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The Journey
A newsletter for Phi Theta Kappa
chapter advisors, chapter officers, and regional officers. 
Guest Editorial
By:
Jessica Supinski, 1998-99 New England/Middle States Vice President
Don't Hide Your Light Under
a Bushel
Communicating Phi Theta Kappa's
Mission on Campus and in the Community
As Phi Theta Kappans and leaders in our chapters, we have given a great deal of thought to
the importance of communication. We have accepted the Journey Challenge and made the
commitment to strengthen the lines of communication within our chapters and with potential
members. But communication does not just occur inside the chapter. As we continue to reach
our high standards of excellence, we work every day with individuals outside our chapter
who directly impact our success. We must recognize the importance and necessity of
external communication with others on our campus and in our communities.
Phi Theta Kappa chapters give college campuses amazing sources of energy, commitment to
academic excellence, and hours of service. But we must always remember that we are one
part of what makes two-year colleges thrive. It is important to maintain a balance between
our needs and the needs of others on campus. Here are a few suggestions to promote healthy
relationships between Phi Theta Kappa and the rest of the campus:
1. Get to know faculty and staff.
Secretaries, maintenance workers, and security guards can be your best friends! Take the
time to recognize their faces and remember their names! And always follow their rules.
Make a special effort to communicate with faculty members. Inform them of chapter events
and success.
2. Let the college administration get to know you.
Make sure the officials of your college truly understand what Phi Theta Kappa means to the
life and the respect of the institution. Inform them of your chapter's projects and
successes, send them your newsletters, and invite college officials to all special events.
If possible, volunteer for college projects such as new student orientation and special
committees.
3. Invite the student body to your special events.
Extending an open invitation will ensure everyone on campus is aware of Phi Theta Kappa.
Provide a guest speaker and invite all students to attend, create a Phi Theta Kappa corner
in the college newspaper or design a Phi Theta Kappa information board in a central area
on campus. And always recognize strength in numbers. Work together with another campus
organization for a group project.
4. Put your chapter's gratitude in writing.
Whenever someone has helped you, ALWAYS remember to send a note of thanks. This is one of
the simplest forms of communication, but perhaps the most important.
Communication with the outside community is also important for the growth and
success of our chapters. The resources of local businesses, educators, and
politicians can be a valuable source of support for various chapter events during the
year. Here are some points to consider:
Always maintain a
professional attitude. Those in the outside community may not fully realize who
Phi Theta Kappans are and what they are capable of accomplishing. When asking for
community support of chapter events, always present information in a professional manner
with careful attention to detail. Design official chapter stationery for letters. Always
send formal business letters and e-mails when soliciting donations and sponsors for
various service projects and fundraisers.
Promote your chapter! Submit articles highlighting outstanding chapter
successes to local newspapers. Inform local television stations of special events their
cameras may want to capture! Write letters to local politicians and tell them about your
chapter. Design business cards for every officer and use these to network! Always mention
you are a Phi Theta Kappan - you never know who you will meet!
Once again, send thank you notes. To show someone you appreciate their
support is one of the most important means of communication! (One idea -- certificates of
appreciation can be made on a computer for a business to display.)
As simple as these suggestions may seem, they form the basis of building a positive and
professional image for your chapter. What we do and how we communicate reflect our
abilities as scholars and as leaders. By building strong lines of communication on campus
and in the community, we will not only meet with even greater success, we will also
continue to promote Phi Theta Kappa's tradition of excellence.
Contact Jessica Supinski at jsupin1122@aol.com.
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