Ten milestones in one year. Applications open mid-January, the year runs January through October, and we graduate at National Convention.
📅 Add all milestones to your calendar
Next-year committee invitations go out and lock by mid-November. The chair-VC weekly cadence kicks back in.
＋ Add to calendarMentor invitations go out early December. Everyone's confirmed by December 31. Orientation is mid-December.
＋ Add to calendarThrough Paperform. Five-week window — January 15 to February 18.
＋ Add to calendarAREAA Leadership Summit hits mid-February. Mentee applications close February 18. Orientation call February 25.
＋ Add to calendarThree days of video interviews — about 35 to 40 across the week. We get the videos to mentors by Friday.
＋ Add to calendarMentors watch the interview videos and turn in their top-5 mentee picks. We finalize pairings by the end of the month.
＋ Add to calendarLive group event. Mentors meet their mentees in front of everyone. Relationship Counselors get assigned within the week.
＋ Add to calendarNegotiation 101 (late May), Negotiation 2.0 (end of June), Leadership + Succession (July), Public Speaking (August). Policy Summit in DC mid-May.
＋ Add to calendarFive-to-seven-minute presentations, plus video testimonials and a 200-word leadership thesis. Voting happens right after.
＋ Add to calendarGroup graduates at National Convention. Mentor dinner. Then the chair goes hunting for next year's mentors — the single most important thing the chair does all year.
＋ Add to calendarWant every step in detail? Read the program.
We open the 2027 window on January 15. Drop your email and we'll tell you the minute it does.