Region Leadership in Action Conference: 2024
On Friday and Saturday – the 18th and 19th of October – Phi Theta Kappans gathered from all over the Ohio Region to participate in the 2024 Regional Leadership in Action Conference at Washington State College.
On Friday the 18th, members were invited to a fellowship event at a nearby museum. Unfortunately I could not personally attend the fellowship event, but hopefully our Chapter President Benjamin Nash had enough fun for the whole chapter!
Breakfast was provided for all attendees, after which we were directed to the auditorium to begin the conference. We were greeted by Keynote speaker Captain Jim Waybright who accepted questions from the audience.
After his Q and A, various speakers addressed topics such as elevator pitches, articulating visions, expanding your chapter and keeping current members engaged.
Members having completed a PTK Edge Course received their completion pins in acknowledgement. Pictured is President Nash handing me my pin for completing the Employment Edge Course.
Throughout the event, we participated in various activities to further develop leadership skills and engagement. Separating the audience into three large groups assigned the task of Inviting, Engaging or Following up, we were expected to come up with creative ways to accomplish these tasks. I was part of the group involved with invitations. It was a lot harder to brainstorm a creative alternative to emails and flyers than I anticipated.
Outside of the audience activity, your chapter can be recognized as a REACH chapter by completing each task and keeping communication open between the current and potential members and leaders in your chapter.
Further activities initiated by Regional Officer Stacy Jarvis involved soliciting 10 volunteers from the audience to line up in groups of 5 on either side of a mysterious disposable cup adorned table.
These volunteers were then instructed to stack the cups how they see fit. The task would repeat, difficulty rising each cycle through the line. Dominant hand behind back, right eye closed, the illusion of an undisclosed timer causing more and more cups to fall along with the pressure of the unfamiliar usage of one’s own body.
As a viewer from the side lines you could see the individual people, those inclined to make mistakes and improve, those remaining at a steady pace, and those inclined to dabble creatively. It was interesting watching the various ways individual’s natures would display in their problem solving.
After dispersing for a breakout session, we were treated to lunch in the college’s cafeteria. The session I chose to attend involved the power of stories and the dangers of bias.
The last activity involved articulating, sharing, and selling your vision. The speaker invited the audience to spread out and connect with individuals outside of their chapter, and try to sell an alternative usage for the common umbrella. Our group came up with a bird feeder, branded “Easy Feeder.”
Near the end of their presentation, speaker Samantha Levy was presented with their very own Ohio Regional jacket, which they were very excited about.
Finally, at the end of the event we were all sent home with a lunch box full of goodies and more knowledge than we came with.
We look forward to seeing some more of you next year!
