2007 Triennial Convention Recap

Thanks to everyone who participated in the 2007 Phi Kappa Phi Triennial Convention! To access the various presentations and other documents presented at Convention, please refer to the left sidebar. Links will be activated as documents become available.

 

More than 300 delegates, observers, guests, Board members, and national headquarters staff attended the 2007 Phi Kappa Phi Triennial Convention in Orlando, Florida from August 9 – 11. While there, attendees heard dynamic presentations by past and present Society award winners, shared ideas and inspiration at chapter training sessions, conducted the Society’s business and elected new national officers, and experienced some of Orlando’s top attractions.

In a spirited campaign, William Bloodworth, Ph.D., of Augusta State University was elected Society President Elect and Diane Smathers, Ed.D., of Clemson University was elected Society Vice President. In addition, four new regional vice presidents were chosen to serve on the Board: Yaw Asamoah, Ph.D., (Indiana University of Pennsylvania) in the Northeast region, Ray Davis, Ph.D., (North Carolina A&T State University) in the Southeast region, Rick Shale, Ph.D., (Youngstown State University) in the North Central region, and Ray Sylvester, Ph.D., (University of the Pacific) in the Western region. Gil Fowler, Ph.D., (Arkansas State University) was reelected for a second term in the South Central region.

 

In addition to selecting new national officers, official delegates attended governance sessions, where they approved the triennial budget and changes to the Society’s bylaws. The most significant budget change calls for a dues increase of $5 for both new and renewing members. The dues increase, which was unanimously approved by convention delegates, is the first since 2001. Convention delegates also approved significant bylaws changes. Beginning in 2010, the Society will transition from a triennial to biennial system of governance. The Society will also recompose its national board of directors to ensure that various constituent groups are represented.

 

In keeping with the ’07 convention theme, “Connecting Communities—Students, Scholars and Society,” Phi Kappa Phi hosted nearly thirty student vice presidents—the most students ever to be present at a triennial convention. Many delegates remarked that they benefited greatly from the students’ energy and fresh perspectives.

 

Traces of the “Connecting Communities” theme also could be found throughout the various presentations. Keynote speaker Cathy Small, Ph.D., author, cultural anthropologist, and professor at Northern Arizona University, talked about her book My Freshman Year: What a Professor Learned by Becoming a Student* and the changing face of college communities. Presentations from three former Fellowship recipients perfectly demonstrated the all-discipline nature of Phi Kappa Phi. The 2007 convention marked the first time that Phi Kappa Phi brought together past Fellowship recipients to discuss their professional accomplishments since receiving their awards. 

 

During convention luncheons, the 2007-2010 Phi Kappa Phi Scholar and Phi Kappa Phi Artist talked about their work and the accomplishments that earned them their awards. Phi Kappa Phi Scholar Larry A. Hickman, Ph.D., of Southern Illinois University–Carbondale, presented slides on his work on the life and thoughts of philosopher John Dewey. Phi Kappa Phi Artist winner Stella Sung, Ph.D., from the University of Central Florida, presented samples of her work as a composer for full-length feature and documentary films, and most recently, a video game and theme park.

 

Throughout the convention, chapter officers attended workshops and roundtable breakfasts to learn and share ideas. Officers discussed strategies to strengthen their efforts in the areas of public relations, member benefits, online enrollment, award programs, initiations, student and faculty involvement, and more. One new topic that was introduced at the convention involved Phi Kappa Phi’s strong interest in initiating and involving distance learners. Diane Smathers, author of the new White Paper, Phi Kappa Phi and the Distance Learner, presented a workshop to encourage and enable chapters to identify, initiate, and provide services for distance learners who qualify for membership in Phi Kappa Phi.

 

The convention would not have been complete without an opportunity to experience Orlando and the surrounding area. Delegates enjoyed tours to Kennedy Space Center, Downtown Disney, Orlando Museum of Art, and Florida Southern College, and airboat rides through Florida’s beautiful wetlands.

 

The 2010 convention is scheduled for August 6 – 7, with two concurrent Partnering for Success Workshops on August 5 – 6.

 

*My Freshman Year: What a Professor Learned by Becoming a Student was written under the pseudonym of Rebekah Nathan.