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You've done the work. Now report it.
Author: Bradley Carter
Let's assume that your chapter has had a banner year - you recruited above your average, you initiated a hefty percentage of those recruits, your Signature Event more than doubled in size and money raised, and your chapter has excelled in all areas of chapter operations and campus involvement. True Merit is yours, right? You may even have what it takes to be Top Chapter…
Well, not so fast. There's one step that you are forgetting - the Annual Report.
As much as you might dislike record keeping and reporting, it is an important aspect of chapter operations that should not be taken lightly. Creating a strong, accurate Annual Report is one of the most vital keys to attaining True Merit - just ask the men of the Theta Eta chapter at the University of North Alabama.
Aside from being an exceptional chapter in all areas of chapter operations, Theta Eta puts a great deal of effort into their annual report. In the past ten years, Theta Eta has taken home ten True Merit Bowls. That's right - 10/10. How's that for a statistic? To add icing on the cake, they were even the Top Chapter in 2003.
For those who have tackled the daunting task of creating your chapter's Report, you are perfectly aware of the effort involved. It takes a good deal of time and dedication to create an aesthetically pleasing, chapter exalting, jaw-dropping Report, which truly reflects the hard work and dedication of your chapter.
To those who are new to the Annual Report, or for those who just want to improve upon last year's Report, the following was created specifically for you by the ATO National Headquarters staff to inspire and encourage you in your efforts - 7 ways to help "Step Up" your Annual Report. Also don't forget that the Four Fs is a great guide to follow while compiling your Annual Report.
Please note that this year's deadline for the Annual Report is May 1, 2010.
This deadline is in effect to encourage chapters to constantly be compiling information throughout the year to improve accuracy and quality of the Report. If you put forth the time and effort to continually record all year long, then you'll find that your Annual Report actively builds itself. By the time the deadline approaches, most of the work is done.
If you aren't sure where to start and want some examples of True Merit Reports, log in on www.ato.org and find the Sample True Merit Annual Reports in the Downloads section.
Click the following link to download and get started on your chapter's Report - 2010 Annual Report - or visit the True Merit Award page for information and history on True Merit as well as expanded listings of past winners including those from the 2009 Annual Awards Banquet in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Also, if you are a graduating senior, don't forget to apply for the 2009-2010 Thomas Arkle Clark Award!
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