The 2020 National Volunteer Leadership Retreat was reimagined into a virtual three-part series that took place on July 11, August 15 and September 12.

The program, led by Adam Carroll, Phoenix-Thunderbird, and Tim Augustine, Kent State (OH), was custom-designed to meet the needs of volunteer leaders today (including this COVID and virtual environment). It was specially designed to be delivered in a live format as a large group and in small group breakouts.

The final session started with GP Tricia Smith addressing attendees about the importance of volunteer leaders in this “next normal”. Key messaging included anticipating constant change and the need to work together being important now more than ever.

Afterwards, attendees were broken up into small groups to discuss biggest challenges learned from the start of the school year and sharing best practices for overcoming those challenges. The main group came back together to discuss the best ways to facilitate communication in a virtual environment and keeping Deltasigs engaged in ways that are unique to our current circumstances.

Leaders also learned the importance of positivity and motivation, with the example that it takes four positive comments to overcome every negative one. Participants also shared their greatest mentors, reflected on what those people offer as volunteer leaders, and their legacy/impact on collegiate members.