Officers of the Eta Gamma Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa at Coffeyville Community College participated in the annual officers’ retreat held at the Benner House Bed and Breakfast, Weston, Missouri.  The students were the guests of Benner House Innkeeper Sheri Guthrie.  The purpose of the retreat was to develop leadership skills, plan the chapter’s Honors in Action Project and College Project, orientation of incoming officers for fall 2013, and to promote fellowship within the chapter.

The work session began with the reading of the Phi Theta Kappa Mission whose main purpose is to recognize and encourage scholarship among two-year college students.  During the first session students heard the Chapter Leaders’ Guide to Success and Introduction of the Five Star Chapter Development Plan.  Students then broke for dinner at the historic restaurant, American Bowman, which offers mid-nineteenth century ambiance in antique-accented dining rooms.

Returning to the Benner House, the chapter officers directed their focus to selecting the new honors topic which will guide the chapter’s scholarship and service activities for 2013.  The international Society has as it honors topic, The Culture of Competition.   After much discussion, the officers selected “It’s a Small World:  Competition and Geography” with the question for exploration.  “How has access to resources such as oil, gas, and water, affected competition among nations and regions of the world?”  The members then discussed various ways that they could research the theme including speakers, field trips, interviews, and data from questionnaires.  Concluding Friday evening’s activities was viewing the movie, Miracle on the Ice, followed by a discussion of the leadership roles with the “Culture of Competition?”

Following a delicious B&B breakfast, the officers convened to discuss the entire Honors in Action Project Award application including the judging rubrics.  The officers then discussed their college project which will be an academic year in length focusing upon activities that will directly benefit Coffeyville Community College.

Chapter officers enjoyed lunch at the Upstairs Tea Room and a presentation by Verna Kowertz on the “ghostly” aspects of some Weston haunts.  Ms. Kowertz is associated with Weston’s Fictional Mystery Dinner Theater.  Concluding their stay in historic Weston, the students took a tour of the Weston Brewing Company that was established in 1842 including the underground laagering cellars built to a depth of fifty-five feet.  In route home, the students viewed the Snow Creek Ski area that features man-made snow.

Weston was selected for the site of the officers’ retreat because of its unique history. In 1804, the Lewis and Clark Expedition Diary noted wild raspberries in the Weston area.  Some of Weston’s famous citizens have included Mary Owens Vineyard who turned down Abe Lincoln’s marriage proposal because she felt he had bad manners.  The Benner House features exceptional Queen Anne architecture.  It was built in 1898 by George Shawhan who owned what is known today as the McCormick Distillery.  The home was purchased in the early 1900’s by Charles Benner and remained in his family until it was converted to a Bed and Breakfast in 1986.

The next activity for the Eta Gamma Chapter will be the Kansas Region Phi Theta Kappa Convention in Hutchinson March 8-10.  Chapter officers participating in the Weston Retreat were:  Kacie Serrault, Julia Reitz, Caitlin Shepard, Karen Stoehr, Brianna Spence, Sky Birdcreek, Jessika Hamrick, Aaron Neely, Eric Mueller, Notch Daita, and Luke Hailey.