This past summer, I attended ILTC. This was not only one of the most informative experiences I’ve had, but also one of the most enjoyable. I didn’t want what I learned at ILTC to go to waste, so throughout the program, I wrote down ideas that I felt could be applied directly to my region and help me make a stronger impact as Regional Godol.

One of the first things I noted was the importance of strengthening sorority and fraternity traditions in my region. Through conversations with my Blueprint group and friends, I realized that Manhattan lacks many of these traditions since we are primarily made up of BBYO chapters rather than separate AZA and BBG chapters. I wanted to address this at our Fall Convention. During our AZA separates program, we led a section focused on the history of AZA and its original traditions. One of the most meaningful moments was teaching the Alephs in my region the AZA password, Ami. On the final day, I also taught the region our cheers, something Manhattan does not always fully know, and it led to one of the most energetic and fun cheer circles our region has had.

Another major takeaway from ILTC was the importance of offering a wide variety of events. Retaining members requires a balance between structured, engaging programs and more relaxed, less structured ones. This balance allows members to build stronger relationships while still experiencing the leadership opportunities BBYO provides. To bring this idea back to my region, I worked with my Regional S’ganim to guide their counterparts in planning a mix of event types. Since then, I have noticed higher engagement in meetings and stronger member retention.

These are just two of the many lessons I took from ILTC. Through this experience, I came to understand how important summer programs are for Regional Presidents; as a result, at the summer Regional Leadership Training Institute (RLTI), I proposed legislation to require a summer program for candidates running for Regional President. This will help ensure that Regional Presidents continue bringing new ideas back to Manhattan and that the region keeps growing.

ILTC is an experience I will remember for a long time, and it played a major role in my decision to go to ISLI this summer.