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Welcome to the 2010-2011 INK: Important monthly news for chapter officers and advisors The Mortar Board INK, distributed September through May from e-mail address enews@mortarboard.org, serves as a resource for officers and advisors of Mortar Board. This newsletter includes:
Officers and advisors reported in the Officer Address Information Form receive this newsletter. Please forward this to others who you believe would benefit or ask them to subscribe. Getting started for your ideal year in Mortar Board Being a Mortar Board officer or advisor is a privilege that will be both fun and challenging. Here are some planning suggestions that will help to guide your chapter throughout the year.
Need a guide? Follow the model year outlined on page 34 of the Officer & Advisor Handbook. Your to-do list First half of the year (August - December)
Second half of the year (January - graduation)
Get to know your section coordinator
Your section coordinator, is an invaluable resource in chapter management, and your “go-to person” for everything Mortar Board. You should get to know your SC well throughout the year, and feel comfortable approaching her or him with questions you may have and challenges you may face. Here are a few tips to get the most out of your relationship with your SC:
Support "Reading is Leading" by participating in the Virtual For the third year, Mortar Board has launched the Virtual Book Drive held in conjunction with First Book. Together, we can work toward a common goal consistent with the "Reading is Leading" national project – to give children across the country access to books. This virtual drive is easily accessible, allowing anyone to donate funds online. Many chapters hold fundraisers or campuswide events, while others simply share the donation link as a way to widely promote literacy. A donation of just $2 can provide a child with his or her first book, and contribute to the national goal of raising $30,000. Why does literacy matter? Take the challenge
Where do donations go? Prizes, prizes, prizes Heard from the IRS? Don't panic, let the National Office help. Mortar Board, Inc. is an “exempt organization” according to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of the United States. So is each of its chapters, which in IRS terminology are called “subsidiaries.” Exempt organizations may not pay income tax, but they are required to file a tax form each year, just like any other organization. To satisfy this requirement each year, without fail, the National Office staff files what is called a Group Return on behalf of all chapters* of Mortar Board. Recently, because of new federal regulations designed to clean up records of defunct exempt organizations, the IRS’ Exempt Organizations Department has increased its scrutiny of all exempt organizations to make sure that they have properly filed a return over the last three tax years. Although Mortar Board, Inc. has filed for all chapters for all of these years, it appears that the Exempt Organizations Department of the IRS may have missed recording some chapters or have some other question about a chapter’s filing requirements. When this occurs, the IRS generates a notice to the chapter, not the Mortar Board National Office. If you receive such a notice, don’t panic! Simply call the National Office and speak with Executive Director Jane Hamblin or scan the notice and send it to her in an e-mail at jhamblin@mortarboard.org.As always, your chapter should not file any IRS forms on its own*. The National Office staff on behalf of Mortar Board, Inc. as the “parent organization” will handle the chapter’s filing in the group return.*There are few exceptions for chapters with earnings of more than $25,000 on average. In that case, these chapters are required to file separately.
Now you can purchase 10 great gifts to use as prizes during icebreakers and as attendance incentives, all at one low price. Shop the Mortar Board store now Chapter Spotlight: Hope College
After receiving Mortar Board’s top honor for a collegiate chapter – the Ruth Weimer Mount Chapter Excellence Award – the Alcor chapter has naturally decided to set even higher standards for the 2010-2011 academic year, a quality that perhaps illustrates why the chapter stood above the other chapters that were considered for this prestigious award. The chapter will try to go even further than before, introducing some new projects, and hoping that publicity from the award will help with fundraising efforts in the community and on campus. Of course, the chapter will continue to fill its calendar with popular annual events including the Last Lecture series, Disability Prom and Tanzanian Scholarships. As classes begin and students get settled, members will use some creativity to dream up new projects to support the campus of Hope College. When it comes to creating buzz on campus and in the nearby community of Holland, Mich., the chapter’s generous alumni help to create awareness by word-of-mouth. Proud of their affiliation with this award-winning chapter, former members come back for Homecoming each year, donating thousands of dollars to make the chapter’s Virtual Book Drive fundraising efforts a success. Selecting true leaders for membership, who are active in other campus organizations and have strong connections to students, faculty and staff helps enhance the influence the chapter is able to make on campus. As Dr. Dianne Portfleet, the chapter's advisor, explains, “Because we are so selective in electing the members each year, it is considered quite an honor to be a part of the organization.” |
Deadlines and reminders Check your chapter files or contact the National Office to ensure that all reports from last year have been submitted to reports@mortarboard.org! Due October 15 November 12
Due December 15
Due January 31
Due March 15
Due May 15
FEATURED DOWNLOADS
T.P. Tales Supplies needed: One roll of toilet paper Procedure:
Bonus: Give a prize for the person who took the most toilet paper. Recruitment tip of the month Mortar Board recruitment is a year-round process. Purchase Mortar Board t-shirts or other apparel to wear around campus at organized times to raise the profile of your chapter. If you don’t have Mortar Board merchandise, consider dressing in business professional attire and wearing your Mortar Board pin. "Buzz" tip of the month Create or update an existing Facebook page or group to share information with existing members, potential members, campus officials and students. You'll be able to create events, post reminders, share photos and more. With most students using Facebook as a news and social networking tool, this is a great way to get the word out about your chapter. Start the new year with brushed gold nametags
Connect with
Conference highlights Nearly 300 chapter delegates, members, advisors, national leadership members, award recipients, staff and guests gathered in Chicago for the 2010 Mortar Board National Conference, July 23-25 for leadership development, chapter training, networking and more. National Mortar Board brochure: a great tool Mortar Board brochures are available, free of charge, to each chapter. These are great for displaying at informational tables. To request your brochures, simply e-mail mortarboard@mortarboard.org with the following information:
Don’t have time to request the shipment? Print a high-resolution version yourself or take a peek at what you’re ordering online today.
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