Becoming a leader for your organization is an exciting yet daunting experience. On one hand, you've accomplished your goal of being elected for a position of leadership... but on the other hand... you have a new responsibilities and people looking to you for direction. Here are our tips on effective Leadership: Learn How to Delegate We've all had that person in a student organization or group project that tries to do everything themselves. Maybe we've even been this person at one …
Why Meetings Fail and How You Can Fix That!
From officer meetings to group projects, there is no hiding from bad meetings. We’ve all been to at least one. Here the problem-solution guide to making the most of your meetings! Problem: Lack of Participation Having trouble with crickets in the room? Meetings are supposed to be lively discussions, not just blank stares. First consider if everyone's attendance is necessary. Solution: Invite the Right Audience Not everyone should or want to attend every meeting. If the matter …
How to Write Fundraising Letters According to Dale Carnegie’s “How to Win Friends and Influence Others”
Every year, my student organization hosts a Mother and Daughter Day. A day where the 6th grade girls of nearby middle schools spend a Saturday at our college doing fun activities that get them thinking about their future. This year, the local middle school wouldn’t be able to pull together the funds for breakfast and lunch. Although, as officers, we badly wanted to be able to provide meals for this event, we couldn’t. If our bank account was chest we hid under a floorboard, it would open to …
The SOS Guide to Student Officer Term Lengths
Term Lengths, while being rarely talked or even thought about, have a major impact on your student organization and its legacy. But how do you determine if your organization is setting the right term lengths for its officers? The writers here at SOS have thought about and debated the pros and cons on different term lengths and have written this guide for your organization to make an educated decision! Annual Term Lengths Recommended for: Most Executive Positions One year is …
Budgeting for Beginners
As a sophomore, early into the fall semester, I was excited to take on the responsibility of treasurer for my small fraternity. The first bank statement came in the mail and after ripping it open, an overdraft notice was staring back at me. Little did I know what I truly got myself into. I reached out to the old treasurer, whose only help came in the form of a plastic expanding file stuffed with an odd assortment of loose papers and receipts… there were no budgets, no books, and most …
How Much Should Your Student Organization Charge in Membership Dues?
Let's talk about the elephant in room -- the mindset that college students are too broke, or just won't pay to be a part of a student organization. I'm going to clear this matter once and for all; college students (or anyone, for that matter) will pay for anything that they perceive to have value. What kind of value does a student organization provide a student such as yourself? All student organizations provide a community made up of similar values and goals. These communities provide a …
How Much Should Your Student Organization Charge in Membership Dues?Read More
