Rules We Abide By: How Do Our Council Members Bring the Voice of Our Members With Them to International Convention?

March 31st, 2023 in Executive Board, International Events

By Ashley Dumat, Rho Omicron (Middle Tennessee State U), International Vice President

Can you believe it’s almost time for AOII International Convention 2023? AOII’s Convention—scheduled for June 22-25 in Grapevine, Texas—is a wonderful time for AOII sisters to gather, celebrate our sisterhood, and share our accomplishments. I am beyond thrilled that we are able to gather in person again for the first time since 2019, and I can’t wait to see everyone!

International Convention is an important event for AOII, because it is the time for all members of Council to play a key role in Policy Governance and in the future of the Fraternity by voting on amendments to our Governing Documents, in addition to selecting the Executive Board and Foundation Board members for the next biennium.

If you are a Collegiate Chapter President or Chapter Advisor, or an Alumnae Chapter President, you may be wondering how you, as a member of Council, can best prepare for this experience. Here are a few ways to make sure you are ready to represent your chapter during Convention:

My number one piece of advice? Make sure you read the Call to Convention! The Call is a document that contains pretty much everything you need to know: Convention schedule and rules, proposed amendments to the AOII Constitution and Bylaws, proposed 2023-2025 budgets, ballots and candidate information for both the Executive Board and Foundation Board, and more. The Call will be sent to Council members in a few weeks, so be on the lookout!
Once you’ve read through The Call, make sure you consult with the collegiate chapter members, CCAB members, or alumnae chapter members you’ll be representing. It is important to discuss with these groups how you can best represent them in your votes during business sessions.
If you have questions or need clarification on any of the items Council will be considering, I encourage you to reach out to your AOII Network team members. Network teams are there to support our chapters in many ways, and these sisters are wonderful and knowledgeable resources who may very well be able to assist with any questions you may have.

I hope all of our Convention attendees are looking forward to attending in June and playing a part in the future of AOII. I’ll see you all in Texas in June!