DISTINGUISHED CHAPTER OFFFICER TEAM AWARD
Tara, Merissa, Fred, Vicki, and Steph formed a cohesive unit, and one manner they built and demonstrated their solidarity was orderingofficer shirts. During initial semester meetings, they voted on the kind, color, and design of the shirt. This was a team effort: Tara and Steph sketched designs, Fred and Merissa created the order form, and Vicki researched local businesses to reporton costs. When they encountered a hitch with the chosen manufacturer, they communicated in person and through FaceBook and ironed out the final details. This was the first time in chapter history that we had officer shirts. Another first was the group photograph they wanted to post on their FaceBook page. So they contacted the school photographer, arranged their schedules, and wore their new polo shirts.
Furthermore, these officers complemented each other, in that they tailored responsibilities to individual strengths: Steph, Tara, and Fredare meticulous, so theyorganized the office, made wall folders for each officer, kept meeting minutes and chapter archives, and planned details of events such as our College Project; Vicki and Merissa are good writers, so they wrote various reports, such as the publicity notice for our Signing Day event; artistic, Steph, Vicki, and Tara worked on creative enterprises,like making tree ornaments on America Recycles Day. Despite playing to their strengths, they also challenged themselves to improve their weaknesses; they took adjunctive roles in activities, giving feedback or just learning by observing over shoulders.
By far, the strength of this officer team is their communication. More than past teams, this one has utilized various technologies to stay in touch. This fall semester was challenging as incongruent schedules made difficult face-to-face interaction. Still, this officer team rose to that challenge and utilized old and new means to overcome the obstacle. They adorned the office with sticky note reminders to each other; used the aforementioned office folders for copies of notes, announcements, forms, C4 materials, and HIAP details; posted meeting minutes on our chapter Web site; held 10 meetings this past semester; and used emails and text messages. Most significantly, while the chapter had had a FaceBook page previously, this team made the most of its communicative possibilities: They skillfully utilized the site to exchange project notes and ideas, inform those who had missed a meeting about our discussion, and update each other concerning upcoming chapter events, 5-Star development, and general chapter business.
- This officer team was an integral part of our chapter success. They formulated the goals for their term and then created detailed and effective plans to achieve those objectives. For one, they created a calendar to map out the semester in terms of meetings and events. They hung this in the office and placed a digital copy online – on our chapter Web site and on FaceBook. As dates changed or new events were created, they amended the calendar.
Further, they voiced to me their goal to repeat the achievements of the outgoing officer team, including retaining our 5-Star Chapter status. To keep their eyes on this prize, Vicki and Tara hung the 5 Star CDP poster in our office, and Steph made a hard copy for everyone. At the top of our meeting agendas they placed a status-check, noting what was accomplished and what was undone. This was part of their “work smarter, not harder” effectiveness campaign.
A large part of the development plan is the Honors In Action Project, and the officers made this their focus. Tara and Steph went to the Officers Academy at King’s College in June and brought back topic ideas and planning strategies. Tara printed copies of the booklet for everyone and placed it in the mail-folders. They read the booklet as well as last year’s project to familiarize themselves with the process and determine an efficient approach. Also, they discussed this at the top of each meeting until they arrived at a theme and topic they could get enthused about as a group. Then project work got added to the calendar and updated as they progressed. They broke up into teams based on their strengths to divide the research and then reported their successes and problems at each meeting.
As noted previously, they held3-4 meetings per month this semester to keep abreast of event planning and 5-Star progress. These gatherings allowed them to raise questions, address problems, and remain focused. They posted the meeting summaries online.
When they couldn’t meet in person, they communicated details, plans, and updates via FaceBook. This proved to be an effective strategy as it kept everyone in the loop despite disparate schedules.
- At the Welcome Back Bash, on Club Recruitment Day, during meetings, during the Information Sessions for prospective members, and during the Induction Ceremony for new members, the officers detailed the various activities the chapter hadaccomplished and had planned, such as the College Project and Honors In Action Project. To stoke the invitees’ and new members’ interests, they proudly told of last year’s successful Informed Voter Presentation, inaugural C4 Completion Day signing event, and incredible national convention in San Jose, as well as the forthcoming park cleanup, Hunger Banquet, and our continued participation with C4 and Relay for Life. They noted that the benefit of such an honor society is the diversity of interests and strengths which invigorate chapter events.
During the Induction Ceremony, the officers devoted time to the Four Hallmarks and then related the chapter activities to those standards of excellence, so the new members could see why we do what we do and become motivated to participate.
Inaddition to the personally and professionally enriching activities, they also touted the privileges and benefits of membership at these various events. Most invitees want to know what their $65 is getting them, and our officers have done a wonderful job of turning that daunting amount into a worthwhile down-payment on the future. They mentioned the exclusive access to the millions of dollars in scholarships that Phi Theta Kappa provides. They discussed the honor society site and the CollegeFish.org link that opens the door to wonderful possibilities. They noted past LCCC students who had earned scholarships through PTK, and they were sure to mention that they themselves were in the process of completing the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation’sand the common fall scholarship applications.
Tara noted that again last year 2 members were named to the All-PA Academic Team, which included special events in Harrisburg and a stipend to a school within the state system. Merissa quicklyadded that one of our officers had recently won a Hites Transfer Scholarship, one of only 7 in the nation.
The officers also advertize the chapter’s regional affiliation - that we work not only with LCCC students but also with others from the Middle States Region, which expands their opportunities for networking and fellowship. Tara and Steph also recounted their experiences at the Officers Academy, at Community College Day at Hershey Park, and ofworking with members at HACC.
- Tara Warnig, Merissa Sims, Fred Bodman, Vicki Washick, and Steph Swartz comprise the present officer team for Beta Iota Rho, and they succeeded an incredibly successful team that, last year, earned several accolades: a Shirley B. Gordon Award of Distinction, a Paragon Award for New Advisors, 5-Star Chapter status, Top 100 Chapter ranking, a regional Hallmark Award, All-Pennsylvania Academic Team honors, and a Hites Transfer Scholarship. Clichés such as “hard act to follow” and “big shoes to fill” could have set up this current officer team for failure – “could have” but did not.
Instead, they demonstrated their exceptionality by accepting and meeting the challenge laid before them implicitly and explicitly by the outgoing team. The current officers set a goal to continue their predecessor’s accomplishments, to build on that success, and to make that level of achievement the new tradition.
To accomplish this objective, they communicated with the outgoing officers last term, actively seeking their guidance, participating in their meetings, and attending the Officers Academy with them. Even though that past team has transferred to senior institutions, the current team is still in contact via FaceBook, updating them aboutchapter events and soliciting counsel when needed.
Hence, from the start, they have demonstrated a willingness to get involved, to take charge, and, perhaps most importantly, to learn from others. Yes, I believe that their bicephalous trait of learning from others’ examples and leading by their own example is this officer team’s most significant contribution to the chapter: and by “chapter” I mean the current members as well as the continuing institution in general.
In another sense, when I write “chapter,” I use it synonymously for this officer team, for these five students set and achieved its goals and imagined, planned, and completed its projects. “Exceptionally involved”? As was its predecessor, this officer teamwas the chapter, for all intents and purposes. Despite their persistent efforts to get more people involved, only a few members participated; the sad truth remains that at LCCC only a few students get involved. As a matter of fact, these officers wore multiple hats, serving as officers in Phi Theta Kappa and Student Government and other organizations. A few do all at this college, but slowly they are significantly impacting the chapter and the larger campus community.
I am proud of this officer team and thankful for this opportunity to share their remarkable achievements.