INVITATION TO ATTEND THE 2014 TRIENNIAL INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION IN OCTOBER IN N. CHARLESTON, S.C.

Come join us for Pi Gamma Mu's triennial international convention in Charleston, S. C., on October 16-18, 2014, at the Crowne Plaza Charleston Airport - Convention Center in North Charleston. This charming southern city is one of the Top 10 tourist attractions as one of the oldest and most beautiful cities in the United States.

The convention will allow you to meet members from other Pi Gamma Mu chapters and learn what they are doing at their schools, present a research paper from your social-science courses, and visit a variety of historic and interesting places in Charleston. You can tour a plantation, take a horse-and-carriage ride through downtown, visit the aquarium, take a ferry boat to Fort Sumter, or take a ghost tour of the area's haunted sites.

CALL FOR STUDENT PAPERS

Pi Gamma Mu student members are encouraged to submit papers for consideration for presentation at the triennial international convention. All students who have their proposals accepted will receive some funding from Pi Gamma Mu (either a one's night stay at the convention hotel or "free" conference registration). Now is the time to plan your trip; now is the time to decide to submit a research paper; now is the time to request support from your local institution for travel funds.

ANNUAL REPORTS ARE IMPORTANT

Chapter annual-report forms will be mailed to chapter sponsors in April. It is very important that all sponsors fill out and return this form to the international office by August 15. We will put the form on our Web site soon for those of you who would prefer to send it back that way. We appreciate each sponsor taking the few minutes to complete and return this report.

2014 PI GAMMA MU CHAPTER DEVELOPMENT SHOWCASE -- SUBMISSIONS WANTED!!

Invitation: Each triennial convention has time devoted to chapter development during which attendees can share information and exchange ideas ranging from initiation ceremonies to community service. The 2014 convention chapter development session will be designed as a "showcase" in which chapter displays provide the start/spark for conversation and creativity. In order to have a successful session, the Convention Committee invites all Pi Gamma Mu chapters to submit proposals for displays to present during the "Showcase."

Purpose: The session is designed to feature poster displays from Pi Gamma Mu chapters that exemplify the diverse strengths of our chapters, to create a forum for exchanging ideas regarding a wide range of chapter activities, and to promote interaction among participants and attendees. It is a chance for convention attendees to come together and share through posters the good work they do and for attendees to learn from each other.

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR THE ΠΓΜ HALL OF FAME

Pi Gamma Mu solicits your nominations for new inductees to the Pi Gamma Mu Hall of Fame. Nominees should have at least 10 years of services to the organization as chapter advisor, officer, or Board of Trustees member or in some other meritorious capacity and should have an exemplary record of achievement and contribution in the social sciences and dedication toward Pi Gamma Mu.

STUDENT MEMBERS CAN RUN FOR OFFICE!

Pi Gamma Mu invites student members to run for office! At each triennial international convention, the student members elect two students to serve on the international Board of Trustees for the new triennial (three-year) period. Both student trustees then attend the annual board meetings during that triennium and participate actively in governing Pi Gamma Mu.

Board membership is a sign of respect and accomplishment, particularly if it happens when one is still a student. But it is certainly a significant career milestone at any age.

LIFETIME MEMBERSHIPS ENHANCED WITH THE HELP OF ADVANCING TECHNOLOGY

The Pi Gamma Mu international honor society has always provided lifetime memberships for members, but rapid changes in our technology have enabled Pi Gamma Mu staff and board members to communicate with lifetime members for the first time in our history. During recent years, online newsletter subscriptions going to lifetime members have been substantially expanded. Our recent "Pi Gamma Mu Directory" provided opportunities for lifetime members to stay in touch with each other and helped expand our Listserv communication system, as well as expand newsletter availability to life-time members. For the first time, a significant number of alumni members attended our last convention, and we have created structures to deal with new expectations.

A LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Greetings! My name is Suzanne Rupp and it is with great pleasure that I introduce myself to you as the new executive director of Pi Gamma Mu. It is an honor and a privilege to serve you, the members, chapter volunteers, and international trustees of this great organization. As I learn more about the work that goes on behind the scenes at Pi Gamma Mu, it is clear that the members of the Board of Trustees and the staff at the international office have dedicated their hearts and minds to the ongoing success of this organization.

CHAPTERS IN ACTION

The Florida Zeta Chapter at Florida State University was recognized as Florida State University's Student Organization of the Year for its continued efforts with disability awareness on campus and in the surrounding Tallahassee community.

Chapter news this month also includes the Nebraska Delta chapter at Wayne State College, and the Pennsylvania chapter at Grove City College.

MARYLAND GAMMA'S 30th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

Salisbury University's Maryland Gamma chapter of Pi Gamma Mu celebrated 30 years of existence on October 12, 2013. The chapter was officially chartered in October 1983, but only two members of the Salisbury community were Pi Gamma Mu members: Clara Small and Dr. Charles Clark, then chair of the History Department. Dr. Clark charged Dr. Small with founding an SU chapter. Within a year, Maryland Gamma was formed and its first inductee was then-Salisbury University President Thomas Bellavance. The charter members at the ceremony included 44 faculty members and students.

MEET YOUR REPRESENTATIVE

J. L. Kemp, Chancellor of the
North/Northwest Region.

Hi y'all!

It's been a long time since I have had the opportunity to say that with excitement and honor.   I am so very pleased to serve you as your newly elected chancellor of the North/Northwest Region. I graduated from Indiana State University with a Psy.D. (doctor of psychology) degree, and am currently an associate professor of psychology at McKendree University in Lebanon, Ill., which is also my undergraduate alma mater.

INTERNATIONAL AFFILIATE MEMBERS

The Board of Trustees has established the criteria for accepting International Affiliate Memberships. Please think about the foreign students and visiting faculty on your campus who might fit into this category, and consider the benefits of choosing them for this special membership.
The purpose of International Affiliate Membership is to associate foreign visitors with Pi Gamma Mu. This would include individuals who generally are not eligible for full membership because of their brief tenure on a campus. We would like to encourage the international dimension of Pi Gamma Mu by bringing into greater contact with Pi Gamma Mu our foreign guests, to enable them to provide information to colleagues abroad about our organization, and to become a nucleus for foreign chapter development. Therefore the membership criteria are broadly cast.

VIEW FROM THE PODIUM
The Significant Contribution of the Executive Director

THE FUND FOR AMERICAN STUDIES EXTENDS ITS APPLICATION DEADLINE

Applications are being accepted for the Summer 2014 LIVE. LEARN. INTERN. programs in Washington, D.C. Students will earn up to 9 credits, are guaranteed an internship placement, and live in furnished housing just steps from the White House and Department of State.
Students work on a variety of issues at over 300 different federal agencies, policy groups, international affairs organizations, media outlets, public affairs firms, government relations offices, and nonprofits.

ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGE HONOR SOCIETIES

ACHS Membership Protects the Legitimacy of Honor Societies

Pi Gamma Mu is one of 66 members of the Association of College Honor Societies (ACHS), which is the authority on standards and definitions for the honor society movement. ACHS has stepped up efforts to alert the higher education community to the standards of traditional honor societies. In contrast, some new so-called honor societies exist online and allow self-nomination, accepting fees with no questions asked. If in doubt about an organization, you can check out the ACHS Web site (www.achsnatl.org) for the list of honor societies that are members.

HELP SUPPORT PI GAMMA MU SCHOLARSHIPS

Pi Gamma Mu is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation and able to accept tax-deductible donations. If you would like to make a donation to our organization in honor / memory of a professor, sponsor, loved one or friend, or to support our scholarship program, you are encouraged to do so. Pi Gamma Mu gives 11 scholarships to students going into a graduate program in social science each year. You can mail your donation to Pi Gamma Mu, 1001 Millington St., Suite B, Winfield, KS 67156.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS

Anytime you move, such as after graduation, please notify the Pi Gamma Mu office immediately. This will prevent your mailings from being interrupted or discontinued. The International Social Science Review is returned to us by the post office, which is an additional expense for the international office to absorb. Just mail a change-of-address card, post card, or letter to Pi Gamma Mu, 1001 Millington St., Suite B, Winfield, KS 67156. If you prefer, you can send an E-mail message ([email protected]), or go to our Web site (www.pigammamu.org) to change your address information. We need your name, as well as your old and new address. Thank you very much for taking a few minutes to keep your information current.

When you graduate, please give us a new E-mail address if you have been using your college address to receive your Pi Gamma Mu Newsletter. At some point (each college is different), your college E-mail address will be eliminated and you will no longer receive the newsletter or other information from Pi Gamma Mu.

SHOW YOUR PI GAMMA MU SPIRIT!
Pi Gamma Mu Offers a Great Line of Apparel, Certificate Frames, and Honor Cords

The international office is selling royal-blue Pi Gamma Mu sweatshirts in sizes M, L, XL, and XXL for $25. 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 $25. 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/store.html. You can also call the international office and purchase these items with a credit card, and they will be mailed to you immediately.

Church Hill Classics offers beautiful Pi Gamma Mu frames that can turn your membership certificate into a spectacular work of art! Visit the Web page at www.pigammamu.org/church-hill-classics-store.html.

If you would like more items with the Pi Gamma Mu logo, check out the selection from our CafePress storefront.

CONTACT US

Here are ways to contact our international office.
Regular mail: 1001 Millington St., Suite B, Winfield, KS 67156
Telephone: (620) 221-3128
Email addresses:

OTHER NEWS

Opportunity to Present Papers at AAAS-Pacific Convention	[Read more...]
Federal Benefits of ACHS Membership	[Read more...]
Ideals of Pi Gamma Mu	[Read more...]
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