Minutes 2-26-09

Iota Xi Chapter Minutes February 26, 2009

In attendance Professor Nicole Stokes-Du Pass Maria Conneran Diana P. Gonzalez Sheila Casey Megan Andrade Rachel Pribish Joseph Eulo Robert W. Fernandez Ana M. Lopez Daina Requeileros David Reyes Sean Price Lina Iddisah Vincent DeLuca David Reyes Gian Franco Maldonado Bruna Maricato

1. Hallmarks and Five Star Chapter Initiatives •

Regional Convention Recap: The Regional Convention was a success for the PTK members and the advisor due to the amount of awards won as well as knowledge obtained from the convention. Professor Stokes won the Paragon Award, Diana P. Gonzalez won an Honor Award, Maria Conneran received an Award for Chapter President, and Joe received a Distinguished Chapter Member. Also, Iota

Xi received Service Hallmark as well as the Diamond in the Rough Award. Overall, it was a great turn out.

2. Membership and Orientations •

Orientation: The last day for interviews with Professor Stokes was held today.

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Spring Induction: Everything is going as planned, which includes scripts and sign-ups for helping with the event. There will be a mass email sent tomorrow. Officers and Current Members will arrive at 6.45pm dressed professionally. The dress code will be black, no jeans or slacks. The former PTK president as well as the N.J. State president will be able to make it.

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Springs Honors Luncheon: The Spring Honors Luncheon will take place on March 7 from 12.30pm-2.30pm. PTK officers will arrive at 11.30am to set-up; a list was passed to confirm what food the officers were bringing. There will be flyers in order to advertise for the Luncheon. The speaker for the Luncheon will be Professor Shalan.

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Fundraising &Service Projects •

Spring Book Sale: The Book sale is currently taking place and PTK has made a profit of $1300 so far. February 27th will be the last day for the book sale. There has been a substantial amount of donations made for the Relay for Life society also Relay for Life cards are being sold at the Book Sale for $1.

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Spring Blood Drive: There will be a blood drive on March 10th from 10am to 5pm. Sign-ups are going well and we expect a good turnout in potential donors.

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Earth Day: Earth’s Day will take place on March 20th. There will be a fundraiser using reusable shopping bags in which green ribbons or seeds will be placed. The price point for the bags will be $5. We will be receiving our bags from the same place in which we receive our PTK T-shirts. An estimate amount for the bags is $2.70 a bag for one side and $3.15 for two sides. Possible colors for the bag will be green or black with gold. PTK will look into local businesses such as Trading Joe in which they can sell the bags.

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Belmar Beach Cleanup: the Belmar Beach Cleanup will take place on April 25th from 10am-2pm. At 10am, participants convene at Ocean Avenue and 16th St. The cleanup is an international service program sponsored by Hudson County College. PTK members have already signed up; we will possibly carpool in order to arrive in time.

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Habitat for Humanity: This is a possible volunteer opportunity purpose is to build homes for low-income families. The Contact information for this organization in the Middlesex Division is [email protected] or (732) 634-5360. The Middlesex Division is almost done with their construction at Old Bridge. We

will be in contact with the Plainfield Division to see if they need volunteers and what times are available for volunteer opportunities. •

Relay for Life: The Relay for Life is a fundraiser for the cancer society. It will take place on May 29th on the Memorial Field on Cranford. Our chapter has been registered as team Iota Xi. PTK has set their donations expectations to $100, but we have exceeded the current amount.

4. Other Announcements •

T-shirts: Joe made the suggestion of putting the Operation Green logo in the PTK shirts. The new update for the price range for shirts is $8.

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Newsletters: The next issue for the newsletter will include Regional Convention, Valentine’s Day Bake Sale, and new member blogs. It will circulate twice a month, entries are encouraged. The next deadline for the newsletter will be Monday, March 2, 2009.

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Video-game Tournament: A possible event proposed by the PTK president Maria and Joe Eulo is a video-game tournament in which competitors will complete for a prize. The date will be sometime before graduation, possibly the Friday, May 15 before exams. The place for the tournament will possibly be in the North or South Lecture Hall. There will be a double elimination

tournament in which players compete for a prize. The games that might be included will be Halo, Need for Speed, Call of Duty and their will be a time limit. The entry for joining this tournament is $10 and refreshments served include pizza. •

Down’s syndrome Masquerade Dance: PTK plans on raising money through a Masquerade Dance in order to support the Down Syndrome Research and Treatment Foundation. The theme of the dance will possibly be Italian in which people attending the dance will have to wear eye masks. PTK officers will be auctioned off for dances. PTK has an objective of raising a minimum of $300. The entrance fee is still in progress, but will be around $10 for students. Food and drinks will be distributed at the dance which comes with the price of admission. It will take place sometime around the first week of April most likely Friday, April 3rd or Saturday, April 4th. The location of the dance is still in progress but it might be the Elizabeth or Cranford Cafeteria. Sign-up for committees will be distributed next week and include a Food, Entertainment, Masquerade Masks, Advertising, Decoration, and Auction Committee.

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Alumni Association mixer: A member Alumni Jeff proposed a mixer to rejuvenate association between PTK and the Alumni Association. PTK officer Ana Lopez will be in contact with Jeff to

see if he is interested in funding the Down Syndrome Masquerade Dance. •

PTK and PSI Beta: PTK and PSI Beta will discuss holding a mix event, possibly a talent show. Psi Beta has agreed in helping out with the Down Syndrome dance through advertisement.

Next Meeting: Thursday, March 5, 2009 from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm in the alumni conference room in the Nomahegan building.