In Other News…
N A T I O N A L S
Cesar and Gabe Head to Denver for Grand Chapter Conclave
Grand Chapter Conclave is the largest gathering of brothers in the country, which happens every two years. Although many chapters send representatives to each Conclave, New York Rho has not done this historically. This is not to say that our chapter hasn’t been to Conclave, in fact quite the opposite; our chapter has had representation for almost every Conclave since 2003. David Graziano (Υ) who got involved with Nationals directly after graduating St John’s University in 2003 as the Director of Leadership Development, has helped to organize and produce eight Conclaves over the last eighteen years. Thank you David, for being a great example for us at New York Rho.
With that said this was the first time attending Conclave for both Gabe Vazquez (AE) and Cesar Pozo (AΔ). Both had decided to personally take on the mission of bringing SigEp back to St Johns. Over the last year, Gabe and a handful of other brothers, including Cesar, and many of which were recently elected as AVC Board Members, have made contact with Nationals in an attempt to reestablish the good name of NY Rho since the unfortunate events that took place in 2012 causing it significant damage. What better place to reestablish connections and build new relationships than the largest gathering of brothers, especially those involved with Nationals, the Grand Chapter Conclave?
Cesar and Gabe could not have prepared themselves for what they both described as a life-changing experience. They met brothers of all different statuses and backgrounds, from undergraduates, to AVC Members of other chapters, to District Governors, to the Grand President himself. They shared their personal stories and that of the chapter and it’s current trajectory. They shared what the chapter has accomplished to this point and the vision for the chapter’s future. The goal was simple; Be seen by as many brothers as they could; Meet and talk to everyone. Now of course they couldn’t talk to everyone, but if given enough time, I believe they would have. For Gabe and Cesar though, Conclave was a huge success. They received a lot of positive feedback about their character as brothers and the progress that has been made by the chapter. They received contact information from several brothers along with offers of continued support and guidance. Allies have been formed.
Throughout their experience, they also sought out what it is to be a SigEp today. What does it mean to be a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon right now? First and foremost, it’s a lifetime commitment. Being a brother of SigEp is not just a college experience where we hangout with our buddies and do some enriching activities. It’s about becoming the best men we can become through a huge network of support from a fraternal organization that includes some of the most successful people in the world. Virtue, Diligence, and Brotherly Love are not just a few words that sound nice together, but rather ideals and principles that every prominent member of our fraternity has embodied to help them become who they’ve become. SigEp is truly about becoming and helping others become Balanced Men, together.
For our chapter to be re-chartered at St John’s, and more importantly for our chapter to become successful at all, we need to fully embrace the reality of the Balanced Man program. We need to be organized and we need to come together. We are brothers and there is not a single thing that can stop New York Rho from achieving success even greater than we’ve ever had, except ourselves. We are the only ones who can stop us. We are currently being considered, among a handful of other chapters, for reinstatement. For this to be granted we need everyone to participate and be involved. Gabe, Cesar and the rest of the brothers who have sacrificed a lot of their time, money, and energy need your support. So come to some events when you can, make an effort to show up to some virtual events when you can’t be there physically. Reach out to brothers you haven’t talked to for a while and let them know what we’re doing and that we want to see them involved as well. Please stay in touch and keep your contact information updated.
T I D B I T S
Date of Event: 7/28 – 8/1
Location: Denver, CO
NYP Attendance: 3 Bros
AVC Costs (Raised): $2,681
Check out more about the Awards, Legislation, and Photos from Conclave 2021
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