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The Fiji Academy, conducted each year in early January, is designed to give new chapter officers a strong foundation so they can effectively Lead with Courage. The Academy provides them with the knowledge and skills needed to lead their chapters, which may range in size from 30 men to more than 100. Participants are exposed to the basic elements of chapter operations as well as higher level leadership development. For the 11th consecutive year, the 38th Fiji Academy will be held in St. Louis, MO, at the St Louis Union Station Hotel, a DoubleTree by Hilton, January 4-6, 2013.
All Chapters and Colonies are billed for THREE delegates ($400 each) to attend the Fiji Academy. Additional delegates above the first three are encouraged to attend and will be invoiced after the event. Chapter Presidents, Chapter Treasurers, and Recruitment Chairmen should attend. The Academy is comprised of special training for these specific positions. Any brother or chapter leader is encouraged to attend Fiji Academy and there will also be educational tracks for Recording Secretaries, Corresponding Secretaries, Historians, and Emerging Leaders.
REGISTER NOW - SEE WHO HAS ALREADY REGISTERED
When Do I Need to be in St. Louis?
ARRIVE - FRIDAY AFTERNOON, January 4, 2013 (Pursuing Excellence sessions will begin at 1pm)
DEPART - ANYTIME ON SUNDAY, January 6, 2013
Each chapter also receives one reimbursement check at a rate of $.12 per mile for the round trip mileage from your chapter to St. Louis, Missouri. If you would like your chapter's check advanced to you, contact Donna Young. To receive an advance, your account must be current and your delegates registered. If you receive an advance and do not attend, the chapter will be assessed a 20% surcharge.
Pursuing Excellence Sessions
This year's Academy will feature Pursuing Excellence sessions which provide opportunities for personal growth and development as well as the opportunity to explore other aspects of chapter operation. Attendees can participate in up to three of these sessions on Friday, January 4, and session selection is included on the Academy registration form. Sessions will be limited in size and available on a first come-first serve basis.
Questions about Pursuing Excellence sessions should be directed to Rob Caudill, Director of Education.
Block I (1pm – 2:15pm) Options
Essential Elements of a Chapter Scholarship Program
This session will focus on the key elements every chapter needs in its scholarship program and help participants to understand how they help brothers succeed.
**SESSION FULL**10 Steps to Hosting a Successful Philanthropy Event
10 powerful lessons in planning a fundraising event from a professional fundraiser who has planned everything from galas, golf tournaments, walks and rides to silent auctions.
Fraternity Awards 101
Does your chapter or colony compete in the Fraternity Awards program? Members of the Awards Committee will give participants tips and tricks for compiling and submitting awards reports.
**SESSION FULL**Business Writing: Getting Your Point Across
Learn the difference between writing for school versus writing for work and how to organize your thoughts to get your point across in seconds with useful tips for every type of writing you may encounter.
**SESSION FULL**Recruiting Graduates
Engaging and soliciting graduate involvement is similiar to recruiting new members - learn what your chapter needs to focus on to get the results you want.
Block II (2:30pm – 3:45pm)
Carrots and Sticks - Motivators for Good Scholarship
What motivates brothers? This session will explore the challenges of finding appropriate rewards (carrots) for good scholarship and meaningful consequences (sticks) for poor performance.
Philanthropy and Service Panel Discussion
Hear from your brothers on what events and practices they find most helpful for a chapter's philanthropy and service efforts.
Personal Finance Basics - Finding Balance in Your Budget
A financial expert will walk you through the basics of personal finances, including bulding your personal budget.
**SESSION FULL** Selling Yourself - Where does Phi Gamma Delta Fit on My Resume?
In this session, you can learn ways to translate your Fraternity activities and positions into experiences which match your career goals.
Fraternity Awards Best Practices Panel
Representatives from award-winning chapters will share their own best practices for compiling awards reports and show how their chapters use the awards process to continuously improve.
**SESSION FULL** Professionalism: Setting Yourself Apart
This program will help you to transition from college student to workplace leader and develop habits that communicate you are poised, polished and professional!
**SESSION FULL** Leadership in Action - Partnering for Performance (2:30 - 5pm)
The leader's role has shifted dramatically in recent years. The leader is no longer a "boss," using "command and control" tactics. This program focuses on helping leaders to effectively partner with those he is leading.
**NOTE THIS PROGRAM WILL LAST 2.5 HOURS - PARTICIPANTS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN A BLOCK III PROGRAM**
Block III (4:00pm – 5:15pm)
How Do They Do It? A Panel on Academic Success
Brothers whose chapters have a history of excellence scholarship explain how good scholarship can become the norm and be maintained over time.
**SESSION FULL** Emotional Intelligence: The New Predictor of Success
Emotional Intelligence is an often overlooked "soft skill" that can jump start your professional career and lead you on a journey of excellence. Learn the cores of Emotional Intelligence and how to apply them with professional and personal relationships.
Getting Grads to Dig Your Pig
How can a chapter plan a successful Pig Dinner? What is a successful Pig Dinner? How do we get graduates to come back for it? This session will walk you through the steps needed to plan and execute one of the Fraternity's most prominent chapter events.
Personal Finance Basics - Foundations of Investing
A personal finance expert will help participants understand basic principles of investing to help plan for your future.
Excellence in Social Media
Chapters and individuals use Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to promote themselves. But are they putting their best face forward? Is there a better way to get your message out? A public relations expert will explore the good, bad and the ugly of social media.
**SESSION FULL** Networking 101 - Making the Most of your Fraternity Connections
What's the best way to network without coming off as "that guy?" How can you use (and build) your network of friends and associates? This interactive session will answer those questions and more.
Registration Fee
Every chapter is invoiced $400 x 3 men for a total of $1200. The $400 fee includes:
- All hotel room and taxes for Friday and Saturday at the St Louis Union Station Hotel, a DoubleTree by Hilton. We will make your room reservation. If you need a room for Thursday evening, LET IHQ KNOW. You will be responsible for paying for extra room nights.
- All meals beginning with dinner Friday evening and concluding with dinner Saturday.
- Commerative Fiji Academy gift.
Where is the Hotel?
You will be staying at the St Louis Union Station Hotel, a DoubleTree by Hilton, One Union Station, St. Louis, MO, 63103. Phone: 314.621.5262. The hotel is approximately 20-30 minutes from Lambert Airport. For the Metrolink to transport you to the hotel, purchase a ticket ($3.50) and the Doubletree is a short walk from the train drop off point. A taxi ride from the airport to hotel will cost approximately $45.
What to Bring
- Your badge
- A coat and tie to wear at the Saturday Pig Dinner. Business casual wear (collared shirts and slacks or khaki pants) for all other times
- Camera
- Some spending money
- Chapter t-shirts to exchange
- Creative chapter programs
- Recruitment materials
- Questions about the Fraternity
- Any forms or fees that are due
- Willingness to learn and participate
Questions
Any questions should be directed to JB Goll, Director of Chapter Services, at 859.255.4229.
Academy Tentative Schedule
Friday, January 4, 201
12:00 - 5pm: Registration
1:00 - 5:15pm: Pursuing Excellence Sessions
4:30 - 5:30 pm: T-Shirt Exchange
6:00 - 7:30 pm: Dinner
7:30 - 9:30 pm: Model Initiation
10:00 - 11 pm: Ritual and Values Discussion
10:30 - 1:00am: FIJI Poker Tournament
Saturday, January 5, 2013
7:45 - 8:30 am: Hot Breakfast
8:30 - 9:50 am: Opening Session for all attendees
10:00 am - 5:00 pm Educational tracks for Chapter Officers, Recruitment Chairmen, Purple Legionnaires, Section Chiefs, Emerging Leaders
12:30 -2:00 pm: Scholarship Luncheon
6:00 - 7:30 pm: Pig Dinner
7:30 - 8:30 pm: Lessons in Leadership with Ken Blanchard (Cornell 1961), noted leadership expert and author of the One Minute Manager
8:30 - 9:30 pm: Q & A and Chapter photos with Ken Blanchard
Sunday, January 6, 2013
ALL DAY: Departures
8:00 am - 2:00 pm: Board of Conduct meetings
9:00 am: New Chapter Forum and Breakfast *invitation only