The Committee Chair
1. Go easy on Vitamin “I”.
Your opinion does count, but it counts equally as much as anyone else’s
opinion in your group. If you have a co-chair, constantly define and clarify
the division of responsibility. Don’t be concerned if someone also does
a job in a method slightly different than your own. Learn new ways to
do things.
2. Establish your objective.
Be sure your committee also has it clearly in mind. Clarify tie-in with
total organization.
3. Do your work efficiently.
Start your meeting on time, use a planned agenda, enlist the help of a secretary(or
recorder of notes), finish your meeting briskly and adjourn. Consider time
and work budget.
4. Delegate someone to keep minutes of every meeting.
Memory is too weak to lean on. Have someone take minutes of every meeting
and get copies to all the committee members (or post in one regular location).
Keep the original in your file and one copy in the organization file
at the Involvement Center/SOC desk.
5. Delegate someone to keep accurate event reports.
Here, again, you can’t rely on memory about an event six months later.
Fill out a report explaining the event and member’s thoughts on
it as soon as possible right after you’ve held or attended an event.
(This is a good way to prove what good things your group is accomplishing.)
Survey past plans in light of proposed plan or alternate method. Use
your advisor for advice.
6. Foster feelings of shared responsibility.
Let members help make the decisions, and if you have a “brainstorm”
present it in such a way that the committee feels that they helped originate
the idea. Use a “sub-committee” chairperson such as of decorations,
programs, etc., but be definite about duties of each assignment.
7. Keep your financial reports accurate and up-to-date.
You cannot do a good job unless you know how much money has been spent and
how much you have left in your budget. You should keep a record of
all expenditures. If in doubt, come to the Involvement Center/SOC desk and
check with the SSA Director of Financial Affairs or University Centers Accounts
Manager for suggestion.
8. Keep a file of source material.
Develop a wiki or e-file system for your organization. Clip and keep anything
of interest to your committee to build a large database of information available
to your group. Collecting ideas from other schools may help. You may
have a file or storage in the Involvement Center/SOC.
9. Evaluate your work at regular intervals.
You learn from mistakes - but only if you recognize them. You and your
committee members should honestly evaluate every activity you plan and carry
out. Also, about twice a year you ought to go back to your basic mission
statement and see if you are still on track. Tactfully check to see if everything
is going on schedule.
10. Plan for transition
Use your more experienced committee members to train the inexperienced members
by letting them work together. Leave a report for your successor.
11. Show your appreciation.
Make every member of your committee feel important. Let them know that they
are vitally necessary to the functioning of your committee.