Convention Recap: Raina's Perspective

Even though we've been back from National Convention for a couple days, I have to admit I'm still as excited as when I left Orlando on Sunday. Here's a couple of highlights from the week I thought I'd share with all of you:

1) Being able to watch the business of the Fraternity and our Fraternity in general change in front of my eyes. Saturday's business sessions - both of them - created changes in our Fraternity in several aspects. If you did not attend National Convention, please make sure you read the National Convention Minutes as soon as they are published. Read about the changes made in Jurisdiction, which included structural changes to align with the new alumni program. Other major changes came out of Ritual and Regalia, so it will be important to read the minutes to gain a better understanding on how these effect you and your chapters. I could go on for an entire entry, but suffice to say I'm not going to. We'll let you know when the minutes become available so you can stay informed.

2) Watching the NCD come together as a district was one of the highlights of the entire
convention. As Alex alluded to in his entry, countless hours were spent at the pool and other venues getting to better know the brothers of the NCD. The image you see is from Wednesday's pool party. The NCD Caucuses were also an amazing chance to see the NCD come together and conduct business on a formal level. Everyone seemed to have something to contribute, whether it had been a question for a National Officer candidate or sharing the information their committee had been working on.

3) The information shared and gained from interacting with other Brothers and chapters across the nation. This was especially the case in the Interactive Psi session. We were able to share information about the NCD through the NCD Poster we had created in addition to getting the chance to pursue the other posters and learn about other chapters. Even at meals and just hanging out wherever ideas were shared and created and hopefully many of them will make an impact on the chapters of those individuals in attendance. If you were at convention and did not get a copy of the handout besides the NCD Poster at the Interactive Psi session, e-mail Jeremy (bluebiohazrd@gmail.com) or I (reganrai@gmail.com) and we'd be happy to provide a copy. If you did not attend, please e-mail us as well and we'd be more than willing to send one as well.

That's it for me now. Expect a post from me next week about all the MER planning I've been working on. Remember: Sunday, September 16th at Tiffin University! Be there or miss out on an AMAZING day of learning more about Membership Education!!!!