Below you will find two postings from our Scholars Bulletin Board, which is an open forum for members to voice their opinions and discuss anything.  The first posting is from Steve Martin, our 2001-2002 Pi Omega Chapter President, reflecting on his tenure with the organization as he graduated.  The second is from Alissa Fonner, one of our most active members, who also finished at DACC in May of 2002.  If you are still unsure about membership, please read what current members have to say, then please give us a try.
 

Steve Martin  Sat Apr 27 23:40:04 CDT 2002 It has been quite some time since I have written anything on the bboard. Its nice to be back. LOL    I wanted to be the first to write to you and reflect on some things in the past two years. DACC has given me an opportunity to hone in on some leadership skills, social skills, and how to become a decent student. I hope that you can get as much out of DACC and PTK as I have. I have met some wonderful people like:  Lori Garrett, John Hoagland, Kathy Armstrong, Kathie Moore, Jessica Pierce, Alissa Fonner, Lucas Knight, etc., etc., and the list goes on including every one of you members. I encourage each and every one of you to get involved with Phi Theta Kappa. It is so much more than a student organization. It's friendship. I will take each and every experience with me to wherever I go in the future. The lives that you touch and the people you meet touch your soul. Give it a shot. Become active in this organization and I promise you, the reward will make you glow from within. The scholarships are great and the awards go well on a mantle or on a wall but a friendship is stuck in your heart forever. I remember talking to a ten year old boy while walking him over to the Tech Center for the E-bus and making an impression on his life in just ten minutes time. I remember listening to two young children talk about Arbor Day, and planting two trees for the sake of children and their futures. I remember ringing bells at Kmart and getting to know new members for the first time while collecting money for the Salvation Army. I remember sitting in the parking lot at DACC all day long collecting money for the 9/11 Relief fund. Everyone who drove by that day honked because we had a table dressed in red, white and blue. I remember being in the town of Metropolis meeting other members of PTK and thinking "WOW, this is a HUGE organization!!" I remember attending other chapter's induction ceremonies and seeing the glow on their new member's faces as they stood in front of their candles saying the oath. I remember cleaning up the side of the highway thinking "Who in the world can heave a windshield off onto the side of the road?" I remember the smiles on all of our member's faces when they talked about their "littles" for Big Brother's and Big Sisters. I remember the International Convention and thinking "WOW, this is bigger than I had imagined."  But most of all, I remember the looks on your parents faces when you were inducted into our organization. I remember the smiles on your faces when you were helping a young child build their confidence and their future. What do you remember? What will affect you in a way that you will live a better life?  What have I learned as a Phi Theta Kappan? I learned how to give more than I take. This isn't a "me me me" organization. This is a giving, open armed family who will take you in as one of their own. So jump on board and give a little. It feels great!!!! Lori Garrett, you have made an impact on my life more than anyone in the last two years. I have grown as a person. You have given me confidence I never knew I had. But more importantly, you opened my eyes to the ideals of Phi Theta Kappa and what it is like to be a genuine good person. You have given all of your spare time to this organization and every opportunity I get to thank you, I will. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. You make Pi Omega what it is and what it will be! You have been my mentor from day one. THANK YOU!!  Members: You have many opportunities thrown at your feet. It is up to you to decide which ones are worthy of your time and effort. You won't go wrong with this organization. Best of Luck to all of you in your futures.

 

Alissa Fonner  Tue May 14 20:33:22 CDT 2002 I have never written anything on here in my year and a half as a PTKer, but I guess late is better then never. Until this semester, all of you who know me know that Mandie and I never came to an event apart. This was a joke among many of you :) And I know you thought, because she was going to Florida for the semester for an internship, that you wouldn't see me at any PTK function until she returned. I decided that when she left I needed to get even more involved in the activities because it would give me an opportunity to meet many new people and take my mind off her being gone. I have been much more involved this semester and have enjoyed every minute of it. I thought I would take this opportunity to tell you what my favorite memories are and the ones that I will keep with me forever. This semester I started mentoring with Big Brother Big Sister and have loved spending time each week with my little and being a very small, but influential, part of her life. I also remember walking from Meade Park to DACC on the day of the eBus and will never forget the little girl that asked me to hold her hand. For 9/11, I helped collect $ and was touched by all those that spared their last dime to help others; it was very inspiring. I have also started helping with I Sing the Body Electric this semester and have been very excited about being involved in the start of the program in Vermilion Co. But I have to say the highlight of this year was being able to go to the International Convention. It was amazing to be in one place with all of those PTKers, and I had an unforgettable time. Even the van ride down was a lot of fun, the boys and I had a great time playing cards and for the record I let you guys win:) While I was in TN, I found out the my Grandma had passed away.  I was so upset because I wasn't with my family and I felt like I needed and wanted to be with them. I soon felt such a comfort being with my PTK "family"; they helped me to have a good time the rest of my time down there despite the pain I was feeling. Even after I got home they remembered me at the visitation and funeral. There was a beautiful bouquet of flowers to decorate that church and Steve came to the visitation. It was so nice that day to see someone there just for me, so thank you again Steve it meant so much! As you can see the members of PTK really do become life long friends if you let them. I also would like to thank Lori for making this organization an active one, because without her none of these memories would be possible. And last but not least...Thank you Steve for being our leader! I know that this organization has taken much of your time, but through it all there hasn't been a time I have seen you without a smile on your face. Without you and Lori, we wouldn't be the powerful group we are today. Thank you for making my years at DACC an enjoyable experience and thank you for all of the Phi Theta Kappa memories, I will treasure them always. I will miss being part of this amazing chapter and I challenge each of you to keep it at the top. Best of luck to all of those moving on and to all of those that will be continuing at DACC. Sincerely, Alissa