Highlights from the Spring 2008 Executive Board Meeting
Jay Anhorn, President
March 2008
The 2008 Executive Board had its first in-person meeting March 17-19, 2008 in Indianapolis. The Board conducts conference calls each month, but only gathers in-person three times each year: once each Spring and Summer, typically in Indianapolis, and then again a few days before and a day after the Annual Meeting.
During each in-person meeting, time is set aside for purposeful board development, led either by the President and Executive Director or an outside consultant. Our focus this spring was on transparency and member perception of Board decision-making processes. Some of you may have participated in an informal mini-survey pertaining to this topic that I conducted last month with a random sample of 200 members. We asked three simple questions in an effort to gauge what members want the Association to focus on this year and how members perceive the Board’s motivations in moving the Association forward. The results were enlightening, and we thank those of you who took the time to respond. Board members used the feedback to inform a discussion of ways to ensure the membership knows what issues the Board is addressing and can provide input on decisions and upcoming plans as they relate to the Strategic Plan.
Beginning this spring, we will post minutes of the Board meetings on the Association website in the “Association Business” section for access by members. The following are some highlights from the March 17-19 meeting:
- Kyle Pendleton, Past President, led the Board through exercises to help us identify the next priorities in the 2005-2010 Strategic Plan. Kyle will provide updates on this progress in the coming month.
- During a very productive NASPA Annual Conference in Boston, Board members in attendance participated in the Fraternity and Sorority Knowledge Community meetings, the Interfraternal Luncheon, and the press conference for the National Hazing Study. These events, as well as feedback gathered from other AFA members in attendance, prompted the Board to approve funding for the 2009 fiscal year for AFA to become an official exhibitor and to co-sponsor an interfraternal reception with our partners at the 2009 NASPA Annual Conference in Seattle next March.
- To support the continuing development of our partnership with ACPA, the Finance Committee reallocated funding earmarked for co-sponsorship of the Commission on Student Involvement reception to also subsidize the President’s participation in specific aspects of the 2008 ACPA Annual Convention. In addition to AFA sponsoring the reception, I will participate on two panel discussions as a representative for the Association and the fraternity/sorority movement.
- The Board has entered into discussions about AFA as a regionally-based entity. We contemplated how meaningful the volunteer experience is for those who have served as Regional Directors and are exploring new ways to define the Association. We also considered means of creating community within our membership. Do our members truly value regional communities, or are they connecting in other ways? We will continue these discussions over the next few months so we can create a governance structure that best serves the needs of our members.
- Over the years, the presence or involvement of Regional Directors and/or Board members at the regional student leadership conferences (MGCA, NBGLC, NGLA, SEIFC, SEPC, WRGA) has not followed a set pattern. We want to support these programs, since our members see value in all of them not just for their students, but also for their own professional development. We are considering various ways to standardize AFA’s presence at these conferences.
- At the request of the AFA Foundation, the Board developed a “wish list” of programs, services, and resources the Foundation can begin to ask current and potential donors to help fund. We identified our top funding priorities for the next few years, and individual Board members are working on cost estimates and brief descriptions to submit to the Foundation for their consideration. These are not formal grant proposals for immediate funding, but rather long-term ideas the Foundation can use as they seek new sources for funding.
- The Board approved two resolutions: one for WRGA’s 60th anniversary, to be presented by Linda Wardhammar and Caitlin Roberts, Region V Director, at their conference in April; the other resolution is for the 100th anniversary of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
- Amanda Bureau, Director of Member Services, assisted me in explaining the process by which the Association approves new Associate members. Associate Members submit applications, references are checked by the Director of Member Services, and the Director of Members Services compiles a summary report for the President. The President approves all new Associate members to the Association.
A fun fact about the spring and summer Board meetings in Indianapolis is that we hold them at fraternity or sorority headquarters buildings. Our gracious hosts this spring were Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity (with special thanks to Libby Anderson, Director of Operations) and Zeta Tau Alpha fraternity (with special thanks to Lisa Stark, Director of Operations and Personnel). Without the hospitality of our interfraternal friends, our meetings would not be as warm and productive.