South Africa Chapter Awards 2012-2013

If you have been following our blog, you know we’ve been posting about the Key Chapter Winners in North America.  Now, we’d like to highlight some of our amazing South African chapters! In South Africa, we grant special recognition awards, rather than key chapter awards. Our chapters in South Africa hold many amazing events and accomplish great things throughout the year. 
Here is a highlight on the first place winners in each category:
Most Improved Chapter: North-West University – Mahikeng Campus
All the hard work done by the members at the NWU Mahikeng campus chapter has paid off! This chapter reached a Silver Chapter Standing, improving from the Good standing level they received in the previous term.
Best Campus Awareness Campaigns: University of the Western Cape
This is awarded to the chapters that excelled in their information table sessions and in other activities to create awareness about Golden Key and its member benefits. And the University of the Western Cape did just that– excelling to create positive awareness about Golden Key on campus and winning first place. They hosted various membership drive activities including information tables during the First Year Orientation Week which included an “amazing race” for first year students, International Student Orientation Programme, University open day, and activities during the Africa Day celebrations. Their four socials events and two AGM’s were also aimed at spreading the word about Golden Key on campus. But during their official information table sessions for Golden Key newly invited members, this chapter pulled out all the stops. They organised additional projectors screening presentations about Golden Key, a sound system to play music, had microphones to interact with students and passers-by. They also had give-aways of frisbees, various Golden Key merchandise like pens, pencils, sweets, etc. The committee also printed their own t-shirts that created awareness about Golden Key’s brand to all onlookers. Furthermore, as part of their information tables they also hosted a fundraising initiative and a community service project. They obtained a sponsorship from Vita Water, which the committee then sold along with boerewors rolls to raise funds. Thus all students walking past would smell the braai, be attracted by the music and the other activities, and while buying their vita-water would be informed about Golden Key. Then, the chapter used their information tables as an opportunity to gather non-perishables and clothes for the less fortunate as part of their Winter Drive. Similar collection boxes had been placed all around campus at all the respective faculties accompanied by advertisements to create greater exposure for information table sessions. Great job!!
BEST NEW MEMBER RESPONSE RATE 2012: North-West University: Potchefstroom Campus
The response rate for The North-West University Potchefstroom campus was 65% of all invited prospects who decided to accept their membership into Golden Key. This was 500 members more than anticipated! This chapter did a great job in helping to get the word out so that many new members decided to join.
BEST SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGNS: Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University was truly active in cyber space and in other forms of media to promote Golden Key.  They maintain regular contact with their students via internal communication systems and had two articles published in the regional newspaper, The Herald. Furthermore, they had also produced YouTube clips to promote the activities of their chapter. These included a video for their community service initiative “Make a Pledge” which requires members to sign a pledge that creates awareness about violence against women. This was an extremely successful initiative and social media helped to spread the word about it!
MOST SUCCESSFUL FUNDRAISING INITIATIVES: University of the Witwatersrand
The University of the Witwatersrand was successful in raising about R18,000 (approximately $1700 USD)! They did this through raffle sales, cake sales, t-shirt and hoody sales, as well as socials like a braai and other networking events, including their corporate breakfasts. This effort is great as the funds will be used for so much good!
BEST PROFESIONAL AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT CAMPAIGNS: University of the Witwatersrand
The University of the Witwatersrand was highly successful in the professional and personal development activities they organised to provide benefits for their members. They hosted a Career Info Day and an Olympic Event with Procter and Gamble, a Career Day with the law firm Bowman Gilfillian, a Pan African Event, a corporate breakfast sponsored by Bowman & Gilfillan, Afrizam, Adams & Adams, McKinsey & Company, FNB, Deloitte and JC Capital. Their academic events included the Resilience Clinic Guest Talk in association with the on campus surgical society, a Safety Demonstration class in self-defence, “Employment versus Entrepreneurship” workshop, as well as a lecture regarding HIV/Aids presented by the CEO of Love Life. Their flagship academic events include their annual Women’s Day event and Thinkers Symposium where they invite top leaders from respective fields to address, inspire, motive and debate with the students at the Witwatersrand regarding problems South Africa faces and potential solutions. We are so proud of this chapter as the members can truly benefit from all of these amazing events!
BEST COMMUNITY SERVICE INITIATIVES: University of KwaZulu-Natal
The University of Kwa-Zulu Natal organised 17 community service projects during the past term. These include a clothing drive, three food drives, tutoring at local disadvantaged high schools, donating blood, Teaching and Learning Unit Assistance, assisting with career choices at Urban Heard Boys by taking them to campus to attain information about possible degrees, visits and donations to various orphanages like Little Hearts Foundation, Place of Safety, Rene’s orphanage, Zakhe Home of Safety,  a sandwich drive for the homeless living alongside the beach, campus litter collection initiative and taking part in East Coast Radio’s Big Walk. The dedication to the community from this chapter is simply amazing! It is so wonderful to see Golden Key members making a difference in the community.  
Congratulations to all the winning chapters!!