Hello I would like to cordially invited to the Iota Xi, Phi Theta Kappa New Jersey State President’s Masquerade Charity Ball Hosted by the Iota Xi chapter of Phi Theta Kappa at Union County College on Friday, January 29 at the Cranford campus. The Ball will begin at 6:PM and will last until 12:AM.

This is my last chapter event as New Jersey State President and I would like to take advantage of the opportunity to thank the college community and everyone who has supported me this year, and would be honored by your attendance!

Proceeds from the event will benefit Relay for Life, in honor of two professors who passed away last year. They are both very dear to me, my chapter, and my fellow students at Union County College. If you wish to celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer and remember loved ones lost please bring a picture of them to the event and we will honor them together.

The Masquerade Ball has a Brazilian theme and your ticket price ($15 in advance, $20 at the door) includes your mask, hors d’oeuvres, mocktails, music, dancing, and memories that will surely last a lifetime. Music will be provided by UCC’s own DJ Gio and MC Xcite. The dress code is formal but dress comfortably, no denim or sneakers please.

In addition, event attendees will have the opportunity to collaborate in the creation of a new Phi Theta Kappa video that will have its debut at the International convention in April. Dr. Kenneth Kerr, our esteemed advisor from Frederick Community College, Alpha Delta Sigma Chapter has planned a practical demonstration on the new Honors Topic: The Democratization of Information. One of the fundamentals of this topic is that information can be shared like never before. Scholars, artists, musicians, researchers, and business associates can collaborate, outside of time and place, to achieve a goal. Dr. Kerr will be combine segments of video collected from around the society to celebrate our new honors study topic. Here is what we want to do:

Take a look at this video from the Playing for Change organization:

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgWFxFg7-GU

Phi Theta Kappa is going to create a collaborative performance of the song “What a Wonderful World.” We are doing the Ramones version:

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qh1CI5sOh7A

Take a look at these versions of the song to see how you can be a part of this:

• Little Kindergarten kids: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKNOS4V5nxg
• In Spanish: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwTlUhEThf8

Phi Theta Kappa would like us to record good quality digital video and audio of us at the Masquerade ball singing/ performing the song. If you would like to be featured in the video playing an instrument you can download the arrangement here: http://home.comcast.net/~kpkerr/what%20a%20wonderful%20world.pdf

For more information or to reserve your seat at the 2010 Phi Theta Kappa, Masquerade Charity Ball or to make a donation please visit http://PTKiotaXi.org/RSVP . Thank You!

The Iota Xi Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa would like to Honor the memories of Union County College’s great educators. They have influence many with their wisdom, insight, and encouragement. They will live forever in our hearts and in our memories. Rest In Peace Dr. John J. Russell and Dr. Anthony Signorelli, Rest in Peace!

Join us On May 21 to May 22 in celebrating those who are fighting, and remember love ones lost, and Fight back against this deadly disease! You can make a difference in the lives of others.

Join the chapters of the Middle States Region at this years Regional Convention and Mini-Honors to be held February 11-14, 2010.  This year’s convention will be hosted by the Beta Alpha Phi Chapter of Hudson County Community College and will take place at the Ocean Place Hotel in Long Branch, New Jersey. Download the Registration Form (form updated 10/12/09) for additional information. You can visit the Ocean Place Hotel web site by clicking here.

Convention Keynote Speakers Announced!

Keynote speakers for the 23rd Middle States Region Annual Convention have been announced. Jon Dorenbos, long snapper for the Philadelphia Eagles, Dave Tiberi, former IBF boxer and Wes Moore, a promising young American Leader and alumni from the Middle States Region.

The Middle States Region is excited to have these keynote speakers in our convention program.

Friday Night Keynote Speaker: Jon Dorenbos-”The Magic Man”

Jon Dorenbos spends about a dozen plays during an NFL game with his butt in the air and his body bent, staring backward at the world. The player known around the NFL as “The Magic Man” thinks it’s fitting – and a little funny – he makes his livelihood in this strange way, as the long snapper for the Philadelphia Eagles. Most everything in Dorenbos’ career – from going undrafted in 2003, undergoing five surgeries, being released three times during a six-year career and getting shoved on his back after snaps – he can take in stride.

Saturday Morning Keynote Speakers

Wes Moore a dynamic and promising young American Leader and Phi Theta Kappa Middle States Region Alum!

A former White House Fellow, 2006-2007, Wes served as a Special Assistant to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. A paratrooper and Captain in the United States Army Reserves, he served a combat tour of duty in Afghanistan with the elite 1st Brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division. Wes has spoken before dozens of audiences, to include 6,000 people at the first official 9/11 day of service and remembrance, and he spoke at Invesco Field, just hours before President Barack Obama accepted the Democratic nomination for the Presidency. He is a board member of numerous non-profits, to include the Phi Theta Kappa Foundation. He currently serves as an investment professional in New York.

Dave Tiberi, Former IBF Boxer

At the final bell, James Toney, the International Boxing Federation middleweight champion, slumped over from the waist, his mouth wide open in pain, his arms hanging free. The champion was exhausted.
The match against an unheralded challenger, Dave Tiberi, was supposed to have been a breeze. It was not. The 27-year-old Tiberi, an inspirational speaker and Sunday school teacher from New Castle, Del., was tireless and determined. He pressured Toney from the opening bell, rushing off his stool at the start of each round to do combat. It was a grinding bout that left the 23-year-old Toney exhausted on a stool in midring at the bout’s conclusion and having a cramped right calf massaged while Tiberi danced about the ring with his arms upraised, as though he had won. All he won was a moral victory. The One That Counts.

Middle States Region on the Map …Click and Explore!

Middle States Regional President of Service, Karly Chester has compiled the first ever interactive map of the Middle States Region. The map shows all of the chapters of the Middle States Region, location of the Regional Team and other points of interest.

One of the most helpful tools of this Middle States Region at-a- glance map is when you click on a chapter, a pop up box appears and lists important information about the chapter such as college address, chapter advisor contact information and chapter leadership. Email links are provided when available. Information listed on the Headquarters site was used for this map. If a change needs to be made, please email Karly Chester or Pattie Van Atter.

Click here to explore the Middle States Region!

The Honors in Art Panel discussion on Issue 2 of Phi Theta Kappa’s Honors study topic The Paradox of Affluence: Choices, Challenges, and Consquences was a huge success.  28 students and faculy engange in the discussion on how the fine arts shape and reflect the paradox of affluece. The above video features the first round of questions moderated by Diana Gonzalez Iota Xi’s Vice President of Scholorship and answerd by a student panelist Kristy Lopez and Professor Hildrew. We ask that you please leave your comments below! Thank you!

The Iota Xi chapter of Phi Theta Kappa at Union County College is partnering with Alpha Epsilon Pi chapter of Rartian Valley Community College to present this years Honors Seminar Series.

Alpha Epsilon Pi in the spirit of fellowship has graciously provided Iota Xi with Honors Seminar 1, featuring Ray Suarez on the topic “If You’re So Rich, How Come You’re Not Happier?: America’s Troubled Relationship with Class, Material Success, and the Pursuit of Happiness.”

The seminar will be shown on Friday, November 20th, from 5:30PM to 9:00PM at Union County College in Cranford, NJ in the North Lecture Hall in the college’s science building. For more information and to RSVP please contact Iota Xi’s Vice President of Scholarship, Diana Gonzalez, via email at 10519950@ucc.edu.

Join Iota Xi chapter members and officers in exploring Issue 2 of our current Honors Study Topic: How do the fine arts shape and reflect the paradox of affluence? This panel discussion is being held at Union County College (UCC) on Thursday, November 12th from 12:30 to 2:00PM in the Admiral Stanley Room in the McKay Library.

UCC’s Professors Comeau, Cuttita, Hildrew, and Iota Xi’s Vice President of Public Relations, Kristy Lopez, will investigate the following questions:

• How do the Arts reflect the Paradox of Affluence?
• To what extent has affluence politicized fine arts funding?
• How has patronage, or the lack of it, affected the creation and preservation of the fine arts? How has patronage changed over time?
• To what extent is it a paradox that we cut funding for the fine arts in public schools?

You don’t want to miss this opportunity to join in fellowship and expand, explore, and understand Issue 2 of the Paradox of Affluence.

To RSVP contact Iota Xi’s Vice President of Scholarship, Diana Gonzalez via email at 10519950@ucc.edu

By Joseph Eulo, 2009-2010 New Jersey State President

October 17th was indeed a  memorable day! Union County College celebrated its 76th birthday and Iota Xi inducted over 70 new members into Phi Theta Kappa. Over a thousand pictures were taken by friends, family, and loved ones during the induction ceremony. I have gatherd 200 of them and created this video in honor of the inductees, thier families, and friends. So press play, sit back, and enjoy the Fall 2009 Phi Theta Kappa Iota Xi Chapter Induction.