Dollars for Scholars 2012-13 Conference Agenda

The 2012-13 regional Dollars for Scholars conferences, entitled "Creating Vibrant Futures Together," will build on last year’s success and continue the focus on ChapterNet; we'll also focus on the benefits and values of affiliation now and in the future, and offer concrete take-away information on topics such as fundraising and strategic planning. There will be two different learning tracks: a hands-on introduction to ChapterNet, and a series of special topics including an overview of recent Dollars for Scholars changes. Below is the general agenda for the day; specific times and details may differ per region.

 

8:00 - 9:00: Registration

 

9:00 - 9:15: Welcome
Scholarship America regional and national staff

 

9:15 - 10:00 Plenary Session
President & CEO Lauren Segal and/or other Scholarship America senior leaders will discuss benefits and values, and how we're working to help more students.

 

10:15 - 11:15: Concurrent Breakout Sessions
Track 1: Getting Started with ChapterNet
This session will take new and inexperienced users through all the steps necessary to set up their chapter in the ChapterNet system; this training will continue in the afternoon sessions. Topics covered will be website design and editing, setting up your chapter profile, basic scholarship profiles, and review of the student profile. Topics not covered will be application management, scoring and awarding.

Track 2: The Special Topics session will cover the following:
Changes to Dollars for Scholars Affiliation - An Interactive Discussion
Recently, Scholarship America announced changes in the requirements for chapter affiliation starting in January, 2014. This session is an opportunity for your chapter to ask questions, discuss concerns and find out exactly what your chapter needs to do to adopt these changes, and how Scholarship America can help.

Values and Benefits of Dollars for Scholars Affiliation
During this time of change and new requirements, your chapter may be wondering "what's in it for us?" This is a legitimate question, and one that Scholarship America takes very seriously. Join us as we discuss the many existing, new and planned benefits your chapter affiliation includes, and how your chapter can translate those benefits into real dollars and sense value. We also want to hear from you - what additional benefits should Scholarship America be offering?

 

11:30 - 12:45: Lunch
The lunch program will feature recognition of award winners and current ChapterNet participants, and a presentation of upcoming enhancements to the ChapterNet system. It will include a review of updates made to the website and scholarship management functions of ChapterNet as a result of user feedback plus an introduction to phase 2 enhancements, including document management, volunteer management, and fundraising management.

 

1:00 - 2:00 and 2:15 - 3:15: Concurrent Breakout Sessions
Track 1: The hands-on ChapterNet work will continue in the computer lab, focusing on chapter profile and scholarship setup.

Track 2: Two Special Topics sessions will cover the following:
Fundraising & Marketing: Getting Results With a Comprehensive Approach
Presenter: Mimi Daly Larson, Senior Vice President, Strategic Marketing & Development
Garnering attention and raising money is getting harder in a multi-media world where generational differences often determine people’s approach to communication, giving and engagement in causes. Therefore a thoughtful approach to strengthening your local Dollars for Scholars brand and improving fundraising results is increasingly important. This session will provide basic information to help you plan and execute a strong fundraising and marketing campaign in your community. You’ll learn about best practices, useful tools and new ideas to make the most of your community fundraising efforts, and leave the session with tools to get started on developing an integrated plan for your chapter.

Strategic Planning: Charting a Course for Success
Presenters: Mary Wynne, Vice President, Scholarship America Dollars for Scholars and/or Your Area Director
"Those who fail to plan, plan to fail." Does your chapter have a clear picture of where it should be going and how to get there? In a time of rapidly changing trends in higher education, technology and philanthropy, and new requirements for Dollars for Scholars chapters, now is the perfect time to put together a good Strategic Plan for your organization. This session is a succinct and practical introduction to the key concepts and techniques of strategic planning. You will learn the basic components and steps of strategic planning, and leave the session with a clear understanding of what your chapter can gain from developing a strategic plan. Resources and examples of strategic planning documents will be provided.

 

3:15 - 3:30 Wrap-Up:
In this session we will cover on-going support activities and answer questions about Scholarship America, Dollars for Scholars and ChapterNet.

 

Our thanks to the AXA Foundation, national supporting sponsor of the ChapterNet roll-out.

 

Register for Your Conference Today!