National Conference Report 2008

This year's national conference was an exceptional experience for all attending. The following report summarizes the key components of the meeting:

Speakers

Saturday Sessions

Additional Workshops and Idea Sharing

Awards Presented

Outstanding Service Project Awards

College &University Friends

Conclusion of the Conference

---

Speakers
The conference theme was about excellence, but the content of the 2008 NHS and NJHS National Conference in Orlando in November was about how students can put their gifts to use.

"You are the high achievers and the leaders. We know that," speaker and author Ed Gerety told the some 600 students and 200 advisers in the keynote address. "But you must remember that with great power comes great responsibility. The students in this room have great power and must take responsibility."

In a humorous and touching presentation, he told the students how impressed he was with their achievements—but noted that they must also strive to help others and improve their community, citing examples of those who have.

Two other speakers, former Coca-Cola and Nestle executive John Jell, and motivational speaker and author Bob Tryanski, both urged delegates to use their talents to achieve their goals and make changes in society. Jill Martin, NASSP Board of Directors liaison to NHS and NJHS, also urged the students to make the most of their skills and put them to use to better their communities.

Stu Shaffer, who spent 30 years as an educator and student leadership adviser, and has won a number of awards for his involvement with student leaders, provided the entertainment on Saturday evening with his "Traveling Junk Show," which offered fun-filled inspiration to the students and encouraged them to be active in their schools.

The two student emcees for the conference, Gordon Wilson and Charlotte Zuber from Spruce Creek High School (FL), reminded the students of their responsibilities. "We must learn ways of extending the limits of what we know is possible," said Zuber. Other students from the Florida Chapters of National Honor Society (FCNHS), the host state association, brought greetings and provided assistance in running this year's meeting.

Friday's events included the "Celebration of Service," where participants had an opportunity to exchange ideas and meet with national organizations that promote student service. Simultaneously, advisers met with Gerety to learn new ways to stay connected to today's students.
Saturday sessions
On Saturday, students had opportunities to attend sessions devoted to the Honor Society themes: character, leadership, scholarship, citizenship, and service. Elaine Leibsohn, vice president for National Action Strategies at America's Promise Alliance, talked about the reducing the high school dropout rate as a goal for student service initiatives, noting that 7,000 American students drop out each day. She also described how America's Promise is working to ensure more students have opportunities for service learning.

Byron Garrett of Lifeworks, International (http://www.lifeworks101.com/) and CEO of National PTA described ways chapters could develop character education programs, and Rebecca Ramsey of the University of Florida Office of Admissions offered an inside look at the college admission process. In another break-out session, Tryanski explained to the students how they can become better leaders by creating opportunities. He told the group they had to "nurture creativity, empower others, and build a culture in which people know they are genuinely valued."

NJHS delegates heard from Jeff Sherrill, associate director of the National Association of Student Councils, about citizenship efforts; while Jell spoke to advisers about exercises and resources they could use to help students "make smart choices for their future, get the most out of their college experience, graduate with a great employment opportunities, and remember their Honor Society adviser as the best teacher they ever had."
Additional Workshops and Idea Sharing
On Saturday, students had an opportunity to exchange project and activity ideas in sharing sessions, then moved into workshops offered by advisers and students. Some of these ideas will appear in the magazine, Leadership for Student Activities, later in the year. Advisers heard about chapter management from Elancia Felder and David Cordts, staff members from the national office. Two motivational programs were offered by Bria Brown and Shanna Decker, past winners of the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, both of whom were able to overcome severe health issues to find success in life. A special thanks to Prudential Financial for sponsoring these two motivational presenters.

Kadi Pojeta, Michigan coordinator of student leadership for the Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals, spoke about using technology to organize, advertise, and connect members. Other topics covered during the day's activities included fundraising, college success, communications, selection and induction and even emotional issues.

Jill Esplin, president of Leading for Life, and a speaker and author specializing in student leadership, talked to students about their interpersonal and group communications, noting that they must have a clear process for communications efforts that does not allow for misunderstanding. She also spoke about teamwork that allows "any dream to come true."

While students were participating in sessions on topics such as giving back to school and community, developing community projects, raising funds, and citizenship, advisers were attending programs about planning for the year, using technology, and "spicing up induction ceremonies". More than 35 educational presentations were offered as the students and their advisers rotated through sessions over the three days.
Awards Presented
The qualifying rounds for the NHS Scholars' Bowl® Awards wove through the three days of events, culminating in finals where the team from Plano (TX) High School won top honors. The Rynearson Adviser of the Year Award was also presented on the final day to Laura Mullen, adviser from Schimelpfenig Middle School in Plano, TX, along with the Kyker Award for outstanding state association service projects, which went to the Connecticut Association of NHS, with Executive Director Don Gates accepting the award. Additional information about existing state organizations for NHS and NJHS can be found at www.nhs.us/states.

Outstanding Service Project Awards 2008
Ten chapters also won Outstanding Service Project Awards.
"The Honor Societies represent the most prestigious student recognition programs in the country today, therefore it is only appropriate that we take the lead to recognize from within our own membership those groups and individuals who have lived up to the ideas and purposes of the national organizations as set forth by the founders,' says David Cordts, associate director of NHS and NJHS
The national office is grateful to Herff Jones for providing the plaques presented to our ten award winning chapters this year. A detailed description of these projects is posted at www.nhs.us/ospaward.
College and University Friends
Each year of the conference, a variety of colleges and universities have extended financial support for the meeting. This year eleven institutions of higher education participated and we are pleased to list them among our Collegiate Friends of the Honor Societies. In addition, we are grateful for the ongoing support provided by the staff of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars who provided workshop presenters for this year's session.

Conclusion of the Conference
Cordts noted that NHS and NJHS have grown to record levels in recent years, now with more than 16,000 and 7,000 chapters respectively, noting that NHS is the largest and oldest school-based student organization in the country. He reported, however, that despite the recent growth of the programs, increased transportation costs, budget cutbacks in schools, and other financial burdens were making it too hard for chapters to attend this annual meeting, therefore as of 2008 the national conference will be discontinued. (Click here for the full text of the memo on the future of the national conference.)

For those Honor Society chapters that have the interest and resources to attend a conference in the future, we encourage them to attend the regional Leadership Experience and Development (LEAD) Conferences. The LEAD Conferences are more cost effective to attend and provide the same high-level of program activities. Additionally, there are training sessions run specifically for NHS &NJHS advisers and students focused on their unique needs and interests. For more information about the upcoming LEAD Conferences, please visit www.nhs.us/lead.

A special thank you to all of the chapters that attended this year's national conference. Thanks also to our many speakers, workshop presenters, supporters, along with the many NASSP staff who helped make this meeting a success.