Deciphering School Clubs       

Center: Nate Schleif Left to Right: Megan Aho, Kathleen Hoffman, Mike Rike and Doug Sjerven

         Have you ever walked by one of the monitors on campus at Anoka-Ramsey Community College and seen a promotion for a club but didn’t really know what the club was about or stood for?  Nate Schleif Vice President of membership and technology for Phi Theta Kappa wants to get information about his club out there that will make it enticing for students to join.

          At a PTK meeting on Oct. 27, 2010 members met to discuss both old and new business.  One of the more important matters placed on the table for discussion was getting slides made up to include meeting time and place, the person to contact for involvement and upcoming events that would encourage students to join. 

          So what exactly are the upcoming events for PTK?  Mike Rike Co-President of PTK brought up an upcoming faculty potluck and themes of food disbursement that should be decided on. 

          “I think we should keep it fairly simple to ensure everyone’s commitment, if you make it too complicated people won’t want to partake,” suggested Schleif.

          After voting between a theme of colors or ‘taste the rainbow’, a Hollywood theme like “What’s eating Gilbert Grape” and a crock-pot theme, the members voted for a crock-pot-luck. 

          “I think it will be fun and simple,” stated Rike, “but let’s save the Hollywood theme for spring, that was a really good idea.”

Center: Kathleen Hoffman Left to Right: Mike Rike, Doug Sjerven

          Another event discussed by Rike was ‘Random Acts of Kindness Week’ from Nov. 8 through the 14^th.  The members threw out several ideas on how to incorporate random acts of kindness into their everyday student life; Teddy Bear Drive, Compliment Day, Button Day, Grace Pointe Reading Day and Hospital Visit Day. 

          Megan Aho also Co-President said, “I really like the idea of Compliment Day, and it’s fun and easy and will make others feel good.”

          Pumpkin carving, an event PTK felt they had nearly missed the opportunity to participate in, was quickly talked about and decided that Cori Bolan Vice President of fellowship would handle the carving.

          “I already have a pumpkin carving contest I am in, so adding one more won’t be a big deal, just don’t expect a lot from me and keep your expectations low,” Bolan quipped.

          Lastly it was discussed by all members of PTK in attendance: Advisor Kathleen Hoffman, Aho, Rike, Schleif, Bolan, Martin Guillaume, Jacob Krebs and Doug Sjerven that they wanted students to feel they could join even if they did not have the standard membership fee.  Hoffman suggested letting students know that there are sometimes scholarships available to interested students.  The biggest concern was that they wanted to make good use of any available scholarship money to ensure sincerely interested students would have the opportunity available to them.  Rike suggested that an interested student demonstrate their interest by attending an open PTK meeting to learn more and be certain of their desire to join.    

          “We don’t want to give that money away only to have the student not show up to future meetings or participate in PTK events if another student is willing to be active and involved,” said Rike.

Left to Right: Nate Schleif, Megan Aho and Kathleen Hoffman

          During an interview with Aho she stated, “We as Phi Theta Kappans value serving others and developing fellowship among not only those who are members of the club, but also other students and people in the community.  We typically clean up along the Snake River every fall and spring and encourage others to partake in this.  As for other service acts we may plan, we try and gain student participation by adding it to the student life meeting agenda or promoting it ourselves by telling others.”