Carolyn E. Whittier, Ph.D., 2009 AFA President
April 2009

 

As volunteers, your role is central to the success of the Association. The volunteers are central to every discussion that the Executive Board has during our in-person meetings and during our monthly conference calls.

 

At our most recent in person meeting in March, several items were on the agenda that have potential impact for our volunteer base. One of those items was the approval of a volunteer position description review process that is taking place this spring. Soon, Sarah McCracken, Director of Member Services, and Anne Arseneau, Volunteer Coordinator, will be in contact with each of you to complete a comprehensive review of the position description as it relates to your volunteer leadership role or committee, workgroup or editorial board role. This comprehensive review is being done to enhance the effectiveness of our Volunteer Management Plan and to ensure that our volunteer positions are directly connected to the desired outcomes and work products of the Association.

 

The results of the recent bylaw vote were also a topic of conversation. We are now the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors, and this will have impact for all of our volunteers. We are asking that each volunteer pay close attention to all documents and other Association business items to ensure that as we move toward July 1, 2009 we are editing and changing the name accordingly. In addition, Graduate members are eligible to serve in any volunteer position or capacity, so we need to make sure that all documents and other materials that reference eligibility to serve are also updated. 

 

The Board also has recently approved a new Mental Health Issues Workgroup, a co-sponsorship with SEIFC for a 2010 pilot of a Professionals Institute, and is working on a series of new workgroups that will begin work later this summer. All of these will provide members of the Association the opportunity to volunteer and assist the Association in fulfilling our vision and mission.

 

The Executive Board would like to thank all of our outstanding volunteers for your work so far in 2009. We know that your contributions are vital to the Association’s success, and we thank you for your time, your commitment and your good work.

 

Fraternally,