Former Mayor, Congressman, and State Senator, Thomas Sawyer, Akron '66, Passes into the Chapter Eternal

Sawyer on election night in Ohio in 1996.

It is with great sadness that we must share the passing of a truly great leader and man; Thomas Sawyer, Akron '66, has died after battling a long illness, and is survived by his wife, Joyce, and daughter, Amanda. Sawyer’s leadership and service extends far beyond our fraternity—having served his community and this country for nearly 40 years, Sawyer was a pillar of Northeast Ohio and dedicated himself to improving the lives of the individuals who call it home. Remembered as Akron’s political workhorse, Sawyer was tireless in his efforts to fight for his community.  

Beginning his political career in 1977, Sawyer was a member of the Ohio House of Representatives from 1977 to 1983, the mayor of Akron from 1984 to 1986, a congressman from Northeast Ohio from 1987 to 2003, and a member of the Ohio State Senate from 2007 to 2016. During his illustrious and impactful career, Sawyer accomplished a great deal for his community, but one of his greatest fights came while serving as Chairman of the House Post Office and Civil Service Subcommittee on Census and Population. Following the 1990 census, Sawyer was concerned that the census had missed more than two million Black Americans. Urging the Census Bureau to rectify this mistake, Sawyer was initially thwarted in his effort—he later called it, “gerrymander on a national scale.” However, his firm stance would later pay off when new procedures were put in place by the bureau for the 2000 Census, inspired in part by the National Academy study he fought for in 1990.  

Sawyer supporting former President, Bill Clinton.

Above all else, Sawyer was a man dedicated to the city in which he was born and raised. Born in Akron in 1945, Sawyer went on to receive bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s in Urban Education, both from the University of Akron. He began his career as a teacher in Cleveland before winning his first election in 1977. Sawyer was loved by his community and will certainly be missed by all those he impacted throughout his life.  

The Ethertons Hurdle Their Way to History

Eli Etherton.

If you believe that hurdling skills can run in the family, the Etherton’s would be the cornerstone of your argument. Not only did Eli Etherton, Nebraska Wesleyan '21, win this year’s D-III National Championship in the 60-meter hurdles, become an All-American, and set a new school record, he did it all just three years after dedicating himself to the sport. Prior to his time at Nebraska Wesleyan, Etherton played four years of varsity lacrosse with the Lincoln Rampage. Following his graduation from high school, Etherton enrolled at Nebraska Wesleyan—the school where his father, Scott, serves as an Assistant Track Coach. 

Scott Etherton is no stranger to success at NWU. He too was a D-III National Championship in the 60-yard hurdles, an All-American, and a school record holder. His time of :07.35 in the 60-yard hurdles was not just the fastest time at the NAIA Championships or the fastest time in NWU history, it was the second-fastest time ever among NCAA Division III athletes in 1986. Yet, Scott never pressured Eli to follow in his footsteps; it was Eli who eventually came to the conclusion on his own. Starting from square one, Etherton’s natural proclivity to the sport didn’t take much time to kick in. As he continued through the next three seasons, his time continued to drop, and he finally broke the school record. Though, breaking it once was not quite enough for Etherton—he subsequently beat his own record four times throughout his career.  

Etherton cruising over hurdles.

When asked about his success following his National Championship, Etherton stated, “Four months ago, I wouldn’t have believed you.” He also remarked, “Not everybody gets the chance to have their dad as a coach or have their dad as a school record-holder. And then go out and hopefully make him proud by doing the same event and getting your name up there next to his,” of being coached by his father.  

What to Expect for our Vegas Convention

Please allow this FAQ document to serve as a resource to navigate any questions you may have related to the 65th National Convention, primarily as it relates to the undergraduate experience.  This may be your first opportunity to see the scope of our organization and really connect with brothers from different chapters. In addition to enjoying all that Las Vegas has to offer we will be reviewing our governing documents, honoring achievements of Phi Kappa Tau Members, and electing our next leaders for the National Fraternity. 

Can my travel expenses be reimbursed? 

• As it currently stands, travel costs are eligible to be reimbursed up to 20% via the chapter’s CEG for National Convention related travel expenses. 

• There may be opportunities for additional funding, depending on the amount of money available in your Chapter’s CEG.

• You can find out how much is in your CEG by contacting your Chapter’s Success Manager.

Do I need to share my travel plans with anyone? 

• Yes, please submit your travel plans by completing this survey.

• Link -> https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/65thConventionUGTravel 

If I am flying, which airport should I fly in to? 

• We recommend flying into Harry Reid International Airport (LAS)  

If I am driving, will there be parking made available? 

• Parking will be your responsibility if you choose to drive to the event. 

• You can find out information about parking such as pricing and more here 

What time should I arrive on site on Sunday, July 9? 

• We recommend arriving before 2:00pm PST on Sunday, July 9 

• Programming will begin at 2:00pm PST on Sunday, July 9 for Undergraduate Delegates 

• For more information on checking into the hotel see below: 

  • Guests can reserve the night prior to their arrival date to secure and have the guestroom available upon their time of arrival. 

  • Guests can opt into Early Check-In (based on availability at time of arrival), fees may apply and vary. 

  • Guests can check their belongings at the Bell Desk (located at the main entrance) complimentary. 

Where can I check-in on Sunday, July 9? 

• We will have the registration booth open at 10:00am PST on Sunday, July 9 

• There will be a check-in station at the site, please look for Phi Kappa Tau branded material to help guide you. 

When should I depart? 

• Checkout will be scheduled for 11:00am PST on Wednesday, July 12.

• You may plan to depart any time after Tuesday night; but you will need to be checked out of your room no later than 11:00am PST on Wednesday, July 12.

Will lodging be provided? 

• For undergraduates, yes. The fraternity has a room block booked for the resident council coming that are representing their chapter. 

• For alumni, it is not a requirement to stay at Planet Hollywood to attend Convention and we encourage guests to experience Vegas how they would best choose. You can book at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino by clicking here. 

Do I have my own room?  

• Undergraduates will be sharing a room with at least one other individual. If you would like to request a single room, please let us know, and we will see if that option is available. 

Are meals going to be provided?  

• Yes, meals will be provided daily, except for Sunday, July 9. It will be a combination of group meals and prepaid cards for you to explore Vegas food options on your own.

What does the time commitment look like for each day?   

• We will be providing opportunities for programming and Convention sessions each day. Session will begin in the morning and run through the evening. If you are planning on serving as a delegate you should plan for the majority of your day to be accounted for.

Will there be a virtual component to the Convention? 

• No there will not be a virtual opportunity to serve as a delegate to the Convention, but some portions may be live streamed on social media.

What do I need to bring?  

• We suggest you bring summer clothes for casual outings and formal attire for when the Convention is in session. 

• Additionally, the hotel does have a pool, so bring a swimsuit if you would like. 

• Note taking tools such as a pen and paper, laptop, or tablet are also encouraged.

What is the attire for when on the Convention floor? 

• Attire when Convention is in session is, ‘pin attire,’ which means a suit is required. 

• Any other time, you are free to dress in whatever is casual/comfortable for you. 

Will we be able to leave the event site at all? 

• There will be time and opportunity for you to go on your own excursions; and we encourage you to find a brother and explore the Las Vegas Strip.

What if I need to leave early or cannot stay for the entire program? 

• It is the expectation you stay the entirety of the program. 

• If you need accommodation on early departure or arrival, please contact your chapter’s Success Manager 

What happens if I do not attend the Convention? 

• Your chapter will be losing out on the money it pays to ensure you have an opportunity to attend the Convention.

• Your Borradaile challenge status will be impacted if you do not have attendance at this year's Convention. 

Phi Kappa Tau Foundation Welcomes Craig Rogers as Executive Director

Craig Rogers, Executive Director of the Phi Kappa Tau Foundation

[Oxford, OH – May 9th, 2023] The Phi Kappa Tau Foundation, a long-standing philanthropic organization committed to supporting leadership development and educational initiatives for members of The Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity, is pleased to announce the appointment of Craig Rogers as its new executive director, effective May 22. Rogers brings a wealth of experience combined with a passion for encouraging philanthropy and fostering positive change in higher education and healthcare. 

In his new role, Craig Rogers will oversee the strategic direction and advancement operations of the Phi Kappa Tau Foundation. With his exceptional leadership skills and a deep understanding of philanthropy, he will be instrumental in furthering the Foundation's mission to grow its annual fund and endowment in order to empower and transform the lives of young men across the country. Rogers joins the Phi Kappa Tau Foundation with an impressive background in nonprofit management and development for educational, healthcare and research organizations. He has spent more than 35 years building relationships, leading teams and launching capital campaigns resulting in more than $250 million in private support for annual funds, scholarships, research, endowed funds and capital projects. 

His extensive experience includes serving as the lead executive in the areas of advancement or development or major gift director for Piedmont University, the Longwood University Foundation, Hampden-Sydney College, Bon Secours Richmond Health Care Foundation, and the V Foundation for Cancer Research. Rogers is married to his childhood sweetheart Denise, and they are the parents of two sons, Connor and Caleb. He is a native of Charlottesville, Virginia, a graduate of the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, and holds a masters degree from Averett University. He played Division I lacrosse, was a member of two national championship teams, and continues his involvement as an NCAA lacrosse official.  

In announcing the appointment, Foundation Board of Trustees Chairman Jeff Hilperts, Spring Hill ‘96 said, "We are delighted to welcome Craig Rogers as our new executive director. His passion, expertise and commitment to our mission align perfectly with our vision for the future of the Foundation. The Phi Kappa Tau Foundation is poised to embark on a new era of growth, and under Craig's leadership, we are confident that the Foundation will expand its reach and enhance its programs to equip young men with the skills and resources they need to become exceptional leaders in their communities.”  

Foundation Search Committee Chairman Doug Adams, Miami ‘81 agreed, saying, “We were highly impressed with the number of quality candidates we considered for the role. Craig’s prior fundraising success, capital campaign leadership, and relationship building skills stood out and make him the perfect candidate to take our Foundation to the next level. I believe he will quickly connect with our alumni and build the Foundation’s assets, enabling us to provide more support for the Fraternity’s leadership and character building programs, and more scholarships for young Phi Taus. He’s going to be a fantastic leader for the Foundation, and we’re excited to work side-by-side with him.” 

In reaction to his appointment, incoming Executive Director Craig Rogers said, “I am beginning to see a plan unfolding in my mind for the years to come. I can’t wait to get started to help bring to life the vision and dream for the Foundation described by its Trustees.” 

About the Phi Kappa Tau Foundation 

The Phi Kappa Tau Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to funding scholarships, leadership development programs, and educational initiatives for members of The Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity. By investing in the personal and professional growth of young men, the Foundation aims to empower them to make a positive difference in their communities and the world. 

For media inquiries, contact Logan Lukacs, Director of Communications, phone 513.523.4193 x226, email llukacs@phikappatau.org 

To download a pdf of this press release click here.

Nebraska Wesleyan Celebrates 100 Years

The men of the Upsilon Chapter celebrated their centennial this past April. Below is an event wrap-up written by Upsilon’s own, Kevin Boatright, Nebraska Wesleyan '71.

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The Upsilon Chapter at Nebraska Wesleyan celebrated its Centennial on April 21-22—hosting its annual Founders Day Dinner and a series of other special events. 

The observance marked the centennial of the chartering of a local Nebraska Wesleyan fraternity as the 20th chapter of Phi Kappa Tau. The local group originated with a men’s and women’s literary society formed on campus in 1888. 

“We’re proud to be one of Phi Kappa Tau’s oldest chapters,” said Mike Munro, Nebraska Wesleyan '81, Chairman of the Board of Governors. “We’re also proud of our heritage at Nebraska Wesleyan, going back to the very beginnings of the university.” 

Candlelight circle at the Centennial Celebration.

Munro noted that the vision of Phi Kappa Tau is “to be recognized as a leadership organization that binds men together and challenges them to improve their campuses and the world.” Its mission is “to champion a lifelong commitment to brotherhood, learning, ethical leadership and exemplary character.” 

“As individuals and as a group, we strive to fulfill both those statements,” said Munro. His son John Munro, Nebraska Wesleyan '22, is a freshman and joined the fraternity last fall. Another son, the late David Munro, Nebraska Wesleyan '12, was initiated when Upsilon was rechartered in October 2012. 

Men of Upsilon at their house.

Upsilon has received the Roland Maxwell Outstanding Chapter Trophy eight times since the award was created in 1961. Five national presidents have also come from Upsilon: Harry Taylor ’23, Warren Parker ’31, Thomas Cunningham ’60, John Green ’60, and Rodney Wilmoth ’57. 

Current Upsilon members of the Phi Kappa Tau Hall of Fame are John E. Sampson ’60 and John Gerrard ‘73. Sampson was Honorary Chair of the Centennial Celebration and Gerrard was the featured speaker at the Founders Day Dinner. Also at the dinner were the grandson of Harry Taylor, Nebraska Wesleyan ’23, regarded as Upsilon’s founder, and Steve Harrell, Iowa State '66, the brother of Thomas Cunningham and son of Upsilon’s first chapter president, Bryan Harrell, Nebraska Wesleyan '23. 

On April 21, a public commemoration took place at Nebraska Wesleyan’s Old Main and a tree was dedicated nearby. Principal speakers were Jeff Salem, Nebraska Wesleyan '02, of the Arbor Day Foundation and past National President Charlie Ball, Miami ’82, who represented the fraternity as a whole. On April 22, a National Register of Historic Places plaque was dedicated at the 1928 chapter house, and members participated in the inaugural “Legacy Walk,” touching 12 sites on campus and in the community that relate to the fraternity’s origins. 

“We had an excellent turnout of alumni, students, parents and other Greeks all weekend,” said Munro. “It was a meaningful and memorable opportunity for fellowship, and a time to reflect on our place at Nebraska Wesleyan and within Phi Kappa Tau – in the past, the present and the future.” 

Sam Morrison, Cornell '14, Shines Off-Broadway in One Man Show

Phi Tau’s own Sam Morrison, Cornell '14, wrapped his one man show, Sugar Daddy, on February 17th. The off-Broadway hit ran for over a month at New York’s SoHo Playhouse and received acclaim from the New York Times and the Daily Beast; it also received acclaim from celebrities like Andy Cohen and Alan Cumming. Pulling from grief over the loss of his partner, Jonathan, to COVID-19, Morrison’s one man show finds humor in loss and heartbreak. The shows name, “Sugar Daddy” is a double entendre alluding to the age gap between the 28-year-old Morrison and Jonathan, who was 51 at the time of his death, and Morrison’s glucose monitor used to measure his blood sugar levels. Morrison received his Type-1 diabetes diagnosis shortly after the passing of his partner—the doctors suggest that this may have been brought on by grief.  

Throughout his promotion of the show, Morrison appeared on Late Night with Seth Meyers to perform stand up and was interviewed by many notable news sources. Touching on the emotional notes of the show, Morrison has expressed his gratitude in sharing his grief and experience with others. In an interview with Huffpost, Morrison stated, “I love making comedy that’s part of a larger narrative, meaningful in some way. Right now, this feels like my story. I’ll keep working on this, workshopping and changing it. But I have plenty of other stories in me ― I think we all do when we dig deep.”  

Morrison has also performed on The Drew Barrymore Show, appeared on Watch What Happens Live & Tamron Hall, and was staffed on the first season of Blind Date, hosted by Nikki Glaser, currently airing on Bravo. 

A High-Achieving Quarter for the Strategic Plan

This is a part of the Strategic Plan 2025 series. 

January to March of 2023 yielded one of our most productive quarters so far in our road to achieve the goals of our 2025 Strategic Plan. The objectives for the quarter were to: 

• Adopt proactive approach towards growth.

• Validate and refine the value delivery of fraternity programs. 

• Refine and expand membership engagement.

• Architect a high-performance culture and collaborative team. 

Matt Arnold, CEO

Architect a high-performance culture and collaborative team: We are ecstatic to announce that with the completion of this quarter, the Executive Offices staff and key volunteers achieved an 81% completion rate for our quarterly goals. In addition to that, the selection process for our next CEO wrapped up, culminating in the selection of Matt Arnold as the new Chief Executive Officer of the Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity.  

Executive Offices Staff with WVU President E. Gordon Gee

Adopt a proactive approach towards growth: As you may have noticed, growth is a massive priority in this 2025 Strategic Plan. This past quarter there was a focus placed on the administrative excellence of our chapters in reporting new members and initiations. Over the course of the three months the fraternity took in a reported 394 associates and 68% of fall associates were reported as initiated. To assist with growth, three associate chapters were formally started during the quarter: Alpha Xi at West Virginia University, Gamma Eta at East Carolina University, and Zeta Sigma at Grand Valley State. These associate chapters accounted for a total of 94 new members for the quarter. 

The Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, the site of the 65th National Convention.

Validate and refine the value delivery of fraternity programs: To create a broader experience for chapter leaders Zenith Officer’s Institute, a revision of what was formerly President’s academy, became our largest in-person undergraduate program since 2020. Plans were put in place to continue forward with The Palm Program, an updated new member education program. An emphasis was placed on ensuring brothers had earlier access to the Phi Kappa Tau Foundation scholarship application which resulted in a significant increase in submitted applications. Finally, plans went further into motion to plan the 65th National Convention of Phi Kappa Tau including registration going live.  

Refine and expand membership engagement: Membership engagement can mean a different thing to different brothers depending on where they are in their journey. This past quarter a focus was placed refreshing our new member materials. A task force was established to review the current membership manual which will receive its first major refresh since 2006. Additionally, the chapter services team worked to reform how membership badges and new member materials are delivered to chapters in a more timely manner. One area of focus that was missed this past quarter was a goal to improve our ability to contact young alumni, many of whom still have .edu email addresses in our database, we will work in future quarters on tactics for gathering more accurate information for this demographic.  

There’s a lot of work to be done in the quarters to come, if you would like to learn more about the Strategic Plan and how you can make a direct impact on our goals visit phikappatau.org/strategicplan. 

Matt Arnold Named Chief Executive Officer of the Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity

Matt Arnold, CEO

[Oxford, OH – April 10th 2023] Phi Kappa Tau has a new leader at the helm. After an extensive search process by our National Council, aided by Columns Fundraising, we are pleased to announce that Matt Arnold will be assuming the position of Chief Executive Officer as of today, April 10th, 2023.  

Coming to us with over 20 years of experience in the fraternity and sorority industry, Arnold has spent the past decade in a senior sales executive role at memberplanet, then HistoryIT. Prior to this position, he spent twelve years with the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity—acting as a chief architect in implementing lasting change in expansion, chapter services, and operations. As the CEO of Phi Kappa Tau, Arnold hopes to utilize his experience to grow our organization while following through on the Strategic Plan goals and initiatives.  

Currently Arnold lives in Indianapolis with his wife, Andrea, and their three children, Lily, Max, and Laney. He will be commuting to the Executive Offices and looks forward to building great working relationships with everyone on staff. Regarding his new position, Arnold stated: 

“I am thrilled to join the Phi Kappa Tau family in its pursuit to strengthen and grow the brotherhood. The Fraternity’s visionary leadership, along with its Strategic Plan, has positioned Phi Kappa Tau for exciting new opportunities and to enhance the entire membership experience. I look forward to joining the tremendous team of national volunteers and staff to accelerate our momentum.” 

We are excited to have Matt Arnold at the forefront of a new chapter in the Phi Kappa Tau story. Regarding this hiring, our National President, Dale Holland, Kent State ’87, passed along this message from himself and the National Council: 

“We welcome Matt Arnold to the Phi Tau family; the National Council and I are super excited as the Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity enters a new chapter. We are confident that Matt has the skills, passion, and professional expertise to lead our fraternity and the Executive Offices in Oxford. We wish to thank Wes Wicker and his team at Columns Fundraising Inc. for their assistance in hiring our new CEO. This is the first time in the history of Phi Kappa Tau that we have hired a non-Phi Tau to serve as our CEO, and this benchmark will pay huge dividends going forward. Matt possesses the skills to help the Fraternity maintain and sustain our current chapters, as well as continuing to move forward with our Strategic Plan goals. Please come to our 65th National Convention this July and help me welcome Matt Arnold to the rest of the Phi Kappa Tau Ecosystem.” 

We would like to thank Sam Medley, Transylvania '94, for acting as interim CEO during this time of transition and are pleased that he will continue to serve as a special advisor to the CEO.

Founded in 1906, Phi Kappa Tau is a social men’s fraternity committed to brotherhood, learning, ethical leadership and exemplary character. Headquartered in Oxford, Ohio, the fraternity consists of 88 active chapters and an extensive alumni network across the country.  

For a PDF version of this release click here.

Famed Film Editor Robert Dalva, Colgate '61, Passes in January

By Dalton Lee, Baldwin Wallace ’11

In the mid 1960’s a group of young men came the USC School of Cinematic Arts; these men were comprised of promising directors, screenwriters, producers, editors, and cinematographers. An astounding 12 of them would go on to have successful careers in the film industry and would be dubbed with the moniker, “The Dirty Dozen,” after the 1967 Robert Aldrich film of the same name. Among those distinguished men was Alpha Upsilon alumnus, Robert Dalva, Colgate '61. Following his three post-graduate years at USC, Dalva began working with Francis Ford Coppola and fellow classmate, George Lucas, at their innovative production company, American Zoetrope. Dalva and Lucas would rekindle their partnership again on the original Star Wars, where Dalva handled second-unit photography. Two years later Dalva landed the role of Editor for The Black Stallion, which netted him an Academy Award nomination for Best Film Editing. 

As his career progressed, Dalva continued to work on big name films and with prestigious filmmakers. His resume includes Jumanji, Captain America: The First Avenger, October Sky, Jurassic Park III, Raising Cain, Lovelace, Hidalgo, and countless others. Along with his extensive editing resume, Dalva directed the sequel The Black Stallion Returns in 1983. In 2017, he began teaching part-time at the San Francisco Film School. On January 27th, 2023, Robert Dalva entered the chapter eternal. Dalva is survived by his wife, Marcia, whom he married in 1964; sons Matthew, Cory, and Marshall; daughter Jessica; grandchildren Nathan, Zach, Luellen and Calvin; and brother Leon. 

In a Hollywood Reporter article, it was shared that, “Dalva ‘felt that movies move through time but are finite,’ Matthew Dalva said. ‘The experience of a movie takes you along second by second, minute-by-minute, shot after shot, until the experience ends. But time is rarely real in a movie, it must be compressed and manipulated. The stories that he helped tell, pace, structure and set the mood entertained and made millions experience different worlds and stories and see new things.’” 

Strategy in Motion

This is a part of the Strategic Plan 2025 series. 

October 2022-December 2022 marked the final quarter of the 2022 Calendar Year and served to tee Phi Kappa Tau up for a strong 2022. We want to reflect on the goals set during that period and what was set in motion for 2023.  

The goals for the October 2022-December 2022 Quarter Were: 

1. Adopt proactive approach towards growth 

2. Develop program strategy and execution plans that deliver value 

3. Refine and expand membership engagement 

4. Architect a high-performance culture and collaborative team 

Adopt a proactive approach towards growth: 

Many chapters had their strongest recruiting semester in years, such as Alpha Sigma at Colorado State.

To achieve a proactive approach towards growth, many small adjustments needed to be made and areas of improvement had to be identified. The close of the Fall semester brought in 965 new associate members, which was 65 over our goal for the quarter. This was due to increased recruitment by the chapters and proactive outreach via the recruitment services program. New recruitment and branding materials also aided the efforts to ensure a professional and consistent look amongst the chapters. This growth was also supported by our expansion department which associated over 100 men through their efforts in the quarter which accounted for just over 10% of total associates. We also saw the beginning of a new “revitalization” program at the University of Kansas in which recruiters went to our Beta Theta chapter which resulted in a doubling of the chapter size during the project.  

Some areas of improvement include the timeliness of initiation as only 8% of new associates were reported as initiated and a process is being developed to address this inconsistency with reporting moving forward.  

Develop program strategy and execution plans that deliver value:

The logo used to advertise “Zenith Officer Institute”

Research is critical in the development of our programming for undergraduate and graduate members. To do so we launched the Brotherhood Assessment to which we received 30% completion rate across all chapters. We look forward to increasing this survey completion in future collaboration with Dyad Strategies to increase the quality of information regarding our membership.  

The development of a new, expanded officer academy took place with the creation of Zenith Officer Institute that would go on to take place the following quarter. Further developments were made regarding the refined membership orientation program “The Palm,” and final preparations were made for the Spring 2023 launch.  

Refine membership engagement:

The “Veteran Recognition Pin” is sent free of charge to US Veteran members.

Multiple steps were taken to refine overall membership engagement. On the alumni side, a new graduate transition best practices process was created and delivered to volunteers, and research began on best ways to increase volunteer engagement and utilization of digital resources such as Member Planet. The Veteran Recognition form launch made it simple for veteran members to receive their newly developed commemorative pin and the development of forms for the 25th and 50th anniversary lapel pins. 

For undergraduates, a few small but impactful resources were developed including travel tips guide for undergraduates, the Brothers Keeper Archive for peer-to-peer recognition, and new recruitment marketing materials/templates for chapters to use.  

In addition to all the developed resources we also made refinements to our membership materials such as shifting how we distribute associate pins to ensure more timely acquisition of materials for chapters, and the exploration of a new official store that chapters can more easily access high quality Phi Kappa Tau merchandise. 

Architect a high-performance culture and collaborative team:

The CEO search began in December 2022.

As an organization, we have been striving to refine our processes as well as continue to identify necessary shifts to further progress the goals of the Strategic Plan. There is still a lot of work to be done in identifying what specific processes need to be changed and how we document the culture and workflow of the Executive Offices, volunteer stakeholders, and of course – our undergraduate members.  

A key piece of this addressed during the quarter was the launch of the CEO search through columns fundraising to identify the next Chief Executive Officer of the Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity expected to be selected in Spring of 2023. With the addition of a new CEO to the team, we anticipate a greater attention to our volunteer structure and forward momentum on key areas of executive function.  

Overall: 

This quarter saw great strides as a team in moving the Strategic Plan forward and served as a great exercise in making both small and large improvements to set Phi Kappa Tau up for success. We have quite a bit of work yet to do to achieve our 2025 goals, and aligning all stakeholders is a key piece to that. Visit phikappatau.org/strategicplan for more information and to track progress. Our next update will be out April 15th which will go over the January-March 2023 quarter.