With the results of the latest chapter surveys, we can see that we are still not yet where we need to be in terms of chapter communication. We are also beginning to see the decline in excitement of the Regional Leaders as it is taking longer and longer to get information disseminated.

I look at the situation and see that we have not truly yet invested in the RL position. We bring them in at NAVC for a 30 minute chat, get them excited, and say we will see the best one of you next year. I really think we are doing them a great injustice and even worse complicating the communication problem further. We do have good RLs that can excel with our current format, but I think we are missing the boat. We either need to make the investment in the RLs or develop a new strategy.

I think we are sitting at a unique opportunity. We have sponsors coming to us with money and we have been growing like gangbusters. We did a great job recognizing the need to expand the leadership team, but we just forgot to make them leaders. The RLs never get fully invested in their positions, and therefore, do not have the same level of passion for organization as we do. So the question becomes how do you give them the passion?

I think the answer is that we need to expand their roles and responsibilites. As it stands now, they really only serve our organization as an extra step in the communication chain. We pass information to the them and ask them to pass it on to the chapters. With that format, I believe the position is setup to fail. We already know that is was challenging enough to send communication directly to the chapters and have them disperse the information.

My thought is this...let us fully invest in the next group of RLs. Let's bring them in and have them be apart of the team. We do another half day of ice-breakers and introductions. The next day we get them together with a Karyn Gavzer and let them as team SWOT just the chapter communication topic. Let them look at the problem and come up with an action plan. The next day they meet with us and present their plan and tell us what tools they need from us to implement their plan.

I think we can keep SWOTing this issue or can give the RLs the responsibility and empower them to tackle the issue for us. I really think they want to be a bigger part of the team and looking at our action plan...frankly we could use the help. Also, Jim Mahan, of Live Oak said he would be willing to sponsor a regional meeting of some kind (box tickets to sporting event, etc) to really start getting the regional thing going. I think that would be a great idea, but I think we need to get the RLs empowered first.

Thoughts?