August 2003

Phi Theta Kappa Alumni News Briefs

Welcome to the end-of-summer issue of Phi Theta Kappa's Alumni News Briefs, sharing news and achievements of the alumni and alumni associations, and a variety of information of interest to alumni. Please send your news to alumni.office@ptk.org for inclusion in future issues.

1. Our Newest Regional Alumni Association

On July 12, 2003, thirty proud alumni gathered for the chartering of the new Kansas Alumni Association of Phi Theta Kappa. Dr. James Tangeman (Alpha Xi Upsilon honorary member and former President of Garden City Community College) will serve as advisor for the association and Kip Nichols (Alpha Xi Upsilon) is serving as chartering president. Other officers include Dawn Kortz (Kappa Psi) as president-elect and Pam Howe (Eta Gamma) as secretary. The association may be contacted at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ptkkansasalumni/.

2. Alumni assist the Missouri Regional Leadership Conference

Missouri alumni are very actively supporting the chapters in their region. Five of the seven active Missouri alumni associations were represented at the recent Missouri Regional Leadership Conference.  Alumni presented a workshop entitled "What Alumni Can Do for You!" and introduced their new alumni service project, "Hugs For Kids Quilt Project" (originally begun by the Greater Northwest Region Alumni Association.) Missouri alumni also announced an increase in the Regional Leaders of Promise scholarship from one $250 scholarship in 2002 to three $300 scholarships in 2003. Finally, association members announced their new "Good as Gold" scholarship, which provides to a chapter selected at random a $100 stipend to assist with travel expenses to attend the Convention or Leadership Conference.

3. Alumni Fun in Michigan

The Michigan Region Alumni Association is hosting their Alumni Summer Picnic at Fort Custer Recreation Park on Saturday, August 16. Phi Theta Kappa alumni and members throughout the Michigan region are invited to attend for hot dogs and fellowship. For more information, contact Michigan Region Alumni President Abbie Root at a_raiz@yahoo.com.

4. Nebraska/Wyoming Mini Honors Institute hosted by Alumni

The recently chartered NE/WY Regional Alumni Association hosted the 2003 NE/WY Mini Honors Institute at Chadron State College in Chadron, Nebraska. Connie Ranard-Chandler, Regional Coordinator was unable to attend and the meeting was planned and coordinated by alumni association members, Alumni Advisor Rick Mansheim and Alumni Association President Heidi Swick. Some of the topics included were: Medicinal Herbs and Their Uses, How Stress and Anxiety Affect Health, and the Benefits of Touch on children, the elderly; and those with stress, depression or other ailments. Contact Alumni Association President Heidi Swick at heidi.swick@ptk.org for more information.

5. Honor Your Leaders With A Brick

To honor your alumni advisor, alumni association officers and/or members, why not have an engraved brick permanently placed in the Alpha Courtyard at the Center for Excellence? Many have purchased bricks to express appreciation for those who are instrumental in the continued success of their alumni association. The engraved bricks are given a permanent, prominent home in the Alpha Courtyard, and funds from the sales are directed to support the Society's educational and scholarship programs. For more information on how to honor a group or individual by purchasing a brick, go to www.ptk.org/foundation/f_alpha.htm.

6. Alumni Support of Chapters Increases

Information gleaned from Chapter Annual Reports shows that more two-year active chapters are receiving alumni support every year.  Alumni support includes fundraising, supporting chapter programming and assisting with officer training. Here are the statistics:

Year # of Chapters receiving support % of all chapters

'00-'01 133 14.8 %

'01-'02 157 17.5 %

'02-'03 184 19.0 %

For more information about how Phi Theta Kappa alumni and alumni associations serve as two-year chapter mentors and supporters, contact alumni.office@ptk.org.

7. Scholarship News

The Phi Theta Kappa Board of Directors has announced a substantial increase in the number and amount of Leaders of Promise Scholarships to be awarded for 2003-2004. Currently there are 10 Leaders of Promise scholarships at $500 each. Beginning in 2003-2004 the number of scholarships will increase to 30 and the amount will increase to $1000! The results of the Leaders of Promise program have been outstanding. Past recipients of this award, given to new members while attending a two-year college and which requires them to engage in leadership activities in the chapter, have emerged to serve as chapter presidents, regional officers, candidates for International Office, Guistwhite Scholars, and All-USA Team winners. Support of the Leaders of Promise Scholarship Endowment is a project of the International Alumni Association.

8. Alumnus Receives Recognition

Former 1984-1985 International Officer Matt Jones (Illinois Central College, Upsilon Mu) was recently named one of the "Ten Outstanding Young People of Illinois" by the Illinois Jaycees and also received the Prescott Bloom Distinguished Public Service Award from the Peoria Jaycees. Matt is a member of Lambda of Illinois Alumni Association.

9. NCRAA Provides Graduate School Tips

The Nevada/California Region Alumni Association has used its listserve to provide its subscribers with 10 tips to start preparing for graduate exams and graduate school applications. To receive the tips and for more information contact NCRAA President Adam Dince at

adam.dince@gcccd.net.

10. Charters retired for Inactive Alumni Associations

It is with deep regret that we report the retiring of charters for the following alumni associations, due to inactivity. The Phi Theta Kappa Board of Directors requires that each alumni association file an Annual Report to be considered active, and charters are retired for associations that have been inactive for five years. Retired alumni associations are prohibited from using Phi Theta Kappa's name,

logos, etc.  Retired alumni association charters in 2003 include: Johnson County Community College Phi Theta Kappa Alumni, Kansas Beta of Colorado - Front Range Community College, Colorado Gamma of Oklahoma - Redlands Community College, Oklahoma Gamma of Michigan - Macomb Community College, Michigan

The Development Department exists to serve Phi Theta Kappa Alumni and their Associations. Please contact us with your questions, comments, news, suggestions or requests. Call 601.984.3540 or email alumni.office@ptk.org.

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