Serve in the Light of Truth

For most of you the semester has begun to go into high gear and for some it’s already been in high gear. So what should your Risk Reduction Chairman be doing right now? Here are five quick items that should be completed or scheduled to ensure a successful fall semester. These five items are not the entirety of what your chapter should or even could be doing for risk reduction, but they are some great items to have addressed early in the academic year.

1. Affidavits. This is a critical component of not only the Risk Reduction Chairman’s responsibilities but also the Recorder’s. The Risk Reduction Affidavit must be completed at the start of every semester and submitted to the General Fraternity via mail. Clicking the link will send you directly to a PDF copy of that document that can be printed, completed, and mailed to the General Fraternity office in Lexington. If you are unsure of the password, contact your chapter’s Leadership Consultant.
2. All-Chapter LEAD Module C Sessions. Module C of the All-Chapter LEAD Program is devoted to topics on Risk Reduction. Go ahead and schedule a time to have a session from Module C facilitated during the fall semester. Go a step further and schedule a guest facilitator for one of these LEAD sessions. Be sure to schedule sessions far in advance to identify the best guest facilitators and maximize chapter attendance.
3. Crisis Management Plan. First, a simple question: Does your chapter have a Crisis Management Plan? If not, CREATE ONE! Crisis Management Plans are your fire extinguishers. You really hope you never have to use it, but when the time calls for its use you don’t want to be left without it. You can go here for a sample Crisis Management Plan for your chapter to use after filling in some specific information. Go over your chapter’s Crisis Management Plan at least once a year with all initiated members and once every time your chapter has a new candidate class with all candidates. Make sure it is posted someone where in the chapter facility or wherever your chapter meets regularly. Another alternative is to make sure every member has a printed copy of their own to reference. If your chapter already has a Crisis Management Plan then make sure it’s updated regularly with correct contact information and other revisions as necessary.
4. Code of Conduct. Sigma Nu also offers a Code of Conduct form that clearly lays out some basic expectations the General Fraternity expects from every member in Sigma Nu. Take this opportunity early in the semester to present this form to members of your chapter for discussion and have everyone fill one out. This can be effective later in the academic year when the time comes to hold members accountable and ensures that every member understands what is expected of them.
5. Risk Reduction Policy & Guidelines Overview. This may be the last item but it is probably the most important. Every chapter should take some time every semester to go over the Risk Reduction Policy & Guidelines with the entire chapter membership. This shouldn’t take an entire afternoon or evening but it also shouldn’t be as simple as handing out copies and calling it a day. Make sure you review each item and ask for questions. It is important that not just the officers of the chapter understand this document. A great way to make this interactive is to conduct this review with the chapter and then at a separate time have a Risk Reduction Policy & Guidelines quiz with a reward going to the best performers.