DELEGATES ELECT THREE BROTHERS TO SERVE ON FRATERNITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES Among the many annual traditions of a Beta Theta Pi General Convention, few have more lasting impact than the delegates’ charge to elect members to the Fraternity Board of Trustees. This year’s newly-elected Trustees comprise a quarter of the Board’s 12-man total membership, in effect allowing this year’s legislative body to influence Beta’s path forward for years to come. Committee interviews and a full floor debate promised a rigorous review of all candidates. Yesterday, the delegates of the 179th General Convention made their decisions, electing the following Beta brothers to a three-year term of service:
SCHIMPF KEYNOTE ADDRESS: “LEADERSHIP IS NOT EASY.” Ben Swartz, Connecticut ’05 General Fraternity Treasurer
Ken Grispin, Rutgers ’70 Fraternity Vice President
Mike Wortman, Nebraska ’70 Fraternity Vice President
Ben joined the Zeta Chi Chapter at Connecticut in 2001. Since then, he has served as assistant district chief and district chief, Convention parliamentarian, leadership program facilitator and, most recently, as a Fraternity Board Vice President. He is a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Fraud Examiner, and moved to Washington, D.C., in 2015 to work in tax administration at the Treasury Department.
Ken’s Beta experience began in 1967 when he became a brother of the Beta Gamma Chapter. Recently retired as a New Jersey Superior Court Judge, Ken’s election marks his return to the Fraternity Board after 11 years. Prior to that, he served on the Foundation Board of Directors from 2004-2007. A former Rutgers University Trustee, Judge Grispin and his Beta Sweetheart, Lizanne, live in Summit, New Jersey.
Mike was initiated into the Alpha Tau Chapter of Beta Theta Pi in the spring of 1967, where he has now served as chapter counselor for 19 years – including being named “Advisor of the Year” in 2000. Mike was elected to his first term on the Fraternity Board of Trustees in 2015. That year, he also retired after serving as a high school principal for 40 years. Mike and his wife, Karen, live in Lincoln.
A Convention tradition continued yesterday with the undergraduate keynote address by 2018 NIC Undergraduate Award of Distinction recipient Jack Schimpf, Missouri ’18. As president, Schimpf oversaw the transition to a substance-free chapter house. Then, recognizing the benefits that came with it, he assumed the mantle of courageous leadership by advocating for the change community-wide. Schimpf delivered a message about the difficulties of leading people – an act even more important, and thereby even more challenging, given circumstances Greek leaders face today. “It’s time for Beta to be a leader. It’s time for Beta to show our brothers they can follow us to brighter days. We’ve done it before and we can do it again. Do you have the courage to lead? If we have that, we’re going to be okay. We’ll earn back our reputation as The Leadership Fraternity.”
EMCEES AND SPECIAL GUESTS | SATURDAY District Chief Steven Cruz, Florida International ’12, reprises the role of president for a second year as a part of this morning’s Model Initiation Ceremony.
Fraternity Trustee Brad Kiesling, Westminster ’01, leads the brotherhood in reflecting on the Ritual of Beta Theta Pi immediately following the Model Initiation.
Former General Fraternity President Doug Houser, Willamette ’57, will be accompanied by his Beta Sweetheart, Lucy, when he receives the Shepardson Award at tonight’s banquet.
NOW ON DECK IN NORFOLK
SATURDAY, AUGUST 4 Convention Registration & Information 7:30 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. Presidential Foyer Breakfast 7:15 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. Presidential Foyer Hospitality Sweet: Alumni & Guests 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m. Parlor Suite, Room 416 Interest Session: Working on Beta’s staff 8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. Hampton I
Top Right: Newly chartered Eta Tau Chapter at WPI; Bottom (left to right): General Secretaries Cassady, Blesch, Wright, Schmidt and Kay https://instagram.forf1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/vp/e7f601ed035040fbbb2180cf7d14ac03/5C12FD1B/t51.2885-15/e35/37627255_280457845841835_28820005… 1/1
CHAPTER ACHIEVEMENTS TAKE CENTER STAGE DURING FRIDAY AFTERNOON’S AWARDS LUNCHEON ADVISORY TEAM OF THE YEAR Michigan
MOST IMPROVED CHAPTER Bethany NORTH DAKOTA AWARD Auburn
Model Initiation & Reflection (Betas Only) 9:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Norfolk Ballrooms
HARDIN LEADERSHIP DEV. AWARD Arizona State, Arkansas, Bethany, Butler, Cincinnati, Delaware, Elon, Florida State, Houston, John Carroll, Kettering A, Kettering B, New Jersey, North Dakota, South Dakota, Stevens, Texas at Arlington, Wichita State, Wisconsin-Oshkosh, WPI
Convention Chorus Practice 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m./5:30 p.m. – 6:15 p.m. Hampton I/Norfolk Ballrooms
EXCELLENCE IN RISK MANAGEMENT Arkansas, Cornell, Loyola Chicago, Ohio State, Puget Sound
Legislation Session V 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Marriott IV
FRANCIS H. SISSON AWARD Centre (11), Cincinnati (18), Denver (3), Georgia Tech (32), High Point (2), Idaho (19), Kansas State (28), Kentucky (7), Minnesota (19), Nebraska (21), Northeastern (4), San Diego (11), SMU (9), Texas A&M (14), TCU (5), Truman State (18), Wabash (13), Washington (13)
OUTSTANDING RECRUITMENT Elon, TCU
GENERAL SEC. LEADERSHIP AWARD Jack Schimpf, Missouri ’18
VT AWARD FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE British Columbia , Columbia (Highest GPA), Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Kettering B, NC State, Nebraska, Northeastern, Pittsburgh, TCU, Toronto (Most Improved GPA), San Diego
Region Meetings 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Various (See Convention Guide)
Leadership College Orientation 2:45 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Various (See Convention Guide) Marching Line 6:45 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Norfolk Ballrooms Foyer Celebration Banquet 7:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Norfolk Ballrooms All-Convention Dessert Reception 9:45 p.m. – 11:30 p.m. USS Wisconsin
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H. H. STEPHENSON, JR. AWARD Dayton DUNCAN SERVICE AWARD Elon, Kansas, Northeastern, TCU
OUTSTANDING ALUMNI RELATIONS Auburn, Florida State OUTSTANDING CAMPUS INVOLVEMENT Delaware, Florida State, Iowa State, Minnesota, Nebraska OUTSTANDING NEW MEMBER ED. Iowa, TCU
SONS OF THE DRAGON CLUB AWARD Arkansas, Colorado Mines, Cornell, Denver, Idaho, Iowa, North Dakota, Pacific, Rochester, Rockhurst, Southern Illinois, Texas at Arlington, Westminster, Wisconsin-Oshkosh
REMINDERS • Dress for Saturday’s Celebration Banquet is coat and tie for men and comparable attire for women.
• Flat/comfortable footwear is highly recommended for guests attending tonight’s dessert reception.
• Sunday’s airport shuttle requires a reservation. To secure a spot, visit the registration area in the Presidential Foyer. Shuttles leave at 6:00/8:00/10:00 a.m.
• The hotel will provide continuous, round-trip shuttle service for those guests who are unable to make the walk to the USS Wisconsin tonight.
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