Progress Update on the 2005-2010 Strategic Plan Two and a half down, two and a half to go... or in other words, 2008 marked the halfway point for the Association's current five-year strategic plan. As such, the AFA Executive Board has taken significant time during its last two board meetings (November 2007, March 2008) to assess progress on our initial action plans and to now identify those areas upon which we would like to begin focusing our new initiatives, programs, and services. As volunteers, you have played key roles in our progress to date and will continue to do so as we work to complete the plan. Therefore, it is important to provide you with updated information about completed, in progress, and newly-identified action plans.   Your Role in the AFA Budgeting Process Budget requests for the 2008-2009 fiscal year are due May 1. To submit a request, please follow the instructions on the budget request form (Appendix B of the Standard Operating Procedures Manual). Any questions should be directed to Shelly Brown Dobek, Vice President for Administration and Finance, at shelly_dobek@ncsu.edu or 919/513-2910. Learn more about the Association's budgeting process.   Volunteer Evaluations AFA's annual 360-degree Volunteer Assessment is rapidly approaching! 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. Mark your calendars now, and please set aside some time for this important project. This process is essential to our success as a volunteer-driven organization. The key dates are outlined below: May 1-16: Complete online evaluation forms June 2: Evaluation summaries will be distributed by the Central Office June 4-6: Volunteer Coordinator will hold conversations with Board Members, Annual Meeting Chair, and Central Office staff regarding general themes for the volunteer areas they supervise June 9-16: Conversations will take place between Board Members/Conference Chair and Volunteer Leaders (pre-schedule these meetings!) June 16-30: Conversations will take place between Volunteer Leaders and Volunteers (pre-schedule these meetings!) While potentially time consuming, we know this is going to be an extraordinary process. Completing the evaluation forms allows you to reflect on your volunteer experience; receiving the summary of feedback from your peers gives you great insight into how others perceive your efforts; having a conversation with your volunteer supervisor to process all of this information can be extremely valuable in further strengthening or improving your performance and your overall volunteer experience. The feedback discussion is the most significant part of this evaluation process for our volunteers, and we urge you to make time for these important conversations! Volunteer Position Description Review The first stages of the 2009 volunteer appointment process will involve all current volunteers reviewing and revising their current position descriptions. The volunteer position descriptions include a position impact statement and performance standards/indicators of success, providing critical guidance and direction to volunteers. Volunteer leaders will receive detailed instructions this week and are expected to involve committee members in this process. Revised position descriptions are due to volunteer supervisors (i.e. Executive Board, Annual Meeting Chair, or Central Office staff) by Friday, May 16th. Top 10 Reasons Why Volunteers Leave Energize, Inc.'s e-newsletter, Volunteer Management Update, includes a Tip of the Month in each issue. Recently, the tip involved reasons why people stop volunteering for an organization; their top 10 list is below. If any of these reasons are the reality of your current AFA volunteer role, let us know so we can help improve your experience before you decide to leave! Reason #10 for why volunteers leave: The reality of their experience is not what they expected when they signed on. Reason #9: They don't like the work they are being asked to do or how it is being done. Reason #8: Veteran or leadership volunteers won't let them into the "insider" group. Reason #7: They spend more time meeting than doing. Reason #6: No one listens to their suggestions. Reason #5: They feel unrecognized, and see that thanks are unfairly given to everyone, no matter who did the most work or none at all. Reason #4: They are no longer asked to participate. Reason #3: They do not actually understand how to get more involved. Reason #2: They can no longer see how their involvement makes a difference. And the #1 reason volunteers leave is: It stopped being fun. Volunteer of the Month - Jenni Glick Jenni Glick, Assistant Director of Fraternity & Sorority Life at Northwestern University, serves AFA as a member of the Essentials Editorial Board. Will Foran, Essentials Editor, nominated Jenni for her dependability and for taking a great deal of initiative in working with the Editorial Board. Although she just joined the Editorial Board in December, she played a large role in developing the entire January issue from recruitment of authors to editing individual articles. She continues to contribute a great deal to future issues and is very involved in the success of the publication. Thank you Jenni!   Please contact the Central Office to recommend a Volunteer of the Month. Association of Fraternity Advisors | 9640 North Augusta Drive Suite 433 | Carmel, IN. 46032 Phone: (317) 876-1632 | Fax: (317) 876-3981