 |
||||||
Virtual Book Drive to end on November 16
This initiative, held as a part of the "Reading is Leading" national project, is a great way for chapters, alumni and supporters to unite nationally while working toward a common goal - to give children across the country access to books. Please encourage your chapter to help Mortar Board unite nationally to raise $30,000 so that children can be provided with their very own first books. Detailed information can be found in the Virtual Book Drive packet.
Help your chapter with Mortar Board's "10 in '10" initiative For the 2009-2010 academic year, chapters are being presented with a “10 in ‘10” challenge to make a goal that will increase the number of applicants for each chapter by 10 percent. While this goal is related to membership, it is also closely affiliated to campus visibility. By utilizing various publicity tactics, from holding more campus events to publicizing the chapter on Facebook, campus visibility can be attained in a number of ways. Several visibility tips are available in the Officer & Advisor Handbook and online on this help page. Based on the numbers reported by your chapter in 2009, Mortar Board hopes that your chapter will make it a local goal to increase campus visibility and membership recruitment, and therefore receive 10 percent more applications. If you do not know the number of applications received in 2009, please contact your section coordinator or the National Office. Special note about chapter size Mortar Board following up with candidates who did not to join Beginning in September, the Mortar Board National Office began contacting selected candidates who chose not to join Mortar Board and were therefore listed as "refused" on the chapter's Official Membership Report. Many of these candidates were unable to join for reasons such as financial difficulty, and Mortar Board has began to offer a payment plan for the national dues. With full or partial dues payment by October 15, the candidates are able to be re-instated. If you have been working with any candidates who are considering accepting their membership in the Society, please remind them of the upcoming dues deadline. Instructions for candidates who wish to pay the $60 fee in full
Instructions for members who wish to participate in the payment plan In order to use this plan, candidates are permitted to pay the full $60 membership fee in small portions by the following deadlines:
Payment can be submitted in three ways:
Payments will be monitored by the Mortar Board National Office. Please note that according to Mortar Board’s national Bylaws, membership fee payments are non-refundable. Candidates will also be responsible for any local chapter dues and participating in chapter events, all of which can be determined by contacting the chapter advisor and chapter president. Advisors will be regularly notified by the National Office of any students who choose to join this fall. If you have any questions or concerns about how this affects your chapter, please contact Megan Stevens at mstevens@mortarboard.org. ACHS advising grant deadline is October 15 ACHS has announced a grant program that encourages cross-campus collaboration and new initiatives among student organizations related to social responsibility. Specifically, ACHS will offer six $500 grants to pilot projects that achieve one of the following objectives:
This project must also:
Funding is intended as an honorarium to the advisor for facilitating and reporting on the outcomes of this pilot project. The grant will be awarded after the project report is received. Funds for the project should be provided by the honor societies or by fundraising activities (including institutional or corporate grants). Advisors interested in submitting a proposal should download this information packet provided by ACHS. Proposals must be received by October 15, 2008. All questions should be directed to ACHS Executive Director Dr. Dorothy I. Mitstifer at dmitstifer@achsnatl.org.
Dr. Jane K. Smith For 24 years, Dr. Jane K. Smith has epitomized excellence as a Mortar Board advisor and administrative liaison. Despite her high-powered position as head of the university’s academic services, from which she recently retired, Jane always made time for Mortar Board, assisting the chapter day and night. At the 2009 Mortar Board National Conference, she was honored with the prominent Excellence in Advising Award for the second time. Jane continually led the group by example, always serving as a strong leader of leaders and helping the chapter navigate their way to success. With a longstanding tradition of goal-setting and establishing specific steps to achieve these goals, Jane has essentially built a path for chapter presidents to follow throughout the year, combining Mortar Board’s ideals, visibility efforts and traditional events. This formula has worked wonderfully, guiding the chapter to Mortar Board’s highest honor, the Ruth Weimer Mount Chapter Excellence Award, in 2003. Outgoing chapter president Gene Gonzaga explained that “Dr. Smith handles challenges with the utmost grace, calmness, and efficiency of action…She showed me that challenges and obstacles require thinking, planning and action - in that order.” Her unique thinking, devotion and clarity under pressure have no doubt been crucial to her success both at San Diego State University and at Mortar Board. |
Mortar Board Lingo Continuing senior It is incredibly common for some Mortar Board members who serve as active members during their fourth year of college to have an additional year of studies into their fifth year or beyond. In this case, members may choose to remain active with "continuing senior" status in the society. Continuing members should me marked appropriately on the Official Membership Report (OMR) and pay a $25 fee at that time. However, members who choose to continue their membership after the academic year begins may do so at any time by notifying the National Office at 800-989-6266 or mortarboard@mortarboard.org and paying the $25 fee. Watch your mailbox! The senior advisor or primary mailing contact for each chapter will be receiving a packet in the mail from the Mortar Board National Office this fall. This packet will include pertinent handbooks and guides as well as an introductory letter from Megan Stevens. Not sure if your address is up-to-date? Send your current contact information including your mailing address and chapter to mortarboard@mortarboard.org. Join the national Advisor Task Force Are you interested in serving on the national Advisor Task Force? Mortar Board needs your experience and suggestions to help improve advisor relations. Please e-mail Megan Stevens at mstevens@mortarboard.org if you would like to get involved. Chapter officers receiving special "officer guide" newsletters This year, the Mortar Board National Office has decided to send an introductory condensed officer guide to some chapter officers this fall. You can view the available officer guides here. Important downloads for advisors Officer & Advisor Handbook
Membership Selection Handbook
New governance changes At the 2009 Mortar Board National Conference, chapter delegates voted on a number of changes. Advisors can download the updated Bylaws with highlighted revised sections. |
|||||
Having problems viewing this e-mail? View it as a Web site or download a printer-friendly PDF. You are being sent this e-newsletter because you have been reported as an officer or advisor for your chapter of Mortar Board. If you are no longer a chapter officer or advisor and have already reported this to your local chapter, you may unsubscribe from this newsletter. Mortar Board National Office | 1200 Chambers Road, Suite 201 | Columbus, OH 43212 | 800-989-6266 |
||||||
Advisor spotlight
