The 44th Biennial International Convocation of Kappa Delta Pi, International Honor Society in Education - St. Louis, Missouri November 13-15
On November 12, 2003 over 1500 educators gathered at the Adams Mark Hotel in St. Louis, Missouri for four days of clinics, conferences, business meetings, speakers, and awards. Three chapter members were present for this great event. The definite high point of this event for us was the presentation of the 2003 Achieving Chapter Excellence (ACE) Award, presented by International President Dr. Blossom Nissman and Executive Director Michael P Wolf. Accepting this honor on behalf of Epsilon Omega Chapter were Past-President Joshua Bopp, President Shannon Rice, and Secretary Stephanie Thomas.
The ACE Award!
Shannon and Steph left campus around 2pm on Wednesday, and headed for St. Louis. We flew out of Syracuse, stopped over in Detroit, and eventually landed in Missouri around 8pm that evening. After checking into the hotel, completing our conference registration, and getting all the paperwork in order, it was time to find something to eat. Not being familiar with the area, we did what any hungry college student would do: look for a fast food restaurant! Twenty minutes and several city blocks later, we came to an important conclusion: There was nothing here. We went back to the hotel, and being the intelligent people we are, we asked the doorman for help. He pointed us to several nice places where anyone on our tight budget could get a good meal. Finally having had dinner, it was time to get some sleep and be ready for things to kick off the next morning.
Our hotel with the arch and our chapter's ACE display
Thursday was a day filled with clinics, meetings, and workshops. While Steph went to investigate the workshop scene, Shannon was stuck in business meetings all day. Eventually joined by Josh, she went to a strategic planning session for chapter officers, delegate orientation, the national business meeting, and a regional cluster meeting. The strategic planning session was an opportunity for chapter representatives to discuss some of the current issues in education, and brainstorm ideas on how the society can better serve its members in the face of these issues. The delegate orientation and business session gave chapter representatives the opportunity to vote on legislation that would change the national bylaws of our society. Several issues were discussed, committee reports heard, and votes cast. The final stop for the afternoon was the regional meeting. This gave us the opportunities to find out what other chapters in the Northeast were up to, trade ideas on a number of issues, and get to know some of our neighboring chapters.
voting at the business meeting and relaxing afterward in the Hard Rock Cafe
Thursday night was the official opening ceremonies for the convocation, where all in attendance reaffirmed their vows to the society. To have 1500 Kadelphians in one room pledging to uphold the same ideals was an outstanding experience. The evening finished with entertainment by a comedy troupe that was described as “Saturday Night Live for Teachers”. They were outstanding. We learned such pearls of wisdom as “every time you yell at a student, an angel gets its wings” and “when you decide that you don’t want to teach any more, you can open a knick knack shop called Apple Crap”.
workshop session - Surviving Your First Five Years
Friday and Saturday were filled with workshops, idea sharing, and officer roundtables. Several workshops that we attended focused on ideas for surviving your first year of teaching, landing your perfect job, strategies for teaching reading comprehension, far out teaching ideas, and case studies of successful schools. We also attended a luncheon with a motivational speaker and two receptions that encouraged social time. Friday also allowed us time to take a break, and visit one of the most spectacular attractions in the St. Louis area, the Gateway Arch. We rode to the top in what we dubbed “oompa-loompa” cars that were designed more for six-year-old children than for adults. The top of the arch held tremendous views of the city, including the courthouse where the famous Dread Scott cases were tried. We also browsed the Museum of Westward Expansion at the base of the arch.
Up in the arch!
Having fun on the tram and the view from the top!
Saturday night was the final banquet, and the official presentation of several awards. That afternoon, formal pictures were taken of chapter representatives with the International President and Executive Director. As we lined up to receive our award, we realized the outstanding company that our chapter keeps. Some of the other chapters receiving awards included Perdue University, Brooklyn College, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, West Texas A&M, Florida International University, and Towsen University, who received the Ace of the ACEs Award (Chapter of the Year). We had a great time at dinner talking with our friends from Radford University in Virginia, who also received ACE Awards.
Awards dinner!
Sunday we had to pack up and get ready to leave for home. We took a few more pictures of the surrounding area, and then headed to the airport. Leaving St. Louis, we stopped in Cleveland, and finally landed that afternoon in Syracuse.
We had a wonderful experience, learned a lot, made some great new friends, and had so much fun. The next convocation is in 2005, in Orlando Florida. Take a moment to think about what your experience could be like if you attend this fabulous event.
