Like many nonprofit institutions, our national office at Phi Kappa Phi conducts its business through a fiscal year that begins each July and finishes at the end of the following June. Summer is busy for us as we close the books on one fiscal year and prepare to start another one. To mark this passage as June concluded this year, our office staff held a small "New Year’s" gathering. Staff members wore festive New Year’s hats, blew noisemakers, and enjoyed a bit of ice cream before returning to their work.

It was fun to focus on New Year’s on a sweltering summer day, but our celebration reminded us that every year is full of beginnings. Autumn offers us an opportunity for such a clean slate as a new school year begins within Phi Kappa Phi’s campus community. As a former dean, I remember the excitement on campus each fall when students began their term, some of them newcomers to the college experience.

If you’re a lifelong learner, then every day is a door to something new. As a community of curious people who are committed to pushing back the frontiers of knowledge, Phi Kappa Phi collectively embraces new ideas and helps drive human progress. That ideal is one of the most exciting aspects of my job leading Phi Kappa Phi’s national office. In my travels to some of our chapters, I often have the opportunity to meet great scholars in institutions across the country. They renew my sense of possibility, reminding me of our shared purpose as members of the Society. We’re all committed to knowledge as a force for good in the world, and when we join with each other, our capacity to make a difference is even greater.

Thanks to the generosity of our members, Phi Kappa Phi is able to give more than $1 million each year in awards and grants to ambitious scholars. That support is powering innovation across all fields, including agriculture, medicine, engineering, the arts, business, and public policy. Our impact underscores Phi Kappa Phi’s central strength. We’re a multidisciplinary honor society, and because our members come from all fields, we create marvelous synergies as an organization. That breadth of perspective helps nurture great ideas.

None of this collaboration would be possible without support from you, our Phi Kappa Phi members. I’d like to remind you of three ways you can extend that support.

First, please maintain your active membership, which keeps us strong. If you need help with renewal options, please visit phikappaphi.org/members.

Secondly, consider service as a Phi Kappa Phi volunteer. We’re a volunteer-driven organization, and our volunteers often tell us how rewarding such service can be. You can find out more at phikappaphi.org.

Thirdly, please consider a financial gift to Phi Kappa Phi. Support from our donors makes our awards and grants programs possible, and that support is often a game changer for the next generation of scholars.

I hope that this autumn brings many good things your way. Please feel free to reach out to me with your comments, concerns, or suggestions.