Hearts Aglow in Dallas

Hearts Aglow in Dallas: Sights and Sounds of an Electric Convention

by Sutton Jacobs, Wittenberg '18

Everything is bigger in Texas, including Beta Conventions. For only the second time in history, the Fraternity’s annual reunion was held in the Metroplex, hosted August 3-6, 2023, at the Renaissance Dallas Addison Hotel.

Three local chapter presidents – Brian Hopp, TCU ’25, Jordan Nash, Texas at Arlington ’23, and James Tota, SMU ’25 – proudly welcomed some 850 Betas, Sweethearts and friends to the “Big D” and the 184th General Convention.

Attendees were wowed Thursday night with the Model Initiation kickoff and then engaged in the third installment of The Great Conversation. Facilitated in his highly effective knee-to-knee format to promote deeper conversations, Brother Dipper DiPaolo, Michigan ’78, was welcomed back for the first time since the 175th anniversary in Oxford. He called for Beta to reclaim the positive aspect of being “radical,” part of Beta’s pioneering DNA.

Some 85 awards were received by more than 50 chapters and individuals at Friday’s Awards Luncheon, and Undergraduate Speaker Adam Jolles, Kansas ’24, moved all attendees as he spoke on his chapter’s support of a brother with the recurrence of Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

Among the many items of debate in the legislation hall, delegates were pleased with the growth of two young chapters and approved the charters of the Zeta Beta Chapter at South Florida and Theta Theta Chapter at Embry-Riddle. A Friday night at the ballpark with brothers new and old, cheering on the Texas Rangers, was the perfect cap to a day of education and legislation.

I came here to be with my brothers. I came here to hear words of wisdom. To reconnect, to talk to you undergraduates, to be inspired by you. You are our future, and I have such great hope for you. I need that energy of your youth and enthusiasm.

— Tom Purinton, Kansas State ’63

The awards and recognition continued into Saturday night, as the Celebration Banquet was the day’s featured event. There, 13 John Reily Knox Awards were presented to deserving chapters along with the presentation of two Oxford Cups and the Francis W. Shepardson Award.

A thrilling end to the entire weekend was The Dragon Classic golf outing, returning for the first time since 2009. Foursomes hit the links to show off their best in the scramble. In dramatic fashion, Brother Luke Rimsky, Dayton ’24, tried to win the closest to the pin challenge and came away with a hole-in-one!

For a legislation summary, news, photo galleries, videos and more, visit beta.org/cnv184.

Final Reflection as General Fraternity President

Tom Cassady, Cincinnati '76, in Opening Remarks to Trustees at His Final Board Meeting

As the elected and appointed leaders of Beta Theta Pi, we gather together in this Board of Trustees meeting just prior to the 184th annual Convention. We will conduct the important business of the Fraternity in both the meeting as a Board and in the General Convention.

Let us never forget the real reason we are here: to promote the fundamental objects of our Fraternity. As you know, they are “the mutual assistance in the honorable labors and aspirations of life, the devotion to the cultivation of the intellect, unsullied friendship and unfaltering fidelity.” Our founders chose these principles to create and inspire a compelling brotherhood based on love.

We work on diversity, equity and inclusion; new member education; and creating a culture of safety, leadership, achievement, accountability, service and philanthropy in order to build something better, something aspirational. It enables us to care more personally and empowers us to love more deeply – which makes us a better brother, and will make us better men, husbands, fathers and leaders.

C.S. Lewis said, “To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket — safe, dark, motionless, airless — it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable.”

Beta brothers are vulnerable, authentic and real. We hold each other accountable with discipline and kindness in our Eyes of Wooglin. We gently push our friends to be better, and we courageously and lovingly hold them accountable.

Discipline is what makes a Beta of character: We are willing to delay gratification, accept responsibility and dedicate ourselves to the truth, as Scott Peck talks about in “The Road Less Traveled.” It is only with discipline that we can truly love, and it is only with discipline that we can have a strong brotherhood.

The mental health of our members is a significant concern that challenges us as leaders. We know that a healthy, loving brotherhood is an ideal antidote. Kindness, inclusivity and listening are the tools we use to remedy the toxins of isolation and loneliness. Wooglin taught us, and we teach our new members.

I want to say one more time for the record how humbled I am to serve as General Fraternity President of this Great and Good Fraternity. Other than my family, Beta has been the most important institution of my life. It has changed me into the man I am — still imperfect, still a dreamer, still a lover, but better nonetheless. I will never be able to repay her for all I have learned.

Now, if you would, please join me by standing and sharing Beta’s Loving Cup and singing our most famous fraternal song. 