Convention Post-Game

Wow, that was simply incredible. Does Wayne know how to throw a Convention or what? Aside from the fact that everyone had a great time without negative incidents, the meetings and events were well-thought-out, a load of fun, highly productive, and extremely entertaining. What more could one ask for, especially in lieu of the noticeably empty chair that once was occupied by Bro? He was truly missed, but I know he was with us always. His presence will always be a part of ADG.

True, this past year was a hard one, and we had many obstacles and setbacks to overcome, but I firmly believe we persevered and came out on top. The sheer number of attendees, especially among the actives (and even more incredible, the number of new brothers who crossed just this past school year), reflected the power and poignancy of what we, as a brotherhood, represent and stand for. It was a rebirth after a year of struggles. The phoenix is rising, my friends!

I firmly believe that you are all to take credit for our successes, actives and alumni. We, as a Council, could not operate so smoothly without your help and support. The more you communicate with us, the more efficiently we can work on your behalf. We cannot (and should not) run your chapter for you, but we can assist you in running your chapter better. As always, let us know if there are any areas we can improve with you, and keep us appraised of any setbacks, successes, and milestones that you have.

I will be posting a copy of my speech from Final Banquet, if anyone would like a copy. You will be able to find it here: http://alphadeltagamma.org/executive/president.html. Since you guys know I'm not one for scripts and pre-worded talks, I have to warn you it is not word-for-word what was said there. I think the general idea is still the same, though. Incidentally, you can find the entire essay quoted (Elbert Hubbard's "Message to Garcia") here: http://www.birdsnest.com/garcia.htm.

It seems that convention has been productive already with several of you heading home and contacting other brothers about new ideas and events already. Indeed, Mike Blackstock called me last night late to discuss an idea he had for ADGEF. I won't steal his thunder here, but I will back up his e-mail sent to the National listserv just recently saying that it will impact you all. I'm very much excited and honored to be working with Mike in the days ahead.

Keep the motivation alive, brothers! Keep remembering the lessons learned and the knowledge that was garnered from meeting everyone from around the country. Remember, we are a brotherhood. While Rho has their own ways of doing things, while Lambda has it's own unique style, and while Psi has events and a culture that are only found in Miami, we are all members of the same overarching banner, that of a City Walled. May we never forget that.

Book your summer now for Kansas City 2010! We are anxiously awaiting the opportunity to see you all again, and hope that you had safe and pleasant travels from Milwaukee. Keep your eyes open for my upcoming visits to your chapters, and I look forward to seeing you all again very soon!

Ad Dei Gloriam

Cheers,
Art