In continuance with our 2013-2014 Key Chapter winner blog series, we would like to highlight the University of the Virgin Islands- St. Thomas chapter.
For Make A Difference Day in 2013, the University of the Virgin Islands- St. Thomas chapter volunteered at the Wesleyan Holiness Church Soup Kitchen, which hosts a soup kitchen once a month to provide food to those in need. Representatives from the church cook and donate the food, and they package it up for walk-ins and delivery all over the island. Eight chapter members, one officer and one advisor served as volunteers during the event by helping to pack and serve the food, as well as clean up the facility after the event. In February the chapter conducted a Professional Development Workshop with an emphasis on Business & Dinner Etiquette. The purpose of the workshop was to engage and provide members with various strategies and techniques that would enhance the members’ networking and formal dining skills, which included learning how to set the table, the proper use of each utensil, appropriate hand shaking techniques and how to dress for the occasion. The chapter also participated in the 3^rd annual Scholars Social Event in February. This event brings together two local high school honor societies to connect and familiarize themselves with the Golden Key chapter, as well as learn more about upcoming events that the chapter is hosting. More than 75 people participated in the event and 56 of which were high school students.
During the 2013-2014 academic year, the University of the Virgin Islands- St. Thomas chapter participated in the 25^th annual Afternoon on the Green, an annual, community-based “friend raiser” event. To make the event happen, several student clubs and organizations on campus collaborate with the Afternoon on the Green committee to ensure that the occasion is a success. The Golden Key chapter was responsible for organizing, planning and supervising the children’s area, as well as setting up, cleaning up and working the information desk. In order to plan the children’s section, the chapter sought out donations from local businesses, and on the day of the event, ten Golden Key members volunteered at the children’s section where they had their faces painted, read books to the kids and hosted other fun activities. The event was a huge success and raised more than $25,000 to go towards scholarships for university students.
Congratulations to the University of the Virgin Islands- St. Thomas chapter for being named a 2013-2014 Key Chapter winner!
 
 

We would like to continue our Key Chapter blog series by highlighting the University of Texas at Dallas chapter for being named a Key Chapter for the 2013-2014 academic year.
One event that the University of Texas at Dallas chapter hosted was their Graduation Rose Sale in the fall and the spring. Of all of the student organizations on campus, the Golden Key chapter is the only group allowed to host an event like this during graduation weekend on campus. In the past, the chapter would purchase the roses from a local florist at farm price and buy all other supplies upfront then cover the cost with the profit from the sales. This past spring, however, the chapter utilized a local vendor who provided all supplies and flowers for no upfront cost, and a portion of each bouquet sold would go towards chapter funding. The chapter has received incredible overall feedback– customers love the flowers and showing support for the chapter. The university goes out of their way to make sure that the chapter has everything they need, and the event served as a great way for chapter members to come together for a good cause. As a part of Welcome Week on campus, the Golden Key chapter hosted an ice cream social to welcome back students to campus and meet new people. This week is especially promoted by the university in that it is the first week on campus for transfer students and freshmen students, so it serves as a wonderful opportunity to get the chapter’s name out into the student body. The event had a great turnout, and the members had a wonderful time meeting new students.
One of the larger events that the University of Texas at Dallas chapter hosted was a service event for Genesis Women’s Shelter, a local shelter that provides safety, counseling and expert services for women and children who are victims of domestic violence. This past year was the chapter’s first effort to help the shelter, and in collaboration with a couple of other student organizations on campus, the Golden Key chapter made blankets for the residents. To promote the event, chapter members posted about the event on Facebook and Twitter as the event was open to the public. The chapter reserved a large room in the university Student Union and set up two large tables for the fabric. The process was fairly simple, and volunteers did not need any prior experience, which helped in attracting volunteers. Collectively the groups were able to make eight large, double-layered wool blankets and three children-sized blankets. The staff at Genesis Women’s Shelter was more than appreciative, especially considering that the event was taking place in December. The success of the event has led the chapter to think about making this an annual event.
Congratulations to the University of Texas at Dallas chapter on being named a 2013-2014 Key Chapter winner!