Sunday's Wooglin Daily News - 178th General Convention

betas bring high energy, camaraderie to final convention banquet More than 800 Betas and guests packed the special event tent for Saturday night’s Celebration Banquet. From the very beginning, as the Marching Line snaked across the Snowbird Resort property, one could feel the attendees’ energy.

What came next? For the first time in recent Convention memory, guests requested an encore performance by the Convention Chorus. A spontaneous singing of “Ti-De-I-De-O” broke out in the audience, and the crowd roared enthusiastically as the

Fraternity revealed upcoming General Convention sites.

To be sure, there was plenty to celebrate that day. First, General Fraternity Chorister Dr. Brock Johnson, Oklahoma State ’09, delivered George Washington a win in the Best New Song Competition. Other winners during that portion of the program were Kansas (Whitman Choral Cup) and Case Western Reserve (Molter Song Competition).

presented with the prestigious Shepardson Award for his service to the Fraternity, and delivered acceptance remarks that touched every Beta to his core.

Finally, the moment of truth: the presentation of the John Reily Knox Chapter Excellence Award.

There were 11 winners – Purdue (1), Northeastern (2), Centre (4), TCU (4), UCLA (4), SMU (5), Kettering B (7), Case Western Reserve (8), Idaho (8), San Diego (8) and Truman State (12).

Next, former General Secretary David Wright, Ohio State ’67, was

In a heartfelt speech after receiving the Shepardson Award, David Wright, Ohio State ’67, recalled the fond memories of his Beta experience as both an undergraduate and volunteer. Pointed and poignant, Wright’s words speak for themselves.

“The friendships of my youth have become the invaluable friendships of my life.”

“It takes hard work and dedication to your core principles and values, and above all else, patience.

Nothing comes easy. Nothing worthwhile happens fast.”

“Travel the path of integrity without looking back, for there’s never a wrong time to do the right thing.”

SO LONG SALT LAKE 179th general convention August 2-5, 2018 Norfolk, Virginia

wright talks values, hard work in rousing shepardson speech

180th general convention August 1-4, 2019 Oxford, Ohio

181st general convention August 6-9, 2020 Phoenix, Arizona

convention explores a shared commitment

A

t Saturday’s “A Shared Commitment” All-Convention session, Executive Director Jeff Rundle, Kansas State ’03, led an insightful discussion about caring for each other as brothers. After two hours of deep conversations, attendees were left to respond to the following question via text message: “What should we be willing to sacrifice?”

Text messages flooded in as attendees continued to discuss their answers with the person across from them.

“today, we are going to talk about action and the sacrifices we are willing to make to fight for the greatest possible good of our brothers.”

— Jeff Rundle, Kansas State ’03, Executive Director

“Anything that does not align with the core values and mission of the Fraternity. Things such as ‘top house’ mentality or popularity among social aspects of Greek life sacrifice the things that get in the way of creating a home where aspiring young men develop a long-term commitment.”

“Everything should be on the table for sacrifice when the health and wellness of our brothers and our Fraternity are at stake.”

“We should stop going for numbers.”

“Pride.”

“Our egos.”

“The hardest sacrifice we must make is when we must part ways with a beloved brother who has failed to uphold our values. Beta does not need men who coast and live off the laurels of those who came before them.”

“Our comfort.”

“As alumni and advisors, I think what we most have to sacrifice is time. It’s just being there for these guys and leading by example. I thought they’d resent it, but it turns out they crave it.

We need to step up and give it to them.”

“Beta Theta Pi should be willing to sacrifice that chapters need to be 100% self-governing.

While that is what we all ultimately want as undergraduates, please realize we need regular check-ups and help.

Don’t always be lax - we need periodic check-ins. That isn’t something I can say I have now.”

“Damn near everything.”

“Every house MUST be dry without question. You can’t have the attitude that once a brother is in Beta, he is in regardless of his actions.”

“The transparency of each organization. Chapters should not be hiding secrets from each other or the General Fraternity.

If you do not want to tell them something, then maybe you should not be doing that thing.”

“Brothers, friends and guests should come first, before our buildings, reputation and even our future and our ritual. We cannot be successful if we put the organization before the well-being of the individual.”

“We should be willing to sacrifice our comfort by having difficult conversations that have the goal of improving our accountability, the safeness of our brothers and our brotherhood as a whole. We should sacrifice those things that may be fun, but may not fully align with our values. And we should sacrifice relationships with brothers that do not uphold our values, as well as outsiders that may not be helping us achieve the goal of being the best version of ourselves.”

“Reduction in numbers. Be willing to accept smaller chapter sizes to eliminate negative elements from chapters.”

OVERHEARD ON SOCIAL MEDIA: #BETA178 @baylorbeta

@maracasting:

“We sent some guys to this year’s Beta General Convention #Beta178, but it just looks like we sent them on a vacation to a mountain resort. Have fun, guys!”

“Omg are we really getting an encore??? A Beta first!? #beta178 @BetaThetaPi #bestconventionchorus”