The Journey
A newsletter for chapter advisors, chapter officers, and regional officers.

Regions Raise Thousands for Cancer Research!

Many regions have made cancer a focus of their service projects and by doing so have brought Phi Theta Kappans together for extraordinary results!

Using the Conquering Cancer Service Program as their inspiration, regions have found creative ways to raise money for cancer research while providing chapters in their region an easy way to get involved in the International Service Program.

• In the Bluegrass State, Phi Theta Kappa chapters combined resources to raise funds for the Lucille P. Markey Cancer Center in Lexington, Kentucky. The chapters traveled to Lexington to tour the facility and attended an informational session on cancer treatments.
  
  
• Next, Kentucky teamed with chapters from the Indiana Region in October for a Making Strides Against Breast Cancer® Walk. Together they raised more than $3,000!
  
  
• Kentucky didn’t stop there... they also held a raffle for a special Longaberger® basket created to raise money for breast cancer research. The “Horizon of Hope” basket - pink by design - was also given as a gift to guest speaker and Minn-Wi-Kota Regional Coordinator Barbara Murray.
  
  
• Inspired by the Kentucky Region’s raffle, Murray donated her basket to the Minn-Wi-Kota Region for a raffle. Chapter members sold tickets on their individual campuses and the chapter who sold the most tickets won two registrations for their Regional Convention in February. As a result of the raffle, several hundred dollars was raised and donated to the American Cancer Society.
  
  
• The Ohio Region incorporated a “Walk for Cancer” into their Regional Leadership Conference in November and raised $2,329.25 for cancer research!
  
  
• The Phi Theta Kappa chapter at Prairie State College in Chicago Heights, Illinois, staged two service projects that sent “rave reviews” not only throughout the Illinois Region, but also the media. Members from eight Illinois chapters participated in the two service projects, which were held only seven days apart — the “Walk of Hope” and the “Jim White Comedy and Variety Show,” named for Illinois Senior Regional Coordinator Jim White.

Both projects benefited the Homewood Cancer Support Center, which assists individuals and their families coping with cancer. “As an incentive for individuals to participate in the activities,” said White, “I agreed to dye my hair blonde at our regional convention if we had over 500 participants and raised $10,000.

“The walk was a super success! The show was a smash hit! More than 500 individuals participated raising more than $20,000,” continued White. “We were featured in 4 newspapers, even the front page of one paper!” And guess who discovered blondes have more fun?!

The chapter also received a special award from the Homewood Cancer Center along with a $500 scholarship to be used at the chapter’s discretion.

Rocky Mountain-Cascade Region Bounces Back!

After experiencing heavy advisor turnover and low attendance at regional conferences, the Rocky Mountain-Cascade Region held its first Regional Advisors Retreat last May. International Headquarters, the region’s college presidents, and the region’s treasury provided financial support for the test-pilot advisor education program, which did not charge advisors a registration fee to attend.

It was a resounding success, with 18 advisors participating in a weekend of idea exchanges and fellowship. But the real proof lies in what’s happened in the region since May.

For the first time, the region reached its Pinnacle goal in the Pinnacle Scholarship Award Program by increasing its membership by more than 10 percent in 2002. Regional Coordinator Dave Arter has also reported increased participation in the Five Star Program as well as increased attendance at the region’s fall leadership conferences.

“Support for advisors is the most effective way that we can help students,” said Arter. “By training advisors we are giving them the knowledge that they need to help the students build a stronger chapter.” As Rocky Mountain-Cascade has proven, stronger chapters make for a stronger region!

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This page last modified -- Friday, 14-Nov-2003 11:00:26 CST (cwe)