08/27/2014
Fellow Phi Theta Kappans,
I just wanted to get some notes out to our membership. We met yesterday to discuss events, activities, and opportunities that will be available for Phi Theta Kappa member s to participate in and assist with during the coming year. This is NOT an inclusive list (we didn’t have enough time to bring up all of the items on the agenda.) and pretty much covers just the first couple of months this fall! Our next meeting for all members and officers will be on September 16th from 1-2:30 in room 152 of the Student Life and Leadership Offices.
1. PTK will be having a table at the Fall Expo (Thursday, August 28th) from 11am till 1pm. If you are interested in serving as an information ambassador for our organization or just want to reconnect with past and present Alpha Phi Theta members, stop by and say hello!
2. If you are interested in running for office (I will attach a document with a listing of the offices that are available and the general responsibilities of each of those officer positions today or tomorrow), please notify me (along with a BRIEF statement about why you wish to run for the office you are choosing) no later than SEPTEMBER 10th ([email protected]). At our September 16th meeting we will vote on any positions that have multiple members wanting to serve as well as confirm (by vote) those members who are running unopposed for an officer position.
3. Please consider running for office. We are in need of officers, and you will find that as a PTK officer, your knowledge of and involvement in our organization and chapter will increase substantially.)
4. PTK, along with the wonderful and gracious support of SGA, will be hosting the Commit to Complete Day (Banner signing about your intent to complete you degree at Ivy Tech) on September 24th, 2014. SGA will be providing pizza for students at this event. We need all PTK members who are available that day from about 10:30 – 1:30 to assist us in the set-up, helping students sign the banner, passing out pizza, and helping to clean up afterward. The event is from 11-1, so please come and help (let me know through e-mail if you can assist).
5. We have books to be boxed and sent out all over our campus. In an effort to get an early start on our fall PTK book drive, we will begin to box up books on September 8th at 1:00 pm. If you can help, please meet at my office (211-N) at that time.
6. Our fall 2014 Induction ceremony will occur on October 3rd (Friday) at 6:00 pm. If you can assist in the implementation of this wonderful ceremony for new member, please let me know. Again, this event requires a lot of people to help prepare and complete, so if you are available anytime that Friday from about 3:30 till 8:00 we could sure use your help.
Finally, I wanted to close by sharing a few thoughts and a quote about the nature of a community. Our Alpha Phi Theta Chapter IS a community. Some of us are part of the day to day operations, some visit and lend a hand when they can; others provide support through words of encouragement and statements of gratitude for their involvement, at whatever level, in our community. As I have told many of you before, whether it be at your induction, at your graduation, at times of success and challenge we have all faced, in class if you were one of my students, or in the office or hallways of our southwest campus: I respect and honor the decisions that you make about your level of involvement in our Alpha Phi Theta chapter of Phi Theta Kappa.
But “here’s the rub”. Community members need to consistently assess what is their responsibility to the continued existence of that community. In the midst of the responsibilities, commitments, and the challenges you face, can you consider being more involved in this community? As always, I will respect and not judge that assessment you make. All I ask is that you consider becoming more involved in the Phi Theta Kappa activities and leadership opportunities that are available to you as a member of our community.
As I have told some of you before; I consider our Alpha Phi Theta chapter to be like a ship. Our ship is not made to stay in a harbor where it is safe. It is meant to go to sea so that we may explore new vistas of academic and personal growth. Along the way we may encounter periods of storm, or be in “irons” without the winds available to continue our journey. Perhaps that is the time when we need others on deck to get us going or steer us through rough seas. As Henrik Ibsen, poet and playwright said many years ago: “A community is like a ship; everyone ought to be prepared to take the helm. “
I look forward to working with all of the current, soon to be, and alumni members of Alpha Phi Theta during the coming year!!
Dan
