Volunteer Summit

2024 Event Recap

Volunteer Summit 2024 took place on June 21-23, 2024 with over 200 attendees. This fun leadership development event targeted key collegiate chapter volunteers to equip them with the information, resources, and connections they need to thrive in their roles. For this year’s event, Chapter Advisors, Network Directors, NS-Membership Experience, NS- New Chapter Development, International Standing Committee Chairs, professional staff, and volunteer facilitators were invited to attend. Activities were packed into a day-and-a-half for our attendees who soaked up the education, fun, and sisterhood. 

Summit kicked off on Friday with a reception and Power Session led by AOII’s International President Susan Bonifield and AOII Executive Director Kaya Miller. The insightful message touched on trends in higher education and within AOII. The Executive Board took the stage next for a question-and-answer session on topics ranging from how they began their volunteer experience to how AOII has impacted their lives.  

This year we implemented a new event feature we termed “Table Talks”. Table Talks featured a variety of idea-sharing topics hosted by an expert in that subject matter. These were a hit! Attendees walked away with greater understanding, encouragement, and practical ways to implement learned knowledge.  

Our 2024 Summit speakers were Dr. Will Frankenberger and Lizz Carter Clark. 

Dr. Frankenberger is a health, wellness, and trauma response professional in the fraternity and sorority world for more than a decade. Will’s session ‘”It’s All In Your Head” and other terribles things to say to people battling mental health challenges’ helped attendees reflect on how they can best care for others.  

Lizz Carter Clark is the founder of the nonprofit College Moxie, whose mission is to empower every woman to know their worth so that collectively they can raise the bar on campus culture and become better friends to one another. Lizz’s session was a message that empowered a room full of alumnae volunteers supporting AOII’s collegiate chapters. 

Attendees had the opportunity throughout the weekend to attend five Volunteer Power Sessions, quality Network time, Table Talks, and Learning Tracks covering a variety of topics that equipped volunteers to continue their great work. 

Wrapping up the event was the presentation of one of AOII’s most prestigious awards, the Muriel T. McKinney Award, which honors a Chapter Advisor for outstanding guidance and length of service to a collegiate chapter. This year’s recipient, Leslie Freidberg Michaels, was in attendance and lovingly recognized by the Theta Iota (California State U, San Marcos) Chapter President, Jade Teserio. 

Attendees had opportunities on Friday and Sunday to visit the new Archives Museum at AOII’s International Headquarters. Nearly half the attendees made the short drive over to Brentwood to take in the exhibits.