Sunday's Wooglin Daily News - 183rd General Convention

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BETA THETA PI // 183RD GENERAL CONVENTION // TOGETHER WE RISE

WOOGLIN DAILY NEWS ATLANTA, GEORGIA // SUNDAY, AUGUST 7, 2022

ELEVEN TAKE TOP CHAPTER HONOR Winning a Knox Award is certainly a point of pride for chapters. Beta’s top honor requires the utmost involvement, leadership and success of a chapter. Including the number of times a chapter has won a Knox, congratulations to Kettering B (11), Miami (10), Centre (9), Georgia Tech (9), Creighton (5), Delaware (4), New Jersey (4), Virginia Tech (3), Elon (2), MIT (2) and Texas (2)!

NEW FACES IN TRUSTEE TRANSITION Approved by Convention delegates during Saturday’s legislation session, John Stebbins, Emory ’92, and Willie Romero, UNLV ’95, take seats on the Board of Trustees as General Secretary and Fraternity Vice President, respectively. In addition, Brothers Bill Haywood, Miami ’74, and Robert Beall, Oklahoma ’80, will join them as vice presidents having been elected to serve second three-year terms.

LOWRY ACCEPTS 29TH SHEPARDSON AWARD “What a difference 60 years can make,” said Bill Lowry, Kenyon ’56.

After being extended a social membership in 1952, brothers of Beta Alpha Chapter wanted to fully initiate Lowry. While it was not written they couldn’t initiate a Black man, it simply had never happened before. Despite negative feedback the chapter received from alumni and General Fraternity representatives, he joined the ranks of the Kenyon chapter on April 27, 1954. Bill is widely recognized as the first Black man initiated into a historically white fraternity.

“Those men had the courage to do what was right. Most of those men have passed on, but their deed will live on forever, and I am eternally indebted to them.”

Years after his initiation into the Fraternity, in 2011 Lowry accepted a role on the Foundation Board of Directors, becoming the first Black member of any Beta board.

In June 2020, General Secretary Wayne Kay, Virginia Tech ’73, announced the creation of the Commission on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Charged with analyzing all aspects of the Fraternity, this historic announcement included appointment of Brother Lowry as commission chairman.

When invited to serve in this critical role, Lowry responded, “I will do whatever my beloved Beta Theta Pi asks of me.” With moving words and his family onhand, Saturday night he became the 29th Beta to receive the Francis W. Shepardson Award for General Fraternity service.

MEET THE NEW GENERAL SECRETARY, JOHN STEBBINS John Stebbins, Emory ’92, was elected by the 183rd General Convention delegates to serve Beta Theta Pi as General Secretary, following in the footsteps of long-time Beta volunteer, Wayne Kay, Virginia Tech ’73. For the last three years, Stebbins served as chairman of the General Fraternity House Corporation. Prior, he volunteered as District Chief, Fraternity Vice President, General Treasurer and Foundation Treasurer.

“I hear your voices,” John said in his remarks to the Convention delegates in the legislation hall. “And I hear your voice of confidence in me.”

TOGETHER WE RISE SUNDAY AUGUST 7

FROM THE LEGISLATION FLOOR APPROVED

Charter: Beta Rho Chapter at Oregon Charter: Epsilon Mu Chapter at George Mason Board Election: John Stebbins, Emory ’92, as General Secretary Board Election: Bill Haywood, Miami ’74, as Vice President Board Election: Robert Beall, Oklahoma ’80, as Vice President Board Election: Willie Romero, UNLV ’95, as Vice President Proposal 1: No Solicitation Policy Proposal 2: Expansion of Advisory Council Proposal 3: Inclusion of Chapter Alumni Associations Proposal 4: Enhancement of Submission of Legislation Proposals Proposal 6: Creation of Chapter Counselor of the Year Award Proposal 7: General Fraternity Governance, Jurisdiction and Duties Proposal 8: Petition to Charter Deadline Proposal 11: Expand Colony Review Committee’s Charter Discretion Proposal 12*: Extension of Grade Reports Submission Deadline Proposal 13: Alumni Association Delegate Eligibility Proposal 15: Establish Trustee Nominations Deadline Proposal 16: Amend Chapter 3, General Secretary Proposal 17: Amend Chapter 5, Executive Director Proposal 18: Ritual and Code Review, Sections 11* and 12 only Asterisk (*) signifies approval with amendment

FAILED

Proposal 5: Restoration of Full Voting Rights of Alumni Associations Proposal 9: Creation of Mediation Review Board Proposal 18: Ritual and Code Review (Sections 11* and 12 approved)

SHARE YOUR CONVENTION EXPERIENCE USE #BETA183 ON SOCIAL MEDIA VISIT BETA.ORG/CNV183 TO VIEW THE CONVENTION PHOTO ALBUM

KAY GIVES FINAL GENERAL SECRETARY ADDRESS, ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP NAMED IN HIS AND LOWRY’S HONOR Six years ago, Brother Wayne Kay, Virginia Tech ’73, was elected as the Fraternity’s General Secretary, what he dubbed as the highest honor of his life.

“I have, indeed, been incredibly blessed,” Kay said during his final remarks on Saturday night, with his Beta Sweetheart, Susan, at his side.

He encouraged brothers to share different points of view to overcome challenges in their paths. During his tenure as General Secretary, Brother Kay led the Fraternity through the tragic death of Penn State new member Tim Piazza ’19, recognized the need for substance-free housing, established the Undergraduate Commissioner program and guided Beta through the COVID-19 pandemic. He credits his success to the diverse perspectives of each trustee on the board. As a leader, Brother Kay listened closely and brought out the best in everyone on the team.

Thanks to an overwhelming response from 43 brothers serving on the Advi-

SEE YOU NEXT YEAR AT THE 184TH AUGUST 3–6, 2023

sory Council, Board of Trustees, Foundation Board of Directors and General Fraternity House Corporation Board, the “William E. Lowry Jr. and S. Wayne Kay Brotherhood Scholarship” was established with $68,850 in contributions.

The scholarship will provide tuition assistance to students in need, with preference toward students who otherwise may not have access to the Beta experience due to the financial demands of college. Most importantly, it recognizes Brother Kay’s tremendous efforts as General Secretary, specifically his wisdom in guiding the Fraternity to prioritize greater emphasis on a diverse and inclusive brotherhood. It also celebrates the warm and enduring friendship between him and Bill Lowry, Kenyon ’56.

“I’m blown away by the honor of this scholarship being named in recognition of so many young college men who are facing difficult times of financial struggle and adversity – yet still need our special Beta experience.”