THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL RETREAT
Once a semester/quarter, there will be an executive council retreat. All members of the executive council and members of the alumni advisory board should be in attendance for this retreat. The purpose of this retreat is to review the performance of the chapter during the previous semester/quarter, develop the long-term strategic plan of the chapter including goals for the upcoming semester/quarter, build camaraderie with the executive council and alumni advisory board and address any other issues that the chapter may currently be facing. It is important to have this retreat because this will allow the chapter to maintain proper development over time while also ensuring that there is a good relationship between all members of the executive council and between the executive council and alumni advisory board.
This retreat will be approximately one to two days of time from each person involved, so it is best to schedule this retreat for a weekend. The executive council and alumni advisory board will both be involved with this retreat, so it is best to plan for a time when most members of both groups are available. It is also beneficial to hold this retreat away from the chapter house and the membership so that the executive council can focus on the tasks at hand while not being distracted. Determine the date for this retreat when setting the calendar for the chapter. Typically, these retreats are held on a weekend near the end of the semester/quarter in order to properly prepare for the upcoming semester/quarter.
THE TRANSITION RETREAT
Once a semester/quarter, there will be a transition retreat. All members of the executive council and each chairman, new and old, should be in attendance for this retreat. The purpose of this retreat is to review the performance of the chapter during the previous semester/quarter, assist the new executive council and chairmen in setting upcoming goals and allow the old chairmen to transition materials and knowledge to the new chairmen. It is important to have this retreat because this will allow the chapter to maintain proper operations over time.
This retreat will be roughly a few hours of time from each person involved, so it is best to schedule this retreat for a weekend. The executive council and all transitioning chairmen will both be involved with this retreat, so it is best to plan for a time when most members of both groups are available. It is also beneficial to hold this retreat away from the chapter house and the membership so that the executive council and chairmen can focus on the tasks at hand while not being distracted. Determine the date for this retreat when setting the calendar for the chapter. Typically, these retreats are held on a weekend near the end of the semester/quarter before the executive council retreat in order to properly prepare for the upcoming semester/quarter. For a more in-depth look at the transition retreat, check out our blog and podcast here.
THE CHAPTER GOAL SETTING RETREAT
After the transition and executive council retreats, the goals of the chapter should be developed. It is important to communicate these goals to the chapter in order to gain feedback and buy-in from the membership. The best way to do this is by holding a chapter goal setting retreat.
Once a semester/quarter, there will be a goal setting retreat. All members of the chapter should be in attendance for this retreat. The purpose of this retreat is to communicate the goals set by the men who hold positions for the upcoming semester/quarter to the rest of the chapter. This retreat is crucial in establishing a unified vision around the goals for the next semester/quarter.
This retreat will be roughly a few hours of time, so it is best to schedule this retreat for a time that is consistent with events where most of the chapter can attend, such as chapter meetings. It is beneficial to hold this retreat away from the chapter house or other noisy areas so that the chapter can focus on the goals while not being distracted. Determine the date for this retreat when setting the calendar for the chapter. Typically, these retreats are held on an evening/day near the beginning of the semester/quarter after the transition retreat and the executive council retreat have taken place near the end of the previous semester/quarter in order to be more relevant to the timing of chapter events.
For assistance in establishing any of these retreats, contact your chapter consultant who can help with logistics and additional best practices.
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