“The State of the Society,” the final official speech by outgoing Society President Robert Rogow, contained positive results and important mandates.
He addressed more than 200 people who had gathered in Kansas City, M.O., on Friday, Aug. 6: Convention delegates, chapter officers, current and past board members, headquarters staff, guests, and more. Rogow devoted much of his speech to summarizing how the Society has fulfilled most of the five goals related to the 2007-10 triennium theme, Connecting Communities: Students, Scholars and Society:
Increase awareness of the Society’s awards programs
Rogow described recent promotional efforts, outreach opportunities and new fellowships. He challenged the Society, which awards more money each year – $700,000 – than any similar organization, to increase its annual grants to $1 million.
Monitor and strengthen chapters
Society headquarters hired a third Chapter Relations director, enhanced communication with chapters, created a chapter recognition program, and allocated travel funds for training workshops for chapter officers. He challenged Phi Kappa Phi to continue strengthening chapters, particularly since some wither away, become inactive and have charters withdrawn, since some schools seem more interested in research than in honor societies, and since discipline-specific honor societies pose a threat to Phi Kappa Phi.
Increase enrollment of new members
The Society launched a public relations campaign, upgraded the Phi Kappa Phi Web site, expanded online enrollment, and revamped the Phi Kappa Phi Forum quarterly magazine partly to attract new members. Rogow challenged the Society to increase the percentage of eligible students who become members.
Retain more active members
The Society increased the retention rate of active members by more than 1,600 during 2009-10. Social networking opportunities, a Mentor Match program, various renewal option rates, the creation of a Council of Students that is involved in Phi Kappa Phi governance, and the revamping of the Phi Kappa Phi Forum quarterly magazine may account for this. He challenged the Society to gain new members.
Enhance the Society’s name recognition
A “Great Minds Think Alike” advertising campaign debuted in numerous forms, from print to electronic media to beyond (for instance, merchandise). One challenge, Rogow said, is to capitalize on this push by continuing it and related efforts.
Rogow felt proud of the strides made during his presidency and confident that new leadership would continue to carry the torch and make the Society shine all the brighter as the 2010-12 biennium theme unfolds, Traditions & Transitions: Responding to a World of Change.
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