Questions
As a regional officer:
- What inspired you to run for a regional position?
- What was the most difficult part of running?
- How were you trained for the position?
- What were your expectations before your training?
- How did your expectations meet the actual work as a regional officer?
- What was your experience working with your officer team?
- Are you still in contact with members of your regional officer team?
- What was your experience working with your regional coordinator?
- What was your experience working with chapter advisors?
- What was your experience working with chapter officers?
- What was your experience working with members?
- How did your team plan regional activities and workshops?
- What was the best part of the position?
- What would you change, if you could?
- What qualities make for a good regional officer?
As an international officer
- What inspired you to run for an international position?
- How did you choose between running for president and VP of your division?
- How was the application process for you?
- How did you select your campaign manager?
- What qualities make for a good campaign manager (and what qualities would you not suggest)?
- How was the campaign process?
- What was the most difficult part of running?
- When and how were you trained for the position
- What were your expectations before your training?
- How did your expectations meet the actual work as an international officer?
- What was your experience working with the regional coordinators?
- What was your experience working with chapter advisors outside your region?
- What was your experience working with chapter officers outside your region?
- What was your experience working with members outside your region?
- Did you find any major differences working with people outside your region, or did you learn anything that would enhance your region?
- What was your experience working with your officer team?
- How did your team plan international presentations and IHIA?
- What was the best part of the position?
- What would you change, if you could?
- What qualities make for a good IO?
- What will you miss?
- Any regrets?
[Back to Running for Regional or International Office]
Answers
As a regional officer:
- What inspired you to run for a regional position?
I decided to run because the president at the time of the region thought that I would be really good at it so I did it. [Back to questions] - What was the most difficult part of running?
I was scared to death of public speaking. But, my chapter helped me with that by taking me outside before my speech and played football with me. It took my mind off of it and I spoke just fine. [Back to questions] - How were you trained for the position?
I believe that most of my training came from being a chapter officer. The tutelage I received from my advisor, watching past regional officers as well as help from my fellow officers with in my chapter. We also attended the International Leadership Conference before the International Honors Institute in Wheaton, Illinois in 2007. [Back to questions] - What were your expectations before your training?
I thought that I would be visiting the chapters within my section of the region and I really expected to see involvement from the various chapters in our region. [Back to questions] - How did your expectations meet the actual work as a regional officer?
I did visit some of the chapters but I was surprised that many of them were not interested in being active which was disappointing because if they could see what I have seen and experienced since I have been involved every one of those uninvolved chapters would be yelling about Phi Theta Kappa from the roof tops. [Back to questions] - What was your experience working with your officer team?
My team got along really well. I enjoyed my time with them. [Back to questions] - Are you still in contact with members of your regional officer team?
I am in contact with most of them. One of them just happens to be my International Officer Campaign manager and we chat often on face book as well as at chapter events when alumni are being represented. The others are from out of state and I text with a couple of them regularly. [Back to questions] - What was your experience working with your regional coordinator?
I didn’t really get a chance to work with the regional coordinator hands on. [Back to questions] - What was your experience working with chapter advisors?
I didn’t get to work with the chapter advisors as a regional officer. [Back to questions] - What was your experience working with chapter officers?
I saw and met with a few of them at conferences and they were very excited about Phi Theta Kappa and the prospect of becoming a future regional officer. [Back to questions] - What was your experience working with members?
Working with members is always a lot of fun. I love to watch them as they learn more about the organization and the benefits of being a Phi Theta Kappan. [Back to questions] - How did your team plan regional activities and workshops?
We often tried to figure out what the greatest need was overall. [Back to questions] - What was the best part of the position?
The exposure I had in dealing with my fear of public speaking. [Back to questions] - What would you change, if you could?
I would like to have seen more involvement between the team and the regional coordinator as well as more participation among the chapters within the region as a whole. [Back to questions] - What qualities make for a good regional officer?
First, I believe that to be a good regional officer you need to be willing to learn because this is a time of growth for you as a person and a leader. Second, the ability to listen to the chapters is more important than their need to hear what you may want to offer. [Back to questions]
As an international officer
- What inspired you to run for an international position?
The first time I went to an international convention and saw the current International President speaking on stage. I spoke of this to the vice president Erin Wilson, and she told me that I should run because I would be really good at it. [Back to questions] - How did you choose between running for president and VP of your division?
I really felt that the very first thought was of being a VP so running for the President’s position never crossed my mind. [Back to questions] - How was the application process for you?
The application process was very arduous because when I actually found out that I was eligible to run I only had a week to get everything in. However, if you know you are eligible earlier you will have more time and then it may not seem so daunting. [Back to questions] - How did you select your campaign manager?
I chose someone who knew me well and had a high quality understanding of social intelligence and is has the same ideas about leadership as I do. [Back to questions] - What qualities make for a good campaign manager (and what qualities would you not suggest)?
First of all you need someone who understands you and what you want for the organization internationally. Second, you need to pick someone who will look out for your schedule every moment. They should have your best interests at heart through the whole process and won’t leave you at anytime for any reason. They should be willing to help pick your campaign team and make sure that they are following the rules of the campaign. [Back to questions] - How was the campaign process?
The campaign process was so much fun. It was very busy but we made some really good friends. I remember during a slow time when no one was coming around to speak with us my manager (Megan) and Shamil’s manager (Peter) traded booths and gave us massages to relieve our stress. [Back to questions] - What was the most difficult part of running?
The schedule and time we spent on our feet. Also the caucus was very terrifying. But what I learned about that is to just answer from your heart because no one know you better than, YOU!> [Back to questions] - When and how were you trained for the position
The training for International officers begins immediately after installation. We are given assignments to be completed before we see each other again at the International Honors Institute. Then, during that week, the entire 7-8 days and all 157 hours of awake time is spent learning about the programs and events, Phi Theta Kappa, the members, advisers, regional coordinators, HQ staff and each other. Then in August we traveled to Jackson, Mississippi where we had our international officer summer orientation. This was definitely a very intense, fun-filled week of LEARNING! But, I want to reiterate that when you are an international officer you are learning the entire time about yourself and others around you. [Back to questions] - What were your expectations before your training?
I was expecting to go on trips and talk to members about Phi Theta Kappa. [Back to questions] - How did your expectations meet the actual work as an international officer?
I got so much more out of this experience than I could have ever anticipated. I now know that I can accomplish anything I set my mind to no matter how hard or long it takes. [Back to questions] - What was your experience working with the regional coordinators?
I enjoyed the regional coordinators. I was fortunate to meet and learn from coordinators who had been in their position for years and knew how to motivate and inspire the members and future leaders with in their regions. [Back to questions] - What was your experience working with chapter advisors outside your region?
I really loved working with them. I got to see that other chapters care and are just as excited about Phi Theta Kappa as our chapter is. I found that all of them support every member not just those with in their chapters. [Back to questions] - What was your experience working with chapter officers outside your region?
Seeing the enthusiasm in each officer allowed me to see the possibility of future International Officers. [Back to questions] - What was your experience working with members outside your region?
Most of the members I met had just joined and were very excited in the thought of becoming a future officer. [Back to questions] - Did you find any major differences working with people outside your region, or did you learn anything that would enhance your region?
I learned a great deal from the regions that I went to. I found that there were some differences, like chapter roll call and state of the region from the coordinators, but mostly I found that I felt at home. They were all much like my home chapter and allowed me to become part of their families. The most important thing was that they all shared the love I had for Phi Theta Kappa! [Back to questions] - What was your experience working with your officer team?
I know this is going to be cliché, but I have met three of THE very best friends I will ever have in my life. I have learned to love these people and I know that no matter what or where we end up we will always have the bond we shared during our year as International Officers. [Back to questions] - How did your team plan international presentations and International Honors in Action project?
Planning presentations and our HIA project was over many meetings and took many hours of our orientation in Jackson. The team decided to sit down alone and talk about our goals and in doing so is how our HIA project was born. [Back to questions] - What was the best part of the position?
Meeting all of the people within the chapters and traveling to get there. [Back to questions] - What would you change, if you could?
I would like to see an exit interview be implemented into the end of our term. [Back to questions] - What qualities make for a good IO?
Much like that of a Regional Officer. I think it is very important to learn all that you can about the organization, current events and other cultures. Social intelligence is a very important quality in an International Officer because you will participate in many events and be very close to many different types of people and an International Officer should be able to handle any circumstance they are put in. [Back to questions] - What will you miss?
I will miss seeing my fellow International Officers and the headquarters staff as well as the regional coordinators, regional/chapter officers and members. Through this experience and meeting the people that I have has taught me a lot about myself. [Back to questions] - Any regrets?
I wanted to answer this question with one word and several exclamation points (NO!!!!!) but I realized that my lack of elaboration wouldn’t help anyone. So, I want everyone to know that there were times that it was tough and with the support of my team and HQ staff I can honestly say that I would do every moment of that year again. [Back to questions]
[Back to Running for Regional or International Office]
Updated 9/26/09
