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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.

Orientation Meeting Re-Cap 03/10/2016

Phi Theta Kappa Meeting Review

Alpha Alpha Xi Chapter – March 10^th, 2016

The meeting was called to order at 4:06 p.m.

Officers introduced themselves and discussed what Phi Theta Kappa is about - including membership requirements and benefits.  Every year each chapter works on special projects such as Honors in Action and College Project.  Members also have the opportunity to attend regional and national conferences where they can hear special guest speakers and participate in leadership workshops.  Additionally, there are service opportunities that will be will promoted by the chapter, and students may obtain service hours by volunteering.  Phi Theta Kappa is well-known for the multiple scholarships available to its members.  Meeting attendees were shown how to navigate to the scholarship page on the Phi Theta Kappa website www.ptk.org.

Officers spoke about what it is like to hold a Phi Theta Kappa officer position and informed students that elections for the Fall 2016 – Spring 2017 term will take place sometime around April or May.  All officer and support positions will be open.  Those interested in running for an officer positon should plan on preparing a one to two minute speech to present to the club.  The speech should include why you would like to become an officer and what you can bring to the position.  A workshop will be offered soon that will help the transition to the new officer team.

Spring induction will be Sunday, April 24^th in the Fannin Hall Auditorium.  This is a special ceremony that celebrates and recognizes your achievements.  Members who have recently joined Phi Theta Kappa are encouraged to attend the ceremony, but it is not mandatory.  The ceremony is from 3:00 – 4:00, but inductees need to be there no later than 1:00 p.m.  The attire is business, so please dress accordingly; no jeans or tennis shoes.  Jackets and coats should be left in the car as students will not walk the stage wearing them.

Two current chapter members talked about their experiences with the chapter and what they have gained from becoming a member, and students were provided with information on how to contact the chapter.  Alpha Alpha Xi may be reached via Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ptkaax, email ptkaax@gmail.com, website www.ptkaax.blogspot.com, and Instagram.  Students were urged to join the Facebook page.

A globalization conference which will be held in Salzburg, Austria will take place soon.  Two students will be selected to attend, and all expenses will be paid.  The requirements are U.S. citizenship, a U.S. passport, and the student must enrolled at Richland for the Fall 2016 semester.  Those considered only need to be Phi Theta Kappa eligible, so students who have not yet become a member may also be considered.  

The meeting was adjourned at 5:05 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

Spring 2016 Meeting Schedule

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Induction Meeting Recap 11/18/2015

from ΑΑΞ Reporting Secretary Melissa Savoy

Phi Theta Kappa Induction Meeting Review

Alpha Alpha Xi Chapter – November 18, 2015

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

After an opening icebreaker, an update of the chapter’s College Project, Green Campus, was provided.  Two Green Campus workshops have been presented in The Learning Center, and last Saturday’s campus lake cleanup was very successful.  Volunteers collected 250 lbs. of trash from the lake area alone!  Future activities and events will be scheduled, so be on the lookout for additional updates regarding this project.  Please speak with Omar Demachkie if you are interested in being on The Green Team going forward.

The next fundraising committee meeting for Honors in Action will be Saturday, November 21^st from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.  Honors in Action will be assisting with the construction of Kings Kingdom Playground, a wheelchair accessible playground for disabled children.  Those doing research on the project need to send information to jessie.arrriaga@gmail.com.  Volunteers are still need to help with construction of the playground.  Sign up information will be sent via email.

Alpha Alpha Xi’s next fundraiser will be on Tuesday, December 15^th, from 11:00 – 2:00 p.m. in Wichita Hall.  Cake and pie will be sold to raise additional funds for the chapter.  Volunteers are needed, so please speak with Jessica if you would like to help.

Semester-end is approaching.  Join your fellow Phi Theta Kappa members in some fun and relaxation prior to finals.  A potluck will be held in place of the last regularly-scheduled meeting on December 2^nd from 3:15 to approximately 5:00 p.m. in D-174.  Members were asked to bring a food dish of their choosing.  Please feel free to bring store-bought items.

Sunday, November 22^nd is the Induction Ceremony.  It will be held in Fannin Hall from 3:00 – 4:00 p.m.  Inductees need to arrive by 1:00, but family and friends should arrive for the ceremony at 3:00 p.m.  Business attire is recommended and jeans are not allowed.  Cultural dress, however, is perfectly acceptable.  Ladies were advised not to wear their highest heels as inductees will be climbing stairs, ramps, and risers.  Induction attendance is not required, and members may be inducted at a future ceremony if unable to attend.  Some students inquired about volunteering for the ceremony; members who would like to help may arrive that day to hand out programs and candles.  A fellowship dinner will follow from 4:30 – 7:30 p.m.  Members voted on the restaurant and decided upon Chili’s at Spring Valley.  All students, family, and friends are welcome to the dinner, but meals are at their own expense.  Tables will be reserved beforehand, and a sign-up sheet will be distributed via email.  When signing up, please include the total number that will attend.  There will be carpools for students without transportation. 

Phi Theta Kappa’s Fall Scholarship application is currently open.  Applications should be submitted through www.ptk.org no later than December 1^st at 5:00 p.m.  Multiple scholarship applications are submitted with one main application.

Although the official All-USA Scholarship deadline is December 2^nd, Richland’s internal application deadline is Wednesday, November 25^th at 5:00 p.m.  Applications not completed by this date will not be considered.  The advisor committee will review the applications and put forth recommendations to Richland College President, Dr. Kay Eggleston.  The applications of the two students nominated will be sent to the next level of scholarship judging. 

December 1^st is the deadline for the Ceilia Milliemon Scholarship and the Phi Theta Kappa membership scholarship essay.

The meeting was adjourned at 4:00 p.m

Orientation Meeting Recap 11/04/2015

from ΑΑΞ Reporting Secretary Melissa Savoy

Phi Theta Kappa Orientation Meeting Review

Alpha Alpha Xi Chapter – November 4, 2015

The meeting was called to order at 3:19 p.m.

The meeting was opened with an ice breaker which posed a question that members could answer.  A $25 gift card was given away to the person with the correct answer.  It really does pay to come to chapter meetings!

The chapter Fellowship Officer, Jessica Arriaga, introduced herself and other officers.  Omar Demachkie is the Leadership Officer, Kennedy Agusi is Scholarship Officer, and the Service Officer for the chapter is Jay Saadaddin.  Forrest Garrett is Media Specialist, and Chapter Secretary is Melissa Savoy.  Dr. Jon Ewing was introduced as one of the chapter advisors.

Omar introduced new members to what Phi Theta Kappa is about and covered membership requirements and benefits.  Students can hone their leadership skills and learn how to work within a team.  Members have access to various different types of scholarships and are provided with important tools such as how to write a resume and much more.

The Leadership officer has the responsibility of spearheading the College Project.  Omar discussed that the annual project has an environmental focus this year.  Alpha Alpha Xi will have a Richland College lake cleanup on Saturday, November 14 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  Professional equipment used for the cleanup will be provided by facilities.  Volunteers are needed, so please contact Omar if interested.  The project will also be presenting environmental/recycling workshops in The Learning Center this semester and next.  Students are encouraged to sign-up to take the workshop.  Service Learning hours may be obtained from attending the workshop. 

Duties of the Scholarship officer include communicating the status of scholarships to members and leading the chapter Honors in Action project.  Kennedy mentioned that there are scholarships currently open that will be closing in less than a month.  Members may go to the website for further details.

Jay discussed that duties of the Service officer include providing members with opportunities to volunteer and work in a service capacity.  One such opportunity is the Kids Kingdom Playground committee.  Volunteers will be building a wheelchair assessable playground for children with disabilities.  Students may go to www.signupgenius.com to participate.  This project will be taking place in November and December, and they have various types of volunteer opportunities held on different days. 

Omar encouraged members to register for the Service Learning program and mentioned that it is a nice addition to add to a college resume.  Students may register for Service Learning in The Learning Center. 

The Fellowship officer plans chapter events like fundraisers and fellowship nights.  Jessica informed new members that the chapter usually has a fellowship night approximately once a month with movies, pizza, and ice cream.  The next Alpha Alpha Xi fundraiser will be selling cakes and pies, and the date will soon be announced.  Watch for an email for further details.  

Jessica covered the different tiers of the Phi Theta Kappa organization.  The international level at the top is followed by the Texas Region, District II, and finally our local Alpha Alpha Xi chapter of Richland College.

Members who have joined Phi Theta Kappa are encouraged to attend the Fall Induction Ceremony held in Fannin Hall Auditorium on Sunday, November, 22.  This is a special ceremony that celebrates and recognizes your achievements.  Family members and friends may attend.  There will be two guest speakers, and students will have their pictures taken by a photographer.  The ceremony is from 3:00 – 4:00, but inductees need to be there no later than 1:00 p.m.  Afterward, there will be a fellowship dinner at a local restaurant from 4:30 – 7:30.  The attire is business, so please dress accordingly; no jeans or tennis shoes.  Jackets and coats should be left in the car as students will not walk the stage wearing them.  Ladies are advised not to wear high-heels because members will be walking across a stage and climbing risers.

Membership to join Phi Theta Kappa is a $95 one-time fee.  There are funds available for those who have an economic need for paying club dues.  Dr. Jon Ewing explained to new members that there are scholarships available to students who cannot afford the dues.  A scholarship form was provided to those interested. 

If you have not yet accepted membership, go to the Phi Theta Kappa website, click on “Accept Membership”, and enter the same email address from which you received your invitation.  The organization is officially called Phi Theta Kappa and is not referred to as “PTK”.  Chapter leaders are elected at the end of the semester and hold their positions for one year.  Prior to elections being held, interested members are given a chance to talk about why they would like a leadership position and what they believe they can do for the chapter.

Chapter Media Specialist, Forrest, advised members of the many different ways to stay in touch with the organization and receive news of upcoming events.  Members were urged to sign-up for the newsletter and “Like” the chapter Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/ptkaax.  The chapter website address was shared www.ptkaax.blogspot.com along with the chapter email address ptkaax@gmail.com. 

Dr. Ewing mentioned to those in attendance that if they have not yet received an invitation to join and think they are eligible, to please verify that the requirements have been met.  Members should have completed 12 credit hours, be enrolled in at least 6 credit hours, and have at least a 3.5 GPA.  If you are eligible and interested in joining, please contact Dr. Ewing. 

The meeting was adjourned at 4:04 p.m

Meeting Re-Cap 2015/10/07

from ΑΑΞ Reporting Secretary Melissa Savoy

Phi Theta Kappa Meeting Review

Alpha Alpha Xi Chapter - October 7th, 2015

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

Jessica, chapter Fellowship officer, opened the meeting with a game as an icebreaker.  The winner received a Katy Trail Ice House gift card.

Leadership announcements from Omar included information about College Project, Recycling Round Up, Campus Clean Up, and the Texas Leadership conference.  College Project will coordinate with the Fall 2015 Recycling Round Up on November 15th, from 9:00 – 1:00 p.m.  Prizes will be awarded and service hours may be earned.  The environmental efforts of this year’s College Project will also work with the Subway bag collection that is stationed in El Paso.  Collections normally take place between 11:00 – 1:00 p.m.and have a goal to collect a certain number of bags.  Volunteers are also needed for the upcoming Campus Clean Up.  Members will be collecting plastics and cans.  Our chapter will be promoting awareness of where and how best to recycle.  Omar reported that the PowerPoint presentations are ready and are great; thanks to those who helped with this effort!  
The Texas Leadership Conference is taking place this week from October 9th – 11th.  Those attending will be meeting at Yegua building at 8:45 a.m.

Jessica invited members to join in the fun on October 15th at 5:00 p.m. after the general meeting in D174.  This fellowship event will have games, pizza, and ice cream  We will be watching a movie.  Get to know your fellow club members and relax for a couple of hours!The next chapter fundraiser will be on Monday, October 26th.  The fundraising event will be Halloween themed, and the chapter will be selling popcorn from 10:00 – 1:00 p.m. in Wichita Hall.  The popcorn machine and supplies are provided by the Office of Student Life.  Students can obtain service hours for volunteering. 

The new Service officer of our chapter, Jay Saadaddin, introduced himself and spoke about volunteering opportunities.   Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of North Texas 5K Walk will take place on October 24th 8:00 a.m.  Kids Kingdom Playground Committee will be building a playground in Rowlett that is wheelchair accessible.  Jay showed the chapter how to navigate to the pages for these opportunities and talked about different areas in which they need help.  Volunteer dates and times will vary depending on what phase of the project you choose to help with.  There are several different options to fit individual interests.  Volunteers can receive service hours.  Visit these links for additional information and to sign up.

https://www.voly.org/opportunities/view.html?id=55709b6577dd245d34054e52

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f054ca9af2babff2-2015

Poppies for Puppies is another opportunity that Jessie mentioned to members.  The proceeds from this project are used to rescue and train service dogs for those in need.  Ceramic poppies created will be displayed on campus in memory of those who died serving in World War I.  Jessie has volunteered and  encouraged other members to do the same.  Students who are interested should meet in F-179 between 10:00 and 2:00 p.m. on Fridays.  For service hours to be counted, students should be registered with Service Learning.  Please contact The Learning Center regarding registration.  

Professor and Phi Theta Kappa advisor, Melanie Pruit, spoke about the All-USA Scholarship.  Professor Pruit was a nominee for this scholarship when she was a student at Richland, and she urged members to apply.  This is a very prestigious scholarship that will look great on student transfer applications.  The time to start working on your application is now!  There is no enrollment key as has been the case in previous years.  With one application, students are submitted for four different scholarships.  An eligibility quiz may be taken to determine if you qualify.  Two leadership recommendation letters and two academic recommendation letters are required.  Citizenship requirements, dollars awarded, recognition for the scholarship, and more was covered.  Up to two applicants are selected to be nominees for Richland College.  The deadline for these scholarships is Friday, November 20th.  For details, and to apply, go to the Phi Theta Kappa website http://ptk.org/ and then to Scholarships.

Omar reminded students of the new merit-based Celia Riddle Millemon Scholarship.  Alpha Alpha Xi advisors will select the winners, and scholarships are awarded in both spring and fall.  More information may be found on the Richland College website.  The next Honors in Action meeting is on Saturday, Oct 17th in the Richland College library at 2:00 p.m.  All members are invited to attend and help with this year’s project. Complete With Me week is coming up soon.  Jessie asked members to volunteer from 10:00 – 2:00 p.m. and represent Phi Theta Kappa.  Complete with Me is an effort to strengthen student’s commitment to complete their degree.  Phi Theta Kappa t-shirts will be given away to volunteers.  Members may sign up through the following link.  http://ptkaax.blogspot.com/2015/10/commit-to-complete-day-volunteer-sign.htmlAdvisor, Dr. Jon Ewing, reported that Phi Theta Kappa invitations have been sent to potential new members within the past two weeks.  Students interested in joining may go to the Phi Theta Kappa website http://ptk.org/ and then to Accept Membership where they can enter a valid email address.  

The Chancellor of our district has new initiatives that include Phi Theta Kappa.  He is an advocate for Phi Theta Kappa and wants to promote and increase membership.  Recent standardization of membership fees for the district has established a uniform fee of $95. The Chancellor does not want potential members to avoid joining because they are hindered by financial issues.  A membership scholarship will be awarded to cover the membership fee.  Students will be required to write an essay to establish that they have financial adversities.  
The meeting was adjourned at 4:20 p.m