Goals into Action: “ Great, Now What do I do?!”

1. Goals into Action:“Great, Now What do I do?!” Presented by Monica Gelinas ‘99 CHS NYC Chapter President August 2008

2. …to the Summit • A CHS God or Bible will tell you what to do • It’s really up to YOU • Just throw a “casual” event together • Everything is a reflect of you/organization • I love having this on my resume • Don’t kid yourself, it is a part time job • A moment to develop your leadership skills

3. Getting Folks Interested Apply the pyramid scheme Waterbed Method The Whole is Greater than the Sum ofIts Parts

4. Pre-Facebook Facebook Phil Miller Carmel D’Arienzo Pam Sole Turbo Hotelie! Kim M. Hehir

5. General Anxieties • How can this perpetuate beyond YOU? • Think of yourself as a talent scout • It is a constant process – do not stop • How do you build enthusiasm? • Direct communication and dialogue with members • Don’t rely on a few members • How do you set consistency and habit? • REGULAR meetings and check-ins • Organize calendar BEFORE the start of the Qtr

6. Getting Organized • Did you inherit a good foundation? • Some momentum • A few active or reliable members • “Signs” of others interested in attending • Know where to ask for help • Make an assessment • Sit down, think, write a goal and a plan • Rally your group – make it a ‘launch’ • Reach out to the School – get to know faces

7. For Example, CHS NYC • Inherited an extremely active Chapter • But varied from succession pres-to-pres • Resulted in: loss of ‘institutionalized knowledge’ • Good foundation from previous president: • Held monthly board meetings • Agenda with business approach • Resulted in: momentum and consistency

8. Apply Basic Biz Lessons • Give proper lead times • Don’t do the scramble • Properly communicate • Internal team • News circulation • Pinpoint someone that can move it forward when you drop the ball

9. Think Big, Bite Small • Before you start, think about a goal and plan you’d like to achieve, examples: • Find two new ‘board’ members? How? • Organize a joint event with another organization? • Hold an event targeted at recent graduates? • Regularly email calendar to group/alumni office? • Develop one strong regular yearly event? How? ---How it can be a HABIT…

10. During Your Term Don’t make is so broad it’s unachievable! • Write out what you’ve got (and not got) • Find the right “metric” for success • Succession Planning! Replace yourself! • Layout a people list based on interest and skill: President, Treasurer, Secretary, Industry Relations Chair, Tech Chair, Social Chair, Collegiate Chapter Chair, Hotel Show Co-Chairs, ‘Committee’ Volunteer Members • An AddedPURPOSE

11. Don’t Always Measure Events • Organization’s value is more than events • Relations built along the way • Can be reached by group or by individual • Exclusive of physical attendance • Meet individual schedules

12. The Approach Cornell University CHS Chapter Hotel School Alumni Office Development Office

13. Strategic Ideas • Technology improvement • Build on success of website • Data collection for targeted events • Engage those who can’t attend events • Make our lives easier as volunteers

14. Action and Results 1) Technology as a tool for change: • Improved our pay-online option • Personally lobbied CHS National, Alumni office for tech change • Worked with two interested members w/tech exp. • Worked with School IT department RESULT: Developing tech tool with School and Alumni Office, launching University efforts – excited the Chapter

15. Strategic Ideas 2) Cultivate new board members ongoing • Build broader base of young alumni as ‘committee members’ and volunteers • Build coherent passing of baton • Continuous cultivation despite ‘loss’ ratio

16. Plan and Results 2) Cultivate new board members ongoing • Held a small affair at my house for a ‘strategy session’ – 12 or so young alumni • Give everyone something specific to do –ownership/responsibility RESULT: - Despite losing four board members in 2008, had immediate replacements - Gained 10+ new interested members - Added to regular meeting attendance/mailings

17. Strategic Ideas 3) Organize joint and broader base events: • In conjunction with University broad goals • Focus on missing but specific audiences ie. recent graduates, summer interns • Use funds or sponsorship to defray costs for recent graduates 5 years out • Good way to sell ‘Hotelie’ network to interested ‘vendors’

18. Plan and Results 3) Organize joint and broader based events • Learned risk/responsibilities of joint events • Not always as easy as it looks to manage the administrative back-end, ie. payment RESULTS: - Understood other college alumni systems • Received CAF grant for two ILR/Johnson/Hotel School joint alumni events • Introduced to key people from other schools

19. Strategic Ideas 4) Cultivate a stronger direct relationship with School, Alumni and Development Offices • Develop direct communication with Christine and Meg for ‘ears on the ground’ • Work with School on joint events and goals

20. Plans and Results 4) Cultivate a stronger, direct relationship with School, Alumni and Development Offices • School and Offices becomes a Partner • Tie-in with School thru SIT program, summer interns, Collegiate Chapter work RESULTS: - Monthly updates ‘News from Hill’ • Working on supporting development’s scholarship efforts • Regular check-in with Christine and Meg

21. Be a Hotelie! greet strangers, smile, emanate “spend time with me”

22. Think Emily Post • Follow-up on every business card • Write a one-liner enthusiastic email • Inquire interest in helping • Ask about his/her strength/interest • Follow-up after every event • Ask for feedback, solicit dialogue • Give out contact details • Leave out postcards

23. Think Emily Post • Follow-up after event • Thank-yous to world & sponsors • Debrief post-event pros/cons • If someone stops attending – that’s a sign! • Regularly communicate with your core • Post-Meeting Gathering • Keep information in a neat pile for your successor

24. Think Edith Wharton • What will make people join with you? • Don’t do all the talking yourself • Watch the time! • Highlight successes of others/news • What events appealing to others? • Know your audience • Price, time, location, season

25. Think Paris Hilton • Every exposure is an opportunity! • Connect people in need • Be ready - may fall apart but have a back-up ie. Incoming Students Tour into Summer Interns • Don’t be ashamed to ‘talk-it-up’ and ‘ask’ for help and for others to pick up slack • Devil in the details!

26. 2008 Calendar • Varied point person per event defined in January 2008 • Measurable: 1) * Joint event 2) + subsidized cost • January - Happy Hour (Ben Cary) • February - Chocolate Wine Tasting –ILR/Johnson*+ (Holly Rosenblum) • March - Spa Panel with Mary Tabacchi and Cornelia Spa*+ (Annie Chen) • March - Private Equity Real Estate Panel – ILR/Johnson/Law*+ (Monica) • April - New York Cares+ (Ben Cary/Danielle Falcone) • May – Chilean Wine Tasting+ (Lara Chrisomalis) • June - Investment Conference Cocktails with Hotel School* (Erik Warner) • July - God’s Love We Deliver (Linda Yang) • August - Summer Intern Career Roundtable+ (Brad Burwell) • September - New Graduate Happy Hour+ (Daniel Cline) • October – Education Panel on Marketing* (Deniz O.) • November - Hotel Show Reception (Ben Davison/Sam Gleeson) • December - Holiday Happy Hour and Board Dinner (Erik Warner)

27. I’m Still Lost… • Can you get more info from Alumni or Development Office? • Can you identify your team? • Can you get a list of area hotelies to call? - Phone-a-ton, conduct a survey • Can you write a few personal emails? - Can you introduce yourself to others • Reach out to another Chapter to share ideas/questions? - Find a mentor

28. I’m SO Excited! • Can you plot out a calendar and work backwards: why/who/what/when/where/how? • Can you start one ‘landmark’ event? • Can you think of a group to partner with? • Can your event have added-value/purpose? • Can you pass information to ‘new’ folks? • Can you think of a sponsor? • Can you start a binder with key documents?

29. Into the Future • Regional and National connected to the Local • Chapter and individual accountability • Centralized efforts • Strategic plan – what is CHS? • Data-mining for targeted events • Fact sheets and ‘brochures’ from School • Chapter Help for Dummies Handbook

30. Thank You