WELCOME TO ORLANDO!

Dear Brothers & Guests,

Welcome to Orlando, Florida, for our 80th Convention & Brotherhood Weekend. Orlando is famous for its warm climate, tourist attractions like SeaWorld, Universal Studios, and DisneyWorld Resort, and for being a popular convention location. This Convention will be filled with good fellowship, reacquainting with old brothers and friends, meeting new ones, raising funds to support our undergraduates, and of course conducting the business of the Order. There are several special events this week that I hope you enjoy.

On Thursday we’ll gather in the Values Center for registration. Here you’ll gain some great information about KA values and operations, visit vendors and exhibitors, and enjoy live music and fellowship with arriving participants. Also, don’t miss the raffles for attendees. Thursday afternoon we will open the first meeting of the 80th Convention. Afterward, we will host the 26th annual Bid for Brotherhood to raise funds and support for the Kappa Alpha Order Educational Foundation (KAOEF) through live and silent auctions.

On Friday, initiated brothers will get the chance to renew their vows at the model initiation. After that, in a second Convention meeting, we’ll present the 20th Award for Distinguished Achievement to General J.H. Binford Peay III (Beta Commission–VMI 1962). Midday we will have our Leadership Lecture Luncheon hosted by the KAOEF. This year, we are fortunate to have CDR Frank J. Weisser (Sigma Beta Commission–USNA ’22), former Blue Angel and stunt pilot for the blockbuster film Top Gun: Maverick, and CDR Lew Hoyt (Beta Sigma–Southern California ’62), a fighter pilot for the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Navy flying combat missions in the Vietnam War, flight instructor at the Navy Fighter Weapons School, better known as TOPGUN, and consultant for the 1986 Top Gun movie. Our committee meetings follow. Friday evening, we will celebrate brotherhood and donors to the KAOEF. The Aquatica waterpark will host our brotherhood outing and dinner. Additionally, brothers and friends of the Order who are members of KAOEF’s Crimson & Gold Society will enjoy a dinner at the Lake Nona Country Club.

On Saturday, our final day of activities, brothers will gather for the Undergraduate and Alumni Conferences. We’ll recognize some outstanding interfraternal colleagues and friends at lunch. The final Convention Meeting will also allow us to complete the work of the Order including the election of officers. Finally, we will celebrate excellence at the Knight Commander’s Installation Banquet and various receptions.

I am pleased to be with you for our 80th Convention and Brotherhood Weekend celebrate our values, purpose, and our Order. Brothers, I remain proud to be a KA and honored to serve as your Knight Commander. Welcome, and thank you for being here.

Fraternally,

C. Douglas Simmons III Knight Commander