Council of Presidents Update
by Joey Katz • September 2008 • 3 Comments •
Those of us who have had the opportunity to serve as chapter presidents during our undergraduate experience know that it is not an easy task. Regardless of chapter size, every chapter president has experienced those moments when he wished it was a 40-hour work week with nights and weekends off.
COP Officers
Chairman Profile
Name: Joey Katz
Chapter: Epsilon-Mu Zeta
School: University of Florida
E-mail: ajkatz@ufl.edu
Favorite Lambda Chi Memory: One of my favorite memories in Lambda Chi Alpha was jumping/getting thrown in the Watermelon Pit after coordinating Watermelon Bust 2007. The field events went flawlessly and the turnout for our philanthropy was greater than ever before.
Vice Chairman Profile
Name: Andrew Visser
Chapter: Zeta-Alpha Zeta
School: Coe College
E-mail: acvisser@coe.edu
Favorite Lambda Chi Alpha Memory: Participating in Walk-A-Mile In Her Shoes, a philanthropy we put on last spring. We purchased high heels for all of the brothers and walked one mile to raise money for a family services shelter. All of the brothers had a blast!
Executive Committee Members
- Will Vanderzant (Vanderbilt)
- John X. Holmes (Wabash)
- Bill Norton Jr. (Louisville)
- Tony Seibert (Cincinnati)
In reality, the position of the chapter president requires more than knowledge of chapter operations. It requires strong leadership when chapters need it the most, and it requires steadfast personal convictions and resolve to make the difficult decisions that no one else wants to make.
Established by Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity in 2004, the Council of Presidents was created to assist chapter presidents in becoming better leaders for their chapters through a network of their own peers. There is no better resource for these men than the brothers who are working toward the same goal of success for their chapters and members.
The Council of Presidents is comprised of the chapter president from every chapter, as well as an elected chairman (Grand High Nu) and vice chairman (Grand High Psi) who represents the Council on the board of directors, and also an appointed executive committee comprised of four chapter presidents.
Undergraduate Resource
As the chairman, I truly hope to make the Council of Presidents a tremendous resource to members of the board of directors, as well as open the opportunity for chapter presidents to strengthen communication between chapters.
The Council of Presidents has been recently gaining momentum in reaching out to chapter presidents and creating new ways to seek input from each other.
Throughout the fall semester the Council of Presidents will distribute a brief electronic survey to all the chapter presidents with questions regarding expectations for 2008-2009.
This will serve to provide feedback on distinguishing leadership traits that could be shared with all chapter presidents. We will also be launching a website specifically dedicated to disseminating pertinent information to chapter presidents regarding creative programming ideas of the True Brother Initiative, as well as highlighting specific conclaves for the Centennial Celebration.
Increased Communications
Chapter presidents also can look forward to receiving a quarterly bulletin, with the first being released mid-October concerning topics of discussion that will be brought up at the board of directors meetings.
The Council of Presidents has a great executive committee that will be working closely with the chairman and vice-chairman to ensure that this year will be nothing short of phenomenal.
It is my belief that every chapter president should be given the opportunity to listen and assist his fellow presidents in their chapters’ daily struggles.
As chapter presidents, we have an incredible opportunity to do something truly great and rewarding for our chapters that can shape the future generations of Lambda Chi Alpha.
Drew Hunter Says:
September 2nd, 2008 at 11:09 amGreat to see this level of activity and communication from the COP to start the new academic year. Great job, Brothers!
Drew Hunter, Grand High Beta
Tom Earp Says:
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:04 pmWhile I never had the pleasure of being anything but the Founder of the Local, it has taken everyone of my Zetas members to continue to help us grow to almost 40 years, 2009 and our 100 hundred years of foundation!
We as I consider us as a new comer to some old line Fraternity’s, we have accomplished more than any other and I hope that our leaders will not let us down again!
As to LCAP, that is a sorry time in our history and should be rectified as easily for our Zetas as possible!
Do the right thing for Our Brothers, we are willing to help carry them, not the other way around.
In ZAX,
Tom Earp
LX Z 1
Pittsburg State University, Kansas.
Dr. Greg Smith Says:
September 4th, 2008 at 4:52 pmJoey and Andrew: Great work…wonderful start in your vital new positions of leadership. I’m proud of you brothers and excited about the coming year.
In ZAX
Greg Smith
Grand High Gamma