Don't let the investment of time and money that you made in BLTW 2007 go to waste! Make sure that your chapter completes its 2007-08 strategic plan as soon as possible.

Remember, people support that which they help create. So, the best practice is to hold a retreat (or at least a meeting) where your chapter stakeholders (or ideally your whole chapter) can get together to build the strategic plan together. A guide to planning a retreat is shown below and a sample retreat agenda is shown to the right.

• Ensure that you don't miss anything. Remember, a plan is not truly strategic unless it lists an inspiring shared vision, a set of SMART goals, and a list of actions that must be accomplished to achieve those goals. By writing your plan down, you will make sure that each element is complete.

• Involve your chapter stakeholders. Nobody wants to achieve someone else's goals. So, make sure to include as many members of your chapter as you can in the development of your plan.

• Share it with other chapters. The number one thing that everybody enjoys about BLTW each year is sharing ideas with other chapters. Why not post them online for the benefit of brothers everywhere?

• Paper is so...twentieth century. Gone are the days of the centralized workforce all sharing an local office somewhere. Today's teams are virtual, global and connected through information hubs. Maintaining a malleable wiki version of your strategic plan is a simple, quick process that is easier and more organized than loose files of paper floating around somewhere in your chapter house.

• Build a legacy for your successor(s). In your role, have you ever been frustrated that the former brother in your role didn't leave you enough materials for a smooth transition? Did you feel like you had to recreate everything from scratch? Well, it's your turn now. Don't be that guy who doesn't build bridges.

• Be an enduring leader. Your chapter sent people to Balfour Leadership Training Workshop so they could learn about leadership and build an inspiring shared vision together. If your vision is so good, don't you want to ensure that it lives beyond your term as a chapter officer? Help your successor(s) carry on the work of marching toward your chapter's vision in the years to come.

• Preparation for the real world. Strategic planning is not just something you do as a Sigma Chi exercise. It's a skill that most successful people share. The ability to inspire others to share a vision for a better future and to reach milestones on the way to that future is the single most important thing that you can possibly master during college.