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.