Starting 2025: A Guide for Advisors and Leaders

The beginning of the year is always hectic, so we have created a short guide to starting the year for ELA Chapter Advisors and Chapter Leaders.

Recruiting New Student Members

Recruiting new student members is key to the success of your chapter this year. We have produced an informative poster that outlines the benefits to students of ELA membership. It may be useful to circulate this among potential candidates along with information about chapter activities and contests, awards, and grants.

Payment of Membership Fees

Each accepted student member must pay a one-time fee of $10. Chapters Advisors should decide to whom payments must be made (usually school finance offices) and by what deadline.

Enrolling New Student Members

Enrolling student members is key to ensuring that everyone can benefit from ELA membership. Enrollment takes place in ELA Gateway. Please do not enroll students if you have not received their membership fees. Enrollment in the ELA Gateway system will generate an invoice that can be paid either by check or credit card. Please contact Chris Lockwood, ELA Director, if you have any issues with enrolling students.

Induction Ceremony

Induction ceremonies are a wonderful way to formally start the school year. To plan and orchestrate them, we have provided a guide and sample script. Please share photos with us @elahonorsociety on Instagram.

Planning Activities

Our Chapter Planning page provides a month-by-month breakdown of everything that is going on at ELA. You are welcome to use this to create your own chapter calendar. Our Chapter Activities page, Creative Challenges, and Big Read Reader might also be of interest to you.