PURPOSE
The purpose of leadership orientation is to:

1. Serve as an orientation and training session for new chapter officers and committee chairpersons.
2. Provide a forum for discussion of the improvement and development of the chapters.
3. Provide an opportunity for chapter officers and committee chairpersons to become personally acquainted with each other and the Institute directors and region committee chairpersons and to establish a relationship for communication on an inter-chapter basis.
4. Discuss region policies and procedures, including the schedule of host chapters for the region conference.
5. Review proposed nominees for Institute director.
6. Inform chapter leaders of Institute activities.

SCHEDULE
In order to encourage attendance by all officers and committee chairpersons of the various chapters, the orientation is hosted by the Dallas and Ft. Worth chapters because of their central location. Dallas hosts the meeting on even numbered years and Ft. Worth hosts it on odd numbered years. The orientation is typically held on the first full weekend in August each year.

Typically, the orientation starts late morning on Saturday and concludes around noon on Sunday, to allow travel time on the weekend with only one night's lodging. Typical schedule is as follows:

FRIDAY

1. Pre-conference golf and/or tennis tournament.
2. Hospitality suite in the evening.

SATURDAY

1. Meet with region committee chairpersons as a planning session for the region (usually a 2 hour morning meeting)
2. Begin formal sessions around noon with a working lunch. Institute directors use the time to update those in attendance on region and Institute news.
3. General leadership sessions on various subjects of interest.
4. "Break-out" sessions on specific topics.
5. Dinner in small groups on your own.
6. Hospitality suite in the evening.

SUNDAY

1. President's council meeting concurrent with smaller breakfast groups led by region committee chairpersons.
2. General leadership sessions on various subjects of interest.
3. "Break-out" sessions on specific topics.

FINANCES
The orientation is intended to be self-supporting with the registration fee providing all the income required to cover expenses. Chapters are encouraged to include an allocation in their budgets for funds to assist their leaders in attending the orientation.

PROGRAM
The Institute directors will determine the program, with items requested by the chapter presidents. Participation by all the chapters in the region is encouraged and the experience of the previous year's chapter presidents should be used in the meeting program.

ANNOUNCEMENTS
The host chapter shall issue one mailing in the summer region newsletter (to be mailed no later than July 1) and one follow-up announcement about two weeks prior to the event to all chapter officers, chapter committee chairpersons, and region committee chairpersons. The Institute directors should also include an announcement of the leadership orientation in their correspondence with the chapters.

ARRANGEMENTS
Physical arrangements for the orientation include rooms, food and meeting facilities at an appropriate motel or hotel. Coordinate the arrangements with the Institute directors after accommodations and prices have been checked by the host chapter orientation chairperson.

CHAPTER REPORTS
Each chapter shall prepare its year end report and deliver 15 copies to the orientation. The chapter year end reports will be distributed to the chapter presidents. Refer to the appendix for the recommended chapter year end report format.