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Orientation, Induction, and Election Information Meeting Re-Cap 04/20/2016

Phi Theta Kappa Meeting Review

Alpha Alpha Xi Chapter – April 20, 2016

The meeting was called to order at 3:18 p.m.

Orientation began with the officers and support team introducing themselves and the advisors.  They explained that Phi Theta Kappa is the largest international honors society with membership requirements that include a 3.5 GPA and 12 or more college credit hours.  A video was shown to inform new members about the organization.  Benefits of joining the organization are scholarships, developing leadership skills through Five Star Competitive Edge and chapter projects, networking, and opportunities to attend yearly conventions.  Please check out some of the free resources available at ptk.org.  

Many scholarships are available to members, including international students, and may apply towards associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees.  In addition to the numerous transfer scholarships, there are some which are specific only to Richland College such as the Celia Riddle Millemon scholarship.  There is also a scholarship available to assist with the $85 membership fee. 

Officers explained how the organization is divided.  The Richland chapter is called Alpha Alpha Xi and is a part of District II.  District II belongs to the Texas Region, and each region reports to the international level. 

The end-of-semester potluck will be May 4^th from 3:15 – 4:00 p.m. in the regularly scheduled meeting room.  Members were asked to bring a food item of their choice to share with others; cultural dishes are most welcome. 

Officer elections for the next academic year will be held during the potluck on May 4^th.  Those interested in running for an officer positon should plan on preparing a one to two minute speech to present to the club.  All officer and support positions will be open, and current officers spoke a little about what their title entails.  Officer positions include Leadership, Fellowship, Service, and Scholarship.  Support positions are Media Specialist and Secretary.  Students were encouraged to speak with current officers if they have questions.  Members considering an officer position cannot have a schedule conflict with the meetings and need to be at Richland during the next fall/spring academic year.  RCHS students may be members of Phi Theta Kappa but may not apply for officer positions. 

Induction for new members will be this Sunday, April 24th in Fannin Performance Hall.  The ceremony is from 3:00 - 4:00 p.m., however, inductees need to arrive by 1:00.  Business or cocktail attire is appropriate as is cultural dress. Students casually dressed, such as jeans, t-shirts, flip-flops, or tennis-shoes will be turned away.  Ladies were encouraged to wear low-heeled shoes for walking the stage and climbing risers and stairs.  There will be no place to store personal belongings such as purses and jackets, so please make arrangements to leave them in a car or with someone in the audience.  A fellowship dinner will take place after the ceremony, and attendees are responsible for their own meal.  Family and friends are welcome to attend both the induction and dinner.  As a consideration to those being inducted, babies crying during the ceremony should be taken out to the lobby. 

The District II Spring Fling will be on June 4^th from 10:00 – 4:00 p.m. at the Town Lake Recreation Center.  This is a great chance to meet other officers and members from the district. 

Chapter members, Stephanie and Robbie, spoke about what they have gained from being in the organization.  They welcomed new members and encouraged them to become involved in the chapter. 

Email reminders will be sent with information regarding upcoming activities, dates, and times, but members can stay connected to the chapter through Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ptkaax, email ptkaax@gmail.com, website www.ptkaax.blogspot.com, and Instagram @ptkaax. 

The meeting was adjourned at 4:19 p.m.

Meeting Recap 02/03/2016

from ΑΑΞ Reporting Secretary Melissa Savoy

Phi Theta Kappa Meeting Review

Alpha Alpha Xi Chapter – February 3, 2016

The meeting was called to order at 3:20 p.m.

The first meeting of the spring semester began with an ice breaker. Two winners were presented with $20 and $25 gift certificates to the Katy Trail Ice House and Dave and Busters.

Students were informed about the upcoming Phi Theta Kappa Regional Conference to be held at Baylor University on February 25th - 27th. There are a few spots available to interested members. Attire for the majority of the weekend is casual, but dress for the banquet is business/cocktail.

Last year’s College Project, titled Green Team, was a big success. The chapter has received accolades from the college president and has been recognized for its outstanding environmental efforts. The project will continue this semester with another lake cleanup, to be held either March 3rd or March 12th from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Additionally, there will be a children’s craft project that will coincide with Earth Day. Identification cards will be developed for Green Team members, and UTD is instituting a scholarship for those who participate in the project. Students were encouraged to volunteer, and a signup sheet was provided.

Appreciation was expressed to members who volunteered for the club fair in January; many students were interested in joining the chapter as new members.

Alpha Alpha Xi will have a leap-year fundraiser, possibly a bake sale, on Monday, February 29th from 11:30 to 3:30. Volunteers are needed, and a signup sheet was provided. Watch for further updates coming soon.

Current service opportunities were provided. Reading Partners is in need of one-time tutors that assist elementary school children in West Dallas with reading proficiency. This program is on Fridays from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Students may go to the website to volunteer https://www.voly.org/opportunities/view.html?id=AVKJPEAiyfL1-PcgjS9h. The second volunteer opportunity is in need of homes that will foster puppies. All food, supplies, and vet needs will be cared for. More information can be found at https://www.voly.org/opportunities/view.html?id=56087f9677dd249612435b40. These volunteer hours may be applied to Service Learning. Confirmation of your attendance at the volunteer event may be provided to Omar.

The Celia Riddle Millemon scholarship, offered only to Richland College students, was established by Mr. John Millemon, a prior Alpha Alpha Xi advisor. Two of these $500 scholarships are presented each semester and require applicants to be Phi Theta Kappa members in good standing. A general scholarship foundation form must be submitted along with an attached personal statement. Applicants may submit their information to Dr. Ewing or to the Financial Aid office.

A scholarship page on the Richland College website is currently in the works; it will contain information regarding scholarships that are exclusive to Richland.

Spring scholarships, for students who will be remaining at community college the following year, will be opening soon. There will be more information to come in following weeks. It’s advisable to be mindful that grammar is important when submitting personal statements or essays for scholarships.

Four students were recently awarded scholarships to cover Phi Theta Kappa membership. Chancellor Joe May installed this fund for students to whom the membership fee is prohibitive. It will provide reimbursement for dues once proof of payment is shown. Applicants must show financial need and submit a personal essay. Carter Bedford and Forrest Garret, chapter Media Specialist, have the necessary forms for those who would like to apply.

Students who are interested in becoming members of the Alpha Alpha Xi chapter of Phi Theta Kappa need to ensure their GPA is at least 3.5. Members must also be enrolled in 6 credit hours with 12 completed credit hours. Membership invitations with passcodes will be emailed in a few weeks. There is a window of time in which to join, so prospective members have only until May to accept. Membership is lifetime with a one-time $85 fee. If you believe you are eligible and do not receive an invitation by the end of February, please contact Dr. Jon Ewing.

The meeting was adjourned at 4:01 p.m

Green Team Sign-Up Form