I’m back from the amazing Phi Theta Kappa 94th Annual Convention in Nashville, Tennessee, April 11-April 15, 2012. It was awesome! Between staying at the beautiful Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center to hearing authors Amy Chua and Malcolm Gladwell speak, to sharing the weekend with 4 thousand Phi Theta Kappa students and their advisors, plus my mom, and to top it off, my college’s Phi Theta Kappa chapter Beta Zeta Nu, Canaada College, Redwood City CA , brought home the award for 4th finalist for Most Distinguished Chapter out of 1300 chapters!! First time in the college’s history. I was so proud of our students and their advisors.
I attended the convention as a guest to co-present with their co-advisor Paul Roselli. Our workshop title was: “Come Together! How to Build Better Relationships Between Your Phi Theta Kappa Chapter and the Associated Students.”
For those who attended (thank you!), for those who were unable to attend, here is our PowerPoint and Handout for you to download.
PowerPoint: Final PTK ASCC Breakout Come together
Handout: PTk AS Come Together Handout
Everyone, keep up the great work!
TESTGreetings fellow student affairs professionals!
At some point in your career, you will be asked to write a specific chapter for the institution’s accreditation report. Accreditation comes every 6 years. At the community college level in CA, the area of Student Life often is given the Accreditation standard: II.B.3.b. The institution provides an environment that encourages personal and civic responsibility, as well as intellectual, aesthetic, and personal development for all of its students.
It is spring break on my campus, and I FINALLY found the time time to get my chapter done.
My advice for you, read another college’s chapter, make an outline, and realize you will probably have to make time out of the office to get it done. Between student government meetings, planning commencement, and updating your department’s website, finding the time to write the chapter you are in charge of will be hard to find. But you know what, you will get it done 
TEST
Reading: I’m still working on “1-2-3 Magic, Effective Discipline for Children 2-12″ by Thomas W. Phelan, Ph.D. I started reading “The Help” by Kathryn Stockett. After reading a couple chapters, it already is making want to be more attentive to my own son. I feel like I’m doing a pretty good job but could always do better. It is nice to be reminded how much our children need and want our attention.
Watching: Sam eating more food. He is now enjoying steak! Oh but loves his Mac and Cheese!
Thankful for: Sam’s preschool La Creche Child Development Center. He is already counting to 20! And he just turned 2 last month.
Looking forward to: This summer we will be taking Sam to Germany for the first time! It is pretty cool to watch Matthias get excited about all the places he grew up and enjoyed as a child. Now he gets to share them with Sam.
Reading: Hape Kerkeling’s “I’m Off Then, losing and finding myself on the Camino De Santiago”
Watching: Clouds come and go over the Half Moon Bay/Skyline Mountain range
Thankful for: Joy in my work and with my family and friends.
Looking forward to: the Lady Antebellum concert next month in San Jose
Reading: “1-2-3 Magic, Effective Discipline for Children 2-12” by Thomas W. Phelan, Ph.D.
Watching: Sam putting stickers all over the windows. We found the ones that peal and stick. Awesome! Great way to learn animals too.
Thankful for: Sam smiles and my husband doing the grocery shopping with Sam. Nice quite time at home
Looking forward to: Sam learning how to dress himself.
Student Affairs/Student Services Tip of the Month
Hmm..it’s has been awhile since I wrote something for my Motherhood section. How about I try the “checking in” on Motherhood.
Reading: “What to expect the second year” by Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel. When I give Sam his nightly bath, I skim through checking for things I need to pay attention to or could be helpful. Last night, I read “Provide the toddler a fork, how else are they going to learn how to use it”. Good point!
Watching: As I write this, Sam is laying his head on his pillow watching “Elmo’s World”. The best!
Thankful for: Sam hugs!
Looking forward to: Sam eating a bowl of cereal.
Reading: Nancy Leigh DeMoss “Choosing Gratitude, your journey to Joy” and Marcus Buckingham “StandOut”
Watching: Playoff Football!! Go S.F. Niners!
Sam update: Repeating words. He can also say 2 to 3 word sentences.
Thankful for: No rain for the last 6 weeks. I’ve been enjoying 70 degree and sunny weather in January!
Looking forward to: my 35 birthday!