NY Regional Conference in Saratoga Springs

March 16-The Alpha Kappa Chapter enjoyed a wonderful weekend in Saratoga Springs at the Phi Theta Kappa Regional Conference. The three days allowed for a special bond among the chapter, a growth of PTK morale, as well as intellectual fulfillment.

After arrival and registration at the Hilton Hotel, members from 12 New York Region chapters enjoyed an introductory lecture by Michael Dealy, Ph.D. on emotional intelligence, encouraging compassion, understanding, and inquisitiveness as students approach different experiences throughout their lives.

He suggested that current educational systems don’t always teach in traditional ways (memorization for example), and emotional intelligence can supply school systems with qualities that are more advantageous for the whole system. Dr. Dealy spent many years working in the Board of Education as a school psychologist, where he implemented his theories on emotionally intelligent learning environments. He suggested that we take part in valuable remembering, in which you should write down anything that inspires you and moves you, no matter what it may be. Sometimes the mind derives something in even a daydream that no book or professor can catalyze. A quote from Michael Dealy that stuck with many students was, “The deadline is not dead until you’re dead...just keep learning.”

On Friday evening students gathered for a talent show fellowship event. Students performed musical pieces either vocally or with instruments. The winner was a very talented beat boxer whom everyone was extremely impressed by. Other teams did roll calls or skits. Roll calls are when a chapter goes up in front of the others, states what chapter they are and what school they are coming from, and each of the members state their names. Alpha Kappa Chapter went up and did this first!     

Saturday, the second general session allowed for the chapter members to get to know their Regional Officers from this past year a little better. Discussions took place on the Honors In Action project, stating that we are really addressing issues that are happening now in our world and in our communities. By researching and taking action, we are learning to lead; but before we lead, we have to learn. Phi Theta Kappa has formed alliances with over 700 colleges nation wide and have a half a million dollars in scholarships available for members.

After this session, students were able to enjoy a college fair where they could talk with representatives, gather information, and ask questions. The officers also encouraged members to run for regional office, even if they had not prepared for it and did not feel they were up for the challenge.

Following the general session, students were able to choose from four workshops: Learning to Communicate and Motivate a Team, Transferring to a Four-year College, Public Speaking, and Positioning Yourself to Win Scholarships.

•   Learning to Communication and Motivate a Team: students used the True Color’s assessment, which helps them identify how they communicate, what motivates them, and how they work within in a team setting. They also learned how to move beyond frustration and work towards a more cohesive team.

•   Transferring to a Four-Year College: students joined Don Young, a representative from Champlain College, and Amy Flagler, a New York Region Advisor, and were informed on the steps that should be taken when preparing to transfer to a four-year college. They also learned the differences between private colleges and public colleges.

•   Public Speaking: students learned the essentials to public speaking, and what makes it most effective. Students learned some tips to make public speaking easier. An important organization called Toastmasters International was also brought into awareness for the students. These organizations are all over the country and can help you to continue your improvement in public speaking skills.

•   Positioning Yourself to Win Scholarships: informed students on the Phi Theta Kappa scholarships available exclusively to them, how to write an effective application, and how to position themselves to stand out from other applicants.

Candidates for Regional Officer were nominated and confirmed in our next general meetings. Romina Moyano from our chapter did a great job campaigning with beautiful flyers and pins. Euri Parios was Alpha Kappa’s voting delegate who would participate in the voting the following day.

The Regional Officers that would be handing over their positions that weekend talked one by one about what they learned and gained from being a Regional Officer for Phi Theta Kappa. All of them agreed that they learned patience, how to work as a team, gained confidence in their public speaking skills, and learning plenty about and their potential.

On the final day of the conference, students heard speeches by the candidates running for regional office, and the voting delegates put in the final votes for each chapter. Current regional officers swore in the new officers by having them take an oath. The Alpha Kappa Chapter is very proud of Romina Moyano and her strong speech. She will continue to be a leader for the Chapter.

At the awards luncheon concluding the conference, we were pleased to have been awarded five separate awards! Alpha Kappa Chapter was given:

•    Five Star Chapter Development Plan Award for Five Star Level

•    Individual and Community Winner

•    First Runner Up for Distinguished Honors in Action

•    Second Runner Up for Distinguished Chapter Award

•    Third Runner Up for Distinguished Chapter Officer Team

Overall, this weekend was an incredible experience for the members that attended, and they are looking forward to more PTK morale and the next conference in Nashville. 

Alpha Kappa Member Runs for Regional Office

At the New York Regional Convention this weekend in Saratoga, Alpha Kappa member Romina Moyano will run for the Regional Office of Southern District Vice President.

Moyano joined Alpha Kappa last semester. “The academic recognition [of PTK] made me curious,” she says. “After the information session and a couple of meetings I got pulled in.”

Moyano became a very active Chapter member. She has contributed to multiple projects and used her computer skills to make the Chapter’s blog more appealing and accessible. Besides enrolling in PTK this year, Moyano also applied to the Exploring Transfer Program, which allows community college students to take a five-week program at Vassar over the summer. 

“Vassar is comparable to having college credits at an elite institution. Having exposure to that kind of program would be gratifying,” she says. 

Moyano hopes to climb to the next tier of leadership by being elected Southern VP. “I’m running for Regional Office for the same reason that drove me to become an active member,” she says. As a Regional Officer Moyano hopes to build her leadership skills and work with a group of driven leaders.

“Some of the benefits of being a regional officer are: less hours of sleep, more hours of work, fewer opportunities to dine during normal times,” jokes current Western VP Tim Gaura.

According to the Regional Office, VP’s are responsible for the “orderly operation of the New York Region.” These responsibilities include planning the fall leadership conference and submitting monthly reports on their district, among other duties.

Regional Coordinator Rene Rojas says it’s the “other duties” that take up most of a VP’s time. Vice Presidents often travel to colleges in their district to give keynote speeches at induction ceremonies. “They are offering information about the New York Region’s goals to other chapters,” says Rojas.

At this week’s Regional Convention candidates can distribute campaign flyers and talk to PTK members before giving a two-minute speech about why they should be elected. Moyano has anxieties about giving her speech. When describing her first assignment in her Speech 100 class, she says: “I turned beet red, I had my head down looking at my paper, and I rushed through the words. But I improved in the class and I guess Regional Office is the next step.”

Moyano says she’s having difficulties getting her speech down to two minutes. “It’s tough, I have a good speech. I’m going to have to cut out more about me. It’s more important to communicate my vision and plans as a New York Officer.”

Regional Coordinator Rojas says the speech is the most important part of being elected. “The person with a vision typically gets the position,” he says.

Moyano has a vision. As a Regional Officer she wants to promote PTK’s hallmark of service. She says some chapters put their service projects on the backburner to focus on more rigorous tasks like the Honors Project. “Our Service Project could be as awesome as our Honors Project,” she says.

Already, Moyano coordinates with other student groups, like the Students in Free Enterprise, to organize a canned food drive. SIFE is donating to a small shelter, which Moyano says often gets overlooked.

If elected she hope to establish a service project in the Regional Office. “[School chapters] would say: hey, they have an idea already, lets do that,” She predicts.

Moyano plans to promote her plans for a Regional Service Project at this weekend’s Regional Convention.

“I don't feel as though many people understand the importance of just doing something,” Says Western VP Gaura. “Many people struggle with feelings of inadequacy or fears of the unknown, but I have found in my own life, and in the lives of others, that the things we regret most in life is not what we do, but what we don't do.”

Alpha Kappa Elects Two New Executives

Feb 29- In room N771 members of the Alpha Kappa Chapter at BMCC elected two new executive board members to fill positions vacated last semester. The winners of the election, Susan Anton and Victoria Dombroski, will join veteran executives Euri Parios and Ajae Gonzalez.

The election began with speeches from each candidate. “Preparing the notes for the speech was somewhat difficult, because we had three minutes to really sell ourselves,” says Dombroski. She plans to leave behind a neatly organized package on all Alpha Kappa projects by the end of her term. Dombroski offered her secretarial skills as an executive officer.

Anton plans to boost PTK membership at BMCC by increasing Alpha Kappa’s presence on campus. Outside of the Chapter, Anton is a PAL’s assistant and serves as a tutor on campus. She hopes to educate students at BMCC about the advantages of the Honor Society.

Alpha Kappa Officer Romina Moyano ran against Anton and Dombroski for one of the open positions. “I want to make my involvement more official and make a commitment to the chapter,” Moyano said in her election speech. She now plans to represent the Chapter by running for Regional Office.

PTK Member Dana Smith says Anton and Dombroski seem “committed and loyal to positively [impacting] Phi Theta Kappa.”

The new executives will lead the Chapter through the Spring Semester along with longtime board members Parios and Gonzalez. Alpha Kappa is expected to tackle a range of issues this semester, such as completing the Honors in Action Project and laying the groundwork for the College Project to be finished next fall. Faculty Advisor Alex D’Erizans expects the executive board to oversee every aspect of the chapter. To get things done, he says they must “be humble enough to listen, but set the agenda.”

“You are the leader,” says D’Erizans.