Alpha of Florida
Phi Beta Kappa

Executive Meeting

Minutes

2:30 p.m. February 10, 2009

Weichelt Lounge, Rovetta Business Building, Room 220

Attendees

Joyce Simmons, Chapter President
Mark Weingardner, Chapter Vice President
Jerry Fisher, Chapter Treasurer
George Weaver, Membership Chair
Bruce Bickley, Chapter Historian
Bob Spivey, Encouragement of Scholarship Chair
Annelise Leysieffer
Paula Gerson
Students:
Matt Clark - Biochemistry
Ryan Clary - Creative Writing
Kathleen DeGuzman - English
Rebecca Entress - Political Science
Jeremy Bary - Biology (interested student)

1. Greetings and Introductions

         Joyce Simmons greeted the attendees and called the meeting to order. She introduced and welcomed the students.  

2. Minutes of the January 8, 2009 meeting

         The minutes of the previous meeting were approved as circulated electronically.       

3. Treasurer’s Report

         Jerry Fisher reported that in the Foundation, we have $5,332.15 spendable income from the endowment and $7,684.62 in the endowment. We have $7,315.52 in checking and $1,026.30 in savings.

We are still waiting for invoices for national dues and certificate costs.

4. Election of new student members

         For the benefit of the students present, George Weaver explained the SASS report and the requirements to be met by junior and senior members to be eligible for membership. Weaver reminded us that these requirements are outlined on the new PBK website. Weaver also explained that although no more than 33% may be juniors, this number pertains to the entire academic year. We had 54 juniors versus 91 seniors in the fall, while this semester we have 28 juniors versus 200 seniors.

         Annelise Leysieffer brought the suggestion to the table of sending another reminder to the fall junior electees, who did not join in the fall, and let them know that they have twelve months to accept the invitation from the date of the original invitation. Leysieffer pointed out how some students might not have received the original invitation or not realized the importance of PBK. Jerry Fisher agreed that this could be done now that he and Elaine Hull have these student e-mails on their computers.

5. Dan Chaon’s visit on Tuesday, February 24

         With Jonathan Ames canceling his visit to FSU in late January, Mark Winegardner has invited Dan Chaon, a well-known author, in his place. Chaon is scheduled to be present at a Question and Answer session at 3:30 p.m. in the Commons Room in Williams 013 to be followed by a reading of his work and a brief lecture at the Warehouse at 8:00 p.m. Chaon, who teaches at Oberlin College, will arrive Monday night and will stay with Weingardner. Chaon will be given $2,500, which includes his airfare. The funds will come in part from the Parmele grant and the rest from the spendable amount at the Foundation or if need be from our checking account. Several PBK members might take Chaon to dinner on Monday night with the attendees paying for their own meals (Chaon’s tab will be covered by PBK).

6. Discussion of the new summer initiation

         At the January 8 meeting, it was decided to schedule elections for both juniors and seniors during the summer semester to avoid having students lose junior status by having too many hours by the time they are considered in the fall, and also to avoid losing the senior electees, who will have left campus by the winter initiation. Bob Spivey suggested that we hold a modified and shorter initiation without a speaker where several PBK members provide the food and beverages as several of us used to do at previous initiations to avoid having to ask Dean Travis to support us for three initiations each year.

         The suggestion was accepted, and PBK plans to hold its first summer initiation during the latter part of July 2009. George Weaver will run the usual SASS report.

7. Strategies to encourage electees to accept the invitation to membership

         Mark Weingardner will contact faculty representatives as he did it during the fall semester. Aaron Chapnick and James Dickson will contact the electees via e-mail as they did in the fall. Joyce Simmons suggested that an effort be made to contact the electees by phone and asked the students present if they would be willing to help. Weingardner asked Ryan Clary to help him.

         The students were asked what made them decide to join PBK. Matt Clark said he had known about the organization for years, as did Kathleen DeGuzman. Rebecca Entress said her parents had told her that it was a very big deal, and Mark Weingardner contacted Ryan Clary. Jeremy Bary heard about PBK from Linda Mahler when he went to discuss Phi Kappa Phi with her. Bary is a now a senior biology student from St. Maarten, who missed being invited as a junior due to not having begun his foreign language until last semester. He is graduating in spring 2010.

         Kathleen DeGuzman suggested that PBK members have a table for several weeks at Market Wednesdays to explain the importance of the organization.

         Joyce Simmons suggested a “Mixer” to be held possibly in the Weichelt Lounge where an ongoing slide show, provided to us by the national office, could be shown, or PBK might possibly hold an event off campus. The students preferred it to be held off campus maybe at Café Cabernet as Golden Key has recently done (Kathleen DeGuzman). Current students as well as initiates would be invited. Annelise Leysieffer cautioned about holding an event in a facility where alcohol is served even if alcohol is not served to the PBK attendees as this could create a problem with FSU. The fact that all the students would most likely be 21 years of age is irrelevant.

8. Spring Initiation

         The initiation is scheduled for Sunday, April 19 at 4:30 p.m. in the Weichelt Lounge.

9. “Bodies” at the Mary Brogan Museum

         Paula Gerson reported that we should be able to get into the exhibit at the reduced student group rate of $15 (I believe there is an additional entrance fee of $3.50 for students and seniors and $6.00 for other adults). The museum is open Monday-Saturday 9:00 –5:00 p.m. and Sunday 2:00 –5:00 p.m. the suggestion was made to go to the exhibit in the mid-afternoon and to gather afterwards at a “Mixer.”

10. Cara Engel’s visit

         Bob Spivey reported upon Cara Engel’s successful visit. She is visiting the ten PBK chapters who have received Parmele Grants for the current academic year. FSU’s chapter is among 10 pilot programs chosen from the 265 chapters to receive this grant to help strengthen PBK. Cara Engel was impressed with our efforts. Three PBK members had dinner with her at Andrews 2^nd Act on Monday 26, and nine of us gathered at The University Center Club for lunch the next day with the meal paid for by the national organization.

         Bob Spivey listed a number of points and suggestions that were discussed at the lunch:

1. Benefits of memberships
2. Make PBK honor cords available for the students in the invitation - $10 online
3. Only PBK listed in graduation program (however junior initiates are not listed)
4. It won't hurt on graduate school admissions
5. Other organizations have student involvement (which we are now remedying)
6. Have students attend meetings
7. Hold events for students such as mixers or other socials
8. Having a visiting lecturer (we have our own this year - maybe revive The Last Lecture)
9. Reinstate having a meal at the spring initiation
10. -or- maybe host something akin to the ODK 7:50 Breakfast Club
11. Work on recruiting practices
12. An initiation banquet might help encourage students to attend with family or friends
13. Parents are important
14. Notify parents of their son's or daughter's election to PBK

11. Adjournment

         The meeting was adjourned at 3:45 p.m.

Respectfully submitted by
Annelise Leysieffer