The 2023 AFA Annual Meeting is designed to meet a diverse set of learning, development, and community building needs.. Attendees will find quality special events, networking opportunities, and chances to give back to the AFA Foundation. An overview of these special programs can be found below. Please review each carefully as some components require pre-registration or have a registration fee attached. Additionally, all events will take place in person at the AFA Annual Meeting unless designated otherwise.
Excursions
Excursions provide attendees an opportunity to explore the location the AFA Annual Meeting takes place in while building community with other attendees and understanding the city and region better. Excursions may last part of a day or an entire day. There is a vast array of things to experience in Tampa, FL and we hope attendees will take advantage of what the area has to offer!
The Florida Aquarium
Tuesday, November 28 | 9am, 11am & 1pm | $25
Join fellow attendees in exploring the deep blue sea at The Florida Aquarium! As a conservation-based attraction with mission-focused programs that include conservation, research, education, and outreach, The Florida Aquarium welcomes visitors to experience a wide variety of aquatic and terrestrial animals with the goal of building awareness and inspiring action for species and habitat conservation. For edutainment, guests will also explore complex ecosystems and engage with interactive and informational exhibits. More than a must-see attraction, The Florida Aquarium is working to protect and restore our blue planet through conservation efforts that include ground-breaking research and rescue efforts that help restore Florida’s coral and sea turtle populations.
To register for this event, follow the instructions to register for the AFA Annual Meeting – the only difference is you will click on the 2023 AFA Add-Ons Registration.
Graduate Student Programs
AFA values the preparation and development of graduate students. As those who will keep the profession thriving, the AFA Annual Meeting intentionally creates spaces and designs programs specific to helping elevate the work of graduate students within the profession. Below you will find programs curated to help graduate students thrive!
Order of Omega Case Study Competition | Cost: Free
Virtual Orientation | Monday, November 20 | 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. ET
Competition | Wednesday, November 29 | 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. & 5:00 p.m.-6:30 p.m.
The Order of Omega Case Study Competition provides an educational learning experience for graduate students and headquarter consultants involved in the fraternity/sorority profession. The Case Study Competition provides participants the opportunity to reflect on their academic and/or practical learning and apply it to a case focused on a complex situation a professional in the field could encounter.
The Case Study Competition consists of two tracks: (1) Crisis Intervention and (2) Systemic Issue. Teams of two will work on one case study and the team will present to a panel of judges. The intended goal is for participants to develop in their core competencies by participating in the track focused on the area they are seeking knowledge and skill.
Login credentials will be shared with participants closer to the virtual orientation session. Participants should plan on attending the virtual orientation session, but a recording will be made available. Participating in the Case Study Competition will not impact participants’ or judges’ opportunities to attend educational sessions on Wednesday.
This program is supported by Order of Omega.
Case Study Competition registration will be available October 2. Note: the maximum program registration is 24 individuals.
Project Job Search | Cost: Free
Wednesday, November 29 | 3:30 – 5:00 p.m. ET
Facilitator: Kevin Sabarre
Project Job Search is designed to enhance your internship or job search experience. Join us as we explore the employment journey – from resume & cover letter preparation, the interview process (including phone, Zoom, and on-site interviews), to the important art of negotiation. Project Job Search utilizes storytelling techniques and best practices to help you feel confident and prepared during your process. Participants will gain knowledge to enhance their resume and cover, questions to ask at different stages, negotiation tips, and strategies to identify your non-negotiables. Participants will leave with a personal action plan for their search experience.
Project Job Search registration will be available October 2. Note: the maximum program registration is 40 individuals.
Graduate Training Track | Cost: Free
Friday, December 1 | 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. ET
Facilitator: Guillermo Flores, Digital Media Director at Sigma Phi Epsilon, Founder of @FraternitySocialMedia
Graduate Training Track is designed to help you explore the AFA Core Competencies and forge your path to success. There is a theoretical side and practical side to the role of every fraternity/sorority educator and both are valuable. You understand each end of the spectrum and put in the time to understand how they fit into the larger context of our profession. Graduate school may entrench you in the theory of higher education, but a practical approach is needed to build the skills and best practices of a proficient and successful fraternity/sorority professional.
This interactive and personalized experience will allow participants to develop their own professional development action plan utilizing the AFA Core Competencies. Participants will assess their current skills and through self-exploration, review of personal goals, reflection on passion projects, and collaborative conversations, develop an action-oriented blueprint to guide them through their next steps within our field. We will focus on current issues facing fraternity/sorority life professionals and provide strategies for practical application.
The Graduate Training Track is made possible through an endowment with the AFA Foundation made possible by the generous support of Michelle Guobadia.
Graduate Training Track registration will be available October 2. Note: the maximum program registration is 40 individuals.
Fundraising
The AFA Foundation supports the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors, individual members, and our wider fraternal communities. It is the mission of the AFA Foundation to secure, invest, and distribute the necessary resources to support the educational objectives of AFA, other relevant research, scholarships, and educational programming that furthers the fraternity/sorority advising profession. Attendees are invited to participate in this year’s fundraising events, with proceeds all going to the AFA Foundation.
AFA Foundation Silent Auction
Wednesday, November 29 | 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Thursday, November 30 | 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Friday, December | 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
The AFA Foundation Silent Auction is one of the most popular events at the Annual Meeting. This year will be no different! All proceeds go directly to support those involved in the advisement of sororities and fraternities. Your donations help the AFA Foundation fund projects aimed at strengthening our profession, including research and professional development programs.
All individuals and organizations who donate items to the Silent Auction will be recognized by the AFA Foundation. Donors will receive fair market value for both donor credit and tax credit for their donated items or services. The fair market value of contributions is deductible to the extent allowed by law.
To participate in the Silent Auction, please fill out the Donation Form which is currently open and will close on Monday, November 13.
Because You Believe Stickers
Because You Believe stickers are a great way to acknowledge and thank your colleagues for believing in you! Stickers are $5 each and all sales benefit the AFA Foundation. Consider a sticker purchase for your mentors, fellow volunteers, current and former coworkers, or friends to display proudly on their Annual Meeting name tags. All sticker purchases can be made in-person at the Foundation desk at the Annual Meeting.
Exhibit Hall
- Exhibit Hall Preview | Tuesday, November 28 | 5:45 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
- Exhibit Hall Hours | Wednesday, November 29 | 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
- Exhibit Hall Demonstrations | Wednesday, November 29 | 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
- Exhibit Hall Hours | Thursday, November 30 | 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
The Exhibit Hall serves as a place where attendees can learn about the latest services, products, and technologies relevant to conduct quality work in fraternity/sorority life; it is a great networking space to learn how vendors can help you do your work better. AFA’s vendor members travel from all over the nation and offer services that enhance the work and operations of AFA’s members. Make sure to block off time to visit the Exhibit Hall; you may also earn some prizes in the process!
New in 2023 – Exhibit Hall Demonstrations!
Vendors will conduct 15-minutes onstage presentations in the Exhibit Hall to educate attendees about their products or services first-hand!
There is no pre-registration required to attend the Exhibit Hall. If your company or organization would like to have a booth in the Exhibit Hall, click here for more information.
HOT TOPIC DISCUSSIONS AND PROBLEM-SOLVING ROUNDTABLES
Thursday, November 30 | 5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
AFA members are looking for ways to engage with one another in a less structured environment, discussing topics that are important to them. In this space, attendees will select from different topics assigned to tables. Through group facilitated conversations, participants will contribute to each other’s learning focused on hot topics or will engage in conversation about issues they may be facing and work with other attendees on creating solutions.
No registration is required to attend. A schedule with specific discussion topics and locations will be released in November.
COMING SOON: Information about Regional Meetings and Affinity Group Time!
