Only a few weeks left to honor an outstanding alumna or alumnus

Mortar Board’s extraordinary alumni members are at the heart of the organization as it continues to grow year after year.  In order to show appreciation for these devoted alumni, Mortar Board annually awards outstanding members with the awards listed below.  If you know a qualified member or think you deserve an award, submit a nomination by March 15, 2009. To nominate an outstanding alumni member, click here.

Alumni Achievement Award
Alumni who have been out of school for a minimum of five years and are not currently in a national leadership position or an advisor to a collegiate chapter are eligible for this award.  Individuals, collegiate chapters, alumni chapters or national leadership members may nominate potential recipients.  Nominees should:

• have demonstrated outstanding achievement in their profession or their career, are noted for outstanding community service or both;
• have shown a continuing commitment to the Mortar Board ideals of scholarship, leadership and service;
• be outstanding role models for collegiate members;
• be between five and 40 years from their undergraduate degree.  

Distinguished Lifetime Membership Award
Alumni that have devoted themselves to Mortar Board throughout their life and are not currently in a national leadership position or an advisor to a collegiate chapter are eligible to receive this award.  Additionally, these candidates:

• have retained connections or contacts with Mortar Board in either collegiate or alumni areas
• have demonstrated outstanding community or campus service on a national or an international level
• epitomize the true meaning of "lifetime of service"
• have had substantial years pass since being awarded their undergraduate degree

National Council nomination deadline quickly approaching

Becoming a part of the National Council gives alumni numerous unique opportunities.  Council members serve as the governing board of directors, meet members from all over the country, network with student leaders and professionals, and much more! 

At this year’s national conference (held July 24-26, 2009 in Chicago), members will elect several positions to serve a two-year term, including:

• President-elect - coordinates the work of the standing committees, serves as national president in the absence or disability of the president, and serves as president for one term following their term as president-elect
• Vice president - serves as a liaison to the section coordinators and to the national membership committee
• Secretary-treasurer - has charge of all funds and is responsible for the preparation of a national budget, keeps accurate minutes of each regular and special meeting of the National Council and of the national conference and investigates sound future financial planning
• Alumni representative - serves as a liaison to various standing committees, assists the National Foundation as necessary and performs other duties as assigned by the National Council
• Student representative - to be elected, a candidate must be a collegiate member when elected; they shall serve as liaisons to various standing committees and assist the National Foundation as necessary

Nominations for potential candidates should be submitted no later than March 15, 2009. If you are not interested in running for a position as a National Council member, there are still many other opportunities to get involved. Serve as a national committee member, National Foundation trustee or section coordinator.  Simply complete this alumni update form and we will contact you regarding your interest when vacancies or opportunities arise! 

Questions regarding running for the National Council? Contact Nominations Chair Bill Niederer at mbforum@mortarboard.org.

Network with other Mortar Board members

Whether you are interested in building professional connections, staying updated on Mortar Board News, or making new Mortar Board friends, Mortar Board offers a networking solution.

Facebook
Millions of people use Facebook each day to keep in touch with friends, upload photos, share links and videos, and learn more about the people they meet. On Facebook, you can join the national Mortar Board group or become a fan of Mortar Board.

LinkedIn
LinkedIn is an online network of more than 30 million experienced professionals from around the world, representing 150 industries. Network with other Mortar Board members in numerous career fields by joining the Mortar Board group.

MySpace
Friends, family, classmates, professionals, acquaintances and more connect in the MySpace online community. Get to know other Mortar Board members or simply show your pride by joining the national Mortar Board group.

Twitter
On Twitter, members have the opportunity to subscribe to Mortar Board’s updates in a variety of manners including via the website, RSS feeds, e-mail, SMS text messages and more. These updates feature news about national Mortar Board, remind members of upcoming opportunities and offer special bulletins on merchandise sales and more.

Mortar Board is interested in learning how you have stayed (or anticipate staying) involved in Mortar Board and other membership organizations after graduating from college.

Please help the Mortar Board National Office learn about you and your alumni experience by sharing any of the information below with mbforum@mortarboard.org. Additionally, please indicate if you are interested in being interviewed or having your responses quoted for the Spring 2009 edition of the Mortar Board Forum magazine. If not, your responses will simply be used for research purposes.

• How have you stayed involved in Mortar Board after graduation (in ways large or small - you could have become a national volunteer; attended an event at a collegiate chapter; visited the website; joined an alumni chapter; read national e-newsletters; kept the Mortar Board ideals of scholarship, leadership and service as a part of your daily life; etc.)?
• Are you a recent graduate? How do you hope or anticipate staying involved in Mortar Board?
• How have you stayed involved with other membership organizations or alumni associations after graduating?
• What do you think "lifelong involvement" in Mortar Board means?

Share your Mortar Board stories with the commemorative historical book

Do you have great Mortar Board stories, photos or memorabilia?  Or, would you like to serve as a chapter's permanent historical liaison to assist with the book? Please contact the national Historical Publication Committee at history@mortarboad.org as they prepare for the publication of Mortar Board's centennial history book. 
Learn more here.

In tough economic times, look forward and turn inward

The current economic recession can cause tough times for for everyone, even Mortar Board alumni. To alleviate some of the pressure and stress, the following suggestions may help to weather the current economic climate:

Take advantage of the great discounts and opportunities offered to Mortar Board members - All Mortar Board members have access to the GEICO Privileges Web site, which also offers numerous discounts for products that you may already be buying. Spend when you can to help stimulate the economy and get the U.S. back on track.

Build a cushion - Think seriously about building an emergency fund, with the ability to cover three to six months of living expenses.  Job loss is one of the greatest threats in an economic downturn, and these funds will come in handy in the case of lay-offs.  Develop a budget and stick to it. 

Conserve energy - Small, simple energy conservation efforts make an impact. For example, changing out incandescent bulbs to compact fluorescent bulbs the next time they burn out, turning off your computer or monitor between uses, setting an energy saver or sleep timer on the television, and turning off lights that you don’t need can make a huge difference. 

Rethink spending - Review your insurance policies, cable bill or wireless plan to see if changing providers or transitioning to a monthly budget payment for some services may help to save a bit of money.  Other ways to save include clipping or uploading coupons to your shopping cards and borrowing books or movies from public libraries.

Don’t panic - Economic recession is cyclical.  Hope is not lost.  Professionals recommend that investors should remember that this difficult time will pass and look to the big picture. 

Invest in the most valuable asset: yourself - Membership in nationally-recognized organizations such as Mortar Board is a modest investment that will reap some significant rewards. Take the time to reflect on some of those great Mortar Board memories, as an investment with the highest return to yourself.

Note to members

The Mortar Board National Office wants to know all about you - awards, new jobs, accomplishments, life events, and more!  Update us using an easy online form or by sending an e-mail.

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Dr. Barbara Holdcroft
The University of Toledo, Initiated in 1983

Dr. Barbara Holdcroft holds a bachelor's and master's degree in both education and theology. Her doctorate attempted to blend those two academic disciplines with the study of moral development.

She is a wife, mother and grandmother. When her first child, son Kent, was 3 1/2 years old, she and her husband Kirk welcomed baby Katie into the world. Katie was a pleasant child, but before she was one year old Barbara and Kirk noticed some developmental delays, which a neurologist deemed to be within "normal limits" at the time.

Several months later, Katie's developmental delays were lingering. A second neurologist said Katie was in a near-vegetative state and would never be able to function, such as feeding herself, walking, bathing, etc.

The family made the decision to take Katie to a third neurologist, whose diagnosis was slightly less unsettling. Numerous tests over several visits showed that there was no genetic deficiency. However, no name was able to be ascribed to Katie's "multi-handicapped" disorder, including inability to speak and decreased motor control, thus limiting information and medications the family could obtain.

As time passed, Katie, now 28, has learned to run, walk, feed herself, bathe, ski, swim, ride a bicycle and more. Although still unable to form words, Katie lives a happy and fulfilling life. The Holdcroft's family's journey, with its struggles and joys, inspired Barbara to share her story with the world, particularly those who work closely with people with disabilities. Her book, "I'm Katie's Mom: Pointers for Professionals and Parents of the Disabled," offers the insight and advice she wishes she'd had years ago.

"I'm Katie's Mom: Pointers for Professionals and Parents of the Disabled" was published in February 2008 and is available now in stores and online. More about Barbara and Katie's life will be featured in this summer's edition of the Mortar Board Forum magazine. To be sure you receive the Mortar Board Forum magazine, please update your address or subscribe today.

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