Distinguished Chapter Officer Team Award

A chapter advisor may nominate their entire chapter officer team for this award. The officers should demonstrate an exceptional atmosphere of teamwork, leadership abilities, promotion of Honors in Action and other engagement in the Society, and enthusiasm for the Society’s Hallmarks.

1. How have the chapter officers developed an atmosphere of teamwork?

  • 10 points: The Chapter Officer Team operated as a cohesive group that balanced and complimented each other’s strengths and weaknesses. The team collaborated extremely well together in planning and implementing chapter goals. Members of the team made communication among the team a high priority and did not work independently of each other.
  • 8 points: The Chapter Officer Team operated well together as a group and considered each other’s strengths and weaknesses. The team worked well together in planning and implementing chapter goals. Members of the team kept in close contact with each other.
  • 6 points: The Chapter Officer Team successfully worked together as a group, respecting each other’s contributions to the team. The team worked together in planning and implementing chapter goals. Members of the team communicated with each other regularly.
  • 4 points: The Chapter Officer Team worked well together in some areas, but did not necessarily bond as a cohesive leadership team. Their contributions to the team were not always coordinated. Their planning and implementation of chapter goals was marginally successful. Members of the team communicated when necessary.
  • 2 points: The Chapter Officer Team did not work well together. Their contributions to the team were not coordinated, often conflicting. Planning and implementation of chapter goals was not effective or did not exist. Members of the team did not communicate with one another.
  • officer positions = suited to strengths
  • service (Rainy)
  • public speaking, leadership (David
  • writing/research – Leah, Emily, Ryan
  • social media (FB, email) – Dana, Leah, David
  • maturity
  • National Convention in Nashville 2012
  • started the process of accelerated bonding, fellowship, cohesion

2. How did chapter officers assist the chapter in meeting its goals?

  • 10 points: The Chapter Officer Team was integrally involved in seeing that detailed and effective plans were in place for meeting the chapter’s goals. The team consistently tracked the chapter’s progress towards meeting its goals and actively intervened as necessary to keep the chapter on track.
  • 8 points: The Chapter Officer Team was involved in seeing that effective plans were in place for meeting the chapter’s goals. The team regularly tracked the chapter’s progress towards meeting its goals and intervened as necessary to keep the chapter on track.
  • 6 points: The Chapter Officer Team was involved in communicating the goals of the chapter to officers and members. The team tracked the chapter’s progress towards meeting its goals and communicated with others when something seemed to be off track.
  • 4 points: The Chapter Officer Team communicated the goals of the chapter to officers and members when presented with an opportunity. The team made an attempt to track the chapter’s progress towards meeting its goals, but did not provide any support to others when something seemed to be off track.
  • 2 points: The Chapter Officer Team did not attempt to communicate the goals of the chapter to officers and members. The team did not track the chapter’s progress towards meeting its goals and did not provide any support to others.
  • National Convention in Nashville 2012
  • 5-star goal
  • HIAP (IVP)
  • C4
  • Fundraisers
  • Awareness projects (Autism, Alzheimer’s, Homelessness)
  • Honors Institute
  • fellowship w/ other chapters
  • chapter meetings
  • more frequent
  • on task
  • tracking progress of “stars”
  • course corrections, reminders, interventions

3. How did the Chapter Officer Team promote Honors in Action, the College Project, and engagement in the Society (for example, the Five Star Chapter Development Plan, Five Star Competitive Edge Plan for members, scholarship opportunities, Hallmark Awards, regional and/or international events, etc.)?

  • 10 points: The Chapter Officer Team was instrumental in motivating members in the chapter to actively and thoughtfully participate in Honors in Action and through other Society activities including Five Star Chapter Development, Five Star Competitive Edge for members, CollegeFish.org, scholarship opportunities, Hallmark Awards, regional and/or international events. The team communicated frequently with members. The team provided active and consistent support to its members.
  • 8 points: The Chapter Officer Team was active in motivating members in the chapter to participate in Honors in Action and several other Society activities. The team communicated regularly with members. The team provided ongoing support to its members.
  • 6 points: The Chapter Officer Team participated in some Society activities, but participation by other members was not clearly evident. The team communicated occasionally with members. The team provided occasional support to its members.
  • 4 points: The Chapter Officer Team supported participation in only one Society activity. The team communicated occasionally with members. The team provided support to members when requested.
  • 2 points: The Chapter Officer Team did not show support or encouragement of supporting Society activities and had little direct communication with members.
  • information sessions
  • taut College Fish & other scholarship opportunities
  • to share past members’ success w/these scholarships
  • to motivate participation in projects
  • induction ceremonies
  • share experiences from national convention
  • taut achievements, successful projects throughout the year
  • to induce wonder, awe & temptation
  • communication
  • FaceBook
  • Email reminders
  • Updates on chapter Web site (Dana recording meeting minutes)

4. What is the most significant impact the Chapter Officer Team had on the chapter?

  • 10 points: The Chapter Officer Team was exceptionally involved in and contributed to the successful completion of chapter goals and the significant growth of the chapter. The team’s impact on the chapter would be considered highly impressive in scope.
  • 8 points: The Chapter Officer Team was strongly involved and contributed to the successful completion of chapter goals and growth of the chapter. The team’s impact on the chapter would be considered significant.
  • 6 points: The Chapter Officer Team had good involvement and contributed to the completion of chapter goals. The team had a positive impact on the chapter.
  • 4 points: The Chapter Officer Team had some involvement in contributing to discussion of chapter goals. The team’s impact on the chapter would be considered limited.
  • 2 points: The Chapter Officer Team’s involvement in contributing to discussions of chapter goals was negligible. The team’s impact on the chapter would be considered unremarkable.
  • chapter goal: to go from 1-star to 5-star chapter in single year
  • leave a legacy of scholarship, fellowship, leadership, service
  • some delayed transfer to complete goals, taking a few extra courses here that they would have had to take at the senior institution anyway, save $ & complete goals

Presentation

  • 5 points: Spelling and grammar are faultless.
  • 3 points: A few errors in spelling and/or grammar.
  • 1 point: Spelling and/or grammar errors throughout.

  1. “Diversity” refers to the host of differences (beyond race, ethnicity) that individually distinguish but collectively enhance us as members of a larger group. Within local Phi Theta Kappa chapters, these dissimilarities color the general membership and can – if wielded properly – create a distinguished officer team, which Beta Iota Rho has accomplished.

To illustrate, our current officers have varying learning styles, academic and technical proficiencies, maturity levels, and soft skills. Nevertheless, these officers have become a cohesive unit over the past year. And I can pinpoint the exact catalytic event for this coalescence: the 2012 National Convention, our chapter’s first. While friendly previously, these individuals amalgamated there. From the planning and fundraising, to the airplane travel, exploration of the massive hotel complex, dutiful attendance at the informative sessions, and the follow-up presentation, the entire experience facilitated the characteristic fellowship of our society. Thenceforth, they became a focused team – a solidarity exemplified in their organized work on the induction ceremony held shortly afterward. They communicated through Facebook to accommodate schedules; collaborated on script revisions; assigned speaking parts based on strengths; and likewise assigned writing roles for the convention presentation. That night, it was evident to me and the new members that this officer group embodied the very fellowship they discussed as one of the Four Hallmarks.

Since then, they’ve worked together on our chapter Relay for Life team choosing a theme, collecting supplies and camping equipment, arranging rides, scheduling walk times, and raising monies; various fundraisers collectively selected to match retailing skills; The Informed Voter Presentation, part of our Honors in Action Project, that satisfied their assorted political ideologies; and the C4 signing event jointly chosen as their college project. Throughout, they’ve utilized social media in such an adroit way to commune, despite incompatible schedules, that they’ve changed my negative opinion of such sites.

What’s also demonstrative of their harmonious group dynamic is the way they selected their officers. They’d come to know each other’s personalities, strengths and weaknesses, so that they suited the positions to their specialties, maximizing their talents for the betterment of the chapter. They agreed Leah’s and Ryan’s chapter experience was appropriate for President, David’s natural managerial talents fit Leadership, Emily’s All-PA Academic Team award befitted Scholarship, Rainy’s personality perfectly matched Service, and Dana’s writing proficiency suited Recorder. This open communication and insightful camaraderie created a true team that has collaboratively established and executed chapter goals.

(612) 548, 497, 448, 424, 398

  1. As mentioned previously, Beta Iota Rho’s chapter officer team gelled at the Nashville convention, where they boldly proclaimed their definitive chapter goal, one by which all other activity would be measured: To move from a 1-Star to a 5-Star chapter, and to do so within the space of a single year. That would be their legacy.

The first part of their plan was to create a new officer team in the wake of a few openings created by graduation. They solicited all members seeking to serve, clearly explaining their firm goal. Dana and Emily were the only two non-attendees of the convention who responded. Then the group collaboratively apportioned officer positions, without the hint of ego, matching individual strengths to each post so that the resulting team would give them the best opportunity for success.

Next, they looked at the Star Chart, brainstormed ideas to meet each step, and agreed to have David serve as “5-Star Watchdog” to keep them on task and to track their progress. At subsequent chapter meetings, he devoted time to their status, making sure they were “working smarter, not harder.”

David, Leah, and Ryan then arranged meetings with the college administration for a C4 event, voted the college project, being influenced in part by C4’s convention presence. As the only officer who could go due to summer schedules, David then attended the Honors Institute to assist in the central Honors in Action Project, and shared this valuable information with his teammates. Throughout fall meetings, whenever they strayed – usually with great ideas for service projects – David intervened and kept the focus on the 5-star objective. Through such stewardship, the team voted on an HIA theme, discussed possible approaches, assigned research and leadership roles, and organizeded The Informed Voter Presentation - a remarkable success.

This outstanding officer team had the vision and determination to “reach for the stars.” They realized this grand goal would ultimately satisfy their secondary chapter goals: to increase membership; to amplify the chapter’s presence on campus and establish its reputation as a premier student organization which provides opportunities for scholarship, fellowship, leadership, and service; to set a standard for future officer teams; and to leave a legacy of excellence.

Currently, they are fulfilling their assigned roles for the final two Hallmark Awards, which will earn them their fifth star.

501, 468, 443, 424, 387

  1. First, during each semester’s membership drive, they run Information Sessions for prospective members, exhibiting a PowerPoint presentation that shares the society’s background and membership benefits – especially the scholarships. For example, this fall Leah and Dana logged in to ptk.org and College Fish to demonstrate how they’ve searched for scholarships. As a matter of course for these sessions, the officers also discuss past members’ success with these scholarships, to prove their obtainability. This semester, they recalled Steve who won scholarships that paid for his remaining undergraduate education. Officers also use this time to motivate participation in projects, noting accomplishments and plans. This October, they promoted our homelessness walk, C4 signing, and Voter Presentation – and several new members participated.

Next, at Induction Ceremonies, the officers not only explain the society’s hallmarks and symbols, but also discuss the chapter’s Development Plan and encourage the new members’ participation in it. To that end, they tout successful past projects and promote forthcoming ones. They also impress upon inductees the virtue and practical application of these hallmarks. Several November inductees expressed their admiration for what’s been accomplished and their eagerness to participate in what’s upcoming. Further, this officer team was also able to share their experiences at the national convention – the (soft) skills they honed, the fellowship they made with other chapters, and the famous authors they heard.

After induction, this team uses its social media aptitude to promote chapter engagement to its membership that extends beyond main campus. They’ve used Facebook, email, and our chapter Web site to solicit ideas for, promote, and follow-up on meetings and events: Dana posts meeting minutes and Leah and David submit their event pictures to Facebook – often during the event itself! Schedules and distances what they are at a commuter college, many members have appreciated this communication, being kept abreast of activities.

Not only did they promote their College and HIA projects at information sessions and induction ceremonies, but they also advertised through posters, student intranet posts, and email reminders. Afterward, they posted hard copies outside the office and electronic copies online. Members and the entire college community witnessed our honors in action.

Because of the continual efforts of this officer team, members have never lacked information on chapter activities, and will be able to reach their educational goals because the officers have demonstrated the accessibility and enormity of the scholarship tools the society makes available.

595, 535, 473, 433, 398

  1. I don’t know what can be more demonstrative of their impact on the chapter than their chapter goal discussed in response #2: they set the highest possible goal, created detailed and effective plans to meet it, maintained a focus on it, exhibited the determination to complete it, and then actually accomplished it. They went from a 1-Star to a 5-Star chapter within a year, eight months if we start from the convention: the scope of that achievement is quite impressive.

However, to presume that this is just about the ranking would be a mistake.

In short, this officer team was the chapter. For all intents and purposes, when we discuss “the chapter,” we are discussing this officer team; they were synonymous. When it came to setting, implementing, and achieving goals, these were the people who did that. When it came to imagining and completing projects – both scholastic and service in nature – these were the people who got them done. “Exceptionally involved”: there was basically no one else who was involved. True, a few members participated in some of the events, and the officers certainly tried to get more involved (as noted in #3), but the sad truth of the matter is that they were battling a culture of complacency on this campus, a reluctance to do more than is absolutely necessary, a negative ethos that infects the students and the staff. This frustrated but did not discourage or retard them from their goals.

And that’s their impact: trying to change the predominant culture, as much as they could, and nevertheless leaving a legacy of achievement.

They leave a legacy of leadership, demonstrating what a chapter can achieve under the stewardship of highly motivated scholars.

They leave a legacy of scholarship, researching the subjects that directly impact our college students.

They leave a legacy of fellowship, illustrating to me and to the rest of the chapter the almost-magical bonding that can transpire, unite disparate people, and make them achieve wonderful things.

They leave a legacy of service, having been involved in more activities than any other student organization on campus.

I am exceedingly proud of this officer team: Leah, Ryan, David, Emily, Rainy, and Dana, and I am thankful for this opportunity to share with others their remarkable accomplishments.

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