Phi Kappa Phi Wins Top AM&P EXCEL Awards

Phi Kappa Phi recently garnered two top EXCEL Awards from Association Media & Publishing (AM&P) for its publication and marketing efforts. The Society was recognized at the association’s 38th Annual EXCEL Awards Gala on Monday, June 25, in Washington, D.C. The EXCEL Awards recognize excellence and leadership in nonprofit association media, publishing, marketing and communications.

Phi Kappa Phi received the Gold Award in the video promotion category for its Recognizing Excellence in Innovation video. The video, unveiled in November, was used as a way to promote the Society’s Excellence in Innovation Award with highlights from the award’s inaugural winner, Tulane University. Watch the full video here.

In addition, the Society’s quarterly magazine, Phi Kappa Phi Forum, garnered a second Gold Award for design excellence. For more than 100 years, the Forum has provided members with coverage of the Society and the world at large through a distribution of over 100,000 readers. Click here to learn more about the Forum and see the latest issue.

“We are privileged to recognize outstanding work in the association media and publishing industry this year, said Michael Marchesano, AM&P Executive Director. “The EXCEL Awards showcase and spotlight first class association content that’s both innovative and enlightening in a rapidly changing world.”

This year’s EXCEL competition saw 841 entries in seven categories ranging from magazines and journals to digital and promotional content. From all entries, 300 were selected as finalists to receive gold, silver or bronze in each category. Click here to see the full list of finalists.

Learn more about AM&P and the EXCEL Awards at www.siia.net/amp.

Chapter Update - June 2018

By Kay White
Chapter Development Director

As each academic year brings change to each college and university campus, each biennium brings change to Phi Kappa Phi. The staff at our national office continually strives to develop programming and initiatives that will serve those that work on behalf of the Society. Our announcement of a new program, the Circle of Honor Chapter Awards, came earlier this year, but the purpose of this update is to explain it a bit further.

The Circle of Honor program breaks chapter health and achievement down into two main parts – the Circle of Engagement and Circle of Excellence awards. These awards, given once a year, will recognize chapters for work in promoting excellence on the local campus and engaging the community of scholars. These awards utilize information collected throughout the year, so no extra information needs to be submitted to earn these awards.

The Circle of Excellence rewards work that exemplifies commitment and sustainability by rewarding criteria met annually. This includes:

• Hold an initiation
• Submit chapter officer roster
• Issue appropriate percentage of invitations
• Attend at least one training opportunity
• Submit reports annually and on time
• Submit a Fellowship nominee

The Circle of Excellence award is one that all chapters who are doing everything prescribed in the national bylaws should have a chance to receive, comparable almost to an honor roll of chapters.

The Circle of Engagement rewards work done by a chapter to improve chapter health and progress in areas shown to have a direct correlation to chapter sustainability. To achieve this status, a chapter should provide evidence of growth in one or more of the following eight areas annually:

• Increase in the number of chapter officers over previous year
• Increase in the yield of total new initiates over previous year
• Increase in the number of faculty initiates over previous year
• Increase in the number of reports submitted over previous year
• Increase in the number of total award applications 
• Increased participation in verified training opportunities
• Holding first initiation after 1 or more years of inactivity (a chapter can only receive this award once every 5 years)
• Sponsoring/co-sponsoring a university-wide event (other than an initiation) 

Badges that reflect the achievement of any of these goals will be awarded to the chapter. The hope is that the progress forward in any of these areas will be the work that the officers in these chapters are proud of and seek to accomplish in whatever way they see possible.

The national office has worked hard to find different ways to recognize excellence among chapters, just as we all do for the students, faculty, staff, and alumni through the Society. For questions or more information, contact kwhite@phikappaphi.org. Further details and an assessment guide can be found here.

Insurance Solutions for ΦΚΦ Members and Family

Protect yourself and your family by taking advantage of special access to insurance products, including life, health, dental, vision, pet, and more, through Mercer Consumer, a service of Mercer Health & Benefits Administration LLC, and other well-known providers. Secure essential protection worry-free!

With so much at stake in your personal and professional life, Mercer can help you protect your future and the future of your family, and they will give you the information you need to make informed decisions about coverage.

Phi Kappa Phi is partnered with Mercer to offer carefully selected insurance products from some of the nation’s leading insurance carriers, which are designed to meet a variety of needs at various stages of life.

These cost-effective solutions can be an ideal answer for the self-employed entrepreneur or a smart way to fill the gaps in an employer benefit program.

Major Medical Insurance

Whether you're just starting out, eligible for Medicare, or somewhere in between, find the coverage to fit your health insurance needs.

Short-Term Medical Insurance

Select the temporary coverage that fits your needs at a reasonable price.

GetInsured Health Insurance

When you’re ready to shop for an Affordable Care Act-compliant health plan, GetInsured makes it easy, convenient and hassle-free. Plus, it can help calculate tax credits (if eligible).

Health Savers Benefit Card

Save on dental powered by Aetna Dental Access, Coast To Coast Vision™, pharmacy costs and Health Advocate™ Solutions services.

Pet Insurance

Get peace of mind knowing you can care for your pet no matter the cost. Pet insurance helps pay for your pet's treatments, surgeries, lab fees, X-rays, and much more.

Disability Income Insurance

When you can't work, disability insurance goes to work for you.

Long-Term Care Insurance

Find the right long-term care insurance, so you can spend the time on things that matter the most.

Group 10 Year Level Term Life Insurance

Life insurance is one of the cornerstones of financial planning. Make sure your loved ones are taken care of if something happens to you.

Group Term Life Insurance

Term life insurance is the simplest way to protect loved ones now, and term life insurance can help protect their futures, too.

Emergency Medical & Travel Assistance Insurance

Get access to valuable medical and travel assistance benefits that are not covered by basic health or travel insurance 24 hours a day, 365 days a year—when you are 100 miles or more away from your home.

To explore all available plan options and enrollment information, visit www.PhiKappaPhi.org/Mercer. To speak with a Mercer representative, call 1.888.560.ALUM (2586). Be sure to mention your membership in The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi.

Learn more about all of the benefits available to active members at www.PhiKappaPhi.org/Benefits. Member benefits are available to active members only and your member login will be required to access many of the discounts listed. Not active? Click here to renew your membership today!

Grow Your Career with Phi Kappa Phi Resources

Whether you are a recent graduate starting your job search or an established professional thinking of making a change, Phi Kappa Phi can help! The Society offers many resources to assist members in the development and advancement of their careers.

Search for Jobs in the ΦΚΦ Career Center

Job seekers can post résumés, search job openings and apply for jobs, while employers can use the site to find and recruit top talent and post available positions. Visit Careers.PhiKappaPhi.org to start your search today.

Share Tips in the Career Corner Community

Join other Phi Kappa Phi members to share job search strategies, interview tips and all-around career advice in this exclusive Link community. Click here to log in with your member credentials and start browsing.

Access Career Guidance Resources

Watch podcasts and access the Seeking Success blog to get advice on interviewing, networking, writing a winning résumé and dealing with stress. Visit www.PhiKappaPhi.org/Career-Guidance to learn more.

Obtain a GS Level Upgrade

Members seeking federal employment may be eligible for a GS level upgrade according to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management’s General Schedule Qualification Policies. Click here to read more. Please note this is not a Phi Kappa Phi-managed benefit—it is a Federal policy. Questions regarding specifics of the policy should be directed to the human resources department associated with the position being applied for.

Apply ΦΚΦ Logo Graphics to Your Résumé

Proudly display your membership on your résumé by including an official Society logo. When it's time to apply for a job, our materials will help you highlight your membership in Phi Kappa Phi. Visit www.PhiKappaPhi.org/Logo-Graphics to download Society logos. Note, your member login will be required.

Obtain a Signed Membership Verification Letter

Verify your membership in the nation's oldest and most selective all-discipline honor society with a letter signed by Society Executive Director, Dr. Mary Todd. Contact Deanna Landry at dlandry@phikappaphi.org to request your personalized membership verification letter.

Save on a Résumé Writing Package

Save $75 on any Seeking Success résumé or LinkedIn profile writing package to help you create a résumé that is focused on your target, complies with modern screening apps and promotes your value. To view and purchase packages, visit www.SeekingSuccess.com/PKP and enter page code PKP2015 to access the exclusive Phi Kappa Phi page. Enter the same code, PKP2015, when checking out to apply the $75 discount.

Learn more about all of the benefits available to active members at www.PhiKappaPhi.org/Benefits. Member benefits are available to active members only and your member login will be required to access many of the discounts listed. Not active? Click here to renew your membership today!

Contact Jamie Chapman at jchapman@phikappaphi.org or 1.800.804.9880, extension 217, with all of your member benefit questions.

One Society. Two Generations. Three Universities.

It’s no secret that Phi Kappa Phi members have a lot in common between academic excellence and a commitment to service. But for three new members in Wisconsin, their bond goes beyond a love of learning.

When Sarah Prusha received her invitation to join Phi Kappa Phi at the University of Wisconsin–Madison this spring, her dad, Chris, and younger sister, Erin, were thrilled for her and also unsurprised. Sarah had recently graduated from UW–Madison in December 2017 with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and a criminal justice certificate in just two and a half years.

“I was very happy when I received my invitation to Phi Kappa Phi,” said Sarah. “I know how prestigious the honor society is, and I am honored to be a part of it.”

What happened next came as a welcome surprise to the family when Erin, a junior studying chemistry and forensic investigation at the University of Wisconsin–Platteville, also received an invitation to join.

“I was surprised and honored to be selected to join Phi Kappa Phi,” said Erin. “I was familiar with it, because my sister had already received her invitation, but I was not expecting to receive my own.”

The two sisters, attending different institutions, were delighted to share the honor together and were to be initiated in April, just two weeks apart. Their father, Chris, was also excited. “I was one proud father on hearing the news from both of them,” he said.

What the Prushas didn’t know, however, was that they would soon have to schedule another initiation ceremony on the family calendar.

Within a week of Erin receiving her invitation to join, Chris also received an invitation from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. Currently pursuing a master’s degree in administrative leadership, Chris was both proud and overjoyed to become a member alongside his two daughters.

Over the span of two and a half weeks, Sarah, Erin and Chris were each initiated into their respective Phi Kappa Phi chapters—a cause for celebration, of course, for the entire Prusha family.

“Earning a college education has always been important to me and my family, and it feels wonderful for all of us to be honored for our hard work and dedication,” said Erin.

Tech Savings from Phi Kappa Phi

Start the summer off right with huge savings from the Society’s technology partners. Power up with discounts up to 50% on laptops, PCs, wireless services and more!

AT&T

Receive a 15% monthly discount on wireless phone service from AT&T. The discount is available on qualifying voice and data plans. Click here to learn how to apply the discount to an existing or new account. Note, your member login is required.

Carbonite

Make sure your irreplaceable computer files—like term papers, business documents, photos, music and more—are safe and secure with a backup plan from Carbonite. Members can save 10% on all business and personal plan subscriptions using promo code PKPOFFER10, and access additional discounts for multi-year purchases. Visit www.Carbonite.com to get started.

Dell

Take advantage of exclusive discounts from Dell on computers, accessories and much more! To start shopping, visit the Phi Kappa Phi Member Purchase Store at www.Dell.com/PhiKappaPhi. Please note, your discount is automatically calculated and will appear in red at checkout.

Lenovo

Save up to 33% off select Lenovo laptops and PCs, including the award-winning ThinkPad laptop. Members can also access exclusive savings up to 50% on accessories. Visit www.Lenovo.com/PhiKappaPhi to shop online and start saving! Visit often—special offers change frequently.

Shoeboxed

Let Shoeboxed turn your important paper documents into organized digital data. Your documents will be carefully sorted and scanned into a secure online account, and all of the organized data is then human-verified, categorized, and accessible anytime, anywhere. Members are eligible to receive 30 days free and 50% off your six-month subscription. Click here to sign up and begin eliminating your paper clutter today!

Learn more about all of the benefits available to active members at www.PhiKappaPhi.org/Benefits. Member benefits are available to active members only and your member login will be required to access many of the discounts listed. Not active? Click here to renew your membership today!

Contact Jamie Chapman at jchapman@phikappaphi.org or 1.800.804.9880, extension 217, with all of your member benefit questions.

Phi Kappa Phi Announces Love of Learning Award Recipients

Phi Kappa Phi has announced the Session A recipients of a 2018 Love of Learning Award. The $500 awards were given to 100 Phi Kappa Phi members across the nation.

Awarded twice a year, Love of Learning Awards are designed to help fund post-baccalaureate professional development for active Phi Kappa Phi members including graduate or professional studies, doctoral dissertations, continuing education, travel related to teaching and research, career development and more.

“What all Phi Kappa Phi members have in common is a love of learning, so it’s fitting that the Society enables learning in a variety of venues,” said Society Executive Director Dr. Mary Todd. “The Love of Learning Award does just that by supporting members at all stages of their professional careers.”

Established in 2007, the Love of Learning Program gives 200 awards annually in support of post-baccalaureate professional development. The selection process for a Love of Learning Award is based on the applicant’s academic achievement, campus and community service, intended use of award funds as it relates to academic and career goals, and a personal statement.

“Phi Kappa Phi encourages the ‘love of learning’ and supports scholarly, interdisciplinary efforts through direct support and recognition of academic excellence,” said Scott Willard, recipient of a 2018 Love of Learning Award. “This recognition and support opens doors for members of the Society and encourages continued scholarship.”

Since 1932, Phi Kappa Phi’s award programs have recognized members and students on its chapter campuses for outstanding academic achievement. In addition to the Love of Learning Program, Phi Kappa Phi awards study abroad grants, graduate fellowships, member and chapter awards, and grants for local, national and international literacy initiatives. Currently, $1.4 million is awarded each biennium through programs that last year recognized more than 350 individuals.

For the complete list of Love of Learning recipients, click here. The application process for Session B will open July 1, 2018.

Executive Director's Blog - Power: n., energy, force or momentum

Executive Director's Blog

Forum, Summer 2018

Were you perhaps the slightest bit uneasy to see the word power on the front cover of this issue of the Forum? Did you perhaps pause before opening the pages to imagine how multiple meanings of that single word might be employed by the writers and columnists?

My scholarship on the role of women in religion focused on one meaning of power – authority. Specifically, by what means, and what authority, does a church body determine who may or may not serve as clergy, deacons, or in any leadership capacity? Who can speak, and who says so?

That question came to the forefront on March 24 when the student survivors of the Valentine’s Day shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida organized a massive protest against gun violence in Washington, D.C., and in cities around the country and world. Critics challenged the leaders of the movement, most not yet old enough to vote, as to their authority to speak.

But speak they did, and in their speaking was power.

Students from Parkland, Chicago, Newtown, students who had huddled together seeking safety from gunfire, students who had lost siblings and friends, students who have grown up practicing active shooter drills like some of us practiced duck-and-cover during the Cold War. These young voices are saying enough and calling for change in laws that they believe might offer them the opportunity to focus classroom time on their studies rather than their safety.

This is power.

Young people were on the front lines of another movement that changed America, the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 60s. The Little Rock Nine were ninth-graders, Emmett Till was 14 when he became a symbol of the brutality of the Jim Crow era, Ruby Bridges was in kindergarten when she had to be escorted by U.S. marshals to attend the white school only five blocks from her New Orleans home, the Greensboro Four were college students when they sat down at a lunch counter, children marched in the Children’s Crusade in Birmingham in 1963 only to be met with snarling dogs and water cannons.

In that same decade, other young people grew energized through activism against the Vietnam war. Like those of the Parkland students, the ‘60s protests were born in personal experience of discrimination and war. Images from then and now reveal the raw emotions of lives damaged and lost. Chants from then and now demand change: “War is not healthy for children or other living things,” “Never again.”

Commentators have noted, however, a signal difference in this spring’s protests. Marked by diversity, this movement reflects what one writer called intentional intersectionality. Marked, too, by hope, the speakers called for positive change. They were marching, as they said, for their lives.

As an educator, I felt enormous pride listening to the voices of teens and preteens as they shared both candor and pain. They had been well taught – not coached, as some critics insisted – but taught how to express their hopes and fears through telling the stories of their lives. The times, they are a-changing.

-Mary Todd, Executive Director

Member Benefit Highlights – June 2018

What do you have planned this summer? Let Phi Kappa Phi help you save when you move, upgrade your technology, learn a new language and more!

Fluenz *New Benefit

Phi Kappa Phi is excited to announce members can now save 20% on any Fluenz language learning purchase. Fluenz offers interactive language learning software for Spanish (Latin American), French, Italian, German, Portuguese, Mandarin, and Spanish (Spain). Visit www.PhiKappaPhi.org/Fluenz to learn more today! Note, your member login will be required.

AT&T

Phi Kappa Phi members are eligible to receive a 15% monthly discount on wireless phone service from AT&T. The discount is available on qualifying voice and data plans. Click here to learn more and register your existing or new account. Please allow up to two billing cycles for the discount to take effect. Note, your member login will be required.

Budget Truck Rental

Moving? Make your next move a smooth ride with reliable and easy-to-drive trucks, a variety of sizes up to 26’, and 24/7 roadside assistance. Plus, take advantage of the Budget Truck Rental discount offered exclusively to Phi Kappa Phi members and save 15% on rental and mileage. To book your rental, call 1.800.566.8422 and mention Phi Kappa Phi account number 56000134543 or visit www.BudgetTruck.com/PhiKappaPhi to book online.

Lenovo

Save up to 33% off select Lenovo laptops and PCs, including the award-winning ThinkPad laptop. Members can also access exclusive savings up to 50% on accessories. Visit www.Lenovo.com/PhiKappaPhi to shop online and start saving! Visit often—special offers change frequently.

Mercer

Members can take advantage of special rates and discounts for health, pet, life, disability, long-term care and emergency medical and travel assistance insurance through Mercer Consumer, a service of Mercer Health & Benefits Administration, LLC, and other well-known providers. Click here to learn more and enroll, or call 1.888.560.ALUM (2586). Be sure to mention your membership in The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi.

Podcasts

Phi Kappa Phi members have access to podcasts on a range of topics including career guidance, test prep and financial planning. Downloadable and playable on your computer or portable music player any time of day or night, podcasts offer flexibility and freedom to listen anywhere. Visit www.PhiKappaPhi.org/Podcasts to learn more.

Washington Internship Institute

The Washington Internship Institute’s semester-long academic internship program is carefully designed to provide students from the U.S. and abroad with practical, hands-on experience and academically rigorous courses emphasizing public service, leadership and professional development. Members of Phi Kappa Phi are eligible to receive a $500 scholarship for this program.

Visit www.WIIDC.org for more information on the programs and application information. Select Phi Kappa Phi on your Intern Profile and the Washington Internship Institute will use this information to verify your membership.

Want to access even more savings year round? Visit www.PhiKappaPhi.org/Discounts to view all of the discounts available to active members. Please note, your Phi Kappa Phi login will be required to access many of the partnership webpages.

Questions? Contact Jamie Chapman at jchapman@phikappaphi.org or 1.800.804.9880, extension 217.