Dear Brothers,
First, let me congratulate all of our active chapters who applied for awards this past year. It is my pleasure to recognize several chapters as we begin a new tradition. In the past, awards were presented to our chapters at the National Leadership Institute, known as NLI. Since we phased out NLI due to high costs and new programming opportunities like the Number I’s Leadership Institute, a decision was made to enhance Province Councils. They are now regionally-based and can reach more undergraduates while still providing the traditional NLI feel. This spring we have trained more than 1,900 undergraduate KAs in recruitment, finances, ritual, new member education, community service, risk managemen and in preparing for life after college. It was our largest group yet. I thank the brothers who attended for taking the time to spend a day and a half learning how to improve their chapter operations. Never before has the Order been able to provide so many educational venues to so many undergraduates. Our volunteers and staff worked extremely hard to make this happen, and I thank you.
Province Councils are now the preferred method to recognize outstanding achievements from our undergraduate chapters and we have moved to a calendar year term for the George C. Marshall and Samuel Zenas Ammen Awards for chapter excellence. It is with great pride that we were able to recognize so many outstanding chapters and their efforts. For the first time in several years, we awarded our highest honor, the George C. Marshall Award for Chapter Excellence to three chapters. Those chapters are Delta at Wofford College, Beta Alpha at Univ. of Missouri at Rolla and Alpha Upsilon at the University of Mississippi. I congratulate these young men on their outstanding effort and achievements. They set the benchmark for excellence for other chapters. Alpha Phi at Duke University again took home the coveted Scholarship Trophy for highest combined fall and spring GPA with a 3.37. A full listing of award-winning chapters, including Ammen award winners, is located in the “Our Order” section of this Journal.
In reviewing these applications, it is evident that Kappa Alpha undergraduates are focusing on those tasks which set us apart on our campuses and bringing positive attention and praise to the college fraternity system. Please keep up the great work and continue to leave that positive legacy for others to follow. I ask alumni reading this issue of the Journal to take a minute and send a note of congratulations if your chapter was recognized.
Since January Kappa Alpha men across the country have been engaged in the work of the Order. Many Conviviums were held around January 19th in celebration of our founding and Robert E. Lee’s birthday (which, by the way, marks his 199th birthday). I had the pleasure of attending numerous Conviviums and appreciate so much the hospitality shown to me by so many active and alumni brothers alike. It is truly exciting to see so many still connected to Kappa Alpha Order. Brothers, enjoy this issue of the Journal and remember if you haven’t joined The Loyal Order, please do so. The funding for this publication needs to come from us, the Kappa Alpha alumni rather than our undergraduate members. Thank all of you or your support of Kappa Alpha Order and the Kappa Alpha Order Educational Foundation.
Sincerely,
Ben W. Satcher, Jr.
Knight Commander
