Spring / Transition: The Adventure Begins
In-coming Officers
- Contact Membership Services and make sure they have your
updated Chapter
Officer contact information, this includes an updated address.
- As a new officer, you will automatically be subscribed to
our chapter officer listserve, which allows officers the
opportunity to communicate and share with fellow AMSA officers
(project ideas, recruitment questions, etc). It also allows for
updates and information from the national office, such as our
monthly Membership Reporter newsletter.
- After transitioning,
meet with your fellow officers to discuss the leadership structure,
roles and responsibilities for each officer. Make sure to leave
some leadership opportunities open for new first year students
in the fall.
- Make sure the new Chapter President fills out a recruitment
form. This form should be completed early so recruitment
materials are received in time for your school's Orientation.
- Last, but not least, choose one officer to attend the Chapter Officers Conference (preferably, the president). Your chapter pays for travel and registration fees, but ask your regional, premedical or international trustee if your chapter needs help with money. National AMSA pays for your hotel and provides most of your meals. If you are flying, arrive at Dulles International Airport. The atmosphere is one of total enthusiasm and fun. Be prepared to listen, as the national leadership will give advice on nearly every specific topic involved in running a chapter.
Out-going Officers
Remember which chapter members showed real initiative or leadership during the year. By now, you should have some idea about who would make a good chapter leader. You've worked with the chapter all year, so use your experience to encourage new leaders. Within two to three weeks of convention, capitalize on everyone's enthusiasm and hold elections.
In your final days of office, give your chapter a report on the past year. Follow up with project heads, treasurers and deans and close out your term with a view of what you wanted to do and what you did. Read your goals. Which worked and which didn't? Think about the pitfalls of your year, and let the new officers know what they were. And, as a final favor, introduce them around to the folks you have trusted. They'll thank you. Be proud-when you look back at a year of AMSA accomplishments, you'll see what a great job you've done.
| Help develop new AMSA leaders-encourage promising first years to run for chapter office! Many a National Officer was motivated by the gentle advice/shove of a past leader. |
Are these requirements? Roughly, yes. These are our expectations of you during the year. Do you have to accomplish them all by yourself? Perish the thought! There is a dedicated team of people at the national level who exist to help you accomplish your goals. As a chapter officer, you should demand tons of help from the national office and the BOT.
Summer / COC: Hot Fun in the Summertime
Transitioning is under control and you are well on your way to a successful year. Most of your responsibilities for the upcoming year are probably individualized to your chapter. There are, however, a few items that deserve your attention as you do your research/externship/ tour of Tibet in the summer sun.
The major event of any AMSA summer is the all-out party-work time called the Chapter Officer's Conference (COC). The COC is the annual training conference in which AMSA prepares its Chapter Officers for a successful year. For four days, you will learn tons of useful information on such topics as fundraising, project planning and implementation, and national AMSA resources. You will meet AMSA's superb office staff, the Board of Trustees (BOT), and most importantly, you will get to know your regional, premedical and international trustees and your fellow chapter officers. The communication that goes on at the COC will set the tone for your region's year, and to some extent your own. The weekend is more fun than you can imagine and, for many, is the most useful AMSA event of the year.
Be sure to register early! This year's COC is July 14-17, 2005!
Once you have survived the COC, the rest of the summer is a mere prologue to your school's Orientation. Be sure to schedule late summer and early fall meetings with your fellow chapter officers so you are not caught unprepared for your recruitment activities during school Orientation. You'll have a lot of information to share from the COC. If you have a great idea for a new project, apply for an AMSA Local Project Grant by the August 20 deadline. If you are not involved directly in your school's Orientation, get involved. There is no better way to be highly visible and well known by the new first year students. Offer your chapter's full support to the Dean-they will at least let you pitch in and at most put AMSA's name on it.