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Title:
Handbook for the Activities Chairman, 2020
Date/Date Range:
00/00/2020
Handbook for the Activities Chairman, 2020
Sigma Kappa
Handbook for the
Activities Chairman
2020
FOREWORD
"The purpose of Sigma Kappa Sorority is to provide women lifelong opportunities and
support for social, intellectual, and spiritual development by bringing women together
to positively impact our communities."
Article II, Section 1
Sigma Kappa Sorority Bylaws
This purpose builds on the values of our organization: friendship, loyalty, service and
personal growth, all bound by a promise. National council affirms that Sigma Kappa
collectively can only grow through the prosperity of each individual chapter. Such
prosperity must begin with sound and lasting leadership.
Each chapter officer is provided a handbook designed to give her the information
needed to perform the duties of her office and assist the chapter in achieving the Sigma
Kappa Standards of Excellence. Serving as a collegiate chapter officer exemplifies Sigma
Kappa's purpose and values.
© 2020 Sigma Kappa Sorority
TABLE OF CONTENTS
The Activities Chairman
4
Resources
4
Advisor
5
The Importance of Involvement
6
A Sigma Kappa Standard
6
Developing the Activities Program
7
Individual Involvement in Co-Curricular Activities
7
Chapter Involvement in Campus Activities and Events
8
Sigma Kappa Sorority Activities Chairman Handbook page 3
THE ACTIVITIES CHAIRMAN
The activities chairman is elected or appointed by the chapter and is responsible for
developing and implementing an activities program for the chapter and its members.
The activities program includes chapter and individual involvement on campus and in
the community. The activities chairman reports to the vice president of programming
(VPP).
In light of these responsibilities, the activities chairman must do the following:
Read, comprehend, and follow the Handbook for the Activities Chairman.
Access and watch all training modules associated with the activities chairman role
located in SKILLab: Sigma Kappa's Interactive Learning Lab.
Analyze the chapter's current involvement in activities in order to identify ways to
make the program more successful.
Work closely with the chapter VPP to ensure each member of the chapter is
participating in a university affiliated co-curricular activities such as clubs,
honorary societies, professional groups, residence hall organizations, internships,
sporting/dance/cheer teams, etc. in accordance with National Policy Handbook
IV.C.2.
Serve as a liaison between campus and community organizations/events and the
chapter members/committees including but not limited to:
Dance Marathon
Relay for Life
Greek Week
Homecoming
Establish and maintain an accurate record of each member's participation in such
activities.
Maintain an accurate record of chapter members who hold leadership positions
in college/university/community affiliated activities.
Assist the chapter president by supplying these records for the President's Annual
Report.
Assist the Sigma Kappa Triangle correspondent with reports on member
accomplishments to be highlighted in articles for the magazine.
Resources
The activities chairman must have certain resources and materials to properly do the
job. They are as follows:
Sigma Kappa Sorority Activities Chairman Handbook page 4
Annual supplies
National Policy Handbook
The chapter's current Code of Conduct
A list of goals for the chairman position
Recommendations from the predecessor
Sigma Kappa budget for the chairman position
Chapter calendar
List of organizations on campus
College/University Calendar
Fraternity/sorority community calendar of events
Names and contact information for:
Advisor to the activities chairman and advisory board supervisor (ABS)
College/university officials and pertinent faculty and staff members, such
as the campus activities office
Sigma Kappa paired alumnae chapter
Advisor to the Activities Chairman
The advisor to the activities chairman provides continuity in a chapter's activities
program. She is a member of the advisory board. Review the module on SKILLab: Sigma
Kappa's Interactive Learning Lab to learn more about developing a relationship with
your advisor.
What If You Don't Have an Advisor?
If you don't have an advisor, there are several other resources to look to for assistance:
Advisory board supervisor (ABS)
Programming coordinator
Collegiate coordinator
Contact information for these volunteers is located on the members only side of the
Sigma Kappa website.
Sigma Kappa Sorority Activities Chairman Handbook page 5
THE IMPORTANCE OF INVOLVEMENT
A Sigma Kappa Standard
Being actively involved on campus and in co-curricular activities is a vital part of any
successful chapter. In order to meet the Sigma Kappa Standards of Excellence, the
chapter must encourage member involvement and leadership in co-curricular activities.
This standard is outlined in the National Policy Handbook:
"All collegiate members are expected to participate in at least one co-
curricular activity." -- Article IV, Section C.2
Sigma Kappa believes strongly in the importance of campus and community
involvement for three reasons:
1. Co-curricular involvement builds an important component in the college
experience-learning how to work cooperatively in the larger community and
developing the leadership, communication and civic engagement skills to work
effectively with other people to accomplish common goals.
2. Involvement in campus and community activities and organizations helps us to
carry out the purpose of Sigma Kappa by allowing us to serve and positively
impact our communities.
3. The involvement of members in the campus and community promotes a positive
perception and reputation of the chapter and its members.
Sigma Kappa Sorority Activities Chairman Handbook . page 6
DEVELOPING THE ACTIVITIES PROGRAM
Developing a comprehensive activities program that will encourage the involvement of
every chapter member requires time, creativity and energy. There are two main
components of the activities program: individual member involvement and chapter
activities.
Individual Involvement in Co-Curricular Activities
1. Evaluate the current level of involvement. At the beginning of the year, review the
member involvement and leadership records and determine which areas of
involvement are lacking. Compare the current member involvement and your
chapter's ideal level of member involvement. Examples of co-curricular activities
include:
a. Academic clubs and organizations
b. Honorary and professional organizations
C. Service clubs
d. Residence hall organizations
e. Student government
f. Campus activities board or committee
g. Athletic teams
h. Intramurals
i. Cheerleading, dance squad, etc.
j. Dramatic and/or musical productions
k. Musical ensembles or choirs
I. Judicial or mediation boards
m. Ongoing and consistent volunteer service to a community agency
Sigma Kappa Sorority Activities Chairman Handbook . page 7
2. Set goals for the term, based on the evaluation of the chapter's involvement.
Goals may include:
a. Increasing the number of members involved in co-curricular activities.
b. Increasing the number of members in campus or community leadership
roles.
C. Educating members about the opportunities available to them.
3. Check resources available to the chapter members. Compile a list of
campus/community organizations and activities available to members.
4. Stimulate interest in activities throughout the year by:
a. Highlight members who are already involved in various activities during an
informal chapter meeting to give an explanation of the activity and
encourage other chapter members to get involved.
b. Asking members to sign interest cards or fill out a survey indicating
activities that interest them. Follow up with members and provide
information about the activities they have listed.
C. Announce and post information about activities taking place on campus
and in the community: cultural events, lectures, recitals, student
government elections, etc.
d. Host a campus activities fair before or after a chapter meeting to highlight
members involved in activities and organizations on campus and to
encourage members to get involved.
5. Work with the vice president of new member education (VPNME) to ensure new
members are also informed about involvement opportunities and expectations.
Chapter Involvement in Campus Activities and Events
Another component of the chapter activities program is the coordination of chapter
involvement in campus activities and events. This type of involvement can build
sisterhood and strengthen the reputation of the chapter. The following suggestions will
help to encourage chapter involvement:
Evaluate current involvement by analyzing past chapter calendars and comparing
the chapter's campus involvement with goals for the semester.
Work with the VPP to add campus and community events to the chapter
calendar.
Announce campus and community events that would be appropriate for chapter
members to attend together at every chapter meeting. Examples include: art fairs
or exhibitions, athletic events, dramatic or musical presentations, lectures,
campus-wide service projects, etc.
Identify campus events that sisters are involved in (example: a sister has a
performance in a campus dance recital) and encourage the membership to
attend and support.
Sigma Kappa Sorority Activities Chairman Handbook page
8
Some chapters may also choose to have the activities chairman responsible for
coordinating the chapter's involvement in campus events such as Homecoming, Greek
Week or intramurals if they do not have specific chairmen for these events. If you are
responsible for these duties, work with the VPP to ensure you have a clear
understanding of the calendar of events and expectations for the chapter's involvement.
Inform chapter members about the events well in advance, and ensure they are aware of
any expectations for their involvement. Carefully coordinate involvement in these
activities to ensure that members still have ample time for other commitments including
classwork, studying, sleeping, wellness activities and part-time jobs. One
recommendation for ensuring the chapter participates in events is to have the chapter
committees participate together. For example, the new member education and
philanthropy committees will attend a specific campus activity or event together.
Sigma Kappa Sorority Activities Chairman Handbook page 9
SIGMA
KAPPA
Live with Heart
695 Pro-Med Lane, Ste 300
Carmel, IN 46032-5323
317-872-3275
f: 317-872-0716
e: info@sigmakappa.org
www.sigmakappa.org
Sigma Kappa Sorority Activities Chairman Handbook page 10