National Council Quarterly Report July 1, 2009 to September 30, 2009

Finance

• Actively monitored investment accounts with the Sorority’s broker.
• Continued to work on debt collection from external sources and with collegiate chapters on debt payment and reduced budget operations.
• Continued to work with Mauldin & Jenkins on the 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 financial statements and implementing best practice accounting procedures.
• Followed up with National volunteers on annual alumnae dues remittance.
• Continued to implement BillHighway with collegiate chapters.
• Received a $14,000 grant from the National Foundation for on-line programming.
• Evaluated the Sorority’s credit status.

Programming

• Implemented the 2009-2010 RLW Educational Series on safety training utilizing the LADDER of Risk program.
• Reviewed additional options for on-line member training and contracted with GreekLife.edu for education on hazing prevention, alcohol abuse prevention, and other issues.
• Hosted an Alumnae Association training call with 10 alumnae association representatives.
• Implemented the AST 101: Academic Success program to for members who are struggling academically.
• Continued educational partnerships with HazingPrevention.org, 1.888.NOT.HAZE, and The People’s Burn Foundation.

Growth

• Pledged 1208 new members for 2008-2009, the third record year of growth for the Sorority.
• Installed the Epsilon Kappa Chapter (Trine University).
• Colonized the Epsilon Lambda Colony at Indiana University- South Bend and the Epsilon Mu Colony at the University of Buffalo- SUNY in Buffalo, New York.
• Continued work with the Iota Colony at Emporia State University, Emporia, KS.
• Re-organized the Delta Tau Chapter at Oakland University, Rochester, MI.
• Approved the application of five alumnae affiliate candidates and worked with candidates and chapters to complete the affiliation process.
• Clarified the affiliation procedures.
• Coordinated Atlanta Social Team Meet and Greet and Founder’s Day Celebration.
• Cultivated three new alumnae association expansion opportunities: Minnesota Alumnae; Iota Chapter Alumnae; and Angola, IN Alumnae/Trine U. Chapter Alumnae. Working with six Hope Groups: Rho Chapter Alumnae, OK; NE Oklahoma Alumnae; West Virginia Alumnae; Savannah, GA Alumnae; Orlando, FL alumnae; and Baltimore, MD alumnae. Developing five potential expansion areas: San Diego, CA; Cleveland, OH; Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX; Miami, FL/Epsilon Epsilon Alumnae; and South Bend, IN.
• Sent Alumnae mailings to alumnae in Baltimore, Miami, San Diego and Denver.

Membership Outreach and Services

• National Council members visited 13 chapters, two colonies and two alumnae associations.
• Council members met with members of the Delta Phi, Epsilon Iota, Epsilon Theta and Gamma Rho Collegiate Chapters and the NYC Area Alumnae Association at the August 2009 National Council meeting in NYC and with members of Chicago Alumnae Association at the September 2009 FEA board training.
• The National President requested conference calls with the National Foundation President and the Chair of the Board of Trustees. The National President and Executive Director met with a member of the National Foundation Board of Directors.
• Worked with Harris Connect on the 2010 Alumnae Directory project. Received 6,032 member updates and have a 20.6% sales rate for the directory.
• Worked with Kalamazoo Regalia to develop additional standardized regalia for the Ritual Services.
• Worked with Affinity Consultants and flameless candle manufactures to begin preparing Alpha Sigma Tau flameless candles for Ritual and Ceremonial Services.
• The Director of Collegiate Chapters conducted six calls with District Presidents, two calls with chapters and additional calls with Collegiate Chapter Advisory Board members.

Headquarters Staffing and Operations

• Employed and trained four educational consultants.
• Executive Director hired and began employment in August, 2009. Traveled to Birmingham, Northern Virginia, Indianapolis and made several campus visits.
• Headquarters Transition Committee conducted research and analysis on potential Headquarters facilities in the College Park Area of Indianapolis, IN, potential expenses/income, and submitted a report and recommendation to the National Council. Developing a transition timeline and action plan to implement once a location is selected and secured.
• National Council accepted the report and recommendation of the Headquarters Transition Committee (HTC) to purchase the building at 3334 Founders Road, Indianapolis, IN, negotiated a contract on the facility, began building due diligence, and financing activities. Distributed an announcement of the HTC recommendation acceptance to the membership. Planned three Headquarters Transition Town Hall Meetings for the month of November.

Communications

• Worked with GIN Systems to stream the National Calendar to the Facebook application. Also streamed the National Calendar to the Alpha Sigma Tau National Homepage and Facebook Fan Page.
• Produced the Summer 2009 edition of THE CREST.
• Worked with THE ANCHOR Editor to produce Fall/Winter 2009 edition of THE ANCHOR.
• Distributed three issues of the Alpha Sig-Nal.
• Upgraded the website hosting service to incorporate automatic underlying software upgrades.
• Began work with the Headquarters Hardware/Software Analysis Committee to evaluate the hardware and software needs of the Sorority to support the membership, specifically looking at: the membership database; on-line reporting; various communications and financial software; single source data entry; multi-program integration; and required hardware and security, back-up and archive programs. Member feedback will be solicited.
• Utilized RegOnline to communicate with registrants for RLWs and share information.

Panhellenic Community

• NPC Delegate participated in the summer and fall NPC Board of Directors conference call. Delegation members fulfilled assignments as members of the College Panhellenics and Alumnae Panhellenics Committees and completed other committee assignments.
• Represented at the NPC Release Figure Training. Release Figure Specialists worked with campuses across the United States in implement the RFM to increase Potential New Member placement and to bring membership parity to Panhellenic communities.
• Executive Director and National President attended the Fraternity Executives Association (FEA) Inter- Fraternal Board Institute and Chief Staff Officer/President training in Chicago, IL September 11-13, 2009.
• 2nd Alternate NPC Delegate led RFM training at the Phi Sigma Sigma Sorority Summer Leadership Conference.
• National Vice President and Director of Fraternity Programs attended and facilitated a discussion during the Longwood University Panhellenic Community Summit.

Council Operations

• The Strategic Planning Committee developed a draft strategic plan at the four-day strategic planning meeting supported by Tom Jelke of t. jelke solutions, the Sorority’s strategic planner, and his associate Ginny Carroll of InGinuity. Conducted three town hall conference calls regarding the strategic planning process with the membership with over 55 participants. Involved a core group of members in the plan evaluation and feedback process.
• The National Council held six conference calls including the regular monthly Council call and specific topic calls. Reviewed the 2008-2010 National Council Goals and progress. Prepared and approved minutes for each call. Oversaw operations for Council areas when vacancies arose.
• Submitted applications for the “Crest” trademarks with the USPTO.
• Conferred with Professional Registered Parliamentarian and legal counsel as necessary.

Volunteer Development

• The Nominations Committee received 20 applications, conducted 14 interviews and processed 19 appointments to open positions. To date, there are 4 applications in process.
• The National Vice President processed 32 Adviser applications.
• The Director of Collegiate Chapters implemented a District President training program.

To view the National Council Biennium Goals for 2008-2010, please visit: http://www.alphasigmatau.org/the-sisterhood/strategic-plan/biennium-goals