Previous Year's Meetings

Alpha Beta Chi Chapter Membership Business Meeting Minutes

Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society

Downtown Campus Room CC-216

August 22^nd, 2008.

The meeting was called to order by President Alexis at 5:47 p.m.

*Note: there is a quorum of board members present at the meeting*

Board members present: Alexis Grijalva, Daniel Singer, Linda Lyons, Aminata Sagnon, Tejin Lakdawala, Ayla Palmer, Sharon Buhs, Natasha Stephens, Cynthia Berens, Marissa Casillas, and Melissa Leyva.

International Officer present: President John Windham.

Advisors present: Ninfa Trejo (advisor of record), Jodylee Duek, and Steve Uyeda.

Members present: Andres Gabaldon, Morgan Cork ran, Sena Kimbrell, Lisa Ryan, and Deborah Cassolis.

Friend Present:  Alison Lamm-Chapman.

Minutes:

·         Appropriate corrections were made to the July Membership Business Meeting.

·         Natasha moves to approve the July Membership Business Meeting and the August Membership Planning Meeting. Sharon 2^nds. The motion is passed unanimously.

President, Alexis Grijalva, report:

• New Orleans proposal letter finished.
• I sent out the letter to Jim Click, Pima Community College and Fox Restaurants and am waiting for responses.
• Spoke to Coleen McKee, the coordinator of Casa De Elizabeth orphanage and she gave me more information about the needs of the kids.
• I met with Monika Groomes and she gave me the materials for the World Bracelet Project. She would also like to come speak at the induction ceremony.
•  Passed out a Brochure for the Casa de Elizabeth orphanage.

VP of Scholarship, Cynthia Berens, report:

Honors Satellite Seminars:

·         The seminars have been paid for by the Northwest Campus, authorized by the President at that campus.

·         Staff at the Center for Learning Technology at Community Campus have agreed to record the broadcasts for us and will also provide the DVDs and the back-up videotapes.  Therefore we will not need to purchase these items.

·         Ninfa has reserved Community Room A 207 at the NW Campus on the proposed dates below.  This room seats approximately 100 people.

·         The proposed dates for our public events are:

·         10/2/08  - Opportunities in a Borderless World

·         10/16/08  - Pathways Out of Poverty Through Green-Collar Jobs

·         11/6/08  - The Geography of Bliss

·         12/11/08 - Archaeological Evidence for the Origins of Affluence

·         Rob, Ninfa and I are working on getting speakers for the events. 

·         At the last planning meeting, we discussed setting up a donation table for the African Play Pump project at the first seminar.  The members/officers manning the table would accept donations and give out smencils in return. 

·         Sign-up lists will be going around for each seminar so that we know who will be performing functions like manning the donations table, etc.

Humane Borders:

• The Humane Borders event is approaching quickly.  I have been in communication with Humane Borders and I suggest the following to support our scholarship endeavors in this project:
  • Their regular volunteer meeting is each Wednesday night from 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.  We have been invited to attend the meeting on 9/10/08, the Wednesday prior to our desert outing, and they will give a presentation after the meeting about Humane Borders and the factors underlying the need for such groups.  Total time that evening would be approximately 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
  • Humane Borders has documentaries available for viewing which address causes and issues surrounding immigration.  “Crossing Arizona” addresses border issues in Arizona and the reasons why groups like Humane Borders have emerged.  Humane Borders is willing to provide us space and equipment to view a documentary on an evening or day prior to the presentation, or loan us the documentary to view at Pima.
  • We can invite the students we are taking with us on the service project to participate in the scholarship aspect of this project also.

Bookmans:

• I have obtained $20 in Bookman’s credit.  I still have a number of books that I am taking into different Bookman’s.

Committees:

• This past month, I have participated in the Lead in Candies and the New Orleans committees.

VP of Leadership, Aminata Sagnon, report:

·         I participated in the writing of the letter for the New Orleans trip.

·         I emailed the letter to an organization but I still have no answer.

·         I have been contacting High Schools but none of them have called me back.

·         I got a $45 trade-in credit from Bookmans

·         I participated in the better world book boxing on August 8^th.

VP of service, Ayla Palmer, report:

·         I participated in the book boxing event on August 8^th.

• I've retrieved all the books from the better world books box at the NW Campus.
• Better World Books: We boxed up an additional 5 boxes, 109 books.
• E-recycling: I've emailed Eva Macias, our contact for Pima Computer Recycling.
• Humane Borders:
  • Goals & Objectives
  • Have not received response from the High School’s National Honor Society.
• Adopt-a-Trail:
  • Let's set a date on our calendar. (Refer to New Business for adopted date).
• Aztec Middle College Mentorship Program: La Cima Middle School is asking for volunteer mentors, perhaps we could consider an integrated mentorship program between the two schools. (Refer to New Business for adopted decision).
• Film festival: When and what was accomplished? Details please.
• District Star Program: Updated Adam with my contact information and activities we are working on.

VP of Finance, Sharon Buhs, report:

·         I participated in the book boxing event/planning meeting on August 8.

·         Current funds - $7372.40

·         Current Bookman’s credits - $194.00. (After the meeting the total was more than $200.00).

·         Smencil order sent 8/15.  Received them on time and brought them in to distribute at the meeting.

·         I will be participating in the PBS fund-raising drive.

·         I have requested posters from Funding Factory for our ink/toner recycling.

VP of Membership, Tejin Lakdawala, report:

·         Attended the planning meeting held on August 8, 2008 and boxed books for “Better World Books”.

·         Booked rooms and made arrangements for orientations at all of the 6 Pima campuses.

·         All members are sent out the updated information via email regarding the dates, times and room numbers of the orientations held at all 6 campuses. (Attachment: Calender_Orient_2008)

·         In process of finding a prospective venue for Fall Induction Ceremony, since the Proscenium Theatre is unavailable during the month of December.

·         Requesting $2500 for the membership campaign and Induction Ceremony. The cost includes envelopes, mailing charges, and renting out a facility for the Induction Ceremony.

·         Additional amount may be requested as needed. The invoices will be delivered once the amounts are finalized.

VP of Administration, Melissa Leyva, report:

·         I attended the planning meeting.

·         The Better World Books Boxes were picked up on August 13^th 2008.

·         I have been contacting people that could be of great asset to our lead in candies project and so far I have gotten very good contacts.

·         I got in contact with the Principal of Davis Elementary School and he asked that we send an e-mail/letter to him so he could forward it to the teachers.

·         I also have contacted local High schools to get a hold of their honor society and I still have no response.

VP of Public Relations, Natasha Stephens, report:

• I have a new email address specifically for anything related to Phi Theta Kappa. Please forward any emails to nstephens4ptk@hotmail.com
• I added the list of Provisional members that Dr. JodyLee Estrada Duek collected at the Pima Scholars meeting to the list server.
• I updated part of the 2008/2009 calendar and the names and email addresses of the new officers and liaisons on the local chapter website. I also included the photograph, bio, and quote of the officers and liaisons that emailed their information to me. Anyone who is not able to email a picture should contact me and I will work with you in order to get one as soon as possible, however please try to get your quote and bio to me before August 27, 2008.
• I contacted Tamara, the Career Service Advisor at the Art Institute of Tucson, and she posted a request to any undergraduate or graduate students in the Media and Graphic Design Department, that would be interested in helping our chapter “over-haul” our local website. I am still awaiting response from this posting.
• I contacted David Irwin, Executive Director for Public Information for the Pima Community College District, and will be meeting with him on Monday, August 25th. We will be discussing the Press Releases for the new officers and liaisons, as well as discuss Press Releases for all of our upcoming and ongoing projects for the year.
•  I emailed the notice for the August Membership Business Meeting to all officers, advisors, liaisons, members, and provisional members (Special thanks to John, Melissa, and Alexis).
• I attended the New Orleans Committee meeting, where we drafted a letter asking for donations and support from local businesses in order to send some of our officers and advisors to New Orleans September 18^th through the 21^st.
• I attended the August Planning meeting and took pictures of our Phi Theta Kappans boxing books for our Better World Books project. I will hopefully have those pictures posted on our local website very soon and possibly in a Press Release including a list of some of our ongoing projects for the year.
•  I also took two boxes of books from the August planning meeting to Bookman’s and received a credit for $14 for some of the books.

East Campus Liaison, Dan Singer report:

• Emptied World Book box, including garbage.
• I also discussed briefly with the East Campus librarian about putting a recycling box for the used cartridges in the library and he felt that it is a great idea.

·         Made contact with Tim Flood at Aztec Middle College and he would like to arrange a Friday morning mixer and see who is interested in having a mentor amongst his students.

Downtown Campus Liaison, Linda Lyons, report:

·         I have cleared out the Downtown book box three times and the West Campus book box as well. 

·         Attended book boxing/planning meeting August 8

·         Attended Lead in Candies inaugural meeting August 1.

·         Also, in case we do not have a west campus liaison, I will clear the box there again Aug 25^th.

·          I am volunteering at the International Student Orientation and will have an opportunity to promote Phi Theta Kappa.

Desert Vista Campus Liaison, Brittany Beasley, report:

·       I emptied the better world book box last week.

VP of Fellowship, Marissa Casillas, report:

• Marissa did not provide us with a report but instead she had everyone participate in a game to encourage fellowship amongst us.

Advisors Report provided by Ninfa Trejo, Northwest campus advisor:

• Advisors are waiting to receive the schedule of the following:
  • Alpha Beta Chi- Executive meeting schedule for the current academic year.
  • Campus Orientations for the Fall Semester.
• Attached was a handout with information sent by the Honors Coordinator, Kent Vorndran, regarding the 2009 Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship.
• Alexis has the key for the mail box from the Downtown campus for the Chapter. The Advisors suggest having a chapter member from the DC to check the mail at least once a week and in recruitment periods about three or more times per week.
• Need an approval today about the dates for the Honors Seminar during the fall semester.
• Casa de Elizabeth sent about 50 Brochures for the Chapter to decide on how they would like to contribute to this organization.
• The chapter has been successful organizing discussions on debates for political candidates in the past. Advisors suggest that the chapter consider having a debate-watching event during the election which would include a discussion with representatives of the candidates afterward. Kathy Curly, DC advisor, volunteered to help you with this forum.

Unfinished Business:

a.       Service Project ideas provided by advisors: A Buffelgrass Public Education Workshop will be taking place next Thursday, August 28^th. They said it would be great to have a representative from our chapter. There are 2-3 spaces available.

b.      Relay for life.

New Business:

a.       Honors Satellite Seminars:

·   Finalize dates: These are the following dates for the Honors Satellite Seminars that will be taking place at the Northwest campus.

1.      10/02/2008

2.      10/16/2008

3.      11/06/2008

4.      12/11/2008 or 12/4/2008 (depending on the date for the induction ceremony).

·   Linda Lyons made a motion to approve the dates for the Honor Satellite Series. Natasha 2^nds. The motion is passed unanimously.

·   Food drive: “bring a can” for third seminar.

·   Natasha Stephens made a motion to table the proposed can drive for the third seminar. Ayla Palmer 2^nds. The motion is passed unanimously.

·   Gifts for speakers – what and amount / thank you cards for invoice payment and broadcast recording.

·   Melissa Leyva makes a motion to table the “Gifts for speakers” for the next business meeting. Linda Lyons 2^nds. The motion is passed unanimously.

b.      Humane Borders:

·   Presentation and documentary viewing: Humane Borders holds a presentation every Wednesday demonstrating important facts that we should know going into this project. They could also put together a documentary of theirs for our chapter to view. It was encouraged by our VP of Scholarship, Cynthia Berens, that we attend both of these one-time events that will be fulfilling our Scholarship Hallmark for this project.

·   It was suggested that we attend the Presentation on September 10^th. It is three days before our border clean-up and it will be a great way to become aware of what we will be doing and why.

·   A date for the documentary viewing was not introduced.

·   Cynthia Berens makes a motion that our chapter be part of the presentation and the documentary viewing. Ayla Palmer 2^nds. The motion is passed unanimously.

·   Cynthia Berens made a motion for permission to set a fixed date for both of these events and to send it out on the list server. Sharon Buhs 2^nds. The motion is approved unanimously.

c.       Request by VP of Membership, Tejin Lakdawala, to allocate $2,500.00 to fund the membership campaign and Induction Ceremony.

·         Tejin Lakdawala makes a motion to allocate $2,500.00 to fund the membership campaign and Induction Ceremony. Marissa Casillas 2^nds. The motion is passed unanimously.

·         Tejin moves that she be able to get an auditorium either at the University of Arizona, Tucson High School, the Desert Vista Campus, or the Northwest Campus, depending on the availability. Aminata Sagnon 2^nds. The motion is passed unanimously.

d.      Approval of Business and Planning Meeting schedule for the semester.

·         It was suggested that we have our Planning Meeting every 2^nd Friday of the month and our Business Meeting every 4^th Friday of the month.

·         It was also suggested that we wait until we have reserved a location for our induction ceremony, being that availability might change the Ceremony date, to make dates for our Business and Planning meetings in December.

·         Here is the schedule for the upcoming Membership meetings for the fall semester: September through November.

Membership Business Meetings:              Membership Planning Meeting:

9/26/08                                                         9/12/08

10/24/08                                                       10/03/08

11/21/08                                                       11/07/08

·         Linda Lyons made a motion to approve the Membership Business and Planning Meeting Dates for the fall semester (September through November). Cynthia Berens 2^nds. The motion is passed with one abstention.

·         Cynthia Berens makes a motion to table the planning for the December Membership Business and Planning Meetings. Dan Singer 2^nds. The motion is passed unanimously.

e.       Lead in Candies Project Layout: Lead in candies committee chairman, Dan Singer, presented the layout of the project. No decisions were made on the subject.

f.       Adopt-a-trail:

·   Set date: After a brief discussion and review of our calendar it was agreed that November 15^th would be the best day to clean the trail, with November 22^nd as a backup date in case of rain or other situations.

·   Ayla Palmer makes a motion to approve November 15^th as a date for our adopt-a-trail clean up. With November 22^nd as a backup. Tejin 2^nds. The motion is passed unanimously.

g.      La Cima Middle School mentorship program: Refer to the VP of Service report for details.

·         It was decided that we will wait to see how it goes with the Aztec Middle College Mentorship Program before we start another mentorship program with La Cima Middle School.

·         Tejin Lakdawala makes a motion to table the matter until the spring semester. Marissa Casillas 2^nds. The motion is passed unanimously.

h.      Officer elections: Andres Gabaldon ran as the 2^nd East Campus Liaison.

·         After a great speech, Tejin Lakdawala moved to approve Andres Gabaldon as an East Campus Liaison. Dan Singer 2^nds. The motion was passed unanimously.

i.        Linda Lyons volunteered to be the person to keep the key for the chapter’s mailbox and to retrieve the mail form the mailbox every week.

·         Aminata moves to designate Linda Lyons as the person in charge of the mailbox key and retrieving the chapter’s mail from the Downtown Campus. Natasha 2^nds. The motion is approved unanimously.

j.        Casa de Elizabeth: Our chapter will be donating much needed products to this orphanage. We were informed that the most important things they need are toiletries, mostly feminine.

·         Natasha Stephens made a motion to table this project for the spring. Tejin Lakdawala 2^nds. The motion is passed unanimously.

k.      Our VP of Finance, Sharon Buhs, handed out the Smencils to officers and members that were willing to take them to collect donations. If someone did not take any Smencils with them and wants to participate in this fundraiser, please contact Sharon Buhs: sharonb@ultrasw.com.

Melissa Leyva makes a motion to adjourn the meeting. Sharon Buhs seconds. The motion is passed unanimously.

The meeting was adjourned by President Alexis Grijalva at 8:13 p.m.