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Ditto to everything that has already been said. Get your hands on the officer manuals and Chapter manual. Every national GLO has these and maybe yours were simply misplaced over the years. Then read them thoroughly. Also, study your chapter bylaws.
Here's the best advice I give to my new officers every year at our officer transition, especially a new President.
- There is a fine line between being a dictator and a leader. Sometimes it takes experience and even screw ups to discover where that line is.
- Be willing to admit you don't have the all the answers, then do the research to find them.
- Admit it when you make a mistake, then fix it.
- Be open and honest, but always respect the confidentiality of your members. This is especially important in regards to their finances, grades and standards issues.
- Along with that, you want members to feel comfortable in coming to talk to you with problems (personal or sorority related) and know that you won't be gossiping about what they said. Make sure the chapter knows when you will be available.
- Accept the fact that you may not be the most popular member of the chapter. This is especially true when it is your responsibility to enforce rules/policies or collecting money.
- Seek out input from all areas of the chapter including: different pledge classes/years in school, different cliques/social groups, officers and non-officers. But at the same time don't get so bogged down that every little decision requires a chapter discussion and/or vote.
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