Fighting the Good Fight
Arthur Vargas, a member at Austin Community College in Austin, Texas, is Phi Theta Kappa's 2005-06 International President. He is studying visual communication/graphic design and wants to start his own advertising agency.
War is not a topic that many people like to discuss. More than 30 years ago, the United States launched an unprecedented war. It is not a war in other countries; it is the war against cancer. On December 23, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon signed the National Cancer Act into law, mobilizing the country's resources to fight cancer.
Phi Theta Kappans have built a solid partnership with the American Cancer Society for this fight. After an overwhelming response to the 2002-04 International Service Program, the Society's International Officers voted to extend our initiative through 2006 in a program entitled Conquering Cancer: Continuing the Fight.
For 2004-06, Phi Theta Kappa chapters are encouraged to continue their Service Program activities in four major areas:- Prevention and Early Detection
- Advocacy
- Fundraising
- Service and Volunteerism
- Our chapter organized a Childhood Cancer Awareness Month Festival in September where children learned about exercise, eating healthy, and the risks of overexposure to the sun. The festival also promoted Spanish Heritage Month, focusing on the importance of cancer awareness in Hispanic communities.
- We collected $1,000 during the Pink Ribbon campaign in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. We also promoted the Tell A Friend® program, educating family and friends about breast cancer, while reminding them about early detection. In April, the chapter organized two chapter teams at the Relay For Life® event, raising nearly $2,000.
- Recognizing tobacco companies' role in mass media, Alpha Gamma Pi combined the Honors Study Topic with the Great American Smokeout®. Chapter members made a display of various advertising methods that have become part of popular culture, while providing literature on the risks of smoking and tobacco use.
- The chapter joined the American Cancer Society to place a smoke-free ordinance on a city-wide ballot by gathering the necessary petition signatures, educating the public, and ensuring voter registration. I was honored to be selected as a legislative ambassador for the American Cancer Society, and worked to provide opportunities for members to network with local and state officials during the legislative session at the capitol. On May 7, the city of Austin announced that the smoking ban passed.
- Our advocacy efforts were extended throughout the region. We organized Picture-A-CureSM at regional meetings, encouraging members to take snapshots of themselves and attach them to messages that were sent to Congress asking for support of vital cancer programs.
- Alpha Gamma Pi realized that we could not continue the fight alone. We felt it was in the best interest to make a collaborative effort to allow the students, the faculty, staff and the administration of our college to join us in the fight against cancer - and they did. We established Austin Community College as an American Cancer Society College Against Cancer.
The success of the International Service Program begins in your local community. It is important for your chapter to set a realistic goal in the areas you want to participate. Make sure your chapter is registered as a Chapter of Service at www. ptk.org/service/progress. If your chapter is participating in a 2005 Relay For Life event, don't forget to report your success through the Relay For Life Report Form at www.ptk.org/service/relayform.htm.
Your chapter's participation will make a real difference in the lives of many people affected by cancer. The fight is far from over, but we are making progress. As an "army of scholars," we will continue the fight against cancer!
Contact Arthur at arthur.vargas@ptk.org.