Director of the Australian War Memorial, Dr. Brendan Nelson, was recently awarded with Honorary Membership in Golden Key. This accolade was presented at The Australian War Memorial by the chapter at The Australian National University, currently the highest ranked university in Australia. Dr. Nelson was nominated as an Honorary Member because of his distinguished service as Director of the Australian War Memorial and his impact in Australian Politics as former Federal Opposition Leader and former Minister for Defense.
The committee attended a small ceremony at The Australian War Memorial, where they presented the certificate to Dr. Nelson and had the chance to speak with him about his role at the iconic museum. “I am not an expert at curating museums, but there are 330 members of staff here who are,” said Dr Nelson. ‘The value I bring is that I’ve got experience in leading people, exercising judgment and working for the benefit of Australians.” Dr. Nelson spoke about the importance of the First World War in creating the Australian identity and said “it’s when foreigners visit The Australian War Memorial that they really discover the soul of our nation.”
“It was such a pleasure to be able to present Dr Nelson with an Honorary Membership and have the opportunity to talk to him,” said Nicholas Ramirez, Golden Key chapter president at The Australian National University. “He is an exemplar candidate and a great role model for our members to look up to. Throughout his professional life, Dr Nelson has embodied the three pillars of Golden Key, academics, leadership and service.”
Golden Key is thrilled to welcome such a highly regarded member of the public service as an honorary member.
 

In continuance with our blog series, we would like to highlight the Metropolitan State University of Denver chapter for being named a 2014 Key Chapter!
During the 2013-2014 academic year, the Metropolitan State University of Denver chapter participated in many events that are directly related to the three pillars of Golden Key: academics, leadership and service. One of the chapter’s memorable functions was a member networking event, which served as an excellent opportunity to re-engage chapter alumni and honorary members with current members. The Metropolitan State University of Denver chapter has numerous alumni still living in the Denver area, and this occasion gave newer members the opportunity to build new relationships with these alumni and honorary members. In addition to many student members, the networking event brought together ten alumni members, four honorary members and four individuals from the campus community looking to forge a connection with the chapter. For Global Youth Service Day in the spring, the chapter worked with Habitat for Humanity to build a duplex house in a local neighborhood. The team, consisting of student members, honorary members and the families moving into the homes, contributed almost 70 labors hours to build these homes. This included installing storm braces, building scaffolding and erecting the roof struts among other supportive activities.
About a year ago, a student in the Metropolitan State University of Denver community passed away after a battle with leukemia, one of the most prevalent forms of blood cancer. In honor of this student, several organizations at the university partnered with each other to hold a Bone Marrow Drive on campus. The Golden Key chapter was the first of the organizations to provide all of the volunteers necessary to run the drive, assist in the planning of the event and lead in the marketing of the event. By assisting their partner in the event, Delete Blood Cancer, the Golden Key chapter was able to properly screen donors to ensure their eligibility to participate in the drive.  Chapter members also served at the information, registration, swabbing and participant gift stations. The event brought together more than 150 people, including several alumni members and honorary members.
Congratulations to the Metropolitan State University of Denver chapter for being named a 2013-2014 Key Chapter!

The fourth chapter that we would like to recognize as a 2013-2014 Key Chapter Award winner is our Florida International University chapter!
During the spring semester, the Florida International University Golden Key chapter participated in a plethora of service events in their community. Several of these events were held in conjunction with a local non-profit agency, Camillus House, who provides a wide range of social and health services to homeless, mentally disabled, physically disabled, drug addicted and other under served people in the area. Chapter members aided in the preparation and serving of food to more than 500 individuals one Saturday for lunch. Roughly one month later, the chapter held a book drive for the Camillus House Library. Members were able to collect and donate more than 200 books for those who seek assistance from the shelter. This book drive is held every semester for the Camillus House, and the Florida International University chapter has been honored with a plaque in their name to be placed in the library.
On January 18, the Florida International University chapter participated in Martin Luther King Day of Service. Dedicated to the late social rights activist and humanitarian, this day is meant to serve as an opportunity for citizens to give back to their respective communities. As a service event, chapter members restored Bunche Park, located in a low income status community, by cleaning the park and painting the sitting area for the local families to enjoy. This event served as an excellent means to give back to their community, and the chapter members were able to forge new relationships with students at their university who are not affiliated with their chapter.
Congratulations to the Florida International University chapter for their continued success and being named a 2013-2014 Key Chapetr!