Participate in This Survey to Make Fraternity/Sorority Life Tremendous

Matt Mattson of Phired Up Productions is partnering with Brandon Cutler, Assistant Director of Greek Affairs at Kansas State University to deliver an educational program at the 2009 AFA Annual Meeting. They need your input! Please take the Fraternity/Sorority Extremes Survey by clicking here. Please complete this survey by November 30, 2009, and forward it on to student leaders, campus faculty/staff, and Inter/National Headquarters Staff/Volunteers so that Matt and Brandon can share the best ideas with our workshop audience. We’ll give you credit or keep your ideas anonymous. We appreciate your assistance, and can’t wait to see the results.

This survey is about more than helping Matt and Brandon prepare for a workshop they'll be delivering. Your ideas will help shape the future of the fraternity/sorority movement in the minds of the people charged with leading the movement. Are you willing to challenge the fraternal movement with your wildest ideas?

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Here's the description of the workshop Matt and Brandon are working on...

Let’s take a moment to imagine the possibilities for fraternity and sorority communities if we as leaders commit to achieving extremes. Let’s gather together the best of us who are willing to bravely answer this question; “With all of the people, energy, and resources in the fraternal world, what SHOULD we be achieving?” Let’s not just talk in adjectives like “congruent,” “relevant,” and “values-driven;” let’s imagine and celebrate specific examples of truly being those things. Imagine a future where revolutionary, exceptional, and phenomenal chapters and communities are minimum expectations. Participants will be challenged to dream beyond convention, and begin their journey as a revolutionary fraternity and sorority professional.

You Don't Know Jax......

A colleague in the field inspired me with that catchy slogan, and I realized you may, in fact, not know much about our host city, Jacksonville, Florida. Let me share a few tidbits with you here. All facts are according to Wikipedia. We will post our local guide on the AFA website within the next few weeks:

JAX

• Is in Duval County.
• Is the largest city in Florida.
• Many surrounding areas combine to make the Greater Jacksonville Metropolitan Area. The population is 1,313,228. Jacksonville is the largest of all the cities that make up the Area.
• In 1968, it became the largest city (land wise) in the contiguous United States.
• The city is centered around the banks of the St. John's River.
• In December, the average high is 66F, and the average low is 47F.
• It has the largest urban park system in the United States with 337 locations and 80,000 acres.
• There are two fully enclosed shopping malls.
  
• The professional football team, the Jacksonville Jaguars, lives here.
• The Florida Times-Union is the most popular newspaper.
• The Gate River Run has taken place here since 1977. It is the U.S. National Championship 15K. About 13,000 recreational runners participate every March.
• It is home to three military facilities: Naval Submarine Base King's Bay, Naval Air Station Jacksonville, and Naval Station Mayport. The USS Jacksonville is the only US Navy ship named for the city. Its port is Norfolk, Virginia.
  
• There are eleven institutions of higher education here: Jacksonville University, University of North Florida, Florida State College at Jacksonville, Edward Waters College, The Art Institute of Jacksonville, Florida Coastal School of Law, Trinity Baptist College, Jones College, Webster University, Strayer University, and Florida Technical College.
• John Delaney is the President of the University of North Florida. He was the Mayor of Jacksonville until July 2003 when he became the University president. He is a proud member of Delta Upsilon International Fraternity and was invited to speak with us at our Annual Meeting, but unfortunately another conference will take him to Atlanta during our time in his city.
• I would be remiss if I did not mention that my six-year-old nephew's name is Jackson.

Click here for a full description.

I look forward to seeing you soon in Jax!

One Week To Register!

Remember that to receive the regular registration rate, you must register for the Annual Meeting on or by October 30, 2009 (this includes a postmark of October 30th for any mailed materials, checks, etc). Click here to register. After October 30th, the price increases 25%.

Time for Wellness in Jacksonville?

EXERCISE.
It might be your favorite New Year's resolution, the thing you dread the most, the best moments of your life, or the one experience that makes your body hurt from your head to your toes. Exercise should be a part of any person's daily routine. It increases your life span, keeps your heart healthy, helps you stay at a healthy body mass index, and enhances your mood. Exercise should not, however, be an intimidating word. You can burn calories just by walking 10 minutes a day, riding a bike around your neighborhood, cleaning your house, laughing really hard, or I suppose, chasing after run away fraternity and sorority members.

In all seriousness, I know we all have busy lives and exercise is often the first thing to go. Pilates is an exercise that I am particularly drawn to. It is a rehabilitative mix of yoga, ballet, bar, and core work. It focuses on flexibility, precision, strength, and mind/ body connection through muscle control. It has been touted as a best practice in exercise for some of the world’s best athletes, the elderly, persons surviving physical trauma, dancers, and CEO’s…And now Pilates is coming to YOU! During this year’s Annual Meeting I will be leading morning fitness regimes. Our commitment to care for your physical wellness is conceptualized in the fact that we are offering two Pilates classes and one walking trip this year.

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Here are a few things you need to know:
1. Pilates and walking trips are for ALL fitness levels, all ages, and all genders
2. You should bring:
A blanket, towel, or mat.
Clothes in which you are comfortable working out
Tennis shoes
3. Email me with questions, comments, and/or concerns?

I look forward to seeing you in class!
Fraternally,
Colleen Coffey

NOTE: Wellness opportunities will occur Monday and Wednesday at 6:45 a.m. (Pilates) and Tuesday at 6:45 a.m. (Walking). See the Program Book once you arrive for exact locations.

Scholarship Available for Advance Program

Thanks to a sponsorship from the Fraternity Executives Association, registration scholarships are available for this Annual Meeting Advance (formerly pre-conference) program for up to 25 campus-based professionals and up to 25 organization-based, director level professionals to register, based on receipt of the registration form and payment. Questions regarding the scholarship should be directed to Jeremy Slivinski.

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Fraternity TARP...Our Bailout in the Bad Economy
Sponsored by the Fraternity Executives Association
1:30 p.m. - 4:15 p.m. | $60*

Presenters:
Jeremy Slivinski, Fraternity of Alpha Kappa Lambda
Libby Anderson, Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity

Headquarters and institutions of higher education are not immune to a weak economy. This session will explore historical data/wisdom of our environments during a recession broken down into four areas that are relevant to the campus professional and the inter/national organizaton professional. These areas are membership, fundraising (scholarships/grants), housing, and budgets. Each area will explore the trends that could occur, outcomes of those trends as well as best practices and resources that can help you and your students/staff weather the economic storm.

This program is intended for the both the new professional and the seasoned veteran. The expected outcome is for a better understanding of the changing dynamics both on campus and at the national headquarters. Participants should walk away with creative ideas on how to survive some of the economic changes. The program will be moderated by Jeremy Slivinski and Libby Anderson, both Fraternity Headquarters professionals that have also worked on campus in Greek Life. Other presenters specific to the areas of discussion will also participate either in the session or live via virtual meeting technology.

Project Job Search

Resume Reviews and Mock Interviews

Monday, December 7 | 7:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Project Job Search gives graduate students a competitive advantage in the process of finding the perfect job after graduation. Graduate students can participate in mock interviews and have their résumés reviewed to gain vital experience in presenting themselves to potential employers.

• Mock interviews will recreate the NASPA/ACPA placement exchange, so participants can experience interviewing in this setting before attending these conferences in the spring.
• Fraternity/sorority professionals will review participants’ résumés and provide feedback to help them make their written materials more appealing to potential employers.

Register for Résumé Review and Mock Interview here.

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Employment Exchange
Institutions and organizations with current or anticipated job openings will provide information to potential candidates. There is no fee to participate as a potential employer. Employment opportunities will be organized by AFA Regions so job seekers will be able to target specific geographic areas if they wish.

Want to participate? Click here to complete the form!

Question about Project Job Search may be directed to Scott Clark.
(Please note: Institutions with open positions will also be able to receive an "I'm Hiring" button to wear during the Annual Meeting).

Speaker Showcase Announced

Speaker Showcase
Monday | 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Take the guess work out of selecting speakers for campus and organization events. The Speaker Showcase provides the opportunity for Annual Meeting attendees to listen to and learn about speakers available for campus or inter/national programs. Highlighting some of AFA's Associate members, the Showcase allows meeting attendees to hear a sample of signature programs from educational speakers touring the college circuit today. The speakers being showcased are:

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• Jason Regier | Getting Back Into the Game | CAMPUSPEAK
• Lori Hanson | Ode to Stress: How to Survive and Thrive in College | Learn 2 Balance
• Joshua Fredenburg | Are You a Greek Leader Prepared to Impact the World | Vision XY
• Colleen Coffey | Out of the Shadows | CAMPUSPEAK
• Michael Gershe | The Magic of Life | GG GregAgency
• Erin Weed | Greeks Fight Back | Erin Weed & Co.
• Kevin Snyder | Be Greek…Be Proud | CAMPUSPEAK

Welcome Graduate Staff '09

Lauren Berman
Alpha Gamma Delta | University of Louisville
Susan DuMont
Alpha Phi | University of Delaware
Matt Knickman
Lambda Chi Alpha | University of Central Missouri
Wes McCormack
Phi Kappa Chi | Texas A & M University
Josh McKenzie
Sigma Nu | University of South Carolina
Mary Phillips
Sigma Kappa | Bowling Green State University
Maritza Torres
Alpha Psi Lambda | University of Florida
Allen White
Iota Phi Theta | University of South Florida