Blog

Chapter discussed and decided to use available blogging technology and combine it with the role of chapter Historian to create a more powerful way to communicate with chapter members as well as chronicling the chapter events around the four hallmarks.

Researching of the Honors Topic: The Paradox of Affluence: Choices, Challenges and Consequences

After distribution of the Honors Program Guide and much discussion, our chapter felt the place to start the conversation about the honors topic was with Issue 1, Definitions. After examining that section in the Honors Program Guide it was decided that several of the students would read and journal notes on a book entitled, Gross Domestic Happiness, by C. Arthur Brooks. In this book the author argues that the evidence shows a real "happiness gap" in America today, and it lies disconcertingly close to America's cultural and political fault lines. The great divide between the happy and the unhappy in America, Brooks shows, is due, in great part, to differences in social and cultural values. The values that bring happiness are faith, charity, hard work, optimism, and individual liberty. Secularism, excessive reliance on the state to solve problems, and an addiction to security promote unhappiness. What can be done to maximize America's happiness? Supplied with the unconventional wisdom Brooks has come to be known for, Gross National Happiness offers surprising ideas about how our government can best facilitate Americans in their pursuit of happiness. This occurred during a summer planning session not too long after Kayla’s return from the international honors seminar.

International Honors Seminars

International Honors Seminar is when members of Phi Theta Kappa get together for a week to learn more about the honors hallmark topic. This year’s topic is The Paradox of Affluence: Choices, Challenges, and Consequences. The seminar took place at San Francisco State University. We had our Vice President of Scholarship and Communications, Kayla, attend. She met people from all over the nation and gained a deeper understanding of the honors topic. It was a great week that was not only scholarly but also helped make better leaders.

Service Summer Planning Session

In order to be more successful in planning events, we decided to break each summer planning session down to each hallmark. The first session was dedicated to service. The Co-Vice Presidents of Service researched many events we could do that dealt with the service theme of Operation Green. They brought many service project ideas that we looked into and decide which events we wanted to do and which ones we did not want to do. At the end of the session we had not only decided what we could do but also what we wanted to do. After this session we were also able to start researching how to make each of the chosen events scholarly, if we could.

End of the Semester Banquet Extravaganza

This happened in early June to try and create a fellowship and recognition event. One member, David Ibanez, spent several weeks getting other campus clubs, their officers and advisors to buy into a dinner honoring these clubs. PTK searched for an affordable restaurant, negotiated with the owners for a good menu, tirelessly encouraged many other campus clubs to attend and created an agenda through which each club honored its members and advisors during the course of the dinner. This sort of event was a first for the college. It was a great success getting several clubs comprised of upwards of 40 students, advisors and administrators.

Vision Walk: Finding A Cure for Blindness

The walk took place on May 31st. Working with a chapter alumni who was on the board of this new organization, the chapter created a Vision Walk Team and raised over $1,400 toward the total amount of $98,000 that was raised during this 7 mile walk in Golden Gate Park. Co-President, Denise Pincombe, attended kickoff meetings, gathered and handed out materials on this event, and recruited walkers and donations.

Afternoon of Academic Excellence (AOEA)

This was the chapter's 10 year anniversary of hosting this scholarly event. It is an event that honors every sophomore, junior and senior that is on the honor role in our local high schools. Maddie Parks and Mandi McIntosh spent months planning out the logistics, coping with unforeseen challenges, and working with the college and various high school coordinators. Mandi and Maddie recruited many chapter members to help collect over 3000 invitations to be sent out. They also made sure that over a dozen members would help during the event. The speaker, Viviana Alcazar, was a former PTK chapter president, graduate from Stanford University, and current PhD candidate at UC Berkeley.