The ARCS Foundation Council of Presidents brings chapter leaders from around the country together to share their best ideas and aid the national organization in its work. Made up of the president or one co-president from every chapter, the council’s purpose is to enhance chapter leadership by identifying common approaches and solutions that represent their best collective thinking and practices and to share chapter materials with one another.  Chapter presidents report tremendous value from the lessons learned from their peers. 

Representatives of the Council of Presidents play a critical role in the leadership of the ARCS national organization. The chair of the Council of Presidents is elected by its members and is a member of the ARCS national board of directors and the national nominating committee. The chair and past chair, along with four other members elected by the council membership, help govern the organization as members of the national board of directors. 

Christine Hawes of the Phoenix Chapter was elected to chair the council in June and looks forward to helping bring the best ideas from the various chapters to the national organization via the council. The other board representatives from the council include Sara Jean Burke of Atlanta, Joan Foley of Oregon, Kathy Testoni of Pittsburgh, Marcia Lewis of Seattle, and immediate past chair Laura Springhetti of Utah.

“The needs and ideas the chapters bring to the national organization help define its priorities and shape the support it offers at the chapter level.  As ARCS National moves forward with our long-range plan, we’ll be working together to have uniform branding and messaging across the entire organization, benefiting all of the chapters,” Hawes said. “The national organization is now providing professional materials for communicating our mission and will be helping chapters connect with scholar alumni. Members of the council benefit not only from learning from each other but also from their collective ability to help National focus its support where members and chapters will benefit the most.”