VPMD Wednesdays: Scholarship Banquets

I really hope everyone of your chapters is having a scholarship banquet every semester. This is a very important time to recognize members who are excelling and putting forth effort in their academics.
Scholarship Banquets present a great opportunity to "kill two birds with one stone" on the CE. What a great event to invite University personnel, professors and other members of the community. Make sure when you are inviting these visitors that you give them recognition at your event. They are taking time out of their lives to come so give them some courtesy. Here are some people that you could think about inviting:
-give each member an invitation to present to their favorite professor. It is alright if he/she receives multiple invites-they will know they are loved by Pi Phi.
-invite your campus' Greek Life Advisor-show them that Pi Phi is proud of their members
-why don't you plan your banquet while an LDC is there-she would love to see your programming
-invite local alum clubs in the area for dinner and a scholarship banquet
-What about having the scholarship banquet on Parent's Weekend. Let's show those parents we are so proud of our members.
-if any of the Regional Team lives around your campus, please let us know. We might be able to come and enjoy the celebration!

We know it is important to recognize your members that have high scholastic achievement but don't forget the other members. Have fun categories like: most improved GPA, highest pledge class GPA, highest big/little GPA, most improved roommate GPA. Why not offer a prize for the member that logged the most study hours last semester!

Some chapters even have a special "Pi Society" for their members that excel academically. Interested in started this in your chapter...contact me for the details!

VPP

It is time to work on the Beta Section of the CE.
Remember Good Citizenship is the area we are focusing on!

There are two requirements under Good Citizenship for the Beta level that relate to VPPs
1. Conduct a local literacy service project that is coordinated and planned by the chapter.
This is where you receive credit for projects that you plan. This means that SERVICE projects where you are involved in planning, making arrangements and coordinating the volunteer schedule. If your chapter coordinates the CAR program in your community here is where it fits! An important note about CAR-you must purchase CAR Kits from HQs in order to receive credit for doing CAR.

2. Execute a fundraising event that benefits the Pi Phi Foundation.
This is where you tell us about your event that benefited the Foundation. It could be a Karoke Night, Spaghetti Dinner or Volleyball Tournament. One of the key words in this requirement is EXECUTE a fundraiser...not just send in a donation.

NMC: Lesson D/Week 4

This is an exciting week of the NM Program. Your NMs should be getting their Big Sisters! Work with the VPM to coordinate this process.

Need ideas for Big Sis/Little Sis reveal? Contact our Regional Membership Specialist as she deals with this part of the program.



Value of the Week: Personal and Intellectual Growth
Follow the program guide for discussion on this value.

Other Officers present at this meeting:
VPM: for Big Sis/Little Sis Reveal
VPFD: for the Big Sister Ceremony
CP: for the Big Sister Ceremony
VPMD: present on health and wellness issues

Other things to remember for this week:
-VPMD needs to check academic progress this week
-AAC needs to start scheduling NM interviews this week.

VPFD: FH Module

Do you know what this semester's FH module is? If you answered Notable Pi Phis you are correct!
If you look online under your office there is a whole section of the FH manual dedicated to Notable Pi Phis. It list 9 different Pi Phi women that you should cover with your chapter.

Want a good idea to do when covering Carrie Chapman Catt? Show the movie "Iron Jawed Angels" to learn and discuss the role of Pi Phi in the suffragist movement as well as have sisterhood bonding with a movie night and snacks.

In the next weeks I will be giving some more good examples of things to do for this month's FH module. Your first officer report is due October 10th and I will pull some ideas from those so I hope everyone will be bragging on themselves!

VPMD-Your Academic Programs

In the Intellectual Development Section of the CE under the Pi section, we ask you to describe your Academic Excellence Program and your Academic Mentoring Program. These are very often confused-I hope to clear up some confusion today!

Academic Excellence Program-this program focuses on helping all members realize their academic goals with resources, incentives and recognition.
Here are some ideas of Academic Excellence Programs from our Region:
-Members who were on probation last semester and but not this semester received a congratulatory email reminding them of the resources we have to offer here at Pi Phi and at the University to better their scholastic progress.
-One of our chapters holds an Angel Auction where you can turn in your "Beta Bucks" for auctions items. Beta Bucks are received when you do well on tests, finish study hours and receive high GPAs
-A few of the chapters in our Region use the LOVE Program. This stands for Living Our Values Everyday. The chapter is divided into groups and with girls of each pledge class in the different groups. Groups receive points weekly for going to class, making A's on test and other events. The group competition last all semester and there is a large prize at the end. The catch: if one member of your group skips a class-all members of the group don't get their points. This turns the accountability factor over to the group member instead of Exec. If your chapter is interested in implementing this program contact me and I will send you more details.

Academic Mentoring Program-this program is to assist members who are on academic probation with individual support. When writing your CE we ask that you provide GPA levels and requirements of your program
-Everyone's academic mentoring program is slightly different but usually includes many of the same factors. Because of privacy reasons I won't be talking about GPA levels and requirements on the blog but if you are interested in revamping your program or think it need a little something extra please contact me.
-One thing I will say is that chapters that have incentives built into their programs seem to have happier members. Maybe mid term grade checks allow for attendance at an extra social function! It is important to remember to give your members something to work towards!

VPP-Breaking down the CE and a GREAT IDEA!

What fits where in the CE? That is a question I get a lot from VPPs. Today I am going to break down the Pi section of Good Citizenship. That is where most information submitted from VPPs goes. Notice-I am only talking about the parts that relate to VPPs-because it is VPP Tuesday!


You will find these requirements under Good Citizenship, Pi, Service and Philanthropy

*Conducts a Speed Read and send proceeds to First Book-work with the VPF to ensure that she has the address to send the proceeds to First Book. Remember any monies directly raised from a Speed Read should go to First Book.

*Make donation to Pi Phi Foundation-work with VPF to ensure this donation is made.

*Participate in one literacy service project where members donate their time and services to a local literacy/reading cause-This requirement is fulfilled by members giving their time to a program that is already ongoing or set up by another group. THIS IS NOT WHERE CAR GOES! Examples that fit here are: reading at the library, after school tutoring, book cart at the hospital, etc. I know that all of our chapters complete this requirement-I read about the awesome things you do each month!

*Participates in philanthropy or community service that benefits the local community or campus project-This is where your fundraising to other groups and non Pi Phi causes goes. Greek Week service projects that benefit your campus and community also go here.



If you have questions on where a certain project should go, please just ask.

Next week we will break down the Beta requirements!



And now for the GREAT IDEA. I know most of you have already been through recruitment but here is an idea to store away. AACs for VPPs you may be the best at remembering this one. This comes from the NY Epsilon chapter from their philanthropy day. Their theme is "One Fish, Two Fish, Wine & Silver Blue Fish". Their activities include a Speed Read and emphasis on literacy efforts!

A quote from NY Epsilon about a wonderful detail of their party "During our philanthropy recruitment party, “pi phi water” will be available with a personalized label emphasizing the importance of our values to potential new members."



Wanna see the water bottle label?


Click to enlarge to see all of the amazing details. Did your chapter use something that is wonderful to promote Pi Phi during recruitment. I would love to hear about it and send it around to all the other regions!

NMC-Lesson C

Ok girls, we are just going to scratch last week-I had a sick baby and not a lot of time to blog!
This week I am talking about week 3 of the NM program-This is the week with 2 meetings!
For the First Meeting
NMC-you will introduce the Value of the Week-Integrity
-it is really important to follow the NM program and break the class up for smaller discussions-this really helps with the bonding of the new class.
Other Officers as this Meeting:
House Manager
VPA/PSB-a fun idea might be to have the PSB dress up in acceptable and unacceptable clothing for a date party and give a do and don't skit.
VPA and VPMD-they will come to start discussions about the big sister program. This would also be a time where the VPMD could give the "What is a Mentor" program.

*Remind NMs to continue working on GreekLifeEdu

Second Meeting
At this meeting you will be showing the Sam Spady of Hazed DVD. Please be prepared with the correct equipment you need to show this. If you do not have either of these DVDs please contact me ASAP!
Work with the VPA and help her facilitate the discussion following the showing.

Sick Baby

I will try to catch up on my posts this evening. I have a sick baby and she is taking up my extra time!

VPFD-Your Part in the NM Program

The VPFD plays a very important part in the NM Program. While the NMC is responsible to teaching the NMs about our Pi Phi Values through the "Values of the Week", the VPFD is responsible for teaching about the fraternity education or heritage. My biggest tip that I have would be to try to think outside the box and make teaching this fun! These girls have spent all day in class and so have you-the last thing they want to hear is someone lecturing to them.



Please remember to read the blog posts I do on Mondays about the NM Lessons. VPFDs attend the meetings in WEEKS 1, 2, 4 and 7. The VPFD is also responsible for planning all the ceremonies that coincide with the NM program.



I have had a couple of VPFDs email me the schedules they are working on for their initiation weeks. Please don't hesitate to email them to me if you would like me to look over them for you!

Want some good ideas to steal?
-pull out some hold chapter histories that are in achieves to teach the NMs about your chapter's history
-Have older initiated members dress as the 12 Founders and perform a short skit when teaching about the Founders
-One chapter held a "Sister Speed Date" before NMs picked their Big Sis. All NMs sat in chairs around the room and each member taking a little spoke with each girl for 1 minute about Pi Phi life and University life.
-ask NMs to find an item that represents one of the Founders and bring it to the next week's meeting. Then have a time to share why they picked their item
-create a Jeopardy type game to help the NMs start studying for their NM test. Did your NMs elect NM class officers? This is a task you could assign to the NM VPFD!

VPMD Wednesdays-Your Part in the NM Program

Hi Girls. Sorry I am a day behind. Yesterday was my husband's birthday so I was pretty busy! Since many of you are getting started in you NM program in your chapters I wanted to write about what part the VPMD plays in the NM program. You are very important to these NM's successes! Be sure to read the posts that I do for NMC on Mondays because I talk about what officers attend what meetings. At the end of each requirement I will write where you can find this requirement on the CE in ( ).

Mentoring Workshops-the "How to be a Mentor/What is Mentor" workshops need to be complete BEFORE Big Sis/Little Sis Reveal. Everyone that is a big sister needs to go through the "How to" workshop and all NMs go through the "What is" workshop. These workshops can be found in the online resources under VPMD. Work with the NMC to coordinate a time for these workshops. (Leadership Development-Pi)

GreekLifeEdu-this program needs to be explained during WEEK 2 of the NM Program. I just happened to write a whole post on GreekLifeEdu last week. Click here to read it! PER THE NM PROGRAM GUIDE, ALL NMS NEED TO BE COMPLETE WITH PART 1 OF GREEKLIFEEDU BY WEEK 5 OF THE PROGRAM!!! (Good Citizenship-Pi)

Risk Management Discussion-This maybe an eye opener for some of you, but this is a requirement of the Chapter Evaluation!! I was somewhat lenient last year on if this discussion took place but this year I am warning you ahead of time that this must be done.
Within 1 week of initiation there needs to be a chapter wide discussion about what was learned from the Sam Spady video, GreekLifeEdu, HAZE, etc. There is a discussion guide online under the VPMD. (Intellectual Development-Pi-Wellness & Safety)

New Member Scholarship Program-The VPMD is responsible for planning the academic programs for the NMs and the chapter. Please remember that the NM program can not be stricter than the chapter program. Example: you can not require your NMs too perform 10 hours of study hall a week and only make initiated members to 2. If you have specific questions about you academic programs for the chapter and NMs, please contact me directly. (Intellectual Development)

VPP Tuesdays-What to do with those Bookplates

How many of you used coloring bookplates as your Recruitment Philanthropy Day Project? I know some of you did and that is great!

Did you get the bookplates from Headquarters? If so, there is something very important you should remember. Those bookplates need to go back to HQs in the Spring with your Fraternity Day of Service packet. Now I know you won't be the VPP anymore but when you hand supplies over to the officer taking over-hand these to her as well. These bookplates are made by Pi Phi to use in First Book books. We want to put them in the books that First Book gives because of the donations of your chapters.

Fraternity Day of Service-it is way too early to talk about that-we do that in March! Oh, but it is not too early. Why not get a head start planning and help out that girl that is going to take over for you! If you do CAR at a school in your community it might be wise to get a date to have your Fraternity Day of Service on their calendar. Why not team with a local alum club to put on an event. Many clubs are working on planning their calendars now. Or maybe even a booth in your Student Union-sometimes these need to be put on the calendar.