eNews: October 3, 2012

Upcoming Dates

Oct. 29 - Scholarships and Academic Awards applications due

Nov. 3 - SW Conference: Language and Linguistics Student Conference and Sigma Tau Delta Southwestern Region Meeting, University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, OK

Nov. 5 - Individual Awards, Chapter Awards, and Project Grants applications due

Nov. 12 - Submission deadline for
2013 International Convention
Call for Papers and Roundtable Proposals

Nov. 30 to Dec. 1 - FW Conference: Popular Culture and the Written Word, California State University, Fullerton, CA

Dec. 3 - 2013 Summer Internships information posted

Welcome New Chapters

Claremont Graduate University
Alpha Tau Eta Chapter
Claremont, CA

Gordon State College
Alpha Tau Theta Chapter
Barnesville, GA

The University of Iowa
Alpha Tau Iota Chapter
Iowa City, IA

Welcome Back
Reactivated Chapters

Dickinson State University
Eta Epsilon Chapter
Dickinson, ND

Lebanon Valley College
Omicron Omicron Chapter
Annville, PA

eNews Distribution for Chapter Officers

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WORDY by Nature Blog

All members are invited to subscribe to WORDY by Nature, the official Sigma Tau Delta blog featuring Society news and writings by our Student Leaders and Chapter Sponsors. Choose to receive blog postings by email, RRS Feed, Facebook, or Twitter.

In This Issue

The Sigma Tau Delta Newsletter - Fall 2012

The fall 2012 issue of The Sigma Tau Delta Newsletter, redesigned in a web format, is now online. The Newsletter showcases insightful and informative articles written by Sigma Tau Delta leaders, active chapter members, and alumni. This issue includes pre-convention information, chapter ideas, and professional resources.

Articles:
"Literary Portland" "President's Corner" "The Rigor and Reward" "2013 Common Reader Review" "Crossing Cultures "Ask "Not What Your Chapter Can Do For You..." "Outstanding Chapter Award" "Into the Archive" "Résumé Secrets"

Scholarships, Awards, and Project Grants

Annually, Sigma Tau Delta offers a variety of scholarships and academic awards valued at up to $5,000 each. Because these opportunities are offered exclusively to Sigma Tau Delta members, applicants who take the time to submit a carefully put-together application have a significantly increased chance of receiving an award.

Scholarships and Academic Awards Application
Deadline: October 29
Sigma Tau Delta uses STARS (Scholarship Tracking and Review System), to simplify and streamline the online submission process for scholarships and academic awards. STARS also alerts students to all application opportunities available to them, increasing their chances of receiving funding. View scholarships and the STARS application process.

New this year: Part-Time Undergraduate Scholarship intended to assist current part-time student members who are striving to complete their undergraduate education.

Individual Awards, Chapter Awards, and Project Grants Application Deadline: November 5
Individual Awards are offered for leadership and personal websites and blogs. Chapter Awards include: outstanding chapters, Sponsors, literary arts journals, and blogs or websites. Chapters may also apply for Project Grants of up to $500.

New: The Chapter Service Awards application deadline has been extended to March 30, 2013; the award amount has been revised from up to $200 to up to $500 to a designated agency.

2013 International Convention

What do Ursula K. Le Guin, Tim Egan, Anne Fadiman, Powell's Bookstore, critical papers, original creative works, dry T-shirt contests, Mount Hood, $9,000 in presentation awards, and Sigma Tau Delta all have in common? YES! You got it! All the above and much more will be in Portland, Oregon, on March 20-23, 2013, for the 2013 Sigma Tau Delta Convention.

Submissions are open! The deadline for submissions of critical papers and creative works is November 12, 11:59 p.m., CST. If you are planning to submit, start immediately by reading Hints for Successful Submissions. Especially consider submitting on the theme of "Open Book" or the 2013 Common Reader, Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader, by Anne Fadiman.

Check www.englishconvention.org for frequent convention updates.

Chapter Annual Report/Survey Results

Following on the success of previous years, the 2011-2012 Chapter Annual Report was once again offered as a quick, multiple-choice, online survey. Survey results provide chapters with a snapshot of the best practices of active and successful chapters.

Last year:

96.2% inducted new members with a formal ceremony
73.9% held a gathering for fun, fellowship, and/or learning
71.8% hosted a campaign to boost new member recruitment
60.9% engaged in a service project
59.8% held at least one fundraiser

Targeted membership drives (e.g., email, letter, or personal invitations to qualified students) were by far the most popular ways to recruit new members (67.2%).

The survey results also provide Society leaders and Central Office staff with feedback about how best to support and serve our members and chapters. View the details of the 2011-2012 Chapter Annual Report/Survey.

Better World Books Campus Drive

Better World Books (BWB) will partner with every Sigma Tau Delta chapter to host an "on campus" book drive to benefit literacy initiatives worldwide, while at the same time raising funds for your chapter. Last year, BWB paid Sigma Tau Delta chapters over $16,000 for accepted books. View the results of the top 25 campus book drives.

The BWB book drive is a turnkey project, including all supplies, promotional materials, packing supplies, and shipping costs. The fall book drive season runs through December 14.

For details, view Sigma Tau Delta's Better World Books Campus Book Drives web page. Email campus@betterworldbooks.com to start your BWB campus book drive today!