What’s the secret to having the best first chapter meeting of the year? Spoiler: it’s not free donuts. As we approach the start of a new school year, chapter officers need to hold an informative and engaging first meeting.
Here are some ways you can Go The Extra at your first meeting.
First Impressions
On average, you have just 33 seconds to make a first impression. New members are often underclassmen who have a variety of extracurriculars to join. It’s crucial that new members step into an energetic, welcoming environment. Consider playing music in the background and having officers walk around from table to table, talking to members.
Start With the End in Mind
Any successful organization must have an end goal in mind. That goal for many chapters is ICDC. When recruiting new members, share your chapter’s pictures and experiences at ICDC to help give new members the same excitement while having a goal they can work towards.
Plan Ahead
Rather than planning your meeting the week before, aim to meet with your officer team three weeks in advance. At this meeting, make a rough draft of the meeting's slide shows or other activities you intend to do. Follow up in the next two weeks to review the materials so you can come off as polished as possible.
Market Your Meeting
As an organization that emphasizes marketing as a career cluster, it’s time to take action to market DECA within your school. Utilize DECA’s Brand Strategy Center to customize templates on Adobe Express and other creative software. Post those designs around your school and on social media.
End With Clear Next Steps
Your meeting ends with a call to action. This can include information regarding your next meeting, how to officially join or work members can take home to help them explore competitive events. New members often may not know where to go after their first meeting, so making clear instructions helps eliminate any confusion.
Your first meeting can spark someone's DECA journey, just like it was for me. So be the one to lead it and Go The Extra.
