Membership Training
Well-trained members lead more successful projects, make the functions of the chapter more efficient, and become more active alumni. Here are some tips on how to successfully train your members to their benefit and yours.

• Personal Training
  
  Sample Ideas:
  
  
  • Resume Workshop
  • Guest Speakers
  • Career Fair Prep
  • Fitting into a company culture: How to make the transition from college to working world.
  • Interviewing Workshop

Who do you get to speak about these topics?

• Chapter alumni
• Local SMEI chapter
• Member contacts
• PSE National Sponsors
• Professor contacts
• University Career Services office

• Organizational Training
• Market Research Training: How to host a focus group; how to write a discussion guide; how to moderate; how to analyze data.
• Project Manager Training: How to update on project progress; management skills; organizational skills; budgeting; promoting events; regulations on campus; motivation techniques, etc.
• Sales Training
• Recruitment Training
• Professional Development Training  

For more information on Membership Training, contact Chris Stafford

Project Manager Training
Projects are the center focus of Gamma Gamma – it is through working on projects that members develop the most.  We place a great deal of focus on training team members and Project Managers throughout the year.  It is our goal to prepare all future Project Managers so that they will be able to succeed in their position. 

At least once each semester the Vice President of Marketing leads a Project Manager training session.  Those members who have aspirations of becoming Project Managers are required to attend this session and become ‘Certified’ Project Managers. Our training session prepares them in the following areas:

• Understanding and utilizing the Feasibility Analysis
• Creating a project budget
• Setting effective project goals and objectives
• Self-motivation and team motivation
• Meeting both long-term and short-term deadlines
• Thinking creatively when determining project goals and overcoming obstacles and challenges
• Effectively communicating with team members and respective director.
• Keeping the Director involved without asking to be micro-managed
• Useful creativity
• Maintaining a healthy relationship and effective communication with the client
• Proper behavior and management tactics consistent with the chapter’s hard-working and honest reputation

         
Through PM training, all members who attend become Certified. Certification ensures that these members are now aware of the responsibilities and general strategies the position will entail.   Training sessions will thoroughly address each of the four services we provide (Marketing Research, Sales, A&P, Community Service).  

We provide each PM with a Project Manager Guide. This booklet of information contains the following:

• Budgeting guidance and expense reporting
• Project goals worksheet
• Client contact information page
• Team member list
• CEI reporting guidelines
• Project journal
• Public relations guidelines/press release template
• Scholarship Points guidelines
• Post-project reporting and future suggestions
• Project Manager and team member evaluation forms

For more information on Project Manager Training, contact Garrett D’Ottavio.

Executive Board Training
Each year, our Executive Board goes through an extensive training process to help them prepare for the position. This is also a good time to determine the direction of the chapter for the year and become acquainted with the other board members.  Here are some simple steps to take when trying to develop a successful officer training program.

• Elect your officers at least a month before they officially take office- this allows ample time for the new officers to shadow the old officers and learn the position.
• Have officers’ terms coincide with the CEI point year to decrease confusion.
• Create hard and soft copy training manuals for each position.
• Set aside time to plan for the upcoming year- hold an Executive Board retreat at which your board members create goals for the year (personal and chapter), plan a calendar, and discuss the Annual Plan.

For more information on Executive Board Training, contact Chris Stafford.

New Member Training
Our Prospective Members receive extensive training in order to prepare them to be exceptional members within our chapter.  To do this, they must complete certain requirements and participate in specific events to bond closer with the chapter.  The requirements that prospective members of Gamma Gamma must complete to become initiated are:

• Completion of a test on the History of Pi Sigma Epsilon
• Attendance to weekly new member meetings
• Lunches with the VP of Prospective Members, one Executive Board member, a Director, and a general member
• Attendance at mandatory events (retreat, Big/Little bowling, etc.)
• Two hours of community service
• Participation in the new member projec

First Step Initiative
The First Step Initiative is designed to help ease the transition of prospective members into the chapter. We match a current member with a new member, and the current member acts as a mentor to the prospective member, guiding him/her through their training process.  Mentors sit with their prospective members during their first General Business Meeting so that the prospective member can ask questions to help better understand the chapter. 

Bigs/Littles
We use a Big/Little system, much like many social fraternities use.  A Big is assigned to a new member to act as a friend and mentor throughout their participation in PSE.  As a way for the Bigs and Littles to bond with each other, a bowling night is held during the new member training process. This provides a great opportunity for the new members to get to know everyone else in the chapter.

     
For more information on New Member Training, contact Ashton Haider.