Golden Key

Golden Key International Honour Society

Records, 1995 - 2006

.25 l.f.

History
The NDSU chapter of Golden Key International Honour Society was established on November 21, 1995. Ten individuals became founding officers and began the process of chartering a chapter at NDSU. Golden Key was given temporary recognition by the Commission of Student Organizations (CSO) and Student Senate at the end of November 1995. The majority of the first year (1995-1996) was spent working to make Golden Key more recognizable to on the NDSU campus. Three officers attended the 1996 Mountain West Regional Conference at Weber State in Ogden, Utah, on March 29-31 and one attended the International Convention in Scottsdale, Arizona. Official chartering of the group occurred on April 16, 1996; 400 members were inducted into the NDSU chapter.

The 1996-1997 academic year was filled with social activities, service projects, and increased campus awareness. The first annual Sophomore Reception was held on November 20, 1996: students in the top 10% of the sophomore class were invited to be recognized for their academic achievements. The chapter began implementing Just the Facts, a program designed to inform first-year students about the alternatives to drinking. Golden Key participated in Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week as a sponsor of Campus Attractions’ movie Leaving Los Vegas. The chapter was given full recognition status from CSO and Student Senate soon after. NDSU sent fourteen delegates to the April, 1997, Mountain West Regional Conference in Collins, Colorado. The chapter received the “Outstanding Host Chapter” award for hospitality. The same month, Golden Key members contributed over 153 hours to the sandbagging efforts to deal with the flood. The 1997 International Convention was held in Atlanta, Georgia, August 7-10, and received one of three “Best New Chapter” awards. NDSU was selected to host the Mountain West Regional Conference for the following year (March 27-29, 1998).

The 1999-2000, 2000-2001, and 2001-2002 years contained numerous academic and service projects. The NDSU chapter received the “Best Sophomore Recognition” award at the regional conference in 2001. The 2002-2003 academic year began with the NDSU chapter’s fifth annual participation in Make a Difference Day at the Fargo Public Library. At the 2004 International Convention, NDSU received the Northern Region’s “Teamwork and Collaboration” award for its pop tab collection project that benefited the Ronald McDonald House. Bonnie Cooper was also elected to be the Northern Region’s representative on the Council of Advisors. At the “Global Key Awards,” individuals and chapters were recognized for their achievements during the 2004-2005 academic year. In addition, the NDSU chapter was recognized as a Gold-level chapter which is the highest status possible.

Golden Key operates on national and international levels. On the national level, service projects include Just the Facts; Best of America, a program designed to educate and prepare elementary school children to say no to drugs and alcohol; and America’s Promise. In April 2003, Golden Key International Honour Society received one of ten nationwide awards from USA Weekend for the Society’s efforts with Make a Difference Day. The Society awards scholarships to initiates at all chapters every year. At least one junior initiate and one senior initiate are given scholarships after the induction ceremony, while twelve graduate scholarships are offered at the international level. Golden Key’s yearly magazine, Concepts, has won several awards and features stories by Society members. The articles highlight chapter activities, honorary and outstanding members. The Society maintains a webpage that contains a wide variety of information: www.goldenkey.org. The NDSU chapter’s website is www.acm.ndsu.nodak.edu/NDSU_GKEY.

The records were deposited by the Golden Key International Society in June, 2006.

Scope and Contents
The records of the NDSU chapter of the Golden Key International Honour Society contain meeting minutes, constitutions, induction programs, a chapter history, invitations, new member listings, material from various conferences, photographs, issues of Key Notes, and the 2005 issue of Concepts (Golden Key’s magazine). The records are divided into seven distinct series.

The General History and Administration Series contains the chapter’s history; information about activities, conferences, membership, and other topics, is included. The Meeting Minutes Series consists of minutes from the group’s establishment in November, 1995, to April of 2000. The Constitution and By-Laws Series comprises four editions of the chapter’s constitution, the most recent of which is from 2005. The Membership Series contains new member lists from 1998, 1999, 2001, and 2003, sample Sophomore reception invitations from 2001-2005, programs from all induction ceremonies (1996-2006), a fact sheet used for the 1999 membership drive, and sample membership invitations (from 2001-2005). The Conference and Convention Series includes a program and delegate folder from the Mountain West Regional Conference (3/1998) as well as a handout, “Keys for Creating Awards Packets That ‘Reach for the Stars’,” from a workshop at the 1998 International Convention. The Newsletter and Publication Series encompasses two editions of Key Notes, Golden Key’s newsletter (Vol.2, 1998 and Vol.2, 2001), and the 2005 publication of Concepts. “Shooting for Excellence at New Level,” by Bonnie Cooper, is about NDSU honorary member Amy Ruley (p.62). The final, Photograph Series, contains assorted photographs of the chapter from 1996 to 1998.

BOX 1

1 Finding Aid

General History and Administration Series
2 Chapter history - September 9, 2005 and March 26, 2006

Meeting Minutes Series
3 November 21, 1995-April 5, 2000

Constitution and By-Laws Series
4 Chapter Constitution – 1996, 1999, 2002, 2005

Membership Series
5 New member lists – 1998, 1999, 2001 and 2003
6 Sophomore reception invitations – 2001-2005
7 Induction programs – 1996-2006
8 Membership drive fact sheet (accomplishments, activities, honorary members,
chapter leadership and upcoming events) – January 1999
9 Membership invitations – 2001-2005

Conference and Convention Series
10 Mountain West Regional Conference (hosted by NDSU) – program and delegate
informational folder – 3/1998
11 “Keys for Creating Awards Packets That ‘Reach for the Stars’” – 1998
International Convention Workshop handout

Newsletter and Publication Series
12 Key Notes (published by international headquarters) – Vol.2, 1998 and Vol.2, 2001
13 “Shooting for Excellence at New Level” (about NDSU honorary member Amy
Ruley) in Concepts (2005), p.62, written by Bonnie Cooper.

Photograph Series
14 Chapter photographs – 1996-1998

Emily J. Ergen - 3/2007