19 Jul Convention 2023: Broader Horizons
WEEKEND IN REVIEW
On June 9th through June 11th, brothers from across North America convened to celebrate fellowship, undergo training, conduct business, and celebrate the successes of the Fraternity. The 34th Annual Convention of Lambda Phi Epsilon brought together over 200 attendees to Dallas, Texas for a unique opportunity to network, enjoy brotherhood, grow and develop as men, and move the Fraternity forward.
Friday brought together first-timers to welcome them to their first Convention, spark new relationships, and set expectations for the weekend. Following the brotherhood kick-off on Friday evening, attendees convened for the first keynote speaker, Susan Choi, a representative from Be The Match. Susan described the impact Lambda Phi Epsilon has had on the National Marrow Donor Program, and facilitated a conversation with a mother that has been impacted by the need to broaden the search for Asian Americans on the registry. The personal call with the mother who was currently living in Europe was heartfelt and extremely impactful to those engaged in the conversation. Brothers also folded over 300 paper cranes to send to a member of the registry who the Fraternity has been working with over the past year to help find a match.
Saturday began with a State of Affairs presentation to the membership presented by David Kim, a Spring 2014 initiate of the Zeta Chapter at the University of Texas, Austin. Following the session, attendees convened for a series of breakout blocks for educational enrichment throughout the weekend.
LEADERSHIP TRAINING
Breakout Block 1: “Breaking Ground”
• “Chapter Leadership in Action” by Andrew Fitzgibbon
• “Innovative Approaches to New Member Education” by Jeremy Dela Paz
• “Ask-Me-Anything with the Board of Directors” by the International Board
Breakout Block 2: Widening the Scope”
• “Beyond the Letters: Building Bridges Between Greek Organizations” by David Duong, Carl Zimmerman
•”How To Host Chapter Brotherhood Anniversaries: Case Studies from 5-, 10-, and 20-Year Reunions” by Dr. Bryan Dosono
• “The Lambda Creative Network” by Matthew Wright
Breakout Block 3: “Seeing Beyond”
• “Points, Perks, Partners, Prizes: A Frequent Flyer Guide to Travel Hacking” by Dr. Bryan Dosono
• “Education Team Q&A” by the IB Education Team
Breakout Block 4: “A New Day”
• “History of Lambda Phi Epsilon” by Victor Em, Hudson Tang, Dr. Bryan Dosono
• “Strolling 101” by Matthew Wright
After the breakout sessions, the Chapter Promotion meeting was held where Associate chapters attempt to gain full-fledged lettered status. Presentations were held and current Active chapters were given time to deliberate and make a decision on whether the chapter has shown continued excellence throughout the years.
Later on in the evening, attendees gathered for the Banquet Ceremony to recognize scholarship recipients, chapter achievements, and collective talents that culminated in another year of unprecedented success. In addition, the results of the Chapter Promotion meeting were announced.
The Sunday activities began with a breakfast for brothers to socialize and connect more deeply with those in their regions. Following was the House of Delegates meeting where chapter delegates elected new Board of Directors officers and passed legislation in the form of fraternal standards for the general membership. Proceeding this was an Open Forum where Brothers discussed the direction of the Fraternity, concerns, questions, or any other topics that required further discussion. The Brotherhood Showcase signaled the final event of Sunday evening that concluded with members and chapters showcasing their talents.
2023 AWARD RECIPIENTS
Chapter Achievements
- Outstanding Philanthropy Program: Virginia Tech
- Outstanding Communications Program: North Carolina State University
- Outstanding Asian Advocacy Program: University of Virginia
- Chapter of the Year: Virginia Tech
- Chapter Promotions: Virginia Tech – Beta Zeta Chapter
Individual Achievements
- Rising Leader Among Men Scholarship: Jun Seo Lee, University of Virginia
- Academic Excellence Scholarship: Aaron Chambers, Oklahoma State University
- Lambda of the Year Scholarship: Logan Taylor, University of Virginia
- Volunteer of the Year: Andrew Fitzgibbon, Virginia Tech
- Distinguished Service Award: David Kim (7 Years), Brian Van (6 Years), Ian Galope (5 Years), Zac Antonius (5 Years)
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