2001 Archives
Tennesseans Attend Honors Institute
Members learn about new topic, plan events.
By Jessica Myers
Each year a Phi Theta Kappa Honors Committee selects an Honor Study Topic for the following year. This topic is the basis for a year’s worth of service projects, fellowship opportunities, and scholarship hallmark activities. The topic chosen for 2001-2002 is "Customs, Traditions, and Celebrations: The Human Drive for Community." A topic such as this one holds endless possibilities. Many chapters have already started their planning for the upcoming year and I hope all of you who have not started will begin soon. I am sure this year will prove to be very exciting for all who become involved.
I, along with eight other Tennessee Phi Theta Kappans, recently had the opportunity to attend the 34th annual Honors Institute. We spent eight days in Atlanta on the campus of the Georgia Institute of Technology. The week was filled with thought-provoking speakers, tours of historical sights, informative and inspirational seminar group discussions, storytelling, and the building of many friendships that will last a lifetime.
Upon returning home we were eager to share what we learned during our week away. We hope to be able to do this through Mini-Honors Institutes and working with other members. If anyone who did not have the opportunity to attend wants to know more about what went on during the week feel free to contact me at jessica.myers@ptk.org. or check out the Phi Theta Kappa website at www.ptk.org. I look forward to hearing from many of you in the upcoming months about how you are using the Honors Study Topic in your chapters. If you need help getting started, feel free to get in contact with me or any of the other regional officers. Good Luck in the year to come.
News from your Regional Coordinator
By Patricia Bishop
Dear Tennessee,
Recently, International Headquarters appointed me as your Tennessee Region Coordinator. I am honored by this appointment, but I am well aware that the strength of our region lies in its members and advisors. Thank you for making my year as interim coordinator successful and fun.
The Tennessee Region Advisory Board, 2001-02 region officers, and I recently met at Dr. Art Fowler’s cabin in Kingston, Tennessee for our spring advisory board meeting to plan our leadership conference and begin plans for the upcoming year. We are blessed with a dynamic officer team who are anxious to begin their term of office. One of this year’s regional goals is for each chapter to be visited at least once this year by an officer, board member, or me. We are available to speak, participate in activities, or to work with advisors, members, or officers. Please let me know how we can assist you most effectively.
This year the Tennessee Region will serve as host region for the 84th international convention in Nashville. Although this is a major endeavor, I am confident in Tennessee’s ability to accept the challenge and successfully serve our Society and its membership. The Virginia and Kentucky Regions have graciously offered their assistance for this event. This summer we will begin gathering items for goody bags and preparing. In early January the region’s officers and I will meet in Nashville with the international officers to accept the convention torch. We will be passing the convention torch to all our chapters and bring it back to Nashville to kick off the convention in April.
I look forward to working with you exploring the four Hallmarks, building new relationships, and celebrating scholarship in Tennessee. Please feel free to contact me at anytime.
Spotlight: Ronald McDonald House
By Doug Murphy
Members of Alpha Theta Xi chapter have established a partnership with the Ronald McDonald House of Knoxville. Members visited the Ronald McDonald House three times during the summer, preparing dinners for up to twenty-five parents. The chapter plans two more visits during the summer. The Ronald McDonald House has provided a place for parents to stay close to seriously ill children for over 25 years. The Knoxville House opened in March of 1985, and is part of a network of over two hundred Houses around the world. Since 1985 over 22,000 people have stayed in the Knoxville House alone. To establish a relationship with a Ronald McDonald House near you, contact them via phone and express your chapter’s interest in helping out. Your help will be appreciated.
Make Your Promise Today
Penny Tyler on America's Promise
The 2001-2002 year is
full of ambition and commitment for the Phi Theta Kappa Tennessee Region. One of
our goals and regional service projects involves staying committed to America’s
Promise. Last year we were able to mentor and promote reading to children and
held book drives collecting books for children up through the 6th grade. Phi
Theta Kappa sees this as an investment in the future.
Perhaps you have
never heard of America’s Promise and are wondering exactly what it is. Founded
in April 1997 at the Presidents’ Summit for America’s Future in Philadelphia,
America’s Promise – The Alliance for Youth promotes mobilization of the nation's
finest groups and organization to build and strengthen the character and
competence of our youth. The challenge to Americans encourages them to
contribute their time, talents and money to support our nation’s youth. Thus
began America's Promise.
There are five basic promises made to each child in America.
1. Mentor - An ongoing relationship with a caring adult –
parent, mentor, tutor or coach.
2. Protect - A safe place to be with structured activities
during non-school hours.
3. Nurture - A healthy start.
4. Prepare - A marketable skill through effective education.
5. Serve - An opportunity to give back through community
service.
These promises guide and mold America’s youth into capable, productive citizens
capable of success and making positive decisions when implemented effectively.
How can your chapter become involved? First, your chapter can sign up to become
a Chapter of Promise on the
Phi Theta Kappa
website. The process takes only minutes! Next, you begin planning and
researching the needs within your community that align with America’s Promise.
You can go to the America’s Promise website for a host of ideas and resources to
help your chapter get started. The address is
http://www.americaspromise.org.
Our future rests on
the hope of America’s children. Make America’s Promise your Chapter’s promise
this year. Then mentor, protect, nurture, prepare, and serve America’s children.
Do not delay, make your commitment today!
News from your Regional President
Lizz Harris announces new programs and partnerships.
Regional Service Project: A Celebration of Books and Reading
At our advisory board meeting last month we discussed doing a regional activity , within Tennessee, geared toward children called "A Celebration of Books and Storytelling" . This project could be tailored to whatever each chapter can, or would like to do, there are many possibilities .
"A Celebration of Books and Storytelling" relates to the America’s Promise project as well as to the Honor’s Study Topic "Customs, Traditions and Celebrations: The human drive for community".
Here are some options to explore within your Chapter:
1. Invite storytellers to celebrate the oral tradition of this area with the children. It is a lot of fun!
2. Have reading circles for the children to celebrate the age-old tradition of reading bedtime stories to the little ones, and perhaps scary stories to the older ones.
3. Have people dressed up in costumes of favorite book characters.
4. Have the children play simple, book related games. I.e. a take off on Q & A shows, (work on the ?’s as a chapter) - What were the names of the children in Jumanji? Finish this title, ’The Chronicles of ______.’ What books does R. L. Stein write? etc.
These are just a few options - your chapter will recognize the most appropriate activity for your area. Just have fun, and engage a child's mind!
Region to Region Linking Project
Fellowship on a Large Scale
At Honor’s Institute in Atlanta Jessica Meyers, and I met with members of the Virginia and Kentucky regions to discuss a wonderful project that Virginia advisor Mr. Grady Surles originally spearheaded.
The Challenge Project 2001-2002 is called "Celebrations of Community". It involves activities which link regions to regions based on the Honors Study Topic. Mr. Surles suggested that Tennessee, Kentucky and Virginia have Civil War Battlegrounds in common and we could link on that topic. We agreed to gather materials to share with each other at Leadership weekend in Maryville which Virginia will be attending.
At one of the sessions, the Virginia region presented us with a plate bearing the design of a light house. This was their linking item last year when the Honor’s Study Topic was " In the Midst of Water: Origin and Destiny of Life ". We were also presented by the Kentucky Regional President, with a commemorative Coca-Cola bottle, from a Hatfield & McCoys re-enactment celebration attended by Virginia and Kentucky regions last month.
I also met with the Oklahoma region, and we discussed our link via The Trail of Tears, the devastating relocation of the Cherokee people. We felt this was an example of what happens to a community when it is uprooted by force and denied its own Customs, Traditions and Celebrations. I will be attending a Native American Celebration in Chattanooga to make a connection and gather some materials.
The other region I spoke with was New Mexico. They are linking with several regions to examine the similarities and differences of the many Indian Nations that exist in this country and Canada. David Rodriguez, the region’s president, encouraged other regions to link with them to celebrate the customs and traditions of the Indian Nations in their regions. I would like to find a way to do that with our Cherokee Nation.
This is a very exciting project! One that will be a great chance to meet new Kappans as well as finding and celebrating our similarities. I encourage you all to contact me by e-mail (elisabeth.harris@ptk.org) if you have any ideas on this subject for Tennessee, I will appreciate your input very much.
A Promise Fulfilled
Alpha Beta Mu Kid's Day a roaring success
The Alpha Beta Mu chapter of Chattanooga State worked hard during the spring to incorporate the five promises of America’s Promise into their activities, culminating in a massive community service project that involved a wide range of local community participants. Members brought together such organizations as D.A.R.E, the Hamilton County Health Department, Memorial Hospital, Girl Scouts of America, Chattanooga Cares – AIDS education and outreach, local fire departments, and even more to create a full day of meaningful activities for children. Nancy Jones, former Tennessee Regional President and Alpha Beta Mu chapter President, outlined the day’s events in an email to Doug Murphy:
"There were give-aways of books, educational items, pencils, pens, coloring books, candy, balloons, toys, stickers, McDonalds cookies and toys, Krystal toys and bookmarks, and too many more to mention! Participants taught, talked, entertained, and had fun doing it. There were face painters and balloons and rides on real fire trucks. And those who couldn’t physically participate donated prizes and give-away items. It was truly amazing what could be done when you get people together to help the children of a community."
In closing, Nancy puts her eyes to the future. "My thanks go out to everyone who took part in such a grand event. I plan on being back year after year to help organize and implement PTK Kids Day again and again. I hope everyone in Tennessee, as well as the nation, realizes what a small group of people can do to put a smile on a child’s face, and make a difference in a little life."
Ashley Edwards named Coca Cola Scholar
Original notice written by Tabitha Vires-Swearingen.
Ashley Edwards, president of Alpha Xi Psi chapter, was selected to receive a $1000 award as a candidate for the Coca Cola Two-Year Colleges Scholarship Program. Her selection was based on academic achievement and her ongoing commitment to community service. Ashley is one of 350 students nationwide who were selected to receive this scholarship.
Society Charters Second Chapter in Germany
Src: PTK.ORG
The Beta Kappa Epsilon Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa was recently chartered at the University of Maryland – European Division in Heidelberg, Germany, making it the Society’s second chapter in Germany. Beta Kappa Epsilon Chapter membership consists primarily of United States military personnel, spouses and children pursuing an Associate Degree through the University of Maryland-European Division. Phi Theta Kappa’s operations are global in scope with chapters located in all 50 United States, U.S. Territories, Canada, Germany and Japan. For information on chapter chartering, contact Chapter Development Coordinator Glen Hansford 601.957.2241, ext. 555, or visit chaprog/cp_intro.htm.