Be the Power!
Celebrate the Hallmarks in Music City
Join 4,000 members, advisors, alumni and friends at the beautiful Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee, April 12-14, for the 89th annual Phi Theta Kappa International Convention!
Society leaders are invited to arrive one day early for the Advisor Pre-Conference, offered at no charge, and the Chapter and Regional Officer Leadership Academies, available for just $75 per person.
Other educational opportunities will abound throughout the Convention, starting with the first two rounds of Educational Forums at 10:30 am and 1:30 pm on Thursday, April 12. Two additional rounds of Educational Forums are scheduled for 8:15 am and 5:00 pm on Friday, and a final round is to be held at 8:15 am on Saturday. Educational Forum topics include Phi Theta Kappa programs, chapter success, and personal and professional development. Advisors may also share their stories in the Advisor Roundtables, held concurrently with the Educational Forums, and members are encouraged to attend at least one of the special career-oriented forums presented by Career Fair representatives.
While shopping in the Academic Marketplace, attendees may visit the Programs Plaza, offering resources related to Phi Theta Kappa programs. Phi Theta Kappa Regional Coordinators will be stationed in the Programs Plaza, ready to answer your questions and share their personal experiences.
Once the Convention officially kicks off on Thursday, attendees will enjoy an incredible line-up of speakers ready to entertain and inform with presentations on leadership, civic responsibility, the Honors Study Topic, and the International Service Program.
At the Opening Ceremonies, Phi Theta Kappa's first African American female president Tycia Foster, a student at Tallahassee Community College in Florida, will give the 2007 Presidential Address. And country music star Kevin Sharp will encourage members to continue the fight against cancer, as chapters have pledged to raise $10 million by the 2018 centennial International Convention. Kevin will talk about his personal battle against cancer and perform a song from his platinum debut album.
On Friday morning, at the Second General Session, Sue Smith, National Director of Education for Keep America Beautiful, will take the International Convention stage, to kick off the second year of our International Service Program partnership, Operation Green. Smith spoke at the 2006 International Convention, launching the current two-year service program, and is noted as a speaker whose enthusiasm for service matches that of her Phi Theta Kappa audience. The Society's Executive Director Rod Risley will also introduce Phi Theta Kappa's newest program, an exciting initiative offering new opportunities for individual development.
Friday afternoon, former United States Vice President Al Gore will present his views on political, economic and moral issues related to the environment and global warming. Following Gore's Keynote Address, a panel of Phi Theta Kappa members will pose questions on domestic and international issues to the former Vice President. Rod Risley will moderate.
Conversation panelists include: Dr. David Shinn, former U.S. Ambassador to Ethiopia and Burkina Faso; Mirta Ojito, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author; and Abeer Khalfan Obaid Khalfan, charter president of Phi Theta Kappa's first chapter in the Middle East, in the United Arab Emirate of Fujairah. Convention attendees will have an optional opportunity later in the day to watch the movie based on Gore's book, An Inconvenient Truth, and participate in an open dialogue.
During the Fourth General Session on Saturday morning, women's rights advocate and peace activist Jehan Sadat, wife of assassinated Egyptian leader Anwar Sadat, will share her thoughts on the current Middle Eastern conflicts and ideas for approaching resolution. As Egypt's First Lady, Sadat launched numerous social programs to educate and train women, to aid and rehabilitate war veterans and other disabled persons, to provide homes for orphans and to promote women's issues, children's welfare and literacy. She continues to promote education in all aspects and stages of life, particularly for women, as the major way for any nation to achieve lasting economic, social, and political equality. Rod Risley will also return to the stage, this time to present the Society's work in developing new resources for two-year college students planning to continue their education at the four-year institution and beyond.
The International Convention will culminate Saturday evening with the Hallmark Awards Gala, to be opened with a vocal performance by the Regional Officer Choir. Chapters, members, advisors and alumni will be honored for excellence in programming and individual achievement related to the Society's Hallmarks of Scholarship, Leadership, Service and Fellowship.
The International Convention also offers plenty of time to have fun and network with other members and advisors. Catch up with old friends and make new ones Wednesday evening at the Welcome Dance and Social, and on Thursday evening, meet the International Officer candidates at the Political Rally and Ice Cream Social. Friday evening, Convention attendees have free time to take advantage of shopping, dining and many other facilities at the Opryland Resort & Convention Center or to explore the Convention host city. And following the conclusion of the Gala Saturday evening, participants are invited back together a final time, for the Farewell Dance.
Convention Planning Guides have been mailed to all chapter advisors and chapter and regional officers, or visit http://convention.ptk.org.
Wear Red at the Opening Ceremonies
Make a POWERFUL statement; join thousands of other Phi Theta Kappa members and advisors in wearing RED at the Opening Ceremonies! Purchase the official red Convention T-shirt at the Academic Marketplace during the Convention - or buy yours in advance, available now for $15 at http://recognitions.ptk.org.
