Eta Gamma Officers Meet

The officers of Phi Theta Kappa at Coffeyville Community College met for their first meeting of the fall term at 5:30 p.m. Monday, September 9, in the Phi Theta Kappa Office.  The meeting began with officers repeating the Phi Theta Kappa Mission Statement which is to recognize and encourage scholarship among two year college students.  President Eric Mueller called the meeting to order and Secretary Karen Stoehr presented minutes of the August 30-31 officer retreat at Elk Falls.  Karen also shared thank-you notes from the Ronald McDonald House, Holden’s Hope 5K Event; Children’s Cancer Connection in Iowa, CCC Foundation, and  Phi Theta Kappa Foundation in Jackson, Mississippi.  Treasurer Conner Traxson updated the officers on current fundraising projects.  The by-laws committee reported on proposed changes to membership requirements including provisional membership.

Chapter officer reports included the Leadership Hallmark by Eric Mueller.  He stated that Eta Gamma will assist the Chanute chapter on September 12 and that chapter representatives would be attending the National Student Leadership Conference in New Orleans November 21-24 and the Alabama Fall Region Conference on September 19.  Each officer shared their progress with the Competitive Edge Program.

Co-Vice Presidents of Scholarship Jessika Hamrick and Brianna Spence reported that a program had been presented for the Daylight Defenders Lions Club.  They are researching films for the chapter’s Honors in Action Project and letters of invitation to membership were sent to 104 qualifying students.  New member orientation will be held at 4:00 p.m. in Weinberg 107 on September 25.  Members were invited to Friends of the Brown Mansion meeting on September 26, at 7:00 p.m. and the Phi Theta Kappa Southern District Meeting in Parsons on October 5.  USA Today Case Study Challenge research assignments were made.

Co-Vice Presidents of Service Miranda Akers and Beth Acridge presented the Service Hallmark Report including the Elk Falls Outhouse Festival Project, Ronald McDonald Charities Run and Color Run in Lawrence September 14, the campus wide food drive, Operation Christmas Child Registration and the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Marathon registration.

Co-Vice Presidents of Fellowship Bethany Walrod and Scott Silknitter stated that sister chapter Tau Theta had been invited to the October 19, football game, with Butler County while Co-Vice Presidents of Communication Sky Birdcreek and Shelby Howard updated the chapter on the group e-mail, chapter calendar distribution and the chapters new Facebook group.  International Student Representative Li Yang shared a list of the international students with their country and scholarship areas.  Vice President of Public Relations Paige Porter introduced the idea of producing a video to promote new membership.  Co-Chairman of Relay For Life Bethany Walrod and Darah Sherwood presented the Precious Moments figurine fundraiser.  September 15, is the deadline for the chapter to report their 2012-13 fundraising efforts to International headquarters.  Chapter Advisor Linda McFate reported that she had made presentations to 10 orientation classes, had submitted the chapter’s five star goal plan, and updated member activity points.

The chapter’s upcoming events include selling Raven gear and cleaning Veterans Memorial Stadium October 19, Southern District Meeting in Parsons October 5, new member orientation September 25, and general membership meeting September 23, 5:30 p.m., Weinberg 107.  Members will attend the Iowa Fall Honors Conference in Mason City, Iowa, October 23-25.  Applications for the All USA Today Scholarship opens October 1, and Jack Kent Cook Scholarship applications open September 12.

Serving the Eta Gamma Chapter are the following officers:  President, Eric Mueller, Coffeyville; Co-Vice President of Scholarship, Jessika Hamrick, Coffeyville; Co-Vice President of Scholarship, Brianna Spence, Lawrence; Co-Vice President of Service, Miranda Akers, South Coffeyville; Co-Vice President of Service, Beth Acridge, Edna; Co-Vice President of Fellowship, Bethany Walrod, Centerville; Co-Vice President of Fellowship, Scott Silknitter, Whitewater; Co-Vice President of Communication, Shelby Howard, South Coffeyville; Co-Vice President of Communication, Sky Birdcreek, Wichita; International Students Representative, Li Yang, Coffeyville; Vice President of Public Relations, Paige Porter, Coffeyville; Co-Chairman, Relay For Life, Bethany Walrod and Darah Sherwood, Coffeyville; Secretary, Karen Stoehr, Coffeyville; Treasurer, Conner Traxson, Coffeyville; and advisor, Linda McFate.