Chapter Leadership: The Path from Challenged Chapter to Key Candidate

This presentation will discuss the steps that board members followed to transform from a challenged chapter to a Chapter Key candidate.  During this four year transformation, board members followed Sigma Theta Tau International best practices and accessed all resources available to it including the Sigma Theta Tau International headquarters staff, Regional Coordinator, and chapter officers.  Through the hard work and dedication of these officers, the chapter was able to work through this difficult transition which included a complete board turn over and was able to regain tax exempt status, engage members, build a strong board and move the Chapter forward.  Strong nurse leaders were key to this transformation.  Through the leadership of the board, the Chapter engaged in strategic planning, mentoring, and team building (Barbe, 2014).  Every aspect of Chapter operations was examined including banking practices, policies and procedures, board member accountability, awards process, travel and reimbursement practices, and nominations/elections.  Through careful consideration chapter functions, key areas for improvement were identified.  The Chapter also worked to survey members to identify what Sigma Theta Tau Membership meant to individual members and how to provide meaningful programs to the members to meet their needs.  The Chapter was able to build a vibrant chapter which now hosts community service projects, social and networking events, a beautiful induction ceremony, research events, educational programs, and mentoring activities.  The Chapter now looks forward to applying for the Chapter Key Award to highlight the excellent work being done by the Chapter.  Chapter leadership engages in mentoring of new members as a method of succession planning.   The Board and Leadership Succession work together to ensure that candidates for office understand the commitment to the Chapter, the Society and the STTI members.  Officers are expected to attend all board meetings and to submit reports prior to the meeting to ensure that chapter business can be conducted in an officer’s absence (Catrambone, 2012).   Transition meetings and new officer orientations are offered to assist new officers with understanding their role and responsibilities.  Communicating clear expectations and time commitments of the role assists the new officer in performing their duties (Collins-Christie, 2015).