A Hallmark is More Than a Card Jo Jackson & Rob Carey Alpha Beta Chi Chapter

1. A Hallmark is More Than a Card Jo Jackson & Rob Carey Alpha Beta Chi Chapter Pima Community College

2. Plan Early • Early planning is essential to successful Hallmark programs. • Use Phi Theta Kappa programs to develop comprehensive plans that reflect your vision and goals for each Hallmark. • Develop realistic activities that meet needs in the college, community and region. • Plan smart not hard. Make activities count for more than one Hallmark.

3. Start Now • What smart chapters do: • Develop a quality comprehensive program for each Hallmark. • Get an early start on essay writing. • Update chronological lists as projects are completed. • Maintain photograph and clipping archives.

4. Start Now • Give faculty and the college president a few weeks to write supporting letters. • Mail entries a week ahead of the deadline. • Schedule a fellowship activity to celebrate after everything is finished. (Don’t forget to put it in the chronological list!)

5. Start Now • What most chapters do: • Wait until the last minute to write the essays. • Scramble to put together chronological lists. • Frantically look for photographs and clippings. • Grovel for faculty and college president letters. • Overnight mail entries so they arrive by 5:00 pm the day of the deadline. • Chauffer advisor to therapist after everything is finished.

6. Follow Directions • Read the Hallmark Award cover sheets! • Essay • Chronological list • Optional supporting materials • Submitting the application

7. Remember English Composition • Write as if the essay were going to be graded. • Choose your style. • Thematic and straight forward essays win. • Introduction must have a clear thesis statement.

8. Remember English Composition • Include several supporting paragraphs. • Impress judges with a quality comprehensive program. • End with a strong formal conclusion. • Impress judges with the impact of chapter activities.

9. Avoid the Laundry List • Do not write about every activity you did. • Elaborate on three to five of your most significant activities. • Describe other activities only if space allows. • Use the chronological list to showcase all your activities.

10. Keep Chronological Lists Brief • Lists should be easy to read. • Present information in a clearly organized format: • Activity title • Event date • One or two sentence description of activity • Use a consistent presentation style.

11. Edit, Edit and Edit Again • Do not let grammatical errors be your downfall. • Get everyone involved with proofreading: • Chapter members • Advisors • Writing professors • Proofread until the essay is perfect or your eyes bug out!

12. Provide Supporting Materials • Do not overlook the importance of the optional supporting materials. • These include: • One letter from college president. • One letter from college faculty. • One letter from a member of the community.

13. Provide Supporting Materials • One promotional piece (poster, brochure, flier). • One 8-1/2” X 11” page of photographs. • One clipping from the college newspaper. • One clipping from the local newspaper.

14. The Secret of Success • We did not set out to become the 2003 Most Distinguished Chapter. Instead we set out to design chapter programs that implemented Phi Theta Kappa’s programs, meet needs and connect with those around us. Jody Spooner, Advisor, Nu Chi Chapter, Chipola Community College, Marianna, Florida

15. The Secret of Success • Begin early with quality programs that embody Phi Theta Kappa’s Hallmarks and remember…

16. Excellence Has Its Rewards!

17. For More Information… • Visit the Phi Theta Kappa website http://www.ptk.org • Visit the Arizona Region website http://www.azptkregion.homestead.com • Contact Tracec Walker, Director of Chapter Programs tracee.walker@ptk.org • Talk to advisors