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

Resources at the Ready

Toni Hammond is the 2002-03 International Vice President for Division III, which includes the Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minn-Wi-Kota, Missouri and Oklahoma/ Arkansas Regions of Phi Theta Kappa. A computer information science major, she attends Tulsa Community College’s Metro Campus in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

At the beginning of a new academic year, Phi Theta Kappa leaders at more than 1,200 chapters are developing and implementing strategies for increasing membership, developing chapter activities, and promoting the honor society. At first glance this can seem a daunting, in fact, overwhelming task. New officers are grappling with the challenge of leading and motivating chapter members while balancing family, work and academic responsibilities. There is so much to learn and so much to do.

How can we be successful and avoid burnout? The key is to use Phi Theta Kappa’s considerable resources when developing your program year.

I remember my first weeks as a newly-inducted Phi Theta Kappan and the newly-elected president of the Omega Alpha chapter at Tulsa Community College in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Although I was aware of the hallmarks, the International Service Program, and the Honors Study Topic, I did not realize the comprehensive scope of these programs.

Fortunately, Phi Theta Kappa provides several resources that, when integrated into chapter program planning, provide a regimen for chapter growth and development. The Phi Theta Kappa website, www.ptk.org, is THE main resource for information about our organization, our history and our programs. The Chapter Resource Manual provides fundamental information about officer roles and responsibilities, induction ceremonies, and an overview of all Society programs. This manual became an invaluable resource for the entire officer team.

Our next challenge was to develop and implement a comprehensive program given the limited time each of us could contribute. Most of us had families to care for, full-time jobs, and existing commitments to church and/or community projects. Once again Phi Theta Kappa had resources to help us. The program guides for Five Star Chapter Development, the International Service Program, and the Honors Study Topic can instruct, encourage and even inspire chapter leaders to design comprehensive programs that develop leadership skills, increase membership and support our hallmarks of Scholarship, Leadership, Service, and Fellowship.

Our chapter advisor, Margaret Lee, suggested we subscribe to the new Phi Theta Kappa Satellite Seminar Series. The seminar series, co-sponsored by the National Collegiate Honors Council, became the foundation for our program plan for the year. We extended an invitation to other chapters, local high schools and the college Honors Program to participate in the discussions.

Our local chapter held an orientation for prospective members immediately preceding the first seminar and invited them to stay for the program. We arranged a joint venture with the Honors Program and the Career Planning Department that provided them an opportunity to share information about their programs with seminar participants in exchange for promoting the seminar. This arrangement allowed us to showcase Phi Theta Kappa and Tulsa Community College programs to current and prospective students. The quality of the seminar content and presentation impressed everyone.

The Satellite Seminar Series on our Honors Study Topic, “Dimensions and Directions of Health: Choices in the Maze,” can become the nucleus of your chapter programming. The seminars provide participants from your campus and community an opportunity to discuss the many dimensions of health. Promoting the satellite seminars and implementing activities in support of the Honors Study Topic also help chapter members develop in each of the four hallmarks.

The Chapter Resource Manual and Program Guides are essential resources, but sometimes we need more. Are you seeking fresh ideas or need suggestions for a project? Phi Theta Kappa delivers again with the popular Chapter Officer Conference Center where chapter officers can communicate with other officers across the country and abroad. Sign up at forums.ptk.org/~chapoff to learn what other chapters (large and small, urban and rural) are doing, ask questions and share perspectives.

I encourage each of you to become familiar with and to take advantage of the many resources available from Phi Theta Kappa International Headquarters as you begin this new academic year.

Contact Toni at toni.hammond@ptk.org.

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This page last modified -- Friday, 14-Nov-2003 11:00:23 CST (cwe)