The Educational Leadership Consultant (ELC) visit can be one of the most informative and rewarding experiences for a collegiate chapter. Every Delta Zeta chapter will experience a consultant visit at one time or another.
Our ELCs are recent graduates who have been hired by Delta Zeta to serve as ambassadors for the National Organization. ELCs are well versed in all areas of chapter operations including recruitment, membership education, risk management, Panhellenic, programming, alumnae relations, philanthropy and every other aspect that makes up Delta Zeta. They are full of excitement, new ideas and, most of all, love for Delta Zeta! After all, they too are Delta Zetas. Below are some tips and thoughts to consider when the ELC arrives on your doorstep:
1. Create a schedule for the ELC. It is helpful for the ELC to know who she is meeting with and when. Meetings should be planned with Executive Board and Chapter Officers, the CCD and any other member who may wish to meet with her. Sometimes chapters have an ELC Coordinator who is responsible for coordinating the ELCs schedule during the visit. Other times the President or other Executive Board member handles this. Whatever works with your chapter! Psst…it’s also useful for her to have a phone number or email address for each person she is meeting with in the event that a meeting runs late or someone no shows.
2. Build in meal times for the ELC. Some chapters will assign specific members to eat with the ELC or schedule meetings during meals. Make sure she has some sisters to eat with. If you have a chapter house, make sure she is aware of the meal times in the house so she doesn’t accidentally miss lunch or dinner. It’s also helpful if the ELC is told where the chapter keeps snacks or where snacks can be purchased so that she can have some brain food even if it’s not the scheduled lunch or dinner. Want to go above and beyond? Consider providing your ELC with a welcome basket that includes some snacks that she can have during her visit and possibly pack in her carry-on once she departs. She will thank you for it if she accidentally misses dinner!
3. Provide her with transportation to and from the airport and to and from any off campus meetings. Remember, she won’t be familiar with your campus as it is probably her first time being there, and more than likely she won’t have a car. Be sure someone is designated to make sure she gets from A to B on time. Oh…and she will need towels, a place to sleep and a meeting area so don’t forget those things too!
4. Include the ELC in daily chapter activities. ELCs LOVE to see all the fun and unique things that chapters do. If you are hosting a COB event be sure you let the ELC know, if you are having a sisterhood event include her, if a group is going for some FroYo let her know, if a philanthropy event is happening make sure she attends. One of the best ways for an ELC to get to know a chapter is to hang out with them. After all she is a sister too! Want some major bonus points? Plan an event specifically during the ELC visit so she has the opportunity to meet and interact with as many chapter members as possible. Simply having a sisterhood event during her visit would work!
5. Pick her brain! ELCs have the opportunity to visit many, many, many chapters. They see lots of ideas both within Delta Zeta and within Panhellenic systems. They are full of all types of knowledge! When they are visiting your chapter, take advantage of the opportunity to tap into all of the things that they have seen and learned through their travels. It will be totally worth your five minute conversation!
6. Show off! Have a cool campus tradition? Know where to get the best burger in town? Have a place where many celebrity sightings have happened? Know something unique to your campus or college city/town? Have a cool campus event happening? Show them off to the ELC! The ELCs are full time travelers so they enjoy learning about all the different things that make up your campus, your community and your chapter. You never know-the idea she sees on your campus may end up as the next big thing at her next visit.
So there you have it! Six different ideas of ways to maximize your ELC visit. Remember your ELC is visiting your chapter to provide feedback, offer new insight and ideas and provide you with a link to the National Organization. Use her expertise to your advantage. She will appreciate all the courtesies extended to her during her visit. Who knows…maybe she will impact you just enough so that you will be one of the next road warriors? You just never know!
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