Brothers,
We reach out to you with news that all previously scheduled summer programming has been cancelled or postponed. All three sessions of Leadership Academy are cancelled and, after a motion approved and distributed by the National Council, a majority vote by the Residents Council’s passed, which postpones the 64th National Convention.
The impact of Covid-19 and forecasts for prolonged difficulty in gathering groups of any size led the National Council to make these difficult decisions. The National Council actively sought input from the leadership of the Undergraduate Advisory Board and the Executive Offices staff throughout this process. The health and safety of our membership was top priority.
Additionally, the financial resources of our members and chapters was considered thoughtfully. The financial impact to the organization has been mitigated through the cancellations and postponement. Conserving resources and helping our brotherhood focus on the immediate trials that we face with the uncertainty of the Fall academic term is paramount. The leadership of the organization is buoyed by the support of the brotherhood and the understanding that we have precedent in postponing a Convention during times of difficulty. Notably, our predecessors have postponed around the Great Depression and World War II, as well as economic struggles in the 1970’s.
To be clear, the National Council takes seriously their duties to project the well-being and stability of our Fraternity. We realize that many questions will surface and many programmatic details must still be worked out. We will be addressing these matters in a professional, timely and conscientious manner. We need to be responsible and agile during this time of uncertainty. This is a historical moment for our brotherhood. The Fraternity is committed to preserving our mission and providing for the current and future generations of Men of Distinction.
In Phi,
Bill Brasch, Louisville ‘67
National President
Dale Holland, Kent State ‘87
National Vice President
Tim Hudson, Truman ‘97
Chief Executive Officer
FAQs:
When and where will the events take place?
The continued unknowns that face the Fraternity have left the re-scheduling of these programs open ended. We will continue to work with the formerly contracted locations while also evaluating options that are in the best interest of the brotherhood.
What if I had already registered for Convention?
We will work with chapters and individuals on refunds for the registration ticket/package fees that may have already been purchased online.
Chapter Convention and Leadership Academy pools:
Chapters that have paid in full (meaning, no debt owed as of the end of Spring 2020 academic term) will have fully paid into the noted pools and will not be charged either fee in the upcoming academic year (this will be a savings of up to $1,600.00).