A Year in the Life of an Exec

During different parts of the year, the Exec and Chapter Leaders focus on different priorities. This section provides an outline of key concerns over the course of the year.

Each chapter will share some of these priorities, but they will also add their own. For example, adjustments must be made according to the timing of leadership transition. (For more details about any of these brief suggestions, consult your staff member.)

Transition In (whenever leaders change)
1. Team Building -- Take time to get to know one another and begin to develop a sense of team. Ideas: a retreat, prayer partnerships, meals together, personality inventory, etc.
2. Training -- Learn your new jobs from those you are replacing, from the new president, and from the staff worker.
3. Chapter Assessment -- Make a preliminary evaluation of the chapter at transition time. Strengths? Weaknesses? Spiritual vitality? Momentum?
4. Vision Renewal -- Try to understand and affirm the vision of the previous team, while renewing the vision with your own dreams and prayers.

Winter
1. Implementation of Plans -- Adjust and act on plans made at the end of the Fall Term. If a new Exec is starting, these plans are inherited from former Exec.
2. Mini NSO -- Reach out to new students (or old fall contacts) and breathe new enthusiasm into the chapter.
3. Spring Outreach -- Develop plans for an evangelistic thrust after spring break or during spring quarter (e.g., at Easter time). Possibility -- promote a national evangelism project as a training opportunity.
4. Potential Leaders -- Recruit and train new leaders with next year in mind, especially potential Small Group Leaders. Promote Chapter Camp. Initiate Exec selection process for spring transitions.
5. Summer Missions -- Recruit Students (ideally teams) for overseas opportunities and urban projects.
6. Senior Recognition -- Creatively utilize skills and experience of seniors, while also providing, with staff assistance, opportunity for them to focus on their transition out of school.

Spring
1. Adjust Expectations -- As the year draws to an end, many goals may be unmet. Exercise grace. Emphasize a few key priorities, such as inviting the response of those with whom you've been sharing Christ.
2. Positive Conclusion -- Provide opportunities to end the year with joyful remembrance, thankful celebration, expressions of love, recognition for seniors, and appreciation for leaders.
3. Scholarships -- Final recruiting for summer camps and missions...raise funds to help chapter members go.
4. NSO Plans -- Appoint a Chairperson and assemble a team to make preliminary plans for the fall NSO. Announce the plans and enlist chapter members to help.
5. Summer Plans -- Make provision for any chapter activities continuing during the summer term. Devise a plan to encourage growth and maintain contact among those not in school.

Chapter Camp
1. Preparation -- See the suggestions under "Transition In." The President and staff member map out a plan for time at camp. Exec does Campus Analysis and Chapter Evaluation Summary (see appendix at the end of this chapter). Bring the data needed for planning (for example, school calendar, campus map, football schedule).
2. Planning -- Pray. Review. Envision. Brainstorm. Set goals. Make specific plans. Delegate. Pray.
3. Departure -- Leave with each leader's assignments clear. Share vision and plans with other chapter members at camp. Communicate with the whole chapter over the summer.

Summer
1. Personal Growth -- Set spiritual goals and disciplines, plug into a local church, seek out a partner for accountability, and read some good books.
2. Individual assignments -- Don't procrastinate, do them! The President and leaders should follow through with chapter members.
3. Chapter Life -- Leaders in school oversee modified chapter activities. The others should encourage those not in school (for example, newsletter, correspondence course, prayer partners).
4. Pre-fall Retreat -- Leaders and/or core members gather to renew fellowship, recapture vision, and coordinate plans. Hold retreat prior to NSO.

Fall
1. NSO -- Insure a well-planned, highly visible, warmly aggressive outreach to new students. Promptly and persistently follow up contacts. Plan ways to quickly incorporate new members. Idea: sponsor a special retreat mid-fall for only freshmen.
2. Organization -- Focus on plans for first month (for example, small groups and chapter meetings). Consolidate leadership tea. Put chapter structures in place (including publicity, roster, budget, leadership meetings). Articulate the chapter vision.
3. Fall Events -- Strongly promote area conferences and training events that would be highly beneficial to new students. Especially recruit for the life-changing Urbana Missions Conference in appropriate years.
4. Fall Outreach -- In addition to ongoing evangelistic strategies (2+ evangelism, booktable, etc.), plan some thrust to involve the whole chapter in engaging the campus. This solidifies the chapter's identity and purpose.
5. Cultivation of Potential Leaders -- Identify students who show leadership potential and begin to invest in them. Initiate the Exec selection process for mid-year transitions.
6. Planning Ahead -- Prepare an appropriate conclusion to the fall term. Think of ways to prepare students for Christmas break. Lay out Chapter plans for Winter/Spring.

Transition Out
1. Helping New Leaders -- Affirm them, train them, support them, pass your vision to them. Encourage the chapter to get behind them.
2. Last Hurrah -- Is there is a special contribution you can make or role you can play as an outgoing leader?