DELEGATES ELECT FIVE 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 over a third 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 180th General Convention made their decisions, electing the following Beta brothers to lead our Great and Good Fraternity:
S. WAYNE KAY Virginia Tech ’73 General Secretary
JUSTIN FOSTER West Chester ’11 Fraternity Vice President
ROBERT S. BEALL Oklahoma ’80 Fraternity Vice President
STEVEN G. CRUZ Florida International ’12 Fraternity Vice President
BILL HAYWOOD Miami ’74 Fraternity Vice President
A refounding father of the Alpha Phi Chapter at Virginia Tech, Kay was appointed to Beta’s Foundation Board of Directors in 2006. Reappointed in 2010 and elected Foundation Chairman in 2011, he was elected General Secretary in 2016 by the 177th General Convention in Oklahoma City. Kay resides in La Jolla, California, with his Beta Sweetheart, Susan.
A former chapter president, advisor and district chief, Foster joined the Fraternity’s Zeta Sigma Chapter at West Chester in 2007. He was elected to his first term on the Board in August 2016, after serving on the performance monitoring committee. Professionally, he serves as the global talent acquisition director for DLL, the world’s leading vendor finance partner.
Pledging Beta at the University of Oklahoma in 1976, Beall earned his MBA from Southern Methodist University and eventually started his own construction products manufacturing business in Dallas and Fort Worth. A devoted and longtime house corporation volunteer, Robert served two terms on the Beta Foundation Board of Directors from 2013-2018.
An award-winning General Fraternity Officer with prior volunteer roles as chapter advisor, district chief and facilitator at Wooden, CPLA, Keystone and Leadership Summit, Cruz recently served as regional chief for both the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast Regions. Residing in Miami, Florida, Steven remains a committed member of the FlU community.
Recent co-chairman of the Alpha Chapter’s $6 million house renovation, Haywood earned his MBA from Pepperdine University, civil engineering degree from Ohio State and premed degree from Miami University. A commercial advisor to Energy Capital Group Holdings with 32 years of executive experience, Bill resides just outside of San Antonio, Texas.
EMCEES AND SPECIAL GUESTS | SATURDAY Fraternity President Bob Schnese, Wisconsin ’83, takes the stage as emcee for Saturday night’s Recognition Ceremony, which includes presentation of this year’s Knox winners.
General Fraternity Archivist and Historian Zac Haines, Miami ’05, leads the brotherhood in reflecting on the Ritual of Beta Theta Pi immediately following the Model Initiation.
Advisory Council Member Bob Grand, Wabash ’78, will be accompanied by his Beta Sweetheart, Melody, when he receives the Francis W. Shepardson Award at tonight’s ceremony.
UP NEXT IN OXFORD
SATURDAY, AUGUST 3
CONVENTION REGISTRATION & INFORMATION 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Hillcrest Hall BREAKFAST 7:15 a.m. – 7:45 a.m. Group A 7:45 a.m. – 8:15 a.m. Group B Western Dining Hall LEGISLATION V / LEADERSHIP COLLEGE 8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Various (See Convention Guide) REGION MEETINGS 10:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. Various (See Convention Guide) ADVISORY COUNCIL BREAKOUT AND LUNCH 10:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Armstrong 1066 SPOUSE AND GUEST EXCURSION 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. “You’re Fired!” Uptown LUNCH 12:00 p.m. – 12:30 p.m. Group A 12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Group B Western Dining Hall MODEL INITIATION & REFLECTION (BETAS ONLY) 1:15 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Armstrong Pavilion SHELBY L. MOLTER SONG COMPETITION 3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Armstrong Pavilion HERITAGE TOURS 3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Various MARCHING LINE 5:45 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Armstrong Pavilion RECOGNITION CEREMONY 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Armstrong Pavilion ALL-CONVENTION BBQ & DESSERT RECEPTION 7:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Western Dining Hall
Clockwise: The John Reily Knox Award; brothers of the newly chartered Theta Alpha Chapter at Delaware; brothers gather for educational sessions at yesterday’s Cornerstone Housing Summit.
THE STAGE IS SET FOR KNOX AWARD-WINNING CHAPTERS
CORNERSTONE HOUSING SUMMIT SEES RECORD ATTENDANCE
Winning a Knox Award is certainly a point of pride for those that meet its guidelines. The Knox Award, a handsome, bronze-coated marble statue bearing John Reily Knox’s likeness and the Fraternity’s Great Seal, is a trophy fitting for Beta’s most accomplished chapters. Who will walk away from tonight’s Recognition Ceremony with this select honor?
Hosted in the recently renovated Alpha chapter house, expert speakers presented on topics such as campus and fraternity housing trends, effective financial management, insurance and risk management, fundraising and other critical topics focused on today’s students.
The prestigious John Reily Knox Award is the Fraternity’s highest honor presented to chapters that excel across all operational areas.
JOHN REILY KNOX CLUB RECEPTION AND DINNER
In appreciation of loyal donors who support the Beta Leadership Fund with an annual gift of $1,500 or more, the John Reily Knox Club Reception and Dinner was hosted at the Marcum Conference Center ballroom. This Convention favorite included remarks by 2019 NIC Award of Distinction Honoree and Chapter President David Navadeh, Cornell ’19, original Men of Principle Development Team Member Scott Fussell, Middle Tennessee State ’95, and Foundation Chairman Mike Feinstein, MIT ’82.
The General Convention was once again pleased to offer the Cornerstone Housing Summit, a special educational track designed specifically for house corporation volunteers.
Yesterday, more than 20 chapter house corporations from across North America participated in an educational journey on managing 21st-century fraternity homes. This was record-setting attendance for the Cornerstone Housing Summit! House corporation volunteers also had time to network and share best practices for keeping our treasured Beta facilities safe, academic- and brotherhood-centered, competitive and attractive. With stakes that high, the Housing Summit is more relevant now than ever before.
REMINDERS • Flat/comfortable footwear is highly recommended for Heritage Tours. Social icon
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• Dress for Saturday’s Recognition Ceremony is resort casual. • Sunday’s airport shuttle requires a reservation. To secure a spot, visit the registration area in Hillcrest Hall.
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