As a new member, I immediately knew I wanted to be involved in my chapter. I had contributions to make and skills I wanted to share. I accepted a bid from my chapter in the middle of October 2020 and elections took place a quick two months later in November. I wasn’t prepared; I had no idea what to apply for or what I’d be good at so I didn’t apply. I regretted this so much, as I saw a lot of the older girls holding officer positions, and I wanted to do just that. My first election was baptism by fire; it was catty, mean, unprofessional, and it was on Zoom. THIS absolutely should not be your experience, and I am happy my chapter has solved this problem over the years. Here are a few things that can get you prepared and confident to approach elections respectfully, rooted in love for your sisters and your chapter:
Understand they recruited you to lead and serve. During recruitment, you were probably asked questions about your involvement in service or clubs and organizations in high school. In an indirect way, they were trying to gauge if you could possibly be a leader in the chapter or even the president one day. The women of your organization saw a spark of leadership in you; reading this blog and seeking advice on this topic just proves that.
Pick an area of the chapter that you are passionate about. My area was recruitment, and I felt like I could make really beneficial changes to the process. It’s okay to take a beat and wait until next year to apply if you don’t know what you’re passionate about just yet. You can also learn on the job! Say you go out on a limb and apply for a philanthropy role; you may grow in the chapter and understand recruitment is where you shine, or membership accountability. Begin thinking about sore spots in the chapter you have noticed the last few months, brainstorm ways you would approach fixing it, and then see if you are eligible and able to apply, if not, apply for something similar that will set you up to be prepared to apply for that next year. You won’t know unless you try!
Be an engaged member. The chapter makes the decisions of who will come into these officer roles in November. Now is the time to start marketing yourself and your commitment to your chapter. Show up to every chapter meeting, participate in anything and everything offered to you. Be present at philanthropy events, offer to be involved in recruiting COBs, talk to the officers about their experience serving the chapter!
Think about your why. Why do you want to apply for an officer position? Is it to be more involved? To set yourself up to be chapter president one day? To initiate change in an area you see improvement for? Don’t run for a position just to be a member of exec this will not benefit you or the chapter. I believe each member is capable of leadership, but the girls who truly deeply want the positions they are applying for tend to thrive, while those who just want to be on exec to have a “say” are often miserable. If you can’t think of a “why”, understand that sometimes it comes later, and it is also okay to be a general member of the chapter that these officers plan experiences for! MYTH DEBUNK: You can make an incredible impact on your chapter without holding an officer position!
When it comes down to election day, you will see one of two things: a slate of officers where the current officers pick who they believe would be best to fill their roles. You may also see open ballot elections where chapter members have the opportunity to discuss each candidate's application. Neither of these should be scary! It is important to understand that chapter members and executive officers do have the chapter’s best interest at heart. By sharing a ritual and values with them, you trust that they are capable of making these big decisions. If you have open ballot elections, I fiercely encourage you to allow discussions to remain completely private. The candidates will often leave the room in order for real, vulnerable discussions to take place. Don’t ask what was said about you, and don’t share what was said about others; the only outcome of this is hurting feelings unnecessarily. Discussions are held to encourage the chapter to choose who is truly best fit for the role; it does not reflect you as a person AT ALL.
I understand how overwhelming this time may be for you so I encourage you to put your heart first. If chapter members see how engaged you are, how passionate you are, and how much you deeply care for the development of the chapter and the experiences of your sisters, you are set up for success. After serving as a director of COB, Vice President of Membership and Recruitment, Chapter President, and now Panhellenic President, I can wholeheartedly tell you that the skills, personal, and professional development I have experienced on an executive board have completely changed my life. I believe it can do the same for you! Allow your authentic and true self to be the only “campaign” you need. Lead with your heart, and the rest will follow!
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