March 2009 | Iota Xi Newsletter | Special Edition

vol. 1 Issue 2 | March 2009 | Special Middle States Regional Awards Edition

Hello My Fellow Phi Theta Kappans! Maria Conneran, Chapter President grateful for her dedication to making

We recently returned from our trip to re-

our chapter a success.

gional convention in Baltimore, Maryland.

We were fortunate to hear speeches

Imagine this: Diana, Joe, Chris, Ana, Profes-

from Pastor and former NFL player Joe

sor Stokes and me on stage in front of 300

Ehrmann, Lt. Colonel Dennis Devery of

people, while dancing to our version of Salt-N-

the NJ National Guard, and scientist Ken-

Pepa’s 1987 hit “Push it.” It’s hard to believe, I

neth Fink.

know. We flaunted our matching black Iota Xi tees, while Chris rapped our chapter chant into the

on the value of prioritizing human relationships,

microphone. This is one of my many priceless

while recounting a particularly painful

memories of regional convention in Baltimore.

memory of his own brother’s tragic pass-

The opportunity to network with other chapter

ing. Lt. Colonel Devery presented a speech

officers was a major benefit. Joe, as our vice president of publicity, took advantage of this with great enthusiasm. He was often seen campaigning for Feed-

focused

22nd Middle States Region Awards Banquet Gala

the-Mind, and with impressive results. I am excited to see Feed

Mr. Ehrmann delivered an

emotionally charged speech that touched



the Mind growing to meet its true potential. I am so proud of our

Nicole Stokes-Dupass, Paragon Chapter Advisor

chapter for its success! Our chapter

Chapter Awards

garnered plenty of recognition this

5-Star Chapter Four Leaf Clover Chapter Four Leaf Clover Fellowship Diamond Chapter Service Hallmark

year; we snagged quite a few awards! Let us all congratulate

Professor

Nicole

Stokes-DuPass

for

her top-notch ser-

Paragon Award for new advisors at the awards ceremony, and we are all

Phi

Theta

Kappa

Iota

anxieties

when

faced with the responsiof

dispatching

helicopters on 9/11. One of the highlights for me was a presentaattend a presentation of one chapter’s revitalization project

enthusiasm was contagious. He is

in New Orleans, in addition to a “Relay for Life” workshop. I

president of a science-education

was able to pick up some useful ideas for our own fund-

outfit called Wondergy that uses

raising efforts as the date of our relay event approaches.

exciting demonstrations to get

Other memories: surviving Baltimore’s rush hour drivers,

people interested in science. Our

freezing in the gale-force winds, practicing our 80’s dance

show included one very loud

moves in the hotel room mirror, staying up past 3:AM (and

explosion that must have woken everyone in the hotel.

being ready by 7!), being silly all weekend, taking a 15

We were given the opportunity to take part in educa-

minute dip in the hotel pool, and eating way too much

tional workshops, which focused on a number of

catered food. Good times!

Maria Conneran, President Diana Gonzalez, Officer Joseph Eulo, Distinguished Member

Iota Xi. She was recognized with the

leadership

tion by Kenneth Fink, whose

Hall of Honor

vice as advisor to

own bility

Iota Xi Union County College

on

skills, as he conveyed his

timely issues and service project ideas. I chose to

Xi’s

Chapter

Newsletter

CHAPTER

CHAT T ER

Next Year, It’s Yours! Take Advantage of the Phi Theta Kappa Experience and Unleash Your Potential.

5 FACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT E-CYCLING

1 2 3 4 5

Recyclers recover more than 100 million pounds of materials from electronics each year. Cell phones were recycled at a rate of approximately 10 percent. - Electronics TakeBack Coalition

Recycling electronics helps reduce pollution that would be generated while manufacturing a new product and the need to extract valuable and limited virgin resources. - Electronics TakeBack Coalition

In 2005, approximately 61 percent (about 107,500 tons) of CRT monitors and TVs collected for recycling were exported for remanufacture or refurbishment.

“You can do it!” BY JOSEPH EULO, VP OF PUBLIC RELATIONS

Joining Phi Theta Kappa has

compass and guide me through my

been the best decision I have ever

choices. I am privileged to be among

made, second only to deciding to

you all, and honored to share the Phi

t h a t

attend college, the experience has

Theta Kappa experience with you.

moment, I realized this was the first

profoundly changed me. My partici-

The trip to the Middle States Re-

time in my life that I won an award.

pation in Iota Xi has transformed

gional convention in Baltimore,

The experience reached a fever

me from an asocial lost soul into a

Maryland last month was an event

pitch when I was called a second

confident and goal oriented person.

that I will never forget. I was happy

time and presented with the 2009

The relationships that I have forge

to meet other Phi Theta Kappans

Distinguished Chapter Member

will last a lifetime, the experiences

from chapters around the region, and

Award.

that I have shared with other Phi

fortunate enough to

Theta Kappans will live on in my

share those mo-

memory forever, and the contribu-

ments with my Iota

tions that I have made to my chap-

Xi family.

ter and my community will have impacted many.

achievement. I use it as an instrument to

Kappa’s hallmarks and made them

was called during

my own. Scholarship, leadership,

the awards gala as

service, and fellowship are more

one of ten chapter

than just words to me, and my

member Hall of Honors Award recipi-

take advantage of the Phi Theta

hope is they will

ents I was shocked. As I stood there

Kappa experience. Become active in

be more than just

with the other recipients, I reflected

Iota Xi and unleash your potential.

you.

on my academic achievements and

Next year, the award is yours!

They serve as my

participation in Phi Theta Kappa. At

words

for

E-Cycling March 23rd, 2009 and last until friday. The 3

devices

to

be

recycled

potential that I see in myself, I also see in you. I implore you to

other Iota Xi officer. We will

The e-cycling event will begin Monday top

encourage others. The

event. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me or any

Chris Mauro, VP of Fundraising

- Electronics TakeBack Coalition

http://www.goodcleantech.com/

as a reminder of my

So when my name

One metric ton of electronic scrap from personal computers (PC’s) contains more gold than that recovered from 17 tons of gold ore.

- Electronics TakeBack Coalition

was enough for me.

I carry the medallion around in my pocket,

I have internalized Phi Theta

- Electronics TakeBack Coalition

Donating used (but still operating) electronics for reuse extends the lives of valuable products and keeps them out of the waste stream for a longer period of time.

Just being there

“ the first time in my life that I won an award…, the experience has changed me!”

are

cell-phones, PDA, and handheld organizers. Those who

be collecting these devices and will be giving them to a company that has a "No Dump" policy, which is important

to

all

recy-

are interested in donating these devices should put place

clers.

If you would like to

them in the Cranford or Elizabeth Library donation box. Or you

help

please contact me at

can be proactive as a Iota Xi member and collect them in the

f u n d r a i s -

“operation green” bag we will be selling for $5. Proceeds of the

[email protected].

e-cycling event will go towards Relay for Life. Members are

don't forget Saturday March

needed to speak to their classes to

28th is Earth Hour, celebrate

raise awareness and promote this

it by Voting Earth, Thank you!

and