The Role of the House Director pages 2-3 Table of Contents

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  Works with the chapter officers and alumni/ae boards to:
  
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    Maintain a clean and hazard-free chapter house
    
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    Make recommendations for major purchases, repairs and replacements
    
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    Enforces policies as required by the national organization, the university, the House Corporation Board and the undergraduate officers
    
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  Responds to emergencies as needed
  
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  Serves as a “parent away from home”…a listener, a counselor and a friend
  
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  Supervises the openings and closings of the house during vacations and breaks
  
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  Oversees the kitchen operations, which may include:
  
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    Hiring and evaluating personnel (cooks, servers, housekeepers, etc.)
    
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    Planning menus and organizing files and other resources
    
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    Ordering food
    
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    Ensuring proper preparation, serving and storage of food
    
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    Maintaining a clean, sanitary kitchen operation
    
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    Managing the food and housekeeping budgets, including any petty cash operation
    
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  Holds weekly meetings with the chapter officers and is in contact with the alumni/ae and House Corporation Board frequently
  
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  Informs members of concerns or issues which need to be addressed
  
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  Serves as the official chapter host for planned activities (Parent’s Weekend, Alumni Weekend, etc.)
  

Homesickness often arises, especially for freshman.

New students begin to realize life at college is not as perfect as they were led to believe by parents, teachers and counselors. Old problems seem to continue and new ones are added.

Mid-term workload pressures are followed by feelings of failure and loss of self-esteem.

Academic pressure is beginning to mount because of procrastination, difficulty with work, and lack of ability.

Extra-curricular time strain occurs; seasonal parties, concerns, social service projects and religious activities drain student energies.

Post-holiday depression may arise once members are away from the secure and positive environment of home.

Many students experience optimism because second semester is perceived as going “downhill”.

Depression increases for those students who have failed to establish a social relationship or achieve a moderate amount of recognition.

Drugs and alcohol use increase significantly before, during and after spring break.

Academic pressures continue and midterm results are received.

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  Plan menus
  
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  Supervise the preparation and serving of meals
  
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  Coordinate with appropriate chapter personnel to budget for and provide quality food service as well as hire and compensate other chapter employees
  
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  Purchase food and household supplies as efficiently and economically as possible.
  
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  Maintain control over the consumption and utilization of all purchases, establishing and maintain adequate inventories.
  
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  Maintain records of expenditures, cost and cash outlays.
  
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  Participate in the development of the chapter budget (if applicable).
  
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  Coordinate with chapter financial managers and alumni/ae advisors on required house maintenance and on the purchase of major equipment items.
  
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  Ensure the cleanliness and orderliness of common areas of the house.
  
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  Train, supervise, and evaluate other employees (e.g. cooks, housekeepers, and serving staff).
  
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  Monitor utility costs and recommend and/or implement energy conservation measures, etc.
  
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  Advise and/or consult on purchases of major furniture items and on the overall appearance, tastefulness, and livability of the house.
  

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  Set up breakfast/lunch/dinner
  
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  Wash all meal dishes/pots/pans
  
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  Put away food after meals
  
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  Set-up salad bar for lunch and dinner; replenish as needed
  
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  Bake as needed (pastries, breads, desserts)
  
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  As supplies arrive, check off inventory and put things away
  
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  Keep kitchen and counters clean
  
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  Do miscellaneous chores as needed (clean stove top, clean storeroom, wipe down cupboards, inventory supplies, refill condiments, etc.)
  
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  Prepare “late plate” meals as requested
  
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  Work with House Director on menus and food purchasing
  
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  Lock kitchen cupboards and kitchen door when leaving
  

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  Set tables
  
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  Put ice water pitchers on tables
  
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  Place food on table when serving family style or serve plated meals.
  
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  Put food away, clean kitchen, wash dishes, empty garage, mop floor, and secure kitchen.
  
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  Recycle as many things as possible
  

Invite the fraternity/sorority campus advisor, the council presidents, or a recruitment chair to review the schedule and plans for recruitment.

Visit and tour a campus resource office (counseling center, health center, the academic advising center, etc.). Staff members will welcome the opportunity to show you their facilities and explain their services so that you will be able to refer the students.

Invite the campus or community policy, fire officials, and/or the health inspector to update house directors on their programs’ goals and expectations before the inspections and to discuss house safety.

Invite a faculty member to talk about academic goals and expectations. Ask about ways you can support academics.

Invite a vendor to demonstrated new products or ways to save money on purchases.

Invite a dietician to talk about current diet trends and healthy eating habits.

Invite the newly elected council presidents (IFC, NPHC, MGC & PHC) to review goals and ideas for the next year.

Invite the fraternity/sorority campus advisor to talk about plans for summer and next year including recruitment. Remember to elect officers for the next year as well.

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  Representatives from admissions, orientation, career center, residence hall, and alumni office
  
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  Community leader and/or individual responsible for a major city event or festival
  
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  Experts in recycling, methods of energy saving, and environmental issues
  
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  Police on identity theft and clarification of polices/laws
  
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  Financial experts on budgets, paying off student depts., credit cards, etc.
  

Chef Mickey's Catering 319-337-4644 399 Hwy 1 West, Iowa City

Ila Miller 319-936-6413 Call for menu

Hy-Vee South 319-354-7601 1720 Waterfront Dr., Iowa City
Hy-Vee East 319-338-9758 812 South First Ave., Iowa City

Hy-Vee Coralville 319-351-5523 1914 8th St., Coralville

 www.mssusans.com

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Hawkeye Electric 319-743-9891 Recommended by 

John Gay 319-541-6913 Recommended by 

Bob Oleson 319-530-8402 Recommended by 

Paul Moore 319-430-2308 Recommended by 

Shay Electric 319-354-3793 Recommended by 

Apex Construction (Bob Alberhasky) 319-339-1543 Recommended by 

Tim Bross 319-325-1405 Recommended by 
Kyle Broucher 319-430-6572 Recommended by 

Jim Frantz 319-530-0413 Recommended by 

Mark Phillips Home Repair 319-631-1712 Recommended by 

Jeff Powel (JP Home Repair) Contact  for information
Brian Roller 319-330-3968 Recommended by 


Heating & Plumbing Services


Name Contact Phone Other Information

AAA Mechanical Services 319-351-1843 Recommended by 

A 2 Z Mechanical 319-351-2743 or 319-351-4793 Recommended by 

Breese’s 319-338-8535 Recommended by 

Kondora Plumbing & Heating (Mark) 319-351-3385 or 319-337-7152 Recommended by 

Kondora Plumbing & Heating 319-337-3688 Recommended by 

Mechanical Services (Randy) 319-573-5754 Recommended by 

Muller Plumbing 319-337-3312 Recommended by 


House Keeper/Cleaner

Name Contact Phone Other Information

Deb Stock 319-325-2535 Recommended by 

Merry Maids 319-545-7621 Recommended by 

Gwen McPherson 319-350-8993 Recommended by 

Ron & Carlene Murphy Contact  for information

Molly Maid 319-354-6243

Randy’s Carpets 319-354-4344 Recommended by 



Internet Services


Name Contact Phone Other Information

Century Link 866-642-0444

Computer Solutions (Nate) 319-351-7549 Recommended by 

I Wireless 319-354-5777 Recommended by 

X-Wires 866-989-9473 Recommended by 

X-Wires /Dynamic Broadband 319-354-9473 Recommended by 

X-Wires /Dynamic Broadband 319-430-6884 Recommended by 


Non-Perishable Food Purchasing


Name Contact Phone Other Information

CostCo Warehouse 319-545-3200

Hyvee Grocery (Waterfront) 319-354-7601

Hyvee Grocery (1^st Ave) 319-338-9758

HyVee Grocery (N. Dodge) 319-354-9223 Recommended by 

Sysco (Bryan Mougin) 800-829-2374 Recommended by 

U.S. Foods (Donna Harnish) 319-400-0554 Recommended by 

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