It's school time again and you may be feeling overwhelmed with all the start-up business of a new year. You are not alone! But with this normal stress also comes the excitement of starting fresh with a body and mind that have had some necessary R & R during the summer months.

Let's get to the congratulations that are due. The 2012-13 reigning National Senior Tri-M Chapter of the Year is Piper High School, Kansas City, sponsored by Shelly Cole and the National Junior Tri-M Chapter of the Year 1st runner-up is Lakewood Middle School, Salina, sponsored by Lindsay Modin. Kansas certainly can boast the "best of the best" in quality Tri-M Chapters. Congratulations to both of these outstanding chapters!
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If you do not have a Tri-M Chapter in your school this would be an excellent time to charter a chapter. Take a look on-line through the Tri-M links on the KMEA website or contact either myself or Hannah Nunnenkamp-Engleman for assistance. Our hope is to make Tri-M ideas more accessible to you from the Tri-M link on the KMEA webpage. Hannah will be the key to this improvement and we will let you know as soon as this is ready for you to access.

I have just a few suggestions to help you start your new year:

• Let your students take over. Of course you are still the advisor and will have to set limits, but usually the students will grab at a chance to have more involvement in the planning and execution of activities. Your students will surprise you with their great leadership.
• Keep things simple. You don't have to do an activity each week but try to set several goals that the chapter can accomplish during the year... something social, something of service to your school/community, and give your students the publicity they deserve.
• Share your success stories. Make sure your technology gifted students post your activities on the Tri-M site so we can all learn from each other.
• Record your events and activities. I would like to see more chapters apply for Chapter of the Year this spring. Start right away to keep track of all you do and the application process will be a snap later in April.

I am a big fan of quotes and came across one that says a lot about Tri-M sponsors and all we do to support our students: "There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up" (John Andrew Holmes). Let Hannah Nunnenkamp-Engelman or myself know how we can help you ().

Related: Kansas Tri-M