PREPARING YOUR ORGANIZATION FOR LEADERSHIP TRANSITION

1. PREPARING YOUR ORGANIZATION FOR LEADERSHIP TRANSITION

2. Planned leadership transition • Provides for the transfer of significant organizational knowledge • Minimizes the confusion of leadership changeover • Gives outgoing leaders a sense of closure • Utilizes the valuable contributions of experienced leaders, usually the most neglected members in you group • Increases the knowledge and confidence of the new leadership • Minimizes the loss of momentum and accomplishments for the group

3. Components of a Good Transition Plan • Overlap time of current and newly elected officers • Organizational manual • Well-designed meetings • Introductions to key people with whom the new officers will be working (e.g., faculty, administrators)

4. Transition Timing • If transition of leadership in your organization doesn’t allow for overlap, encourage the group to consider reviewing the constitution to change transition timing. • Constitutions can be changed at any time and should be sent to CSOLD for filing. • When questions, issues, or concerns come up, we refer to the constitution on file in CSOLD for how to proceed.

5. Transition Checklist • club’s history and organizational calendar • constitution and by-laws • organizational goals and objectives from previous years • position descriptions, detailed roles, responsibilities, and expectations • manuals, evaluations of previous projects and programs • previous minutes and reports • resources, Advisor contact information, CSOLD contacts • information on departments or student groups that have helped to co-sponsor events • previous programming paperwork and sample flyers • financial records, summary of expenses, and copies of processed vouchers • membership lists with member phone numbers and emails • club manager passwords • locker/storage room key/codes • office key code • organization email and/or website passwords • mailbox location and address • update the officer information in Club Manager so the correct people are getting all updates from CSOLD and so they do not miss the annual registration deadline in the fall

6. Resources • Advisor • Center for Student Organizations and Leadership Development staff and website • Senate Finance Committee/Student Government • Rochelle Krantz,Business Services

7. Helpful Ideas • Contact CSOLD staff or someone else not involved with the organization or committee to help facilitate the leadership transition. An outside perspective is often helpful in catching things taken for granted by the outgoing and incoming leadership. • Schedule an appointment with a CSOLD staff member to familiarize the incoming leadership with existing and new policies concerning student organizations. • Hold a retreat at which new and outgoing leadership can help plan for the upcoming year and better facilitate the leadership transition. Request a Workshop on Demand through CSOLD to plan and facilitate the retreat.

8. Questions? Jessica Lauritsen Assistant Director Center for Student Organizations and Leadership Development 320-308-3004 jslauritsen@stcloudstate.edu www.stcloudstate.edu/csold/organizations