THESE ARE NOTES FROM A PREVIOUS YEAR'S REGIONAL MEETING

Below you will find notes from the Prescott Regional Meeting speeches. In these notes there are various contact information references as well as ideas and techniques to better help us in fulfilling our goals of Scholarship, Service, Leadership, and Fellowship. While this is a highly condensed version of what we listened to at our meetings, it will give you a basic idea of what was discussed, and hopefully some ideas to put to use in benefiting Phi Theta Kappa.

Plenary Session I: Leadership Philosophy/ Five Star Chapter Development:

Leadership Philosophy:

• A leader needs willingness, responsibility, and motivation.
• Leadership involves living in a state of possibility, making a commitment to a vision, developing relationships to move the vision into action, integrity, community, and positive change.
• Leadership requires inner and outer work.
• Leadership is about integrity and character.
• Leadership is based on trusting relationships.
• Leadership means having a healthy regard for the impossible.
• Leadership begins in the heart and ends in results.

Five star chapter development:

·        The five star chapter development is a step by step guide to optimize Phi Theta Kappa benefits and programs.

·        It serves as a road map for activities.

·        It is a business plan.

·        For information regarding the different levels, visit the web site

·        Or visit www.ptk.org/supplies/chapoffreprt.htm

Plenary Session II: Goals setting:

• Recognize scholarship first.
• Encourage scholarship among two-year college students.
• Provide opportunity to develop leadership and communication.
• Lead people who share a commitment to the same vision recruit others to your vision.
• Need to be organized.

I) Metacognition: Thinking about thinking.

Metacognition is charting new territory: your map.

1-     Start with goals.

2-     Objectives.

3-     Time frame.

4-     Why do we want it?

5-     How to know when we have it?

6-     What is next after we have it?

Goals: the big picture:

·        Improve X.

·        Change Y.

·        Investigate Z.

Objectives: measurable steps along the way to the goal.

Steps 3-6: Reasons, Timing, Assessment:

3: Why do I want this?

4: How long will this take?

5: How will I know when I’m “there”?

6: Once I’m there, what happens next? (external, internal, logical concequences).

II) Metacognition is self-assessment: Your materials:

Where am I now?

What skills/abilities do I have that help?

What other skills/abilities will I need?

Do I need anything else (money, permissions)?

III) Metacognition is a strategy: Your plan.

What is the best way to get there?

Can I do it directly or do I need side trips?

Do I need help?

IV) Metacognition is frequent re-orientation: Evaluate!

Are we still on track?

Did we accomplish objectives?

Reassess the path.

Do we still have the same goal?

How am I doing reaching the goal (speed, difficulty, enjoyment)?

Am I on the same path?

This is “adaptive management”- all the rage now in business, government, science.

Metacognition is useful for everything we do because it:

• Gives you perspective.
• Helps sense of accomplishment (celebrate progress, understand the “detours”).
• Helps you be proactive (try to get around bumps and have a plan b), not reactive (oh no, what will I do?)

Plenary session III: hallmarks:

Hallmark awards program:

• Mission statement.
• Scholarship hallmark awards:

Honors study topic.

Tutoring, mentoring.

• Leadership hallmark awards:

Leadership roles on campus.

Promote development of leadership skills for members and others.

• Service hallmark awards:

International service program.

Other services.

Administrator awards:

• Gordon award of distinction (must attend international convention).
• Bennett lifetime achievement award (retiring administrators).
• Administrators award of distinction (college administrators).

Advisor awards:

·        Paragon award for new advisors (less than five years of service, doesn’t have to be continuous service).

·        Distinguished advisor award (more than five years of service).

Member awards:

• Distinguished chapter member.
• Distinguished chapter officer.
• Distinguished chapter president.

Regional awards:

• Distinguished regional officer.
• Distinguished regional officer team.

Entry process:

• Entry form must include:

Nominee information.

Entry requirements.

Advisor/officer signature.

Submission instructions.

• Nomination forms:

Nomination requirements.

Nomination questions.

Signature of writer(s).

• Entry checklist and media information form.

Judging rubrics:

• Standard set of criteria used to measure student work.
• Advantages:

Knowing what is expected.

Consistency in performance.

Consistency in scoring.

Knowing how to improve performance.

Consistently moving towards excellence.

Success in Hallmark program:

• Goal setting.
• Teamwork.
• Phi Theta Kappa programs.
• Comprehensive programs.
• Implementation ideals.
• Impact.
• Read directions.
• Review directions.
• Follow directions.
• Check that directions were followed.

Questions:

• http://www.ptk.org/hallmarks

Plenary Session IV: Honors Study Topic, and International Service Program:

International Service Program:

Operation Green: Improving Our Communities.

Phi Theta Kappa and Keep America Beautiful are working jointly on Operation Green.

Goals of Phi Theta Kappa and Keep America Beautiful:

• Focus attention on the environment.
• Take action as citizens and stewards of the environment.

Phi Theta Kappa challenge:

• Look closely at the needs of your community.
• Engage faculty members and fellow students in meaningful action.
• Broadcast your success.
• Educate others.
• Take personal responsibility for the world around you.

Major areas for action:

• Education/ awareness.
• Recycling.
• Beautification.
• Clean communities.

Education/ awareness:

• Litter prevention
• Preservation of resources.
• Responsible solid waste management.
• How to reduce, reuse, recycle.
• www.cleansweep-usa.org
• www.kab.toolbox.org
• Classroom posters.

Recycling:

• Evaluate local impact of solid waste.
• Select and combine the most appropriate waste management options.
• Create a potential revenue stream for fundraising.
• Get communities working together.
• Educate.

Beautification:

• Graffiti abatement.
• Plant trees, flowers.
• Creating public gardens.
• Developing green spaces for walking and outdoor activity.
• Restore vacant lots or dilapidated areas.

Clean communities:

• Great American Clean Up (March 1^st- May 31^st).
• Adopt-a-highway.
• Litter free events.
• Cigarette litter prevention program.

Just to get an idea how big Operation Green is:

·        2 450 000 volunteers.

·        7 840 000 volunteer hours.

·        176 000 miles of highway cleaned.

Top ten list of litter found in the Environment:

• 10- Cigar tips.
• 9- Bags.
• 8- Drinking straws.
• 7- Plates, knives, cups…
• 6- Cans.
• 5- Glass bottles.
• 4- Plastic bottles.
• 3- Caps, lids…
• 2- Food wrappers.
• 1- Cigarette buts.

Reporting progress:

• Track activities throughout the year.
• Include activities in Chapter Annual Report.
• Report Great American Clean- Up separately at www.kab.org/ptk

Benefits to chapter members:

• Lifelong pattern of service and commitment.
• Connect with other like-minded individuals.
• Connection between ourselves and improves life.
• Achieve sustainable community improvement through more broad-based initiatives.
• Enhance competitiveness for scholarships which require evidence of civic engagement or community involvement.

Ties to five star chapter development program:

• One star: gain positive viability and greater public awareness on campus.
• Two star: the chapter is a chapter of service with community organization.
• Three star: two service program activities and a college project.
• Four star: three service programs that include Leadership and Fellowship.
• Five star: four service programs that include Leadership and Fellowship. Must also enter at least four Hallmarks.

How to participate:

·        Enroll as a chapter of Service at www.ptk.org.service/cos.htm

·        Visit www.kab.org to find nearest Keep America Beautiful affiliate.

·        Review at www.ptk.org/service

·        Discuss ways to get involved

·        Enrollment form: http://www.ptk.org/service/cos.htm

·        Note: we are not an Arizona region chapter of service, we need to enroll.

Ideas at www.kab.org/ptk

• Distribute pocket ashtrays to limit cigarette litter.
• Recycling bins on campus.
• Sponsoring a “Keep … Beautiful day.”
• Art show with exhibits from recyclable items.
• Teaching/ educational information.

Better World Books:

·        To date, more than 2.6 million pounds of books have been kept out of landfills through Better World Books’ drive.

ACS relay for life:

·        Support American Cancer Society and Relay for Life.

·        Goal: raise $10 million for American Cancer Society by Phi Theta Kappa’s 100^th anniversary, International Convention in 2018.

Project Graduation:

• Adopted as a civic engagement initiative in 2002.
• 440 000 food items and 355 000 books have been collected and donated to the community.

Let your members be your guide:

• Turkey bowling.
• Make a Wish foundation.
• School supplies for homeless children.

Collaborate, Collaborate!

• Gives more power.
• Work with other student clubs, student government, service learning, faculty, staff…
• Know what is important to administrators.
• Join forces with community groups (Rotary…)
• Partner with high school honor societies.
• Make resources go farther and get new members.
• “Everyone can be great because everyone can serve” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The honors study topic:

What? Gold, Gods, Glory: The Global Dynamics of Power.

How chosen? Phi Theta Kappa honors committee (regional coordinator, faculty, advisors…).

Why chosen?

• Broad.
• Timely.
• Issue oriented.
• International in scope.
• Interdisciplinary.
• Relevant to human experience.

How long does it last?

• Launched last summer.
• Continues through spring 2008.
• Previous: “Popular Culture: Shaping and Reflecting Who We Are.”

Issues to consider:

• Eight core issues in form of questions.
• Definition- how can “dynamics of power” be interpreted?
• Rationales- what are the rationales for acquiring power?
• Access- how is power accessed?
• Historical examples- what are some historical examples of power?
• Contemporary examples- what are some contemporary examples of power?
• Symbols- what are some historical and contemporary symbols of power?
• Effects- what are the positive/negative effects of power?
• Sustainability- how is power sustained or lost?

Why is it important?

• Brings critical, current topics.
• Opportunity for intellectual growth.
• Encourages Phi Theta Kappa to examine how these complex issues affect our life.
• Primary focus for scholarship hallmark.

How do we implement it?

• The honors institute.
• The honors satellite seminar series.
• Case Study Challenge.
• Hallmark program.

The honors institute:

• Presentation by experts.
• Participate in activities.
• Discuss/reflect on in a small group.

The honors satellite seminar series:

• Four interactive seminars.
• Present on various aspects of the top

Practice ideas for seminars:

• Partner with Honors Program.
• Use the satellite seminar series for course with credit.
• High school students to attend seminars.
• Research topics to be discussed in advance and make power point to be viewed before.
• Give away from cafeteria or book store?
• Essay contest.

Honors Case Study Challenge: http://www.ptk.org/honors/casechall/

Scholarship hallmark.

Hallmark project model (Gorillas in the mist).

                                                                Plenary session V: This was a leadership exercise, no notes.

Plenary session VI: Representing your chapter and gaining administrative support/ Regional officer presentation:

What is the name and title of your campus CEO? Chancellor Roy Flores.

There are three five star activities that require the participation of your campus CEO. What are they? They are: the college project, letters, and meeting with him for goals.

What other support might you need from your administrator? Inductions…

If the chapter has more than one advisor, which one should you meet with about administration support? It depends.

Support from administration:

• Financial.
• Clerical.
• Attendance at functions such as inductions.
• Letters of recommendation for Hallmarks, scholarships, grants…
• Help with a higher authority such as the District Chancellor.

Remember:

• The chapter needs to earn the support of administration.
• We represent the chapter.
• We need to know the administrative structure.
• We need to understand the “college culture” (appropriate dress, institutional policies and procedures).

Representing your chapter:

• Talk to your advisor about appropriate policies and procedures at your school.
• When you go to see your college president or a dean, make sure your advisor knows you are going.
• Always address an administrator by his or her academic/ professional title.
• Administration are busy people:

Always make an appointment.

Be on time.

Know why you are there.

Have two copies of everything so you can give one to him/her.

Be able to discuss details.

Be direct.

Dress appropriately.

What not to wear:

• Tennis shoes, flip flops.
• Club cloths.
• Jeans, cut offs, shorts, hipster pants.
• T-shirts, halters, tubes, crop tops.
• Things less than one inch above the knees.
• Too many medals (don’t be too bling).
• Anything that shows your underwear.
• Cover any tattoos when possible.

Remember:

• Always act under the authority of your chapter.
• Behave in a professional manor at all times.
• Honor all commitments to your chapter.
• Keep the advisors in the loop.
• “What happens in the chapter stays in the chapter.”

At society events:

• Observe school and society code of conduct.
• Stay in communication with your advisor, and let him/her know where you are.
• Stay with the group.
• Observe curfews established by your advisor.
• Always think about individual and group safety first.

Is it easy to gain college administration support? How do we begin to gain the support of our college? Become an asset on your college campus.

How to become an asset on your college campus:

• Networking.
• Say “thank you.”
• Know faculty/ staff.
• Volunteer on campus.
• Network with other organizations.
• Be proactive.
• Use your chapter name as well as Phi Theta Kappa (NOT ptk) on posters…

International assistance with administrative support:

• Five star achievement congratulation letter.
• Hallmark congratulation letter.
• Recognize college presidents.
• All this strengthens the network.

Local bonds:

• Invite administrators to local events such as inductions, service projects, and campus award ceremonies.
• Request financial assistance for “special” members (regional officers, All Arizona nominees).
• Carbon copy administration (also Arizona Region and Phi Theta Kappa head quarters) on newsletter mailings.

Communication:

• Increase in communication.
• Reestablished electronic newsletter and updated website.
• Program reminders, Five star updates.
• Electronic announcements.
• Personal contact from regional officers and attendance at chapter events upon invitation.

Service:

• To support Operation Green: raise $14 000 for pump (African Play Pump Project).
• Ideas to reach our service goal:

Sale of “Play Pump” pins.

$1.00 per 2007 Arizona inductee.

5% of profit from regional meetings.

Corporate sponsorships.

Alumni involvement.

Online auction.

Football game fundraiser.

Ask Oprah (send her a personal letter).

Scholarship:

• Establish Chapter Partner program to increase awareness of society programs with a result of 20 Arizona chapters achieving one star status.

Leadership:

• Reactive the Arizona Community Alumni Association.

Fellowship:

• Foster regional unity and recognition through the creation and sale of a new regional t-shirt and pin.