazing Prevention Resources/Publications
• H1N1 Education Drives
• Risk Management Trainings
• Sample New Member Programs
• Peer Train-the-Trainer Programs
• Accreditation Processes
  

We would like to receive more materials for the 2009 Annual Meeting. Submitted materials will be sorted by Core Competency and on display for the duration of the Annual Meeting. After the Annual Meeting, materials will be posted on the AFA website. We are asking for one electronic copy in advance. Then bring one (or more) hard copies with you to the Annual Meeting. We can provide a mailing address if you have a large amount of resources.

Please contact Michelle Marchand Rebholz, Onsite Arrangements Committee member, with questions.