Activities

Fellowship activities are a wonderful way of keeping in touch with our fellow alumni and friends. In addition to attending three Missouri conventions a year (Regional, Leadership, and Honors), we also gather at other times and locations.

(Click on the links below to jump to more information)

Convention Information

Camping/Float Trip

Oktoberfest

A Cure for PeTey Project

Convention Information

Regional: TBD Feb/Mar 2009

Check back for details.

Leadership: TBD July 2009

Check back for details.

Honors: 14-16 Nov 2008

Alpha Tau will be hosting this years Honors at YMCA of the Ozarks Trout Lodge in Potosi MO. This year's theme is: Today's Superheroes: Saving the World with Honor, Scholarship, and Service. There will be a costume party with attendees dressing as their favorite superhero or villain.

Registration Deadline: 31 Oct 2008

$155 for Shared Room, $255 for Single Room

If you wish to receive financial assistance from MAA to attend this conference, the application deadline is due: 14 Oct 2008.

Camping/Float Trip

~~20 June 2008: Fort Niangua River Resort~~

THIS EVEN HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO LACK OF RESPONSE

If it's something you like to see happen in the future,

please contact Maurice Riddle.

Primitive camp sites, $5.00/person/night, children 6-12 yrs are half price and under 6 are free. Cabins prices are as follows: Basic Sleeping room $55, 1-2 people, Kitchenette room: $65, 1-2 people Each additional person: $10 per night. Children under 6 are free.

It will be a 7 mile float departures are from 8am -11am. I have reserved 10 spaces for primitive camping and three canoes. Let me know who wants to go, canoe or raft (if any) by June 5 so I can provide the list accordingly as well as add people if needed.

Primitive campers:

Don't worry about calling for reservations as Maurice Riddle took care of the hard part. He needs to know who will be attending, canoe or raft (if any) by June 5 so he can make any changes to the reservation status.

Cabin dwellers:

If you are registering for a cabin you can do so by calling Fort Niangua at 1-866-532-4377 as that information needs to be in your name. If you would like, you can let Maurice know that you want a cabin and he can book it for you. If you are registering for a cabin you can do so by calling Fort Niangua at 1-866-532-4377.

Oktoberfest: 11 October 2008 (tentative date)

Hermann MO and surrounding wine country

Oktoberfest this year will, as usual, start at the Hermannoff Winery in Hermann MO. Those that join us will share some excellent wine, food, and company (if you like polka, you can add music to that list). Hermanoff produces over 20 varieties of wines, and provides authentic german foods to complement the wine and atmosphere: brats and kraut, warm potato salad, potato pancakes with chunky applesauce. Non-alcoholic beverages are also available and a wide range of ages can be seen in attendance. When we've had our fill there, we usually go to another winery in the area. Past visits have included Stone Hill, Bias, and Blumenhoff. Saturday evening finds us dining in what can be said to be the best restaurant in Washington MO, the American Bounty. Be sure to order Green Apple Cobler for dessert. You haven't experienced Okterfest to it's fullest if you forget this very important step.

A Cure for PeTey Project

PeTey K Bear was adopted as the mascot of Phi Theta Kappa's Missouri Region in 1990. He was donated by Regional President Ron Goad and his wife Joanie, a costume designer whose work includes character costumes for Six Flags and other theme parks.

For 15 years PeTey appeared at Regional Conventions, Leadership Conferences, Honors Institues, International Conventions, chapter events, daycare centers, the St Louis AIDS Walk, and other community events. He provided laugher, motivation, hugs, and a lot of enjoyment with his antics at these events. PeTey was the subjet of a children's activity book, PeTey K Bear Says Reading is Fun, a regional initiative for the International Service Project on Litaeracy. Copies of the book were then donated to children's learning centers, daycare centers, and libraries throughout the Missouri region. He also presented a copy of the book to LeVar Burton, of Reading Rainbow television fame, at an International Convention.

Various Missouri alumni and advisors have portrayed PeTey throughout his life. However, their identities are never revealed to maintain an element of mystique about his persona. Sadly, PeTey is now in bad condition. His fur is falling out out, his head is misshapen because the interior structure is deteriorating, his paws and toes have been patched to cover holes in them, and his tongue will not stay attached. As a result of his declining condition, PeTey's appearances have been dramatically reduced. His last regular appearance at a regional event was at the 2005 Missouri Honors Institute.

The Missouri Alumni Association decided to take action to bring PeTey back to the Missouri Region because two "generations" of members and new chapter advisors have never had the plaseure of knowing him. After an extensive search, we found a company that will make an exact duplicate of PeTey's costume for $2500, the lowest price we could find. Lacking the funds in the MAA treasury to finance such a venture, the "A Cure for PeTey" Project was conceived and launched at the 2006 Missouri Honors Institute. To complete the two-year project, the MAA decided to get the region involved by seeking donations from the region's chapters, members, and alumni. The MAA kicked off the project with a donation of $200. The Upsilon Kappa chapter from Penn Valley Community College pledged $100 and challenged all Missouri Chapters to match their pledge.

At the 2007 Missouri Regional Convention, the MAA announced a Friends of PeTey donation category. Chapters and individuals who donate $50 or more will receive a Friends of PeTey certificate and a photo with the new PeTey at the completion of the project.

In addition to chapter pledges, donations are obtained through donation cans that are available at every regional conference. Several Missouri chapters have also launched their own fundraising Activities to help us reach our goal.

Project Update

After a two year absence, PeTey made a surprise appearance at the 2007 Missouri Honors Institute in Potosi MO. He appeared in bandages, an arm sling, and used a cane to emphasize his deteriorating condition. Despite his physical challenges, PeTey was able to present attendance prizes, share some hugs with members, pose for photos, and entertain the atendees. PeTey was enthusiastically welcomed ay all, especially the members and advisors who had never met him before.

The MAA is pleased to report that we have a total of $1240 in pleges and donations towards our $2500 goal. Look for PeTey to make another appearance at the 2008 Regional Convention in St Louis, 29 Feb-2 Mar 2008.