By Mark Revesai | Observer Contributor
Photo by Betsabee Torres
Networking and leadership opportunities are just a couple of benefits of becoming a member of the International Business Honors Society, Alpha Beta Gamma.
The chapter raises funds that are donated to different charities throughout the year including Relay for Life, the MWCC food bank, the Red Cross and the Gardner CAC food bank. Funds are raised by holding bake sales, raffles and other fundraising efforts.
Professor Linda Bolduc, the club adviser, said students benefit immensely by becoming members. The club is a part of the Greater Gardner Chamber of Commerce, which allows members to network with the business world and it is one of the most active clubs on the campus.
The main purpose of Alpha Beta Gamma is to provide its members with benefits like leadership opportunities through chapter officer positions.
Many opportunities await students who join such as: writing for the bi-annual official society newsletter, Honors Journal, distinctive membership certificates, and use of the Alpha Beta Gamma resume forms.
Students also get discounts on car rentals, exchange of intellectual ideas at local chapter functions and at annual Leadership Conferences, networking opportunities with other business and professional students and student leaders, the opportunity for enhancement of employment prospects, over $500,000 in scholarships for four-year degrees reserved for ABG members, graduation regalia, membership keys and more.
According to the MWCC website, Alpha Beta Gamma was founded in 1970 to recognize and encourage scholarships among students at two-year colleges and provide leadership training opportunities and career assistance to members. However, the club has been at the campus since 1990, said Bolduc, touting that it has staying power.
Once a student is inducted into the society, they become lifetime members. Membership gets noted on the student transcript, and the student is recognized at graduation. To join ABG, a student must demonstrate academic excellence by attaining a 3.0 GPA or higher in a business program and must have completed 15 credits toward the degree. Professor Bolduc, who is the chair of the Business Department, gets a list of the newly eligible students and emails them with an invitation to join.
The current Alpha Beta Gamma President, Lisa Caron, said a membership drive is impeded by the fact that students must meet the set criterion to be invited. As a community college, students do not stay at the campus and are busy balancing work and family and that makes it difficult for them to commit to weekly meetings. She said, however, “Active participation can take many roles.”
Caron noted that while it is hard to attend every meeting, member students could assist by manning tables for fundraising efforts.
This year eleven students were inducted during the 2018 induction ceremony. There is a one-time induction fee of $42 that students pay.
Flexible payments are available, but members must pay the fee by the time the induction ceremony is held. All 2019 inductees have until spring 2019 to pay their dues. This is a national fee that goes directly to the national headquarters.
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