TRANSITION

1. TRANSITION Simple ways to protect your organization’s legacy!

2. Why is it so important? • Continuous Progress of the group, not starting from scratch every year • Higher Level of Performance, building on the success of the group now • Avoid repeating past mistakes • Traditions • Prevent loss of Information • “Organizational Memory”

3. Important for new RSOs. • Important for old RSOs.

4. When? • When new leaders assume office at anytime during the year. • At the end of the year when old officers leave and new officers assume office. • Throughout the year in response to situations, changes, decisions, etc. • Whenever there’s an influx of new members.

5. TOOLS FOR TRANSITION • Officer notebooks, handbooks, and/or files (“Transition Binders”) • Outgoing officer to-do List • Clear communication • INTENTIONAL meetings with the aim to continue the organization’s progress

6. Correspondence • Budget information • Year-end report • Organization traditions • Student Involvement information • “How to” list (how to get funding, how to reserve space, etc.)

7. Outgoing Officer To-do List • Create your transition notebook • Meet with your successor to provide information to help him/her to assume the responsibility • Review the job description, constitution, bylaws, goals, mission statement, etc., and point out any areas that need revision or attention.

8. Set aside time not only to meet with your successor, but also for the outgoing and incoming executive boards to meet together.

9. Transition Binders • Constitution/Bylaws • University and Organization Mission Statements • Important names and numbers • Officer job descriptions • Meeting agendas and minutes • Goals: met and unmet

10. COMMUNICATION • Talk, email, facebook, tweet, etc. • Ask questions • Share organization mission and objectives • Discuss past, current, and future issues. • BE INTENTIONAL

11. New Officers: interview the old officers! • Old Officers: evaluate your own terms in office and share with new officers.

12. Transition Meeting • Allow enough time. • Ideally, there should be time for old/new officers to meet one-on-one AND a time for both outgoing and incoming officers to meet as a group. • Talk about the good stuff and everything else. • Be honest!

13. Very Important • Incoming officers needs to know Student Life policies and requirements • Share the RSO Manual…it is available at our website: www.ksustudent.com • Standard meetings: the Fall RSO meeting (held the week prior to the start of classes); the Spring RSO meeting (held in late January). • ALL RSOs MUST REGISTER EACH YEAR.

14. Minutes • Please please please take minutes at your meetings! • Everyone should have access to the minutes. • Minutes are important because: • They document the actions of your organization • They provide a record of decisions that were made • They serve as the memory of the organization

15. Passing the Torch • While the essence of the organization remains the same, each set of leaders will add a different touch to the group. • Outgoing officers: there’s no guarantee that things will remain the same when you’re gone, but if you have documented your work, you’ve left your mark! • Incoming officers: build on the work that the outgoing leadership has done.

16. R-E-S-P-E-C-T For the past For the present For the future