Eta Gamma celebrates Good as Gold Week

The Eta Gamma Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa at Coffeyville Community College joined chapters across the international Society November 12-16 for special Good as Gold Week activities leading up to Phi Theta Kappa’s 89th birthday celebration on Founders Day, November 19. Good as Gold Week events were used to energize the chapter, build team spirit and awareness on campus while exploring the Hallmarks of Service, Scholarship, Leadership, and Fellowship.

Monday, November 12, was Show Your Appreciation Day. Chapter officers met for a pizza party and finalized plans for the ten projects which would build a comprehensive program for the week. Chapter Officers also distributed copies of the Faculty Awareness Flyer which introduced faculty members to the concept that Phi Theta Kappa is more than just recognition. Phi Theta Kappa improves student success by providing opportunities for recognition, scholarships, and intellectual development through scholarly programs based on the Society’s four Hallmarks. Phi Theta Kappa gives students the advantage they will need when continuing their education or launching a career.

Tuesday, November 13, was Encourage Scholarship Day. Chapter President Shanna Ward presented the Chapter’s monthly activity report and shared pictures of the chapter’s international service project and the original chapter charter at the November meeting of the CCC Board of Trustees. The charter was signed on November 14, 1949, in Canton, Mississippi, by Margaret Mosal, National Secretary. Chapter members were Ruby Alice Brown, Wanda Chinn, Robert Graham, Stephen Rench, and Manohar Deosaransingh. Today, the chapter has over fifty members and 14 provisional members. Tyler Roush was presented to the Board as the Outstanding Member of the Month. The chapter also invited the entire campus to view the final Honors Satellite Seminar, American Theocracy: Politics, Radical Religion, Oil, and Borrowed Money in the 21st Century, with presenter Kevin Phillips, known as the “modern Thomas Paine.”

Wednesday, November 14, was Serve Your Community Day and members accepted the challenge of the 2007-08 International Officers to Imagine a World where everyone takes responsibility for cleaning up the carbon footprints we leave behind on the earth. Chapter members concluded their international service project at 302 North Willow by clearing the lot, planting flowering trees, and over 400 daffodils and tulip bulbs. The 100’ x 400’ lot had been the site of a fire two years ago which left four large trees and an approximate 1,300’ house in charred remains. The lot had then been used as an unauthorized dumping site for old mattresses, metal frames etc. Chapter members recycled several truck loads of iron and took many loads of limbs and branches to the tree dump. The chapter would like to thank Muller Construction and Mark Muller, G & G Dozer & Equipment Co., Bill Lay, Mike McClenning, Derek Dick, and the CCC Horticulture Department, and Lisa and Derrick Conner for their help with the project. Wednesday also found chapter members hosting a chicken and noodle dinner for the Coffeyville and campus communities all proceeds from which benefit the CCC/Phi Theta Kappa Relay for Life Team. The dinner was under the direction of Teresa Menefee, Eta Gamma Vice President of Service and John Greenfield, Eta Gamma Alumni President.

Thursday, November 15, was Advance Education Day and chapter members assembled a trophy case, the chapter’s gift to the college. The chapter’s international awards are now on display for all to enjoy. Two plaques were hung honoring the college’s All USA Team and All Kansas Academic Team Members, Leaders of Promise, New Century Scholars, and Coca Cola Scholars. Members also assisted Coffeyville Main Street Director Shelley Paasch with the distribution of surveys that will provide information needed for statistical analysis for marketing strategies.

Friday, November 16, was Develop Leadership Day and the chapter served a reception to all faculty, staff, and administration. Plaques highlighting the Vision and the Mission of Phi Theta Kappa were displayed and the new trophy case was officially dedicated. A large poster featuring the time-line of Phi Theta Kappa was displayed. The Society began in 1918 when eight Missouri Junior College Presidents formed Phi Theta Kappa as an honor society for women only. Today, there are more than 1,200 chapters internationally with the 2 millionth member inducted in 2006.

To conclude Good as Gold Week, members served a chicken and noodle dinner as part of Red Raven Holiday, had a chapter Christmas picture taken at the Pat and Willard Walker Alumni Center, and cleaned the gymnasium following the Hutchinson-CCC basketball game. The next event for the chapter will be a service and honors study topic field trip to Atlanta, November 20-25 where members will work in the warehouse of Operation Christmas Child and tour the Carter Presidential Library, Martin Luther King Memorial, CNN, and the Fox Theatre. The CCC group will be accompanied by their sister chapter from Allen County Community College.