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I have been involved in several new chapter colonizations both as a local chapter advisor and as a regional officer. The first comment that I'll make is that Pi Beta Phi has a graduate consultant live with the colony for at least a year from the time of installation and has a new chapter assistance officer usually for two years... so the question for us is not whether you 'have to return next semester"... it's whether the new chapter needs repeated visits 5 years out.
From that standpoint, I would say the things the local advisors need to learn/ teach is conflict resolution, communication, motivation and organizational issues. Even the best chapter has issues with members not getting along, or not doing what we ask of them. Good chapters know how to approach, and motivate their members.
When you are taking a group of virtual strangers and molding them into a sorority the emphasis needs to be on the fundamentals. What values does your group espouse? How do different activities reflect that? Building traditions is more than teaching ritual and a few songs... it is an attitude and a spirit. What is acceptable behaviors (and I'm not talking about what members do on Friday nights) and what isn't?
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