eTOUCH

eTOUCH: Chapter News for The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi

February 08

All Fellowship applications must be received on or before MARCH 3, 2008. Please note that any nominations received after the deadline will be disqualified.

You must complete and return the Application Checklist Form in addition to the original application & five copies.

Please call Theresa Bard at 1.800.804.9880, ext. 13 or email her at fellows@phikappaphi.org for additional assistance.

Chapter Spotlight - Truman State University

Truman State University Chapter 259 held a fall book drive in conjunction with the Communication Disorders Association (CoDA). The book drive was organized by Phi Kappa Phi member Janet Gooch, who is the recipient of a Phi Kappa Phi Literacy Grant.

A portion of the grant funds were used to create a lending library for the Truman Speech and Hearing Clinic. The clinic provides speech, language, and hearing screenings and treatment services at no cost to its clients. Because of their location in rural north central Missouri, the clinic serves clients who come from as far as 100 miles away. When it was done, they had collected over 1,400 books for the clinic!

Phi Kappa Phi members pictured above are Janet Gooch, left, and Lauren Caffey, right.

Chapter Spotlight - Murray State University

Murray State University held its installation and first initiation on November 28, 2007, becoming Chapter 302. The ceremony was presided over by Society President Dr. Robert Rogow.

A formal dinner was held after the ceremony, which was attended by almost 100 new members and their guests. Chapter 302 will hold initiation ceremonies every semester and will elect six new student vice presidents, one representing each of the colleges and the School of Agriculture on campus.

Murray State, located in western Kentucky, has over 10,000 students.

Welcome Chapter 302!

Chapter Spotlight - University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg

The University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg Chapter 286 presented its National Literacy Grant to Dr. Vickilyn Barnot and to the students of the Hutchinson School of Greensburg, PA. The grant will supply books and tutoring materials for Dr. Barnot's UPG education majors who instruct Hutchinson students in the lively after-school reading program "Learn for LifeLong Reading."

Partnering for Success

Salt Lake City ~ May 30 - June 1

Register Now!
Headquarters will pay for one chapter delegate's travel fees/meals while attending this workshop. Chapters are responsible for the hotel room, as well as any meals en route. Please send only one delegate from your local chapter. Space is limited to fifty participants.

Phi Kappa Phi Scholar

Western Illinois University Chapter 137 sponsored a fall lecture titled "What's Wrong With 'No Child Left Behind' and How to Fix It: Lessons from John Dewey." The speaker was the 2007-2010 Phi Kappa Phi Scholar, Dr. Larry Hickman, director of the Center for Dewey Studies at Southern Illinois University.

The lecture was open to the campus community. Pictured above is Dr. Steven Rock (left), president of Chapter 137, expressing his thanks to Dr. Hickman (right).

New Member Benefit Added

Graduate Leverage is working with Phi Kappa Phi to help our members lower the cost of their education related debt. Graduate Leverage Inc. (GL), the first and only student loan co-op, is a non-profit organization that provides a comprehensive suite of debt advisory services and loan products designed to lower the cost of student loan debt. GL will present, at no cost to your chapter or members, a student loan and debt management seminar on your campus.

On October 1, 2007, numerous new regulations took effect resulting in significant changes in the student loan industry. The presentation will explain these changes and the impact on today's student and also provide specific strategies for saving money and reducing the overall cost of student loan debt.

The presentation will last about 40 minutes, and again, there is no cost for GL's services or presentations. As part of its travel budget, GL is able to pay for food, so the seminar works well as a potential "lunch and learn."

If interested in having this valuable program at your school, please contact Bill Richins at Graduate Leverage at 302-234-4693 or brichins@graduateleverage.com.

This program is a great way to increase campus name recognition and provide a service to students. Consider having your student vice presidents plan and organize this program for your campus!

Annual Dues Are Necessary

Annual dues are the lifeblood of the Society. They represent approximately two-thirds of total revenues and provide funding for the organization's operations and award programs. Because the number of members inducted by the Society annually is limited, total initiation fees are not sufficient to support the expenses incurred in the accomplishment of Phi Kappa Phi's mission.

There is a misconception that other honor societies do not charge an annual fee. In a study of sixty-five college honor societies, it was found that seventeen of them charged annual dues in addition to the induction fee. Five of the thirteen non-discipline-specific honor societies charged annual dues. It is also interesting to note that of all the organizations charging annual dues, forty-one percent charged an amount greater than that charged by Phi Kappa Phi. Many of the honor societies that did not charge annual dues had annual expenses of less than $1 million. Phi Kappa Phi's annual expenses exceed $4 million.

Campus Newspaper Ads

Increase Phi Kappa Phi's visibility on your campus. Camera-ready ads are available for use in your campus newspaper. Headquarters will grant up to $50 per chapter toward the cost of placing an ad for those chapters who need financial support. For more details contact Chapter Relations at officers@phikappaphi.org!

Important Dates & Deadlines

February 18 - Study Abroad applications due to Headquarters

March 3 - Fellowship nominations due to Headquarters

March 14 - North Carolina A&T State University Cluster (Greensboro, NC)

April 3 - Tennessee State Cluster (Nashville, TN)

April 9 - Carolina Cluster (Columbia, SC)

Featured Article

Members can't attend initiation?

Please establish a procedure that allows students to pick up their initiation materials locally following the ceremony. Communicate dates and locations to students in advance.

Mailing PREs or payments to headquarters?

Please include a brief explanation with your correspondence.

New Dues

Effective January 1, 2008, the national dues rate for new members increased from $20 to $25. The total amount to be submitted to Headquarters for each initiate has increased from $35 to $40.

New FYI e-blast

Watch for your monthly edition of the Phi Kappa Phi Monthly FYI e-mail. This e-mail will contain important information, dates to remember and upcoming training information. We hope you find it a useful tool to keep you "in the know" of all things Phi Kappa Phi!

Welcome New Chapters

Utah Valley State College Installation - April 3, 2008

University of Texas - Tyler Installation - April 2008

Watch for details and photographs coming this spring!

Making Your Job Easier

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Online Enrollment Program

The Online Enrollment Program (OEP) allows students to acccept their invitations online. OEP eliminates distribution and collection of PRE forms. There is one less report for you to submit to Headquarters, and it's FREE!
To get started or to learn more, please click here.

Fulfillment Program

Need to order invitation-to-membership supplies?

You can order supplies (invitations, letterhead, PREs, etc.) or place your fulfillment order (outsourced mailing) with RR Donnelly here.

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