Acacia's Founding Fathers
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Chapter Updates • Foundation Update • Alumni News and Notes • Donors Visit our Web site: www.acacia.org Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage Paid Permit No. 8 Indianapolis, Indiana Changing Your Address? Change Service Requested Acacia’s Founding Fathers Clip this change of address form including your address label and mail to: Name ___________________________Chapter________________ Acacia Fraternity International Headquarters Street __________________________________________________ 8777 Purdue Road, Suite 130 Indianapolis, IN 46268 City ________________________State________Zip ____________ President’s Message Almost One Hundred David J. Allen, International President, Acacia Fraternity cacia will celebrate its Centennial in 2004. I am certain that if our Founders, just like the authors of the Constitution of the United AStates, could see the current status of the fraternity world today, each would have concerns about its future. I feel equally certain that each of these fraternal visionaries would step up to the challenges today and devote their talents and resources to meeting these chal- lenges. In July of 2004, Acacia Fraternity will commemorate its 100th Anniversary at the 53rd Biennial Conclave which will be held in Indianapolis, Indiana. I hope you will include in your plans the attendance at this very special event. Plans for the celebration are already under way. Immediate past president Gerald C. Cook will chair the Centennial Committee and has agreed to the daunting task, with the aid of Brother Acacians, of providing a program that will serve as a starting point for Acacia’s next 100 years. My initial months as International Council President have been educational. Even with my prior service as International Judge Advocate, I found the learning curve steep and the pace of learning has required intensive preparation. International Council of Acacia Acacia, like all fraternities Fraternity 2002-2004 today, faces serious issues. I am reminded of the military recruiting President poster of many years ago with Uncle David J. Allen Sam pointing a finger toward the Indiana ‘57 viewer with the caption, “Your David J. Allen Country Needs You.” We need only First Vice-President substitute Pythagoras for Uncle Sam J. Scott Cleland and the caption changed from Country to Acacia in order to reflect the current envi- Ohio ‘88 ronment for Greek letter organizations on the college and university campuses today. Second Vice-President Acacia requires the investment of your time, talent, and money. That sentence Craig S. Johnson is blunt, but accurate. We need to expand our resource base. The Acacia Fraternity Louisiana State ‘90 Foundation is doing an excellent job of building a strong economic foundation upon which the Fraternity can expand. The Headquarters staff configuration has been International Counselor expanded to provide better service to the chapters and alumni, but it takes commit- George A. Levesque, Jr. ted alumni to add the strength component. National studies indicate that volun- Carleton ‘89 teerism is on the decline. Acacia must reverse this trend if we are to remain true to our Founders’ dreams. International Treasurer Please, if you are not already, get involved with your own chapter or if you live Robert E. Roberson close to another Acacia chapter offer assistance to them. We are only as strong as our Illinois Wesleyan ‘74 weakest link and you can make a difference by serving Acacia. Your support of Acacia is vital. Your involvement in Acacia is vital. Your willingness to serve in local Judge Advocate and international roles is vital. One of our challenges is to bring our alumni back to Christopher B. Carpentier Acacia in a more active role. The history of the first one hundred years has been writ- Indiana ‘93 ten by what we have done as undergraduates and alumni. It is our obligation to con- tinue to serve through our active involvement in Acacia. The future of Acacia rests Undergraduate Counselor on a strong foundation. As alumni we are that foundation. The current undergradu- Brian S. Downs ates need to understand that membership in Acacia is a journey, not a destination. Central Oklahoma ‘99 What better way to make that understanding clear than to share your dedication to Acacia with them. We all learn by example. Let us set an example of positive activ- Undergraduate Counselor ity on behalf of Acacia. Ryan S. Morris Our future depends on what we do in the present. What is past is prologue. Your Purdue ‘00 involvement will make a difference. The TRIAD, Volume 1, Issue 2, is published by Acacia Fraternity, Inc. Darold W. Larson, Editor; Blake Hutchison, Associate Editor. Address changes, correspon- dence and material for publication should be mailed to: TRIAD Editor, ACACIA FRATERNITY, 8777 Purdue Road, Suite 130, Indianapolis, IN 46268. Standard postage paid in Indianapolis, Indiana. 2 The TRIAD Spring, 2003 52nd Biennial Conclave Celebration or five days and four nights the Fairmont Hotel in downtown Andre, Kansas State ‘92, and David Flagg, Syracuse ‘61. Acacia FNew Orleans became an unofficial chapter house for hundreds would like to thank them again for their efforts and dedication. of Acacians from around the United States and Canada, as they trav- Other speakers included David Stollman from CampusSpeak, eled from near and far to celebrate the 52nd Biennial Conclave of whose program dealt with the issues facing membership motivation, Acacia Fraternity. Steve Bradley from Success4Students who led a program aimed at An atmosphere of fun combined with a sense of serious busi- improving academic habits of the individual students, and Colonel ness greeted delegates from the chapters as the theme Captains Of George Everett “Bud” Day, U.S. Air Force (Ret.), who spoke about Our Fate led them through the week. his experiences in captivity during the Vietnam War at the Acacia Events ranged from three business sessions to a boat cruise, a Fraternity Foundation Scholarship Luncheon. Colonel Day is the hypnotist, and a wonderful final banquet with a dessert fit for King most decorated soldier in the U.S. Armed Forces since General Polycrates. All who attended got a real sense of brotherhood and left Douglas MacArthur. Acacia would like to thank him and Brother New Orleans with a renewed Acacia spirit. Gene Ambroson, Morningside ‘96, for helping to make this event a Featured speakers for this event included Brothers Scott success. Cleland, Ohio ‘88, George Levesque, Carleton ‘89, Lawrence One of the most enjoyable events of the Conclave was the presentation by Brother Doug MacCraw, Nebraska ‘86. Brother MacCraw is a master hypnotist/comedian who brought his talents to 2002 Conclave Chapter Awards bear on several Acacians. He also brought an idea for a very suc- Malcolm Award Good of the Fraternity cessful chapter philanthropy event. If you would like more infor- •Penn State •Nebraska mation regarding his philanthropy, please contact Headquarters. The International Conclave passed several resolutions during Superior Chapter Award House Management the week. One of the resolutions dealt with the stagnant growth •Central Oklahoma •Purdue among all college social fraternities. A resolution was passed •Miami authorizing the formation of a subcommittee to address the expan- Outstanding Chapter Award Continued on page 4 •Indiana Human Service Programming: •Nebraska •Indiana •California •Iowa •Louisiana State Human Service/Biennium Academic Programming •Penn State •Iowa State Membership Recruitment Alumni Programming & •Indiana Those in attendance at Advisory •Miami the 2002 Conclave final •Kansas State banquet clap and cheer as Officer Organization the Baked Alaska en Best Publication •Nebraska Parade is served in a •Indiana uniquely New Orleans •Cornell Ritual Exemplification style complete with a full •Morningside jazz band. Athletic Achievement •Kansas State •Penn State •Illinois Risk Management •Iowa Campus Leadership •California •Central Oklahoma •C.U.P. Best Young Chapter/Colony •Kansas State Chapter Programming/Member Education Harvey Logan/Most Improved •Indiana •C.U.P. Communication Technology Chapter Advisor of the •Syracuse Biennium •Dalen McVay, Central Dining Operations Oklahoma ‘95 - Iowa State •Louisiana State Financial Operations •Nebraska Dave Allen (Indiana ‘57) addresses the brothers at the closing banquet after •C.U.P. being elected the International President of Acacia Fraternity at Conclave in New Orleans, August 2002. The TRIAD Spring, 2003 3 52nd Biennial Conclave (Continued from page 3) sion of Acacia Fraternity. Also passed was an impassioned resolu- tion urging all Acacians, actives and alumni alike, to speak out against the institution of deferred rush. Deferred rush is a system designed by colleges and universities that will not allow prospective students to join a fraternity until their sophomore year. This is a direct violation of our American right to free association, and Acacia will lead the fight against this educationally and socially counterproductive system. The Acacia Fraternity Foundation awarded numerous scholar- ships to many deserving Acacians who strive for academic excel- lence at their respective campuses. The 52nd Biennial Conclave ended with a formal dinner in the beautiful Grand Ballroom. During dinner, a Dixieland jazz band played traditional New Orleans jazz. Dinner was followed by a dessert of “baked Alaska en parade” complete with a rousing rendi- tion of When the Saints Go Marching In. After dinner, there was a presentation of awards to both individuals and chapters