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Ambassador Program Recommendations S. Akintonde/S. Swanson

Submitted at Collegiate Chapters Council Meeting

August 6-7, 2008

San Diego Sheraton

Ambassador Program Recommendations:

Historical Overview

§  Ambassador Program began approximately two years ago. It is considered a way to contact at-risk chapters (i.e. chapters with significant membership dips, missed paperwork, etc.)

§  Chapters with missing officer reports were contacted to see why they did not submit their paperwork.

Based on that precedent, we have outlined the following goals for the Ambassador Program for the 2008-9 academic year:

A.  Revise recruitment and retention effort on behalf of the Collegiate Council

Tactics:

o  Develop comprehensive guidelines regarding what constitutes an “opportunity chapter”

o  Enlist Off-council Participation

§  Large constituency needed to assist in this effort

o  Establish a Ambassador Mentoring Program (AMP)

·  Get Amped! (working title)

Strategies:

§  Incentivize chapters by offering funding for their participation as well as special recognition at the International Collegiate Conference

§  Identify the top 16 schools and seek their assistance as chapter mentors

B.  Assisting “at-risk” chapters

Tactics:

o  Proactive (strength-based) approach vs. Reactive (deficit-based) approach

Current “at-risk chapter” criteria:

1.  Chapters that have not submitted officer report forms.
2.  Universities that have students registered as AMA members but no chapter.
3.  Universities that participated in the awards program in the previous year but did not in the current year.

C.  Attracting New Chapters (Opportunity Chapters)

o  Universities without chapters that have requested information about starting chapters from IH.

o  Establish an HBCU and Hispanic- Serving Institution Recruitment and Retention Initiative

Tactics:

o  Obtain a list of chapters that requested information from IH

o  Identify HBCU and Hispanic-Serving Institutions with marketing programs across the U.S.

§  Capitalize on current AMA relations with these institutions

o  Establish communication with these institutions

Strategies:

o  Use tiered messaging approach

§  Contact School Dean, Program chairs, Directors and/or marketing faculty directly

§  Send schools Ambassador program materials

§  Follow up within 2-3 weeks

o  Encourage off-council members in neighboring areas to invite students to their campuses for AMA collegiate events

o  Develop talking points for discussions with these schools

o  Send customized material regarding chapters in their region that they can contact as well

Branding/Communication Recommendations:

o  Develop Ambassador’s Program “branding” material to build excitement.

§  Board in the Box—Use kit to assist chapters to start a chapter

o  Create vignette about the program for inclusion in recruitment video. Obtain quotes for printed pieces as well.

o  Obtain Power Point Presentations from past conferences of best practices—who has these?

o  Website language needed

Ambassador Program Recommendations Phase I Timeline:

Date / Action / Person (s) responsible
Wednesday, August 6
Sheraton San Diego / Present recommendations to
AMA Collegiate Chapters Council / S. Akintonde/S. Swanson
Monday, August 11 / Identify Off Council Members for assistance in Ambassador Program / CCC Members
Friday, August 15 / Identify top 16 chapters
Obtain a list of chapters that requested information from IH / AMA Headquarters submit to S. Akintonde and S. Swanson
Friday, August 22 / Determine universities that have students registered as AMA members but no chapter.
Identify universities that participated in the awards program in the previous year but did not in the current year.
Identify HBCU and Hispanic Serving Institutions with marketing programs / AMA Headquarters submit to S. Akintonde and S. Swanson
Monday, August 25 / Draft of Ambassador Mentoring Program Criteria submitted / S. Akintonde/S. Swanson
CCC Members/AMA Headquarters
Friday, August 29 / Ambassador Mentoring Program Criteria approved
Ambassador Mentor List approved
Lists of “at-risk” and “opportunity” schools are completed / CCC Members
Tuesday, Sept. 2
Friday, September 5 / Calls made to top tier schools to request participation in Ambassador Mentoring Program
Website Language Approved / CCC Members
S. Swanson
Monday, September 15 / Ambassador Mentoring and Recruitment Program materials sent to printer / AMA Headquarters
Monday, September 29 / Ambassador Program mailers sent to Mentors
Ambassador Program Recruitment mailers sent to Opportunity Chapters / AMA Headquarters
Friday, October 3 / Identify schools who did not submit officer report forms / AMA Headquarters
Monday, October 13 / 1st of three (?) conference calls with Ambassador Program Mentors
Begin contact with “at-risk” schools who missed deadline
Begin contact with “opportunity” chapters / CCC Members/Ambassadors
Ambassadors
Ambassadors
Friday, October 24 / Deadline for Ambassador follow-up on initial contact with “at-risk” and “opportunity chapters” / Ambassadors submit to S. Akintonde/S.Swanson
Friday, October 31
CCC Meeting Pennsylvania State University / Present findings from Phase I of Ambassador Program / S. Akintonde/S. Swanson

Ambassador Program Proposed Budget:

Monetary Incentives for
16 Mentor Chapters
Monetary Incentives for
“Opportunity Chapters”
§  At-risk chapter incentive
§  HBCU & Hispanic-Serving Institutions
/ $10 per new member recruited (maximum 15)
$150.00 per chapter X 16 chapters = $2400.00
$50 incentive for first six (6) schools to sign up as a new AMA collegiate chapter=$300.00
$50 incentive for first six (6) schools to re-establish themselves as an AMA chapter
(6 X $50.00) = $300.00
$150.00 inventive for first three (3) HBCU and first three (3) Hispanic Serving Institution to sign up as Collegiate Chapter (6 X $150.00) = $900.00
Sub-total: $3900.00
Designer for Ambassador Program Mentoring and Recruitment Materials / $300.00
Printing and Mailing Costs for Ambassador Program Materials / Pro Bono
Certificates for Mentor and Mentee Chapters to be presented at International Collegiate Conference / Pro Bono
1-800 numbers for three (3) Ambassador Program Conference Calls / Pro Bono
Ambassador Program ribbons for name badges at International Collegiate Conference / Pro Bono

Total Proposed Budget: $4200.00