Building Your Leadership Network

Creating a Statewide Leadership Structure

As State DAP Chair, your effectiveness depends on building a strong network of district and lodge leaders across your state. You can't personally reach every school and community—but you can develop a team that does.

Understanding Your Role

The State Chair position is fundamentally different from lodge or district leadership:

• Scale: You're responsible for potentially dozens of lodges across a large geographic area
• Indirect influence: You achieve results through others, not through direct action
• Strategic focus: You set direction and priorities while others execute
• Resource allocation: You control materials distribution and recognition programs
• External representation: You represent DAP to state Elks leadership and external partners

The Leadership Hierarchy

Your leadership network typically includes:

District DAP Chairs

Your primary direct reports. They coordinate multiple lodges within their district and serve as your eyes and ears on the ground. In larger states, strong District Chairs are essential—you simply can't maintain direct relationships with every Lodge Chair.

Lodge DAP Chairs

The front-line leaders who actually deliver programs in schools and communities. While you may not interact with each one regularly, you're responsible for ensuring they have the training, materials, and support they need.

State Committee Members

Consider recruiting additional volunteers to help with specific functions: contest coordination, materials management, training development, or communications.

Recruiting District Chairs

Strong District Chairs make your job possible. When recruiting:

• Look for leadership experience: Past Lodge Chairs, Exalted Rulers, or community leaders
• Prioritize communication skills: They need to motivate and guide Lodge Chairs
• Consider geography: Someone who can realistically travel within the district
• Seek commitment: District Chair is a multi-year role requiring consistent engagement

Work with District Deputy Grand Exalted Rulers and state leadership to identify and recruit strong candidates.

Supporting Lodge Chairs

Even if District Chairs are your primary contacts, Lodge Chairs need to know you're accessible:

• Make your contact information widely available
• Respond promptly to questions and concerns
• Visit lodges when possible, especially struggling ones
• Recognize that some Lodge Chairs may need to bypass their District Chair occasionally

Communication Strategies

Effective state-level communication requires multiple channels:

Regular Updates

• Monthly or quarterly newsletters to all DAP volunteers
• Email updates on deadlines, opportunities, and resources
• Social media presence for quick announcements

Meetings

• State convention DAP sessions (often your biggest audience)
• Regional gatherings when geography allows
• Conference calls or video meetings for District Chairs

One-on-One

• Regular check-ins with District Chairs
• Personal outreach to struggling lodges
• Recognition calls for outstanding performance

Building a Team Culture

The most effective state programs have a strong team identity:

• Celebrate successes publicly and share best practices
• Create friendly competition between districts or lodges
• Recognize that different lodges have different capacities
• Foster collaboration rather than isolation
• Make DAP leadership feel like being part of something meaningful