What I Have Learned in My Psi Ote Travels

How many are looking forward to another awesome Convention?  It is the best opportunity we Sisters all have to "network" and find  out what successes other chapters are experiencing.  It is a great time to renew friendships and begin new ones.

Last year, when I stood in front of all of you at convention, during my National Treasurer presentation, I made the comment, "I have learned SO much!"  I have had the opportunity to travel to make "social" visits to over half our chapters thus far, and would like to share some of the things I have learned.  There are so many dedicated and service-centered women out there among us!

Following are just a few of the ideas I bring to you: 

Ways to save time during a meeting (allowing more time for socializing and FUN!):

• Many chapters email the Minutes after the meeting, saving time at the next meeting by just asking for any corrections, then approval of the emailed minutes. I have even seen one secretary typing the minutes during the meeting.  They are then read and approved at the end of the business meeting.
• Many chapters do not have "Roll Call," and either pass a sign-up sheet around, sign in, or just allow the secretary to record the women's names as they arrive.
• Have an officers' meeting ahead of time and read through all business, so only a synopsis needs to come to the membership at the meeting
• Chapters often have their refreshments prior to the meeting, allowing up to 30 minutes for social time prior to the start of the business meeting

How to do Cheeseballs sales:

• Take up to 2 days to mix everything
• Have all kinds of manly physical help to unload and tote everything up and down steps and levels of buildings
• Get ingredients pre-mixed by a company and just go pick up all the ingredients in large buckets or totes
• Take thousands of orders ahead of time and make room to store thousands of cheeseballs
• Purchase them already made and packaged.  All you have to do is sell them at different venues and deliver to your regular customers

 Ways to raise money for the General Fund:

• How much and what can you stuff in a purse or bag and auction it off?  What type of beverage brings the highest price and weights a purse down the most?
• What can you donate to a give-a-way, and ask everyone to contribute $1 toward a fund to defray convention expenses at the end of each year?
• Donate .25 cents or $1 and get to brag about great things that have happened in your life since you last saw your Sisters

Variety and fun programming ideas:

• Take four $5 items of your choice and place them in the center of the room (or on a table, etc).  In varying order, everyone gets to choose an item of their choice to take home, until all of the items are gone.  This is a great way to find out others' hobbies or interests.
• Have a local speaker come and talk about something of interest to your membership.

When do we present our budget for the year?

• The best suggestion is to have your budget ready to present at the beginning of the fiscal year so you have a prepared financial plan to operate around your various projects and donations
• Some chapters make their budget at the end of the year, to decide how to spend the money made throughout the year

District Officers get to learn about their chapters as they communicate with them throughout the Psi Ote year, visit various chapters and field questions and concerns.  At the end of the year, getting to read all of the information on the "Bright Idea Page" on the PCR is a great way to learn about all the activities of our dedicated chapters. 

PLEASE CONSIDER becoming a national officer.  They are an awesome group of women to work with and they WORK HARD.  Even though we are volunteers, sometimes these positions take as much time as a full-time job.  I am so very proud to say I am part of an organization that gets so much accomplished each and every year.

Loyally,

Susie Lewis