The Meeting of the Hope College Alcor Chapter of Mortar Board
September 15, 2009
The Alcor Chapter of Mortar Board met at 10pm in room 237 of the Martha Miller Center.
Those present: Abbie Gowman, Erica Smith, Colleen Leikert, Caitlin Gardner, Rachel Austin, Bethany
Braaksma, Shirley Bradley, Andrea Conklin, Evan Dawson, Meghann Deerling, Andrea Eddy, Meghan
Fore, Haleigh Gokey, Kurt Goldsby, Katie Haines, Tara Hamming, Ali Hartley, Rachel Hashimoto,
Colin Hoogerwerf, Meghan Katner, Lillie Lodge, Jeffery Minkus, Lauren Moak, Marni Nixon, Anna
Park, Chris Ploch, Camille Riddering, Daniel Toren, Dr. Portfleet, and Mrs. Bultman.
Those excused: Ashley Carter, Andi Springett, Conrad Tobert and Jeff Vredenburg.
Those absent: Ki Chang, Carrie Powers, Jon Andreas VanDenend, and Sally VanderPloeg.
The president, Abbie Gowman, called the meeting to order at 10:02pm. Abbie opened the meeting with
introductions and best memory of the summer. Attendance was taken.
Colleen Leikert introduced the attendance policy and sent around the sheet to be signed.
Abbie Gowman and Erica Smith described the Mortar Board Conference and Hope’s accomplishments.
Hope received the Golden Torch award.
The president introduced the projects that need chairs.
Meghan Fore is the chair for the Homecoming Book Drive. A school needs to be chosen for the
donation. Members volunteered to report back to Meg on the status of local elementary schools. Dr.
Portfleet described how donations are able to be given online. Last year over $4000 were donated and
Hope was the first in the nation. For the month of August Hope already won a $100 gift certificate for
Borders for online donations made.
Letters need to be stuffed to send out to alumni. On Thursday night (the 17th) letters will be stuffed in
the DeWitt lobby. Please come help!
Tara Hamming and Katie Haines volunteered to co-chair the Pumpkin Carving with CASA.
Haleigh Gokey and Lauren Moak volunterred to co-chair Relay for Life.
Anna Park volunteered to chair the International Thanksgiving dinner.
Rachel Austin and Caitlin Gardner volunteered to co-chair the Christmas Stocking Stuffing.
Camille Riddering and Shirley Bradley volunteered to co-chair the Last Lecture Series.
Mrs. Bultman reported on Dr. Kronkite’s health status. He is still considering speaking but if he is not
available we can have someone read his book. We would like to keep him as the first speaker.
The group brainstormed professors and faculty to have speak for the Last Lecture Series. Options
included: Mark Husbands (Religion), Stacy Jackson (Management), Janzen (English), Fred Johnson
(History), Agheana (Spanish), Bouma-Prediger (Religion), Susan Cherup (Ed), Dr. Ray (Dean for
Social Sciences), Dr. Pennings (Math), James Piers (Social Work), Julie Kipp (English), John Yelding
(Ed), Isolde Anderson (Communications), Rob Pocock (Communications).
Students shared thoughts on nominations. After voting the speakers determined were: Pocock, BoumaPrediger, and Agheana. Backups are Johnson and Janzen.
General ideas for dates are October, end of November, February and April. Abbie Gowman has a write
up to give to the chairs about the series. We need to look for larger locations.
Katie Haines and Ali Hartley volunteered to chair Dance Marathon.
Dr. Portfleet spoke about the Compassion program and our sponsored child. Right now he is sponsored
up to November. Lille Lodge volunteered to write him letters. Dr. Portfleet also spoke on the 8
Tanzanian Scholarships that Mortar Board offers. Over the summer all 8 scholarships were paid for.
Other ideas for projects for Mortar Board to consider were offered.
There were:
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Raising money for a orphanage in Uganda (Ki Chang)
Kiva
It was discussed that Mortar Board needs to brainstorm ideas to fund raise.
A cookout was planned for Sunday, September 27th at 5pm in Kollen Park.
Rachel Hashimoto offered her services of publicity of events. Email her or Res Life to get the word out
on your events.
Further business was postponed until the next meeting. The meeting was adjourned at 11:13pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Colleen Leikert, Secretary