Okay, Okay, I guess that was not my last blog post. This is.
Dr. Bernard Franklin was our Tuesday morning General Program speaker, generously funded by a donation to the AFA Foundation from Delta Upsilon International Fraternity. In his remarks, "Change or Die," he referenced a video called, "Shift Happens." Unfortunately that video was not able to be played during his speech, but it is here now for you to watch.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljbI-363A2Q
Enjoy!
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Flight Status: Delayed!
Since my flight out of Jacksonville is delayed due to "high winds" in the Northeast, I have some time to reflect on the Annual Meeting. I should give Google a special shout out here for the free Wireless in the Jax airport during the holidays!As I sat to type this blog post, I happened to see four graduate students from Bowling Green State University who stopped to say hello. Each was a first-time attendee of the Annual Meeting, and it was exciting for me to hear them recount their first experience- and as a very positive one at that!
The last day of the Annual Meeting finished strong. Wednesday featured our AFA Business Meeting. Dr. Carolyn Whittier, 2009 AFA President passed the gavel to Kelly Jo Karnes, the 2010 AFA President, and Jay Anhorn, 2008 AFA President, reported on the progress of the 2005-2010 Strategic Plan. Our leadership will foster communication to chart the 2010-2015 Strategic Plan.
Four blocks of educational programs were featured throughout the afternoon, including a two part program for Seasoned Professionals sponsored by Zeta Tau Alpha.
The Silent Auction closed with a staggering $36,000 raised for the AFA Foundation.
In traditional fashion, the Annual Meeting finished with the Closing Banquet that featured the Sue Kraft Fussell Distinguished Service winners (Dan Bureau, Dr. Lori Hart Ebert, Deb Ensor, Jennifer "JJ" Jones, and Kyle Pendleton) as well as the Anson and Schaffer Award Winners, Pete Smithhisler and Steve Veldekamp respectively. The closing banquet finished at 10:05 p.m.
This is my last blog post as the 2009 Annual Meeting has come to a close. I hope it helped to educate, impact, and involve you, and I look forward to seeing you next year in Phoenix December 1-5! I posted the new AFA and Annual Meeting logo above for you to get familiar (you saw it on signs throughout Jax). You are in good hands with the new Annual Meeting Planning Team, led by Andrea Weber, 2010 Annual Meeting Chair, and the AFA Executive Board led by Kelly Jo Karnes.
Goodbye from Jacksonville!
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Tuesday, December 8th!
I was negligent in posting yesterday's blog update but only because so much was happening in Jax!
Yesterday we began the day with a provocative and inspiring Closing General Program delivered by Dr. Bernard Franklin, Delta Upsilon International President. We were delighted to receive a sponsorship from Delta Upsilon International Fraternity. This generous gift will pay for the Closing General Program for the next five years.
We then attended a block of educational programs like, "Fraternity/Sorority Leadership Class," "The Clarion Call: Rallying Alumni to Help a Struggling Chapter," and, "Working Together to Become Relevant from Headquarters to Campus Professionals."
We then shared time together at the AFA and AFA Foundation Recognition Luncheon sponsored by ALSAC/St. Jude Children's Research Center. This was a time to recognize Foundation donors and also congratulate award winners.
Our Exhibit Hall was open for most of the day and our 33 exhibitors greeted friends and clients.
Finally, we spent the afternoon engaged in nine sessions of Fireside Chats, an opportunity for our inter/national organizations and campus professionals to engage in collaborative dialogue about their shared chapters.
The Regional Meetings updated members on Association Business and allowed for colleagues and neighbors to reconnect.
As the usual "Friday" of the Annual Meeting, this year, Tuesday night was the eveninig for organization receptions. Time was spent amongst friends by many.
Today is the last day of the Annual Meeting, but it's full of opportunities: Four blocks of educational programs, the AFA Business Meeting, the Silent Auction ends, and the Closing Banquet allows us to share a final meal together in comraderie while we recognize our prestigious award winners.
More to come!
Yesterday we began the day with a provocative and inspiring Closing General Program delivered by Dr. Bernard Franklin, Delta Upsilon International President. We were delighted to receive a sponsorship from Delta Upsilon International Fraternity. This generous gift will pay for the Closing General Program for the next five years.
We then attended a block of educational programs like, "Fraternity/Sorority Leadership Class," "The Clarion Call: Rallying Alumni to Help a Struggling Chapter," and, "Working Together to Become Relevant from Headquarters to Campus Professionals."
We then shared time together at the AFA and AFA Foundation Recognition Luncheon sponsored by ALSAC/St. Jude Children's Research Center. This was a time to recognize Foundation donors and also congratulate award winners.
Our Exhibit Hall was open for most of the day and our 33 exhibitors greeted friends and clients.
Finally, we spent the afternoon engaged in nine sessions of Fireside Chats, an opportunity for our inter/national organizations and campus professionals to engage in collaborative dialogue about their shared chapters.
The Regional Meetings updated members on Association Business and allowed for colleagues and neighbors to reconnect.
As the usual "Friday" of the Annual Meeting, this year, Tuesday night was the eveninig for organization receptions. Time was spent amongst friends by many.
Today is the last day of the Annual Meeting, but it's full of opportunities: Four blocks of educational programs, the AFA Business Meeting, the Silent Auction ends, and the Closing Banquet allows us to share a final meal together in comraderie while we recognize our prestigious award winners.
More to come!
Monday, December 7, 2009
Monday, December 7th
Today is a great day at the Annual Meeting. Steve Farber woke us up with an exciting and engaging General Program, "Greater Than Yourself." Every attendee got a copy of his newest book, Greater Than Yourself, at the door. Then we began a series of three educational program blocks featuring programs like, "Applying the CAS Standards and Guidelines in Fraternity and Sorority Advising Programs," "Conference Commando," and "Advancing a Relevant and Inclusive Fraternal Movement: A Community Dialogue."
The Developmental Resource Center and Poster Presentation went live as did the AFA Silent Auction. The Exhibit Hall reception boasted over 30 exhibitors, and the Speaker Showcase featured six excellent presenters.
First Timers are gathering in the lobby for a meal......over 100! The Order of Omega 2nd Year Case Study and the First Year Case Study Challenge are still occurring. Stay tuned for the winners. Tonight we will have Project Job Search: Resume Review and Mock Interviews. We will also have the Fireside Chats Meet & Greet.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Sunday, December 6: It Begins!
The Annual Meeting Begins!
A few of our successes from today include:
- Over 800 people checked in to the AFA Annual Meeting today at the Registration desk!
- Four Annual Meeting Advance programs were executed.
- Over 100 letters were written to deployed troops for our Service Project, Project Gratitude.
- 75 graduate students attended the Graduate Training Track.
- Almost 200 people attend the AFA Connection Kickoff for First Timers and were challenged by the First Timers Committee to become a "Conference Commando."
- The Welcome Reception, sponsored by Campuspeak, served as an informal opportunity for friends and colleagues to reconnect.
Good night from Jacksonville!
Friday, December 4, 2009
Welcome to Jax!
As promised, this post is from Jacksonville. The first team is in the hotel and preparing for your arrival. Stories on the news abound about snow in places like Texas and Louisiana. It's not snowing here! It was 70 degrees when I landed yesterday at 4:30 p.m.
Saturday|57°|AM Rain
Sunday|64°|Cloudy
Monday|71°| Few Showers
Tuesday|73°|Showers
Wednesday|79°|Scattered Thunderstorms
Thursday|61°|Partly Cloudy
The Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront is.....on the river as you would assume. Here is a picture of the scene from the hotel.
Looking forward to seeing you soon!
(*The river is the St. John's River for those who are curious, and here is another fun fact about the St. John's River: Several rivers have a more northerly flow. Perhaps the most famous river that flows north is the Nile in Egypt.
In Florida, some rivers that flow in a northerly direction include tributaries of the St. Johns: the Ocklawaha River, which begins in a marsh north of Leesburg in Lake County, and the Wekiva River, which begins where the runs from Wekiwa Springs and Rock Springs meet north of Apopka (which is north of Orlando). The Withlacoochee River flows north from central Florida's Green Swamp to the Gulf of Mexico west of Ocala. (There is another river in Florida named Withlacoochee that flows south from Georgia and joins the Suwannee at Suwannee River State Park west of Live Oak.) ).
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Are Your Bags Packed?
The Annual Meeting begins in four days. I fly to Jacksonville tomorrow morning, and the Central Office staff arrives today. Hopefully many of you, the almost 1,000 registrants, are preparing for the Annual Meeting. Amidst the packing (for warmer weather) and cramming some Silent Auction items in your suitcase, I hope you take a few moments to intentionally think about the professional development experience that awaits you.
Dan Wrona of RISE Partnerships prepared some suggestions for Annual Meeting attendees, and since I think they are spot on, I am listing the exact document here.
Another thought I will share with you comes from the blog of Jeffrey Cufade, called Idea Architects. One blogger can share with another, right? He simply asks this question: "I could achieve better results in my job if I knew how to/was more capable of _____________."
Think intentionally about that statement and take a minute to review the program book that is in the blog post below this one. You can craft an exceptional professional development experience that will be worth those hard earned professional development dollars.
My next post will be from Jacksonville! And for any AFA members not fortunate enough to attend, I hope to make the blog posts during the Annual Meeting an accurate reflection of the day's events.
Dan Wrona of RISE Partnerships prepared some suggestions for Annual Meeting attendees, and since I think they are spot on, I am listing the exact document here.
Another thought I will share with you comes from the blog of Jeffrey Cufade, called Idea Architects. One blogger can share with another, right? He simply asks this question: "I could achieve better results in my job if I knew how to/was more capable of _____________."
Think intentionally about that statement and take a minute to review the program book that is in the blog post below this one. You can craft an exceptional professional development experience that will be worth those hard earned professional development dollars.
My next post will be from Jacksonville! And for any AFA members not fortunate enough to attend, I hope to make the blog posts during the Annual Meeting an accurate reflection of the day's events.
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