2011 Convention in Phoenix: No Sweat!

 

Click here to go to 2011 Convention Picture Slideshow

 

Nearly 130 undergraduates and 50 alumni gathered in the dry, desert heat in mid-August to share four days of fraternal fellowship, thus continuing the proud tradition of our annual Convention and Leadership Conference.  The historic Arizona Biltmore provided the scenic summer setting.

We kicked off the week’s events with an inspiring and exciting video created by the Octagon. Special thanks go to Michael Hirsch for his technological prowess.

 

Click here to see the annual report video with our great achievements.

 

This year also marked the 50^th Anniversary of the SAM Leadership Conference.  Delegates’ program books included an historic retrospective written by Past Supreme Prior and Leadership Conference pioneer Alvin Cohn (Cincinnati ’53).  The article detailed the humble origins of what has now evolved into a premiere Greek Leadership experience.  Copies of the Cohn article are available by contacting the Fraternity Office: samhq@sam.org and with the link below.

 

Click here to read the History of the SAM Leadership Conference

 

 

During the Leadership Conference, a strong line-up of keynote speakers and relevant topics were featured:

- “Successful Recruitment” was presented by Josh Orendi, co-founder of Phired Up Productions.  It hammered home the advice that quantity in the recruitment process drives quality in the selection process.  The effectiveness of small group activities during Rush delivers a high return on your investment!

- Erica Upshaw’s “Keeping Friends Alive” went beyond ordinary drug and alcohol education.  She shared her story of personal loss – a big brother (a bright and popular fraternity leader) who died from a lethal, risky and reckless mixture of substances.  We are our brother’s keeper… or at least we should be.

- “Sexual Assault & Prevention” was addressed by SAM Education Chairman Jack Causseaux who is also Associate Director of Fraternity & Sorority Affairs at the University of Florida.  Fraternity men are often stereotyped as perpetrators in these situations (sometimes based in reality, other times not).

- Dave Westol’s “Hazing on Trial” dramatically contrasted the misguided beliefs of those chapter members who still attempt to advocate, rationalize and justify their actions vs. the truth of our fraternal principles coupled with the enforcement of the letter of the law.  A former Assistant Prosecuting Attorney and CEO of Theta Chi, Westol pulled no punches.

 

Community Service

Early Friday morning, three busloads of Sammies embarked on a mission to kick-off the fraternity’s commitment to our new National Community Service partner, “Feeding America,” a network of food banks across the country.  At St. Mary’s Food Bank in Phoenix, our men were organized into two, multi-stationed production lines.  In just two hours, they packed 36,150 meals and loaded 750 boxes onto 16 skids.  This selfless experience was an eye-opening, conference highlight for many.

 

As a concluding assignment of this year’s Developing Leaders Initiative (DLI) program, the select group of tomorrow’s leaders presented a comprehensive report to the Octagon.  Their innovative project calls for creating and implementing a new strategy to provide more Risk Management information to the chapters… with an opportunity to educate others on campus as well.

 

Regional Governors received training from Octagon and Fraternity staff members.  The new role of RG’s now involves their participation in more local and regional alumni events as yet another way to identify volunteers who are willing to step up and lend a hand.

 

The conference agenda included an opportunity for undergraduates to witness and participate in a Model Ritual.  The Fleur-de-lis Society Reception welcomed those men who had attended a Chapter Leaders Day event in 2010.  More information on this coming winter’s CLD’s will be in the next issue of the Octagonian.

 

In the Convention Business Session, Supreme Prior Phil Glauben shared numerous highlights of a successful year where the fraternity ran effectively and efficiently with a balanced budget.  With 51 active chapters, Sigma Alpha Mu’s total membership now includes approximately 2,600 undergraduates and over 44,000 living alumni.  Following reports on all aspects of fraternity operations, proposed legislation to amend the Blue Book’s electoral process did not pass, nor did the proposal to require all chapter officer elections to be held in late fall.  Spirited elections resulted in the following members serving on the new Octagon and Supreme Council:

 

Supreme Prior, Marc Perlstein, North Texas ‘71
Vice Supreme Prior, Dan Grossberg, Miami OH ‘84
Supreme Exchequer, Andy Ahitow, Iowa ‘95
Supreme Recorder, Michael Hirsch, UCLA ‘91
Consul, Joe Gebbie, St. John’s ‘99
Consul, David Jacobson, Northern Illinois ‘04
Consul, Phil Glauben, North Texas, ‘73
Consul (undergraduate), Jon Basha, Arizona State ‘08

 

Thursday’s Lawrence D. Schaffer Leadership Recognition Dinner and Saturday’s Convention Banquet honored outstanding achievements by numerous individuals, undergraduate and alumni alike, as well as at the chapter and national level.

 

A special presentation was made to Sigma Alpha Mu’s beloved, quiet Superman, Sidney Guller (Washington U. ’43) with the renaming of the SAM Interfraternity Service Award in his honor.  The prestigious award was then bestowed upon James R. Favor of Pi Kappa Alpha for his role in helping to insure and educate fraternities and sororities about Risk Management issues in the 21^st century.

 

Next, with her upcoming retirement concluding 23 years of working in the Fraternity Office in various administrative capacities, Phyllis Grzeskowiak was thanked (and surprised) by Executive Director Lee Manders and an ovation of love and grateful appreciation from the banquet audience.  The Octagonian has long benefitted from Phyllis’ watchful eye.

 

Before dispersing on Sunday morning, chapter delegations received one-on-one attention in goal setting sessions with members of the Official Family – an opportunity to review the past, to process “the moment,” and to plan for the year ahead.

 

To Education Committee Chairman, Jack Causseaux and his hardworking committee go our thanks for planning yet another meaningful, national fraternity leadership experience.  Sigma Alpha Mu now looks ahead to August 10-12, 2012 when we shall gather again to celebrate the time-tested combination of brotherhood and leadership, this time in Indianapolis.  Fratres… start your engines!

Click here to go to the 2011 Convention Picture Slideshow