[OleMissGlitter]

Chapter Meeting Attendance
-We added in our bylaws that attendance at Chapter meetings was mandatory and fineable. We only fine for three types of events, chapter meetings, ritual, and alumnae events. (OH and recruitment events but that is a totally different story!) This has helped big time and being an adviser I wish we would have done this when I was a collegiate member. Also, at our chapter meetings some of our officers do fun things that make the members want to come. For example, our CR Chair (Standards chair) gives out "roses" to members who have helped a sister, done something good for the chapter, etc. The VP of Academic Development has everyone who went to ALL of their classes from the previous week put their name in the "Skippy" jar and then she picks out one name and gives them a little happy. She also has a "brag board" where members can put their names and what class they did well in on the board and she announces the good grades to the chapter and then gives one of them a prize. With almost 200 members, this might sound like it would take a while, but it goes by fast and it lets everyone know who's doing well in school and it puts members in a positive light for doing well in school.


How to keep chapter in order, keep noise down, etc:
-We have a sergeant-at-arms who keeps names of members who are talking and if they get a certain amount of check marks next to their name then they have to leave chapter and they are fined. The leader's council also follows their agenda they made the night before at their LC meeting to a "T." They do not go out of order and they only take questions and comments at the end of chapter. When I was a member we use to sit in alphabetical order, however, they do not do that now...but if they talk they will walk! We also follow Robert's Rules/Parliamentarian Procedure in discussions so this helps out and makes it more orderly.

I would suggest making sure your officers meet ahead of time to discuss what ya'll are going to tell the chapter so you appear organized and this will help you move from topic to topic. I don't think there is a perfect chapter meeting and depending on how big your chapter is you need to mold your meetings to your members. Also, don't worry about being frustrated; it was your first time. It will get better from there.

Added: We also have sit-down chapter dinner before chapter every Monday. This helps to bring members to the house for dinner and then they stay for chapter. Also, members are allowed two misses a semester and if a member has class then they are excused. Sometimes juniors and seniors have Monday night classes that they need to take in order to graduate, that is allowed...