[adpiucf]

Have a come to god meeting with your members and discuss chapter goals. Part of this meeting can be a Town Hall style set up where members can voice greviances and recommendations. This should not spin out of control into name calling or negativity-- just a chance for exec to ask "how are we doing?".

Your recording secretary should have some large posters or easel paper set up, and the president can encourage the members and officers to shout out positive chapter goals. One of these should be weekly meetings. Put a positive spin on this goal setting and an incentive for meeting this goal.

Talk about incentives. Point systems are a great way to recognize people. Make sure you reward high points each month in chapter meeting with a small reward. End the semester with a sisterhood event to celebrate the chapter, high GPAs, leadership positions within and outside the sorority, philanthropy, and members with high points.

Talk about the importance of mandatory events and a fair system for ensuring that the work of that chapter gets done. You should have a pre-set (and fair) system to penalize members who don't make the mandatory events.

Talk about the fact that sometimes there are unanticipated events or emergencies to prevent people from fulfilling their obligations. Identify what is an excusable absence from a mandatory event and what is not. Be fair but be firm. Penalties can include imposed fines, extra community service, temporary loss of social privileges, etc. The "punishment" should fit the "crime" and the Standards committee should be involved in doling these out.

Next, provide chapter members with a calendar of your upcoming events. Clarify mandatory chapter requirements for the semester (meeting attendance, x number service hours, recruitment workshop, initiation, etc.) and the fun extras like formal, socials and non-mandatory sisterhood events.

Review that the purpose of the org is to come together for sisterhood and friendship, but that each member has an obligation to fulfill to the organixation and herself. You might ask that members sign a "contract" that acknowledges these rules have been explained to them and that they agree to them.

Next, keep your promises! Don't spring unexpected mandatory events on people. Also, take baby steps. If someone misses an event, like chapter, without an excused absence, allow one "get of jail free" card and give them a warning. The next time they miss a mandatory event, they will be fined or have a similiar penalty.

At your meetings, have a printed paper agenda so each member can follow along with the meeting. All officers should submit officer reports a few days in advance of the meeting so it can go on the agenda and be approved.

During the meeting, stick to the agenda, limit open discussion (only so that you don't lose control of the meeting-- this is not intended to limit members' right to speak their mind-- it is simply to keep things moving), and follow Parliamentary Procedure.

Officers should strive to give 1-2 awards to members in their reports (A+ Scholar, Helpful Housemate of the Week, Intramurals MVP), etc. Members love to be recognized. While you might have to address unpleasant issues at meetings, always end your meeting on a positive note.

Also, try to keep meetings short. People have school, work and other activities. Sometimes, like with membership selection, homecoming pairings, etc., this may not be the norm. But a long meeting should be the exception-- get in, say what needs to be said, get members involved on committees to do the work and nurture your up and coming leaders so they will want to come around and be involved.

Good luck!