During the Month of August or September
Welcome Event
Chapters will host an event such as an information table with refreshments at the student union building, new students’ orientation, or new students’ mixer to welcome new students and inform them about the benefits of joining NSMH. Other related activities could include hosting tours around campus for new students or visiting their student orientation classes/seminars. A good idea is to host a “Freshman Focus” event to welcome new freshman that intend on majoring in hospitality/tourism management, and to introduce them to NSMH.
During the Month of October
October 1st - National NSMH T-Shirt Day
All NSMH members are encouraged to wear their NSMH apparel and other paraphernalia (which can be purchased on the website), as a sign of their NSMH pride as well as to raise awareness of NSMH on campus.
October 1st - Membership Drive- Within the first month of school starting
All chapters should send in their Chapter Registration/Renewal forms for the year. The final deadline is October 1st, but there are incentives for those chapters that send in their information postmarked by September 30th. This is one of the most important events as you should be encouraging the growth of NSMH within your program. We suggest that you put up information booths, flyers, hold information sessions and go to the other classes in your program and give a brief description of NSMH and why students should join.
During the Month of November
Regional Conferences- Dates and Locations Vary
One of the largest programs that NSMH holds is our Regional Conferences. This program is used to help with the professional development of our members. Interact with company sponsors and students from other schools in a more intimate setting. Regional conferences provide chapter-strengthening sessions, tools for professionalism and etiquette, as well as a source of motivation for chapters to work toward membership growth and participation in the National Conference.
N$MH Dollar Day$
Throughout the month of November, chapters will patronize local minority-owned hospitality businesses and keep a log along with saved receipts of how much they spend. The chapter logging the most dollars spent will receive a special award! Chapters should encourage others around campus and within their communities to support these businesses as well. Chapters may also want to use this as an opportunity to raise money by informing the area businesses that they will be having a special program throughout the month, encouraging patronage of their business. They may make flyers or posters that say some like “The (your school name here) Chapter of NSMH supports local minority-owned businesses”, followed by a listing of the business. This will help chapters build a supportive relationship with local businesses and hopefully make it easier to persuade them to become sponsors to your chapter on a local level. This will also provide chapters a way to find local sponsorship without “double dipping” into the sponsorship that NSMH receives on a national level.
Resume Mania Workshop- No Later than November 14th
All chapters should use their campus career center, local company sponsor representatives, or our regional conference as opportunities to perfect their resumes. Ger ready for recruiting season as well as to include your resume in the National Resume Bank.
During the Month of December
S.T.R.E.N.G.T.H.- Before December 31st
Start recruiting students for CHAPTER STRENGTH (Students Taking Responsibility in Engineering New Growth Through Hospitality). Locate high schools in your area to begin targeting for our STRENGTH scholarship competition. At this year’s National Conference we will award scholarships to one student from the host city of the conference and one to a deserving student from across the nation. Create a flyer advertising the NSMH Pre-College portal page (www.nsmh.org/portal).
Chapters can also get involved with this high school outreach program by participating in our third Pre-Conference Outreach Program happening on Thursday, February 10, 2011 at a high school in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Industry Outlook- No later than December 31
As the year comes to a close, your chapter should take an opportunity to patronize a hospitality venue. Whether it is a hotel visit, eating an end of the year dinner or going to a theme park, take the time to observe one sector of our industry. Make plans to discuss part year’s trends and upcoming ones with a manager, faculty member or industry sponsor.
Community Service Event- No later than December 31st
Consider doing some community service right before or after regional conferences. It will be a great time for your chapter to do some bonding, keep in touch with local community and show your local pride! Being able to show strong chapter pride and spirit will come in handy for the upcoming National Conference where you are eligible to win one of our prestigious chapter awards! This is also another opportunity to invite STRENGTH students, faculty advisors or other club members to show support for your local community.
Friends of Finals (Study Night)- One week before finals
Chapters will host an evening during or just before term final exams where suitable NSMH members will provide tutoring and academic help to fellow students. This will also provide students a chance to meet and form study groups in preparation for their exams. Chapters may want to invite faculty members from their hospitality department to work with the students as well as provide help in university general courses. Other ideas to help this event become a success include providing refreshments or selling study packs that include pen/pencils, approved test booklets, candy, and other items to help students make it through finals.
During the Month of January
Pre-Conference Professional Development
Each chapter of NSMH will host a series of workshops and seminars on resume writing, networking, dining etiquette, proper business attire, etc., in order to be prepared for the National Conference. Each chapter should create a checklist of items to be sure to bring to the conference so that no one is caught unprepared!
National Conference Survival Guide- Month of January
Each chapter will have its own “Conference Blitz” similar to what is held on the national level. The person in charge of your chapter’s public relations will send out correspondence (e-mails and newsletter) throughout the month informing and reminding chapter members of deadlines, travel arrangements, etc, in relation to attending the National Conference. Around this time, include preparation guidelines for the National Conference in the agendas of your chapter meetings. Chapters may also want to take time this month to provide a short program on proper business etiquette, so as to prepare members to put their best feet forward at the conference. Remember, there will be an award for the most professional and polished chapter at the conference.
During the Month of February
Annual NSMH National Conference- February 10-13, 2011
Every student should be attending the annual National Conference. The conference rotates its location every year, in order to strengthen the NSMH regions and expose members to other tourism locales. This is an opportunity to participate in the National Resume Booklet, Chapter Awards, Scholarships, and Candidacy for the National Board.
During the Month of March
Post-Conference Event- No later than March 31st
After returning from the National Conference, chapters may want to host an event such as a reception to highlight and share their experiences at the National Conference with faculty and other students who were unable to attend. This may include a slide show of pictures taken and reports given by those who did attend. Chapters may also want to provide refreshments and have a mixer at the end of the evening to allow everyone to talk and reminisce about the conference. This would also be a good time to recruit and inspire new members by hosting an NSMH information desk on campus and inviting students who stop by to come to the reception and learn more about NSMH.
Taste of NSMH- No later than March 31
Chapters will host an event during the month of March to highlight the different cultures represented within each chapter. This event could be a buffet-style dinner with different foods made by chapter members and/or donated by local (minority-owned) restaurants that can be invited to participate as well. Chapters could invite different campus groups to come and perform special talents that represent their cultures in order to go along with the multicultural theme. This event will not only raise awareness of NSMH, but could be a big money maker as well!
NSMH National Hospitality Week- March 28- April 1, 2011
Chapters should host programs each day during this week. All members are encouraged to wear their NSMH paraphernalia throughout the week and each chapter is encouraged to have an information table to distribute information about NSMH and help draw in new members all week long. Chapters should have some type of professional enrichment activity such as hosting a luncheon and inviting a member of the hospitality industry or faculty to come and speak. Chapters should also try to include the high school students that they worked with for the STRENGTH Program in October in the week’s events. Chapters may want to sell raffle tickets throughout the week with a drawing on Friday in addition to some other big event such as a party or dance to wrap up the week’s activities.
During the Month of May
Community Service Day- No later than May 1st
Choose a day during before May 1st, when your chapter can find ways to give back to community. Invest your time into causes that are related to the hospitality industry. This can be a project that is hosted by the chapter or partnered with another organization. Each year at the national conference NSMH recognizes a chapter with the Clyde Robinson Award for community service. Although this should not be the motivation for doing community service, it sure is a special reward.
Friends of Finals Part 2- One week before finals
Chapters will host an evening during or just before term final exams where suitable NSMH members will provide tutoring and academic help to fellow students. This will also provide students a chance to meet and form study groups in preparation for their exams. Chapters may want to invite faculty members from their hospitality department to work with the students as well as provide help in university general courses. Other ideas to help this event become a success include providing refreshments or selling study packs that include pen/pencils, approved test booklets, candy, and other items to help students make it through finals.
|
Membership Area 
