REAL Leadership Retreat
The REAL Leadership Retreat (RLR) is a virtual leadership retreat for newly elected collegiate chapter executive council officers. Gamma Phi Beta is dedicated to equipping collegiate leaders with the skills to be effective leaders in their chapters and beyond. The REAL Leadership Retreat helps newly elected executive council members understand their personal communication style, navigate team norms and become positive role models in their chapter.
What Past Participants Say
“I really enjoyed the way that this retreat was run! I felt very confident in the conversations I was able to have with my council, and I appreciated the guidance provided by this training.”
“The retreat had a lot of great information to know as an incoming officer. It really helped me realize the resources to utilize when in leadership within your chapter.”
“I think creating our goals as an [executive council] created a huge sense of connection and trust between us after this retreat. The biggest take away for me is learning to be strong as an [executive council].”
“I liked being able to see how different executive teams operate and learn from them and maybe even implement things that work for them.”
“Thank you so much for taking time out of your day to explain real leadership to us!! It means the world to have strong women as mentors and guides in my personal and professional life!”
REAL Leadership Retreat 2026 Facilitators
Check back soon to meet your 2026 RLR Facilitators!
REAL Leadership Retreat 2026 dates:
January 10, 9 am-12 pm MT
- January 10, 1-4 pm MT
- January 11, 9 am-12 pm MT
- January 11, 1-4 pm MT
- January 24, 9 am-12 pm MT
- January 24, 1-4 pm MT
- January 25, 9 am-12 pm MT
- January 25, 1-4 pm MT
- January 31, 9am-12 pm MT
- January 31, 1-4 pm MT
- February 1, 9am-12 pm MT
- February 1, 1-4 pm MT
Newly elected AVPs should complete the following registration form at least one week prior to their desired RLR date.
Preparing for the REAL Leadership Retreat (RLR)
All newly elected executive council officers and chapter advisor(s) are expected to participate in RLR from one location on one device. To support this learning, officers should uphold the following engagement expectations. If your executive council can’t join from the same location, please email fidelity@gammaphibeta.org.
- All members of the executive council should join from one device.
- Make sure the chapter advisor is in attendance in person.
- Each individual should also bring a preferred device to access their Officer Transition Guide. It is expected that each executive council officer follows along and takes their own notes throughout the retreat.
- Administrative vice presidents: Consider reserving a room in your chapter facility or a campus building and providing snacks and refreshments to elevate the in-person retreat experience.
Follow the below speaking order to ensure each member of your executive council serves as a spokesperson during large group conversations. Note: The sharing order follows the content provided in the RLR section of your Officer Transition Guide.
- Community Expectations: Chapter president
- Characteristics of Effective Teams: Administrative vice president
- Team Personalities and Executive Council Responsibilities: Education vice president
Collaboration: Finance vice president
- Initiating Difficult Conversations: Membership vice president
- REAL Leaders: Panhellenic affairs vice president
- SMARTIE Goals: Public relations vice president
- RLR Takeaways: Chapter advisor
Technology tips:
- Test device sound to ensure that all participants can hear.
- Ensure that all eight participants (seven executive council members and chapter advisor) are visible in the device’s camera.
- Have a backup device ready in case of technical difficulties.
- Assign one person as the “tech liaison” to manage the virtual connection (muting, camera adjustments and troubleshooting).
- This tech liaison should also monitor the chat for questions or input from virtual participants.
- Keep charging cables and extension cords nearby to prevent battery issues.
RLR Frequently Asked Questions
The AVP is responsible for registering all retreat participants. To do this, the AVP should complete the following:
- Work with her chapter’s executive council officers and chapter advisor to identify one retreat date all participants can attend.
- Gather registration information from attendees. This includes participants’ first name, last name, preferred email address and preferred phone number.
- Hint: You can also find this information in Beta Base!
- Use the compiled participant information in step two to register for RLR. Registration must be completed one week prior to the desired RLR date. After the AVP has submitted the registration form, your chapter’s required attendees will be registered for the identified retreat date in Zoom and receive confirmation via email. This process may take up to seven business days.
- Connect with your chapter’s retreat participants the Monday prior to your scheduled retreat date to confirm that all participants have access to the retreat Zoom link, have downloaded their Officer Transition Guide and have begun and/or completed the required Fidelity online lesson for their position.
Any questions about RLR registration should be directed to your chapter advisor.
Administrative vice presidents are required to register their chapter at least one week prior to their desired retreat date. Therefore, all registrations should be completed no later than January 20, 2025. Administrative vice presidents who do not register their chapter at least one week prior to their desired retreat date are not guaranteed attendance at that retreat and may be required to both find an alternate retreat date and re-register. Advance registration recommended as retreat dates fill up quickly.
Chapters should not change RLR registration dates after their registration form has been submitted. REAL Leadership Retreat date changes will be accepted on a case-by-case basis only. As such, it is imperative that the AVP thoroughly discusses RLR date availability with newly elected executive council officers before completing the retreat registration form.
Each executive council member has a specific role to play, and this retreat is tailor-made for each role. For this reason, no substitutions will be accepted.
Attendance at RLR is required for every executive council. If a chapter’s executive council fails to attend RLR, they may be responsible for covering the cost of an in-person facilitator to visit their chapter.
Following the completion of RLR, the chapter president is responsible for uploading the chapter goals to Beta Base. The executive council should plan to meet with their chapter’s collegiate chapter supervisor (CCS) to receive feedback regarding their chapter vision and chapter goals. Once the executive council has received feedback, the chapter president should submit their final chapter goals in Beta Base by February 15.
For questions regarding registration or availability, contact your chapter advisor. Questions not answered by your chapter advisor can be directed to fidelity@gammaphibeta.org.
Gamma Phi Beta leadership, education and philanthropic programming is funded in part by the Gamma Phi Beta Foundation. We extend our sincere gratitude to the Foundation and the many generous donors that allow the Sorority to create this programming.