2007 National Convention
The 2007 National Convention was held at the Royal Sonesta Hotel in New Orleans from August 9th through 12th. The event was historic in that it was the first time in recent history that National Convention was held in the summer and included the Grand Chapter Conference.
Contents
Announcements
Teach For America Alternative Break
An alternative break will be held from January 8-12, 2008 in Phoenix, Arizona for up to 30 brothers. The team will work in Teach For America schools in Phoenix, providing whatever service is required by the schools. Applications are available on the National website and are due by September 30, 2007.
Jeff and Kim Johnson Existence and Expansion Endowment Fund
Jeffrey L. Johnson and his wife Kim announced the establishment of this fund to the Brotherhood Saturday, August 11. This fund was created to provide financial support for:
- Recruitment activities to prevent existing collegiate chapters from gong inactive
- Expansion activities to grow the number of active collegiate chapters
- Ongoing membership education to communicate how close Phi Sigma Pi came to ceasing to exist and the need for continual strong leadership to limit the possibility that a smiliar deterioration could happen again in the future.
Jeff and Kim Johnson personally pledged an initial $5,000 donation, the largest single donation in Phi Sigma Pi's history. They also pledged an additional $5,000 per year for nine additional years, based on stipulations of continued growth for the fraternity. The Johnsons also challenged Convention attendees to pledge $2,500 the day the fund was announced and promised to match the $2,500 if the challenge was met. Convention attendees pledged over $13,000, for a combined total of over $20,000 in gifts and pledges the day the fund was announced, leading to the fund becoming fully vested.
Recruitment Incentive Plan
Vice President of Membership Development Patrick Herron unveiled a new incentive plan designed to to recognize chapters and award them for long term membership development planning. The plan groups chapters into two classifications: those with 70+ members and those with under 70 members. Each classification has a different recruitment target-- 150% annual growth in membership for chapters under the 70 member mark and a sustained membership level for chapters over 70 members. Chapters that meet their recruitment target will be rewarded with a voucher for one free registration to National Convention. Chapters that do not meet their target will not be penalized in any way. The plan is being implemented for the 2007 calendar year.
Lamp of Knowledge Endowment Fund
The Lamp of Knowledge Fund was passed by the National Council in July 2007 and formally chartered into existence during Grand Chapter business in August 2007. The purpose of the fund is to increase member participation in leadership training, national events, and philanthropic activity specifically including Teach For America. Disbursement of monies from the fund will be evaluated by the National Council each year by February 15th. The immediate intention of the National Council is to use these funds to improve training and attendance at National Convention, and to increase grants for Phi Sigma Pi alumni that join the Teach For America corps.
National Council Elections
The Grand Chapter held a special election to fill the vacancy in the position of Vice President of Alumni Development created when Jonah Goodman was elected National President. The nominees were;
Awards Banquet
The following awards were presented at the Awards Banquet (in order of presentation):
Purple & Gold Awards
- Most Spirited Chapter Award - Gamma Sigma
- Outstanding Initiate Program Award - Gamma Epsilon
- Outstanding Fundraiser Award - Alpha Kappa
- Outstanding PR and Community Relations Award - Delta Omega
- Most Traveled Chapter Award - Gamma Chi
- Outstanding Website Award - Beta
- Most Conventions Attended Award - John Finnegan, Alpha Delta
- Outstanding Service Project Award - Beta Sigma
- Outstanding Risk Management Award - Omicron
- Outstanding Regional Event Award - Alpha Zeta (Keystone Region Event)
- Chapter Most Able to Overcome Adversity Award - Alpha Rho
Chapter Charters
National Awards
- Steven A. DiGuiseppe Administrative Award - Beta Alpha
- Charles W. Chance Alumni Award - Alpha Eta
- Clarence O. Williams Most Improved New Chapter Award - Epsilon Beta
- Sanders P. McComsey Most Improved Old Chapter Award - Beta Alpha
- Outstanding Chapter Advisor Award - Kathy Sanner, Beta Pi
- Jeffrey L. Johnson National Chapter Fellowship Award - Gamma Epsilon
- C.H. McClure Single Service Award - Gamma Tau
- Claude A. Phillips Fellowship Award - Beta Rho
- Dr. Eldo L. Hendricks Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Programming - Beta Omicron
- Rolla F. Wood Graduate Scholarship - Meghan Sidlenick, Sigma
Top in Region Awards
- Allegheny Region - Alpha Omega
- Capitol Region - Alpha Beta
- Central Region - Gamma Sigma
- East Region - Alpha Eta
- Great Lakes Region - Beta Alpha
- Keystone Region - Omicron
- Mid Atlantic Region - Beta Delta
- Mid South Region - Gamma Beta
- Northeast Region - Delta Alpha
- South Region - Gamma Theta
- Southeast Region - Gamma Epsilon
- Southwest Region - Delta Sigma