News
NERA REGIONAL PICNIC
AUGUST 21, 2010 – We will be holding our annual NERA Business Meeting at Wickman Park in Manchester, CT at 10am in the Williams Pavilion. All of the of the New England Region is invited to join us for the potluck picnic starting at 12pm.
If you are interested in joining us, please RSVP to ptknera@gmail.com with the amount of guests you will be bringing including yourself, and let us know what dish you will be bringing so we can be sure to have a little of everything.
We hope you will be joining us!
ANNOUNCING THE NERA LOGO CONTEST
AUGUST 26, 2009 – Feeling creative? NERA is sponsoring a contest to design a logo for the organization. The logo will be used on NERA publications and also the new NERA t-shirt that will hopefully be made available for purchase this year. The winning artist will win their choice of a one-year free membership in NERA or a free NERA t-shirt once they are made. The deadline for the contest is August 31, 2009, so time is of the essence! For details, read the contest rules.
AUGUST NERA NEWS AVAILABLE
AUGUST 26, 2009 – The August 2009 NERA News issue has been published and sent to members. This edition of NERA News features articles on the July Honors in Action Chapter Officer Academy and Advisor Education Conference, new NERA members, and the upcoming 2009 Regional Leadership Conference. An article about the NERA summer picnic and business meeting, as well as expanded information about the July events in Brockton, will be posted here soon.
As with all other NERA projects, NERA News is a collaborative effort between the officers, members, and regional office, and any and all help is appreciated. If you have any ideas for NERA articles or your own pieces to submit, they are more than welcome and we will be happy to use them whenever possible. For general article ideas and submissions, please contact Michelle Nickerson; for Alumni in the Spotlight suggestions, please contact Ashley Odell. We look forward to hearing from you!
ALUMNI INPUT REQUESTED REGARDING HALLMARK RESTRUCTURING
JULY 5, 2009 – As many of you have now heard, International is planning to completely revamp the Hallmark Awards process, presenting a very new format for the 2011 Hallmark Program. In order to do this most effectively, they are asking members of the Phi Theta Kappa community, including alumni, to fill out a survey about the current and proposed systems. Please take a moment to fill out this survey about your experiences with Hallmarks in your chapter, as well as your ideas about how the system can be best improved in order to better serve chapters.
NERA-HOSTED ACADEMIES STILL ACCEPTING REGISTRATIONS
JUNE 16, 2009 – The Honors in Action Chapter Officer Academy & Advisor Education Conference, both scheduled for Saturday, July 18 at Massasoit Community College in Brockton, Massachusetts, are still accepting registrations until Friday, June 3. These conferences are designed to provide chapter leaders with the training they need to achieve great success in the 2009 – 2010 academic year. We are especially excited to welcome Barb Murray from International Headquarters to New England, as she will be conducting the Advisor Education Conference and also addressing both conferences at a joint session to start the day off.
The NERA officers will be conducting the seminars for students, with assistance provided by fellow alumnae/i and our co-advisers. We hope that additional NERA members will join us at the event as volunteers. If anyone is interested in participating in any way, please feel free to contact NERA President Monique Savoie as soon as possible.
MAY NERA NEWS PUBLISHED
MAY 11, 2009 – The May edition of NERA News has been released! This expanded 8-page edition contains news about NERA’s summer events, updates from the International Convention (including a 2-page photo spread!), information about running for NERA office, details on a summer leadership program for alumni, an interview with a distinguished New England alumnus, and much more. We hope that you will enjoy reading it and will consider sharing it with your alumnae/i friends. Please feel free to print and distribute copies at graduations or chapter events! With your help, we will be able to spread the word about NERA most effectively.
Additionally, if you have any ideas for NERA articles or your own pieces to submit, they are more than welcome and we will be happy to use them whenever possible. For general article ideas and submissions, please contact Michelle Nickerson; for Alumni in the Spotlight suggestions, please contact Ashley Odell. We look forward to hearing from you!
NEW MEMBERSHIP MAPS POSTED
MAY 7, 2009 – Did you know that NERA has members living in two countries and thirteen states – touching the Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic Oceans? How about that we have members from approximately 25 different colleges in New England alone? Are you interested in getting a visual idea of where are members come from and where they live now?
Visit the new Member Maps section to get an idea of the wide geographic spread of our alumni association! We hope this will be another reminder for members that, even though we are spread apart, we are all still one and are forever connected through Phi Theta Kappa.
FREE LEADERSHIP CERTIFICATE PROGRAM FOR ALUMNI
MAY 5, 2009 – Alumni wanting to enhance their leadership skills this summer are invited to participate in Phi Theta Kappa’s Facebook-based Leadership Development Studies Certificate program. The official description from Phi Theta Kappa is as follows:
“Monika Byrd, Phi Theta Kappa’s Dean of Leadership Development, and other Phi Theta Kappa Certified Leadership Instructors will lead on-line dialogues to explore key topics related to leadership with interested Phi Theta Kappa members and alumni or prospective members. Topics include Developing a Personal Philosophy of Leadership, Leading by Serving, Understanding Ethical Leadership, Articulating a Vision, Building a Team, Leading with Goals, Making Decisions, Guiding Through Conflict, Realizing Change, and Empowering Others.
We will dialogue about the readings and films in a single unit each week between May 18, 2009 and August 7, 2009, except the week of June 29, 2009. Participants who engage in dialogue for all eleven units between May 18, 2009 and August 7, 2009 may apply to receive a Phi Theta Kappa Leadership Development Studies Certificate of Completion.”
All alumni need to participate is a Facebook account and a copy of the textbook, Phi Theta Kappa Leadership Development Studies: A Humanities Approach, which can be purchased through Recognition Services (recognitions.ptk.org) at a 30% discount using code LEADFB.
For more information or to join the free program, visit the official group, entitled Study Group for Phi Theta Kappa Leadership Development Studies Certificate.
ALUMNI REPORTS FROM THE 91st INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION
APRIL 23, 2009 – NERA was represented by three members in attendance at the 91st International Convention in Grapevine, Texas, and we bring back great news for the region! The New England Region was selected as winner of the 2009 Regional Milestone Award, which recognizes regions that have demonstrated the most dramatic improvement and renewed enthusiasm over the past three years. Two NERA officers, Michelle Nickerson and Ashley Odell, both served on regional officer teams during the past three years, and NERA itself has been crucial in helping the region during this time, especially as our regional coordinator and NERA co-advisor Michelle Brinck got adjusted to her responsibilities during her first three years on the job, so NERA can certainly be proud of contributing to this incredible accomplishment!
NERA members have also brought back important information related to Phi Theta Kappa International’s goals for individual alumni and alumni associations, and have also used the information learned at the convention to develop a plan for the Honors in Action Chapter Officer Academy we will be holding on July 18th at Massasoit Community College. More information on all of this news will be coming shortly in our next edition of NERA News, so stay tuned!
NERANS GET READY TO REPRESENT NEW ENGLAND IN TEXAS
APRIL 6, 2009 – As the 2009 Phi Theta Kappa International Convention quickly approaches, NERA members are getting ready to enjoy some Texas-sized Scholarship, Leadership, Service, and Fellowship!
NERA members attending the 91st International Convention, which has the theme Leading the Way, include NERA co-advisor Michelle Brinck, NERA Southern Vice President Ashley Odell, and charter president Ari Disraelly. NERA members will be doing everything from working behind the scenes and moderating forums, to being recognized on-stage during the Hallmark Awards Gala for their service during the year.
At the convention, NERA members will also be voting for their choices for a new representative on the Alumni Advisory Council, which works directly with International Headquarters in supporting alumni and chapter initiatives. If you cannot attend the convention but have feedback on any of the candidates or what you are looking for in an alumni representative, please e-mail Ashley Odell, who will keep your thoughts in mind as she casts her vote on behalf of NERA.
MICHAEL ROOD TRANSFER OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP LAUNCHED
APRIL 5, 2009 – At the 2009 New England Regional Convention in Rocky Hill, Connecticut, NERA was exceptionally pleased to launch its first-ever scholarship. The Michael Rood Transfer Opportunity Scholarship, named in honor of the long-time Alpha Lambda Zeta (Asnuntuck Community College) adviser and former interim regional coordinator, will provide two current New England Phi Theta Kappa chapter members with $100 each to be used to cover expenses related to transfer applications. Dr. Martha McLeod, president of Asnuntuck Community College, was on hand at the Hallmark Awards Banquet and offered her congratulations to one of her most outstanding faculty members.
Although the NERA officers originally intended to offer scholarships of $75 each, they were thrilled to receive an anonymous donation of $50 at the convention to raise the amounts being offered. The officers also received multiple offers and suggestions for future fundraising efforts to support the scholarships.
Michael Rood has served on the Regional Advisory Board since its inception and has taken special interest in assisting Phi Theta Kappa members with scholarship applications and the college admissions process, often leading very popular workshops on the topics at Regional Leadership Conferences and Regional Conventions. During the surprise announcement of the scholarship, NERA officers shared personal and submitted testimonials from Phi Theta Kappa members, describing how much Rood has assisted and inspired them over the years. We are incredibly proud to be launching this scholarship, our first ever, in his honor.
Rood Scholarship applications, complete with requirements and eligibility information, will be sent to chapters by fall.
Download: Michael Rood Transfer Opportunity Scholarship Flier (please note above change to award amount!)