2007 Central District Conclave
The Conclave was hosted this year at the University of Arkansas. There were four other schools attending, including KSU, Oklahoma State, University of Missouri-Rolla, and University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and around 30 students total.
U of A lined up some excellent speakers and activities, and our business meetings were very productive. For a full write-up, see the newsletter.
Notes from the Conclave
The business sessions during the conclave went very well. Dr. Dee Ann Sanders was there to represent the National Council when discussing national issues. We also had breakout sessions to discuss things such as fundraising, connecting with new members and inactive chapters, how to increase interest in XE.
National Conference Issues
Dr. Sanders, the Central District Councilor was there to represent the National Council. She presented several concerns from the National Council to us, including problems with lack of communication between the national, regional, and local bodies, declining enrollments, and inactive chapters. Items metioned:
- declining enrollments
- inactive chapters
- faulty national ordering system
- lack of scholarship applicants
- lack of faculty award applicants
- lack of chapter trustees
- National Conclave 2008:
- Hoboken, NJ
- $200/night
- $250 registration
- $300 airfare
- Total - $800-1000 per person
- March 22-25th
- National will pay for 1 student
How to Better Connect with New Members
- bring in professional members in to give networking opportunities
- more personal contact
- emphasize benefits other than resume builder
- talk to CE students early
- Get graduate students involved
- have professors nominate eligible grad students
- focus on service AND FELLOWSHIP
Connecting with Inactive Chapters
- joint dinners
- joint projects
General Ideas to Improve Chapters
- guest speakers at meetings
- alumni chapters
- new student handbook
- organizations in college, what to expect, where to find help, etc.
- WEBSITE
- write tutorial on upkeep
- log updates
- mission/vision statements
- links to scholarships
- links to other chapter websites
Fundraising, Increasing Membership, and Improving Meetings
- contacting alumni
- $1 for every year graduated
- donations from companies
- FE study guides
- buy straight from publisher and sell with small mark-up
- speakers at meetings
- increasing XE with ASCE
- XE sponsored speakers
- team activities for initiates
- initiate presentation
- initiates go to high schools to educate about CE
Other Group Ideas
- contact information for alumni
- networking
- Possible 2 pay scale raises for gov't employee
- Member retention
- food, social events
- fun activities
- drawing at end of semester to award attendance
- K-12 involvement
- competitions
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