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The Domino Effect
We all know the basic meaning behind the domino effect: touching one part of the design impacts the rest of it and, depending on your perspective, that impact can be good or bad. The AFA Executive Board is experiencing a domino effect as a result of the Volunteer Management Plan; its impact is most certainly positive. Read more about the board's recent conversations and how they are shaping its operations. |
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Volunteer of the Month
Will Foran
Will Foran serves on the Essentials Editorial Board. While Editorial Board members are expected to write articles, the group has begun to focus their efforts on seeking submissions from others. Will has been a great volunteer in this effort and has really gone above and beyond on author recruitment. His follow-through and commitment to Essentials has helped this publication continue to grow and improve as a valuable resource for AFA members. Thank you, Will!
Please contact the Central Office to recommend a Volunteer of the Month.
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Looking for a Few Good Thinkers
You may not be thinking about 2008 yet... but we are! We are already beginning to turn our sights to training opportunities for AFA's 2008 volunteers. We have collected evaluations from the Jump Start Virtual Seminar (for volunteer leaders) and the Volunteer Development Program (for all volunteers who attended the Annual Meeting). Now that we have your feedback on what went well and what could be improved, we would like a few current volunteers to help us think about the best ways to implement changes that will continue the growth and success of our Volunteer Management Plan. If you are interested in being part of this "think tank" please contact Anne Arseneau, Volunteer Coordinator. |
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Did You Know… The Informed Volunteer
Submitting a Grant Request to the AFA Foundation
The Association of Fraternity Advisors Foundation exists to provide on ongoing financial support and resources that support AFA in the fulfillment of our educational objectives. Opportunities exist to apply for grants from the AFA Foundation.
Grant deadlines occur twice annually: April 1st and October 1st.
As an active volunteer for the Association, your committee/workgroup might periodically have a great idea for an educational program or initiative – if so, you should consider applying for an AFA Foundation Grant. Guidelines for submitting a grant, including Funding Proposal Requirements, can be found on the AFA Foundation website.
Important things to know if you are considering submitting a grant request:
- Work ahead on this project! You will need to involve your board supervisor AND the AFA Executive Director in its creation, so make sure you have plenty of lead time as you begin to draft your grant request (recommended at least 4 weeks).
- Follow the Funding Proposal Requirements closely (as outlined online). These grant requests have specific requirements and you should ensure that a professional and well outlined grant request is submitted to the AFA Foundation.
The AFA Foundation has funded many programs and initiatives in the past, such as the General Session at the AFA Annual Meeting, the Graduate Training Track, and the new First 90 Days Program. Consider having your initiative be the next supported project of an AFA Foundation Grant! |
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Volunteer Assessment
One component of AFA's Volunteer Management Plan is related to evaluating the performance of both the Association and each individual volunteer. Just as in performance evaluations for your paying job, evaluating your volunteer experience can be valuable for many reasons. Intentional reflection is an important part of learning. Spending time thinking about what you've done well, what you could do better, what responsibilities you have enjoyed (or not) can help you grow as a professional. Receiving similar feedback from others you've worked with can help you gain useful insights as well. All of this information will also be helpful to the Association to use in future volunteer appointments and the slating process for elected positions.
This May, all volunteers will participate in an assessment process that allows them to evaluate their own performance as well as that of their volunteer supervisors and any volunteers they supervise. Once the information is compiled, Anne Arseneau, Volunteer Coordinator, and Amanda Bureau, Director of Member Services, will consult with volunteer supervisors on using the information as a professional development opportunity to improve their own performance/experience and that of the volunteers they supervise.
We do not expect this assessment to be the first conversation about performance standards. Rather, this should serve as a formal tool to help document and further the professional development of all volunteers. We encourage you to consistently review your position description and have discussions with your volunteer supervisor about increasing your ability to achieve the goals of your position. If you have not been doing this so far, please begin now in preparation for the formal assessment in May. |
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Three Minute Volunteer Opportunity!
The time is now to show Members of Congress that the Collegiate Housing and Infrastructure Act of 2007 is worthy of their support! AFA is once again joining other higher education associations and interfraternal organizations in a grassroots letter-writing campaign in support of this legislation. In less than three minutes you can send a letter to your Senators and Representative, adding your voice to the thousands of other fraternity and sorority members reaching out to Members of Congress this month. In order for your letter to be considered during Congressional discussion, please send your letters by April 1, 2007. |
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Tax Time
While the Association of Fraternity Advisors strives to cover most of our volunteers' expenses in carrying out their duties for the Association, there may be instances when established budget allocations are not sufficient to entirely cover expenses related to your AFA duties. If you have incurred out-of-pocket expenses due to your involvement in AFA, these expenses may be tax deductible.
For tax purposes, members who have legitimate out-of-pocket expenses directly related to their participation in an AFA-authorized initiative, and which are over-and-above program-allocated dollars, are urged to retain all receipts of expenditures and to seek tax counsel for applicable charitable exemptions on their personal tax returns.
As you prepare your tax documents, be aware that you may be eligible for deductions of any personal expenses incurred on behalf of AFA. |
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