The welcome party is in full swing!

Tim’s Convention Musings

Hello AKPsi,

The time we have been waiting for is finally here. Convention 2011 has started at the amazing Biltmore Hotel in Phoenix. Day 1 has consisted of traveling and exploring, and based on the first day, you can tell it will be amazing. I arrived in Phoenix at noon from my long flight from Orlando and met up with an old friend from LSU at the airport who I originally met at the 2007 convention. We then got situated in the room and met up with some brothers from the University of Washington who were going to crash in our room night 1. Then I went and got a full body massage offered to  AKPsi at a 30% discount,  which really helped me relax. Then I rested for the day and eventually made it to the pool where I met some brothers from Kentucky, Portland State and Western Washington. While we were in the pool some other brothers from the UCF chapter [editor's note:  University of Central Florida] finally arrived from their cross country drive from Orlando to Phoenix. It was a great day 1!  Now I am ready for day 2.

Tim Veigle

AKPsi Fraternal Migration to Phoenix Has Begun

Brothers from all ends of the earth have begun their pilgramage to the 2011 Phoenix Convention. They are travelling by air, bus, van, and car.  Some are packing light, trying to travel with just one carry-on.  Others are bringing everything but the kitchen sink in 6 checked pieces of luggage (yes, Wendy, that’s you!).  Some have started their biennial AKPsi adventure this weekend, with many of the volunteers and staff arriving into town to make their last minute preparations so that every detail is put into place before the masses arrive on Wednesday.  Others are starting 2-3 day roadtrips to get to the hotel in time for the festivities.

Whether travelling from near or far, the brothers of Alpha Kappa Psi, both student and alumni, and their families and guests are converging on Phoenix to share their love of our great fraternity, to meet and network with brother worldwide, to learn from and to share knowledge with each other, to deliberate legislation and to elect our new leaders, and most of all to have a great time with their extended family — the brothers of AKPsi.

I am sitting here in my living room, overlooking the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, Thailand, and thinking back to the past conventions that I had attended either as a student or a volunteer:  1987 Des Moines, 1989 Milwaukee, 1991 Denver, and 1993 Nashville.  Some of my best friends and memories were made at these conventions.  I missed out on the 1995 Washingtn DC convention because I had begun my new life in Asia (Japan) one month previously.  However, I managed to return for the 1999 Orlando Convention by combining a visit to my family 2 hours away in Ocala and the convention at the same time.  It was in Orlando that I realized that although I do not see my brothers often, whenever we get together it is like time has stopped.  We just pick up where we had left off the last time we saw each other…a true family.

It is with these memories that I wish all the delegates, volunteers, and other convention attendees the best of times this week in Phoenix.  Reach out and make new friends.  Embrace those who you have not seen in the previous two years.  Take advantage of all the convention has to offer.

May your travels be safe and your experiences beyond expectations.

Fraternally,

Stephen Smith, Alpha Phi ’86Life

Florida Gold Coast Alumni Chapter, founding member

Westcentral Regional Manager of Alumni Relations

P.S.  I have recruited some blog contributers for first hand reporting and the sharing of convention insights during the convention, so stay tuned to this blog.

Candidate Message: Chad E. Smith

Chad E. Smith

My name is Chad Smith and I am a Candidate for Alpha Kappa Psi Fraternity President. I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself to you, make myself available to answer any questions you might have about my campaign and what I plan to do if elected President at the Phoenix Convention this July.

Just to tell you about myself, I have been a member of AKPsi since 1993 and a Fraternity Volunteer since 1996. I have served our Fraternity as a Chapter Advisor, Colony Advisor, Regional Manager, Section Director and most recently the Northeast Regional Director from 2003 to 2011. I have had the opportunity to work with our Board of Directors on our Strategic Plan, as well as facilitate and advise the Membership Task Force, which was looking at the
needs of our members. As AKPsi President, I am looking to be an advocate to our members…giving you a voice that is going to be heard throughout our
Fraternity. I also want to be the type of President that is going to work with our Management Team, Board of Directors, and the Heritage Center Staff to make
sure that you are getting everything that you want in a First Class Business Fraternity. Some of my priorities are to focus on our Fraternity Membership,
working to make sure that our Alumni are staying involved, whether it is on the Chapter Level, within a local Alumni Chapter or even volunteering, and lastly
working to make sure that our Fraternity Programming is staying relevant to the needs of all of our members.

By now you have received my Fraternity Resume and most likely have reviewed it with your Chapter Members. I invite you to join my Facebook Page which is Chad E. Smith for Alpha Kappa Psi President and which has all of my Campaign Information, my Fraternity Information, as well as the ability to look at my Official Platform. I also invite you to email me at chad.smith7@gmail.com if you have any questions at all that I can answer about Convention, or anything about AKPsi. I would love to hear from you and I welcome your questions, comments or concerns.  If you talk to Brothers that have worked with me, they will tell you I am a very approachable person and I want to hear from our members on how your AKPsi Experience is and has been and how we can make AKPsi better for us and for future Brothers.

I thank you for your time and I look forward to seeing and talking with you in Phoenix at Convention. Have a great day.

In U… and I…

Chad E. Smith

AKPsi 2011 Presidential Candidate and Certified Fraternity Volunteer

Candidate Message: Alexander T. Sultan

Alexander T. Sultan

“Brothers of Alpha Kappa Psi, it has been an honor serving you these past 4 years as the Executive Vice President. I feel now is the perfect time for me to step up and lead our organization forward as the fraternity’s next President. Hopefully you have seen my professional and fraternal resumes in the Convention Legislation Packet, which outlines my background and experience that I can bring to the role of President. I believe my fraternal experiences as a student leader, a Regional Director and most recently as Executive Vice President gives me a good holistic view into the Fraternity’s Operations and will help me in guiding our organization forward over the next two years. I believe my professional experience as a consultant and advisor to Corporate America, Nonprofit Organizations, and the US Government, has given me the necessary skills to continue making a positive impact on the Fraternity if elected as your President.

While I have had the opportunity to meet many of you at a Principled Business Leadership Institute (PBLI), to many of you, I was just a name you had to memorize on a pledge quiz or fraternal exam. I created an Official Election Page on Facebook where I have provided information to help you get to know me a little better. You can reach it by going to http://www.sultan2011.com. In addition, I have a personal AKPsi-focused website http://www.AKPsiAlexander.com/ where you can see some of my blog entries and a current, up-to-date resume. I want to be more than just a name you had to memorize, so please feel free to reach out to me via email at AKPsi.Alexander@gmail.com . I am here for you and would love to hear what you have to say.

Thank you very much for allowing me to serve as your Executive Vice President the past 4 years and I hope you will give me the opportunity to continue serving you. My campaign is based on 3 pillars that I am bringing to the table: service, innovation, and vision. I look forward to working with you and your chapter to define the strategy of Alpha Kappa Psi for the future.”

An Oasis of Thanks for the Donations to Arizona Quest for Kids

Thanks for all the early donations made on behalf of Arizona Quest for Kids at the PBLIs.  A total of 3,530 items were collected from a total of 29 chapters throughout the United States.  Donations were received from:

Austin Peay University

Boise State University

College of Charleston

Colorado State University

Florida Atlantic University

Georgia State University

Grand Valley State University

Iowa State Univesity

Kansas State University

Loyola University-Chicago

Missouri Western State College

Ohio State University

Purdue University

Towson University

University of Calgary

University of California-Merced

University of Delaware

University of Florida

University of Georgia

University of Iowa

University of Kansas

University of Memphis

University of Missouri

University of Nebraska (Lincoln)

University of Nevada-Reno

University of Southern Indiana

University of Tennessee

University of Toledo

Wake Forest University

Arizona Quest for Kids (AQFK) prepares Arizona students, who would otherwise not have the opportunity, for success in higher education through mentoring, enrichment, and college guidance.

Keeping with our Core Values of Knowledge and Service, Alpha Kappa Psi is partnering with AQFK at the 2011 Convention to help them reach their vision of creating a culture where students embrace and achieve higher education, empowering them to become engaged members of their communities.

ARIZONA QUEST FOR KIDS PROGRAM GOALS

The Quest program encompasses four areas that are fundamental to creating a successful path to college admittance and graduation and a professional career. This path of success is developed through the following goals:

1.  Help youth develop meaningful relationships with caring role models through mentoring.

2.  Broaden the life experience of youth and their families through enrichment activities.

3. Ensure, through intensive college guidance, that youth are eligible to apply for admission to the college/university of their choice in Arizona, and that youth have the ability to seek out financial support to fund their college education.

4. Provide youth’s parents with the knowledge and skills to best help their children in their quest for a college education.

It is not too late to donate.  Just bring an item or items from the following donation list with you to Phoenix.

DONATION LIST

AKPsi will assist AQFK’s in fulfilling their vision by collecting the following items for distribution to students in the Quest program:

• University pennants
• USB memory sticks
• School supplies
  • Pens
  • Pencils
  • Glue sticks
  • Crayons
  • Plain two-pocket folders
  • Notebooks
• Board games
• Coloring books

Bring your items with you to the Convention and help make the dream of attending post-secondanry education a reality for the students of AQFK. All items should be new. Electronic games and items with violent, frightening or adult-related themes cannot be accepted.

Brothers Night Out

Rawhide Western Town and Steakhouse

Thursday, July 28, 2011, 7:00 – 11:00 PM

Additional Cost of $45

A fun evening at Rawhide Western Town and Steakhouse. Rawhide offers friendly old west hospitality, good fun and tasty home-cooked favorites. Rawhide has a chuck wagon full of fun in store for you — gunfights, stunt shows, shootin’ gallery, rock climbing, stagecoach rides, desert train ride, burro rides, live country music, a real blacksmith, and much more. This event is open to students, alumni and guests and includes transportation and a chuck wagon meal.

The AKPsi Foundation’s Jail & Bail Fundraiser will also be held at the event.  Watch and tease the leadership of AKPsi as they rot away in jail, waiting for someone to bail them out.  All funds raised will go to support scholarships, leadership and educational programs.

This is a great event for the brothers who are located in the Phoenix area to network with students and alumni from across the nation as well.