If the circle at an institution has gone dormant or inactive but has not had its charter recalled, this page will provide you with the basic steps to revitalize the circle.
Reestablishing a circle (chapter) on campus is relatively simple. The steps are presented below. The most important factors to consider are: a) how does a circle enhance the leadership environment of the campus, and b) what does that circle contribute to the Society as a whole. Before you start, it is essential to contact the National Headquarters immediately as you restart so the appropriate staff can assist the institution with the process. We recommend you read our Charter Relationship Statement. This document provides in detail what OΔK expects from the institution and what the institution can expect from OΔK. From the beginning of the partnership, it must be clear that OΔK is not a “student” organization. Still, a multi-generational association focused on honoring, educating, and promoting leaders and leadership.
Six Steps to Restarting an Inactive Circle
1. Establish the Working Group
Gather an initial group of students (30-40), faculty/staff, and alums who meet the OΔK membership criteria, as well as faculty, staff, and administrators who are currently OΔK members, to serve as members of the first class of the revitalized circle. This becomes the working group that will collectively develop and implement the plan.
2. Select Working Group Leaders
Select a faculty advisor, circle coordinator, student president, student vice president, and treasurer to serve as the officers until the initiation. These do not need to be current OΔK members because they can be initiated at the pending ceremony. It helps if OΔK members on campus can be part of the process. These officers must complete the national forms for advisors and student officers before conducting business with OΔK.
3. Register and Meet with Senior Officials
If necessary for institutional purposes, complete the on-campus student organization recognition process. The working officers should meet with the senior institutional administration (chancellor, president, provost, chair student affairs officer, dean of honors, etc.) to establish or reestablish a place and role for OΔK at the institution. Again, OΔK is not a “student” organization but should be considered an honor society of the institution, which has the programmatic support, including a budget, of the highest levels of the institution.
4. Meet with the Circle Contact
Each circle is assigned an OΔK staff member to serve as the Circle Contact (liaison). To find the contact for your circle, consult the Contact Map or email the National Headquarters (odknhq@odk.org). Once you have received this information, reach out to your Circle Contact. They will work with you to set up meetings with the working group to assist you with recruitment, initiation, and program planning. Also, ensure you use all the resources on the Circle Officers webpage. Every item on this page is a link to primary or secondary resources for the circle.
5. Recruitment and Selection
While the working group will all be considered for membership, recruiting and selecting members should be conducted to install a strong restart class. All potential members must complete the OΔK National Leadership Honor Society Membership Application. The working group will make the final selection of membership for the class. Before the Initiation Ceremony, the advisors must submit the Membership Certificate Order Form and ensure that all National Lifetime Membership Fees ($94 each) have been paid. The OΔK Circle Officer Handbook provides detailed information on recruitment and selection.
The final step in reestablishing a circle is the Initiation Ceremony. This is a formal ceremony at which the new members will be initiated, the circle officers installed, and the circle officially reestablished. When possible, we try to have an ODK staff member present to preside over the ceremony. Initiation ceremonies should be a celebration for the entire campus. Senior university officials, organization leaders, and families of initiates should all be invited to attend this celebration of leadership. If required by the campus, this ceremony could be conducted virtually.
For more information about restarting your circle, contact:
Jamie Bouldin
Director of Membership Services
jamie@odk.org
(540) 458-5348
