Projects

The 2008 – 2009 NERA officer team has several projects in the works that we are pleased to announce. We encourage you to get in touch with us about your thoughts on and suggestions for these projects, as well as any ideas you might have for additional projects NERA might want to undertake this year or in the future.

Offering Our First Scholarship: NERA is excited to launch its very first scholarship this year, the Michael Rood Transfer Opportunity Scholarship. This scholarship, which will award two active chapter members with $100 to help defray their transfer application costs, is named in honor of Alpha Lambda Zeta (Asnuntuck Community College) advisor Michael Rood, who has been very instrumental in helping New England Phi Theta Kappans have one of the highest Phi Theta Kappa scholarship success rates and who has helped countless members with their college applications and interviews over the years. Details about applying will be posted by the end of the summer, so please stay tuned for updates!

Download: Rood Scholarship Flier (please note the increase in the award amount!)

Hosting the Chapter Officer & Advisor Training: NERA is very excited to be launching the first-ever Honors in Action Chapter Officer Academy and Advisor Education Conference. This one-day event, which is scheduled for July 18 at Massasoit Community College in Brockton, Massachusetts, will provide incoming and returning chapter officers and advisers will all of the essential training they need to build their personal leadership skills and learn how to work together most effectively as a team. We are very excited to be taking over responsibility for this event and moving it to the summer, and we hope that any NERA members interested in helping us with the event as planners, speakers, or help-on-hand will contact Monique Savoie as soon as possible.

Examining the NERA Bylaws: As we get ready to celebrate the fifth anniversary of NERA in 2010, we are also looking at our operating document and how we might be able to improve it to meet current practices. Although no changes are currently planned, we will be looking at the bylaws to see how we might be able to make the organization easier to understand and more accessible for members, especially potential officers. Do you have feedback about our bylaws that you’d like to share? If so, please e-mail NERA President Monique Savoie to let us know what you think. We look forward to your comments!

Revamping the Newsletter: The NERA officers are hoping to expand the organization’s newsletter this year and produce more frequent editions, which we are e-mailing to NERA members and also mailing to the chapters within the region. Executive Vice President Michelle Nickerson has taken on the responsibility of coordinating the newsletter, including assembling it into publication format. We hope that by e-mailing NERA members, mailing the newsletter to chapters, and posting it here on-line in easily downloadable formats, we will help Phi Theta Kappans from the area feel more connected to their regional alumni association. If you have something you’d like to suggest or submit for the newsletter, please feel free to e-mail Michelle to let her know!

Download: February 2009 Newsletter
Download: May 2009 Newsletter

Launching the New Website: With the help of Alpha Upsilon Alpha (Manchester [Conn.] Community College) alumnus Aaron Dowden, NERA is happy to regain its presence on the Internet with this new website. Maintained by Southern Vice President Ashley Odell, the website is still a work in progress, but we hope it will become the definitive source for everything New England Phi Theta Kappa alums could need. The new website will also make it easier for prospective members to get information about NERA and hopefully join our wonderful organization. As with all other NERA projects, we welcome your feedback about the website and how we can make it better!