2011 TRIENNIAL INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION
'Pi Gamma Mu Honors America's Past, Plans the World's Future' October 20-22, 2011 in Washington, D.C.

NOTES FROM THE PRESIDENT

As Pi Gamma Mu’s triennial international convention approaches, we have much to be thankful about.  The past six years have been a period during which Pi Gamma Mu has grown and its communication systems have expanded, and, very importantly, friendships have been strengthened. Our newsletter now goes to 20,000 members, and our directory, newsletter, and Web site enable us to communicate on an unprecedented level.

CALL FOR STUDENT PAPERS

Paper Proposals – Pi Gamma Mu student members may propose to present papers at the convention. Pi Gamma Mu will pay for one night’s lodging at the Holiday Inn Airport Hotel in Arlington, VA for each student member whose proposal is accepted and who presents his or her paper at the international convention. Paper submissions should be in the form of an oral presentation (with a PowerPoint presentation being an optional enhancement) or in the form of a poster at the convention.

WASHINGTON INSIDER JEFF THIEBERT WILL
DELIVER KEYNOTE ADDRESS

Jeff Thiebert, national grassroots director and Northeast regional director of the Concord Coalition, will deliver the keynote address during Thursday evening’s plenary session at the convention.
The Concord Coalition, a nonpartisan, nonprofit grassroots organization headquartered in Arlington, Va., is dedicated to educating the public about the U. S. government’s budget issues and their consequences for the future. 

ELECTION OF INTERNATIONAL OFFICERS

Each active chapter is entitled to one vote in the election of International Officers of Pi Gamma Mu. These votes must be cast by sending your ballot to headquarters no later than September 30, 2011. They will be counted on October 6, 2011 by an outside accounting firm. According to the Pi Gamma Mu Constitution, the chapter president is to consult with the chapter’s members and cast that vote. To facilitate the procedure, a ballot marked “official” and a letter of instructions will be mailed to each president in care of the faculty sponsor who usually corresponds with headquarters.

CONVENTION FUNDS AVAILABLE TO CHAPTERS

Each chapter is building a convention reserve at headquarters.  It grows every time you send applications for membership and initiation fees.  The Convention Reserve Fund was established by action of the international Board of Trustees to encourage more chapters to participate in convention activities.

STUFFED-ANIMAL COLLECTION

In recent years, a feature of our convention has involved both fun and community service.  We encourage each delegate to bring to the convention a stuffed animal, perhaps with some kind of state-specific identification such as a state flag or a ribbon with the name of the state on it. 

REAFFIRMING OUR IDEALS—AN ALUMNA PERSPECTIVE

Jamie Cooper: I had the privilege of being inducted into Pi Gamma Mu during my sophomore year of college at the University of Charleston, W. V.  I very much value the seven ideals of our honor society and worked with my colleagues to have one of the most active chapters the school has ever known. Many of us attended regional conferences and several of us had the opportunity to attend the triennial international convention in Atlanta. 

STUDENT REP RAP

Michaela Dolphin:

FIRST IDEAL

Dr. James Voelker, professor of political science and sponsor of the West Virginia Theta chapter of Pi Gamma Mu at Bluefield State College, is the recipient of the "Bluefield State College Foundation Outstanding Faculty Award."  Pi Gamma Mu congratulates Dr. Voelker on receiving this award and on his recent retirement from the college. 

SCHOLARSHIP REMINDER

Seniors and first-year graduate-school students, are you considering attending graduate school during the 2012-2013 school year?  You should apply for a Pi Gamma Mu scholarship to help with your expenses.  Pi Gamma Mu offers up to 10 scholarships every year.  The deadline is January 30 each year so it’s not too soon to begin the application process.  You can download the scholarship application form from our Web site.  The form will list the requirements of the application.  Applications may be sent into headquarters at any time.  Winners will be announced during the spring semester for fall awards.

HAVE YOU VISITED PI GAMMA MU'S WEB SITE LATELY?

If you haven't visited Pi Gamma Mu's Web site lately, you might be surprised to discover the many new features that are available for members, prospective members, and chapter officers. Two new Web pages contain descriptions of Pi Gamma Mu's benefits and services to familiarize prospective chapter sponsors and prospective student members, respectively, with what our honor society is all about. Those pages are designed to encourage the development of new chapters. If you know of professors or students at colleges that don't have chapters who you think might be willing to help start a chapter, please refer them to those Web pages. Two other new Web pages present ideas about programs and projects for chapter officers and tips and resources for chapter sponsors. Please look around our Web site: You might find some content that will be useful to you.

PI GAMMA MU ITEMS AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS

Headquarters is selling the royal-blue Pi Gamma Mu sweatshirts in sizes M, L, XL, and XXL for $35. We have navy-blue polo shirts, embroidered with the Pi Gamma Mu key design in white, which are always a popular item. We have them in sizes M, L, XL, and XXL for $35. You can order your honor cords any time during the year. They can be worn at graduation, they can be draped around your Pi Gamma Mu membership certificate on the wall, or you can be creative--but be sure to order yours. There is an order form on the merchandise page at www.pigammamu.org. You can also call headquarters and purchase these items with a credit card and they will be mailed to you immediately. If you would like more items with the Pi Gamma Mu logo, check out the selection from CafePress Storefront.

OTHER NEWS