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Dr. Robert G. Travnicek recognized for service

Recognizing Brother (Dr.) Robert G. Travnicek, Kansas ‘59, for his "legendary service and dedication to public health" in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the Mississippi State Medical Association recently presented Brother Travnicek with its Physician Award for Community Service. His extensive study and practice of both medicine and public health helped him not only survive but lead public health emergency preparedness and response to Hurricane Katrina on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. This recognition honors both active practice of medicine and community service above-and-beyond the call of duty.

Katrina slammed into Hancock County, Mississippi, early on a hot August morning in 2005, the worst natural disaster ever to strike the United States. The killer storm came as the costliest hurricane of the season and one of the five deadliest in U.S. history. Among recorded hurricanes, she’s the sixth strongest to have emerged from the Atlantic.

Katrina aimed directly at the six counties Travnicek oversees as director of the Coastal Plains Public Health District, a post he’s held since 1990. According to disaster response plans, he went early to the Harrison County Emergency Operations Center; he all but lived there for the next 60 days.

The fellow physician who proposed the award called the recognition overdue in light of Katrina but apt for "a long and illustrious medical career which has spanned nearly five decades. He is a man of highest character and deserves recognition of this prestigious award."

In crediting others, Travnicek personified the strengths of his public health career: team-building and cheerleading.

Accepting the award, he said, "This gives me a chance for the first time to publicly recognize at least three of the hundreds with whom I was teamed." He lauded George Schloegel, then president of Hancock Bank and now Mayor of the City of Gulfport, Gary Marchand, CEO of Gulfport Memorial Hospital, and "finally and particularly, my long-suffering wife who as a staff nurse was in a lockdown situation at Garden Park Hospital during the storm and for two days after."

Brother Travnicek’s selfless acts not only call to mind Acacia’s motto of Human Service, but also the words of our Preamble which remind us "to take a more active part and to have a greater influence in the affairs of the community in which we reside."

We salute Brother Travnicek for exemplifying what it means to be an Acacian.

Colorado Chapter forges ahead with groundbreaking new housing model

With an eye towards the future, the Colorado Chapter has broken ground on an ambitious new chapter housing project that keenly reflects current trends in collegiate housing. Nearly two years ago, alumni serving on the chapter’s housing corporation board envisioned a new model of fraternity living that will see the active chapter move from its 72-year old chapter house into a completely new apartment-style complex augmented by a state-of-the-art fraternity space.

After conducting an exhaustive diligence process, the housing corporation board elected to work with experienced Boulder developers Michael Boyers & Brinkman Construction to develop the new complex. Consisting of two large residential buildings designed for modern student living, the facility is designed to be larger in scope than Acacia alone will occupy. Our brothers are granted rights of first refusal for all units, providing the chapter with as much space as necessary as the chapter grows. Through a joint venture, the entire complex is still under full ownership by the housing corporation board, and is operated under the terms of a "ground lease." The Plaza on Broadway is the first fraternity redevelopment in Boulder in over fifteen years.

The main chapter building includes 3,100 sq ft devoted to the exclusive use of Acacia brothers, including exceptional study facilities and social space. The impeccable space is designed to accommodate prominent guest speakers, hold educational seminars, and provide members with a supportive space for their academic pursuits. A large kitchen and dining area will provide members and guests with a central hub for dining and conversation, while the basement affords the chapter a place to watch sports, movies, and hold social functions. Additionally, the chapter has allocated space for a live-in residential advisor.

Adjacent residential units are commonly composed of four bedrooms and four baths, reflecting a "suite-style" living arrangement that colleges and universities are adopting nationwide. Each unit is afforded breathtaking views of the Flatiron mountains with a substantial balcony, a communal living room, and a kitchen outfitted with modern appliances.

To make way for the new facility, demolition of the old Acacia house at 955 Broadway took place on May 14, 2012, while alumni and actives witnessed the dramatic scene. The wrecking crew made short work of the art-deco style building that Acacians called home since 1940, and in a matter of only three hours, the facility was a pile of bricks and broken timber. With the site cleared and prepped, the official groundbreaking ceremony took place on June 14, and new construction followed suit at a fast and furious pace. The development is on track for an August 2013 opening, just in time for the fall semester at the University of Colorado.

The Colorado Chapter was re-chartered and named Best Young Chapter at the 56th Biennial Conclave in August 2010. The chapter was also awarded for Best Alumni Programming/Advisory at the 57th Biennial Conclave in 2012, in no small part due to the leadership of the housing corporation board during this redevelopment initiative.

This groundbreaking new housing project simultaneously reflects the Colorado Chapter’s progress since its 2008 re-founding and represesnts a great challenge and responsibility for its sustained success. For more information, visit the Colorado Chapter website at http://acaciacolorado.org and the alumni website at http://colacacia.org.

2011-2012 AFF Scholarship Recipients

The Foundation awarded over 140 scholarships totaling $121,756 in the past year from chapter scholarship programs and the General Fund.

Duncan McPherson Foundation Fraternityship – 7/29/11
Joel A. Zeni - Oregon State - $3,000

George F. Patterson, Jr. Foundation Scholarship – 7/29/11
Christopher D. Dolezal - Kansas State - $3,000

David J. Allen Scholarship 7/29/11
William Chu - Syracuse - $3,000

2011 Acacia Fraternity Foundation Scholarships – 7/29/11
Cameron A. K. Barber - Texas Tech - $1,000
Brian T. Biddle - St. Cloud - $1,000
Mason D. Grittman - Kansas State - $1,000
Nolan E. Hight - Texas Tech - $1,000
Sean C. Keenan - Nebraska - $1,000
Jerod K. Miles - Central Oklahoma - $1,000
Robert A. Zazac III – California University of Pennsylvania - $1,000

Emma C. Allen Memorial Scholarships – 7/29/11
Blasé J. Viti III - Indiana - $1,000
Nicholas M. Montanari – Washington State - $1,000
Zackary W. Morris – California - $1,000
Michael F. Smith – Indiana - $1,000

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In addition to scholarships awarded at the international level, the Foundation also assists chapters administer their own scholarship accounts. The following scholarship recipients were recognized over the past year by their respective chapters:

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Indiana Chapter Kyle P. Simcoe Memorial Scholarship – 1/26/12
Blasé J. Viti III – Indiana - $5,000

Iowa State Chapter Scholarships – 10/12/11
Dakota John Allen – Iowa State - $425
Samuel Michael Behrens – Iowa State - $425
Pavel I. Beresnev – Iowa State - $425
Ian Lawrence Bryant – Iowa State - $425
Paul Daniel Bundy – Iowa State - $225
Zachary Thomas Clarey – Iowa State - $225
Ryne Brooks Dittmer – Iowa State - $425
Andrew Darin Doherty – Iowa State - $3,972
Colton Wayne Fales – Iowa State - $225
Michael Lee Felderman – Iowa State - $425
Ben Michael Henke – Iowa State - $225
Carl Patrick Holst III – Iowa State - $225
Zachary Robert Jameson – Iowa State - $425
Derek Michael Joseph – Iowa State - $425
Ryan Scott Lohse – Iowa State - $225
William Andrew Mann – Iowa State - $225
Thomas Ray McGee – Iowa State - $3,972
John Edward Meyer – Iowa State - $1,225
Derek E. Robison – Iowa State - $425
Austin Jon Schlatter – Iowa State - $200
Benjamin John Schneider – Iowa State - $1,425
Daniel Aaron Schwartzstein – Iowa State - $425
Byron Douglas Smith – Iowa State - $425
Riley Benjamin Thiesfeld – Iowa State - $425
Clayton Andrew Van Ekeren – Iowa State - $225
Zachary Joseph Kenneth Walker – Iowa State - $425
Kevin Lester Wells – Iowa State - $225
Nathan Carl West – Iowa State - $225
Cole James Westphal – Iowa State - $225
Tyler James Zylstra – Iowa State - $425

Iowa State Chapter Scholarships – 1/3/12
Dakota John Allen – Iowa State - $225
Samuel Michael Behrens – Iowa State - $225
Pavel I. Beresnev – Iowa State - $225
Ian Lawrence Bryant – Iowa State - $225
Paul Daniel Bundy – Iowa State - $225
Zachary Thomas Clary – Iowa State - $225
Andrew Darin Doherty – Iowa State - $225
Colton Wayne Fales – Iowa State - $1,225
Michael Lee Felderman – Iowa State - $225
Ben Michael Henke – Iowa State - $1,225
Zachary Robert Jameson – Iowa State - $225
Tanner John Jaeger – Iowa State - $1,225
Addison Grand Kistler – Iowa State - $1,225
Nick Hans Kraus – Iowa State - $1,000
Ryan Scott Lohse – Iowa State - $1,225
Wicitra Mahotama – Iowa State - $1,000
William Andrew Mann – Iowa State - $1,225
Gabrial Jacob McCoy – Iowa State - $1,000
Thomas Ray McGee – Iowa State - $225
John Edward Meyer – Iowa State - $225
Derek E. Robison – Iowa State - $225
Benjamin John Schneider – Iowa State - $225
Daniel Aaron Schwartzstein – Iowa State - $225
Drew Kenneth Sherman – Iowa State - $1,000
Byron Douglas Smith – Iowa State - $225
Clayton Andrew Van Ekeren – Iowa State - $1,225
Robert James Vannoy – Iowa State - $1,225
Zachary Joseph Kenneth Walker – Iowa State - $225
Kevin Lester Wells – Iowa State - $225
Nathan Carl West – Iowa State - $225
Tyler James Zylstra – Iowa State - $225

Iowa State Chapter Scholarships – 3/6/12
Samuel Michael Behrens – Iowa State - $200
Pavel I. Beresnev – Iowa State - $200
Jacob Ryan Bergman – Iowa State - $200
Ian Lawrence Bryant – Iowa State - $200
Paul Daniel Bundy – Iowa State - $200
Tyler Joseph Cain – Iowa State - $200
Andrew Darin Doherty – Iowa State - $2,396
Colton Wayne Fales – Iowa State - $200
Michael Lee Felderman – Iowa State - $200
Ben Michael Henke – Iowa State - $200
Tanner John Jaeger – Iowa State - $200
Addison Grand Kistler – Iowa State - $200
Nick Hns Kraus – Iowa State - $200
Wicitra Mahotama – Iowa State - $200
Gabrial Jacob McCoy – Iowa State - $200
Thomas Ray McGee – Iowa State - $2,396
Derek E. Robison – Iowa State - $200
Austin Jon Schlatter – Iowa State - $200
Benjamin John Schneider – Iowa State - $200
Daniel Aaron Schwartzstein – Iowa State - $200
Drew Kenneth Sherman – Iowa State - $200
Byron Douglas Smith – Iowa State - $200
Carlton James Stripe – Iowa State - $200
Riley Benjamin Thiesfeld – Iowa State - $200
Clayton Andrew Van Ekeren – Iowa State - $200
Zachary Joseph Kenneth Walker – Iowa State - $200
Cole James Westphal – Iowa State - $225
Tyler James Zylstra – Iowa State - $225

Kansas State Chapter Alan John Trachsel Memorial Scholarships – 9/20/11
Jeddidiah Rogers Russell – Kansas State - $3,400
Brandon Edward Litch – Kansas State - $3,285
Sean Patrick Quinn – Kansas State - $1,000
Parker Hall – Kansas State - $500
Tyson Pettijohn – Kansas State - $500

Minnesota Chapter Donald H. Arvold Memorial Scholarships – 2/7/12
Justin D. Akins – St. Cloud State - $1,000
Steven D. Thomalla – St. Cloud State - $500
Robert V. Wills – St. Cloud State - $500

Oregon State Chapter Scholarships – 10/12/11
Hans Harold Nussbaum – Oregon State - $1,000
Nicholas Kagisano Coles – Oregon State - $1,000
Ian Andrew Harrison – Oregon State - $1,000
Taylor Dane Friesen – Oregon State - $1,000
Yonatan Israel Kallman – Oregon State - $1,000
Kyle Lee England – Oregon State - $1,000
Nicholas Tyler Nolan – Oregon State - $1,000
Sagar H. Rotithor – Oregon State - $1,000
Michael Alexander Trujillo – Oregon State - $1,000
Adam Kiyoshi Osmer – Oregon State - $1,000
Hoan Khai Le – Oregon State - $1,000
Keaton Timothy Johnson – Oregon State - $500

Oregon State Chapter Scholarships – 3/14/12
Joseph Martin Runde – Oregon State - $1,000
Riley William Protz – Oregon State - $1,000
Nicholas Steven Jude Aerne – Oregon State - $1,000
Alexander Fisher Lafranchi – Oregon State - $1,000
William Gordon Valiant – Oregon State - $1,000
Mahon Nick Khoshzaban – Oregon State - $1,000
Addison Joseph Pang – Oregon State - $1,000
Nathan Matthew Lazaroff – Oregon State - $1,000
Kasey Nobuyuki Munetake – Oregon State - $1,000
David Orion Shumway – Oregon State - $1,000

Penn State Chapter G.K. Nelson Scholarships – 10/12/11
Ryan Benjamin Altus – Penn State - $500
Jared Dennis Manley – Penn State - $500
Drew Kenneth Miller – Penn State - $500

Penn State Chapter Glenn C. Ream Scholarship – 10/12/11
Michael George Schrenk – Penn State - $250

Penn State Chapter W. Russell Scott Memorial Scholarship – 10/12/11
Ryan James Mead – Penn State - $1,000

Purdue Chapter Leonard E. Wood Chapter Advisor’s Scholarship – 11/14/11
J. Patrick Hathaway – Purdue - $1,200
Christopher Michael Jonas – Purdue - $1,200
Jordan Channing Wagner – Purdue - $1,200

Washington State Lester N. Liebel Cornerstones Scholarship – 2/7/12
Brian Stephen Claire – Washington State - $1,000

57th Biennial Conclave

Brothers arrived in St. Louis on August 1, 2012 for four days of business and brotherhood at Acacia Fraternity’s 57th Biennial Conclave and Leadership Academy -- conducting the business of the fraternity, learning new skills to benefit our members and chapters, and strengthening the ties of friendship.

The International Council -- the supreme judicial authority of Acacia Fraternity, and the Conclave delegation -- the official legislative body, had much official business to address. We reviewed the progress made over the previous two years and set the course for the coming biennium.

Membership Growth
The preceding biennium marked strong growth, with active membership of 1000+ men equaling our highest numbers in over a decade.

Current colonies include Michigan, Illinois State, and Trine University. Upcoming colonizations include Iowa (fall 2015) and, hopefully, Vermont. As always, there are a number of other universities that we are in early stages of communication with about colonizing. More news to follow as it becomes official.

Financial Health
The financial health of the fraternity improved greatly under the leadership of President Robert E. Roberson, Illinois Wesleyan ‘74, and International Treasurer Anthony D.J. Phillips, Carleton ‘06. Our accounts receivable diminished greatly, with many chapters working hard to address the debt saddled upon them by their predecessors.

The Conclave delegation, on the recommendation of the finance committee, voted to increase pledge fees from $70 to $85 and annual dues from $120 to $125. The cost of per capita liability insurance also increased from $165 to $175.

Organization and Governance
A frequent topic of conversation -- and often confusion -- is that of governance and organizational structure among the international fraternity, alumni associations, housing corporation boards, and active membership. Common issues include housing, taxation, donations, and scholarships. In order to resolve these questions and provide increased continuity across generations of leadership, a new task force led by International Counselor Brian S. Downs, Central Oklahoma ‘99, and International Second Vice President Jeremy N. Davis, Iowa State ‘00, will address these issues.

Membership Education
Cornerstones, the Membership Development Program of Acacia Fraternity, still a relatively young program at six years, continues to evolve and have a greater impact on our active members, chapters, and alumni.

• Our active membership is truly taking ownership of the program with the formation of the Undergraduate Cornerstones Task Force, led by brothers from several participating chapters. The UCTF is charged with creating programs to advance individual and chapter development.
• Director of Membership Development Patrick W. McGovern, Indiana ‘99, has assembled a wealth of resources at AcaciaCornerstones.org to further the cause of lifelong learning. Learn more about Cornerstones.
• The "Alumni Track" of Conclave continues to grow and provide our alumni members with new skills and expertise. This year’s highlight was programming that helps workplace managers understand how to best work with the millennial generation.

Communications
An area that the fraternity looks to improve over the next biennium is communications. The staff has added a full-time Director of Communications to the staff -- Michael Pastko, Purdue ‘04 -- to help lead this effort. We look to share existing resources more effectively, communicate more openly and regularly with our membership online, and assist chapters with their specific needs.

Our chapters continue to adopt ACACIAconnect, an online resource provided jointly by ChapterSpot and Acacia Headquarters. ACACIAconnect provides our chapters with an internal management & communications network and an easy-to-update public chapter website. Learn more about ACACIA connect.

Elections
Up for election at this Conclave were the positions of International First and Second Vice President, and both Undergraduate Counselor positions. After a close election, Acacia welcomed new International First Vice President Scott H. Meyer, St. Cloud State ‘89, to the Council. Running unopposed for his second term as International Second Vice President, we congratulate Jeremy N. Davis, Iowa State ‘00, on his election. Five strong candidates ran for the position of Undergraduate Counselor, with the delegation electing brothers George "Chip" A. Ray, Penn State ‘10, and Joel A. Zeni, Oregon State ‘10. All officers were sworn in during the final Conclave banquet and are anxious to contribute their time and effort to Acacia.

Featured Programs and Entertainment
Conclave attendees enjoyed numerous featured programs and events this year:

On Wednesday, August 1, attendees enjoyed the comedy hypnotism of Brother Doug G. MacCraw, Nebraska ‘86. Brother MacCraw’s show had Acacians laughing non-stop and set the stage for a great week. You can book Brother MacCraw for your recruitment events or corporate outings - www.stagehypnotist.com.

Thursday’s featured program, part of the John F. Hoffner Leadership Series, was "The Young and the Restless: A Millennial’s Guide to Success." Jeffrey Hiller of Job Bound explored the difference between work attitudes and preferences among various generations, while helping actives get ready to enter the workforce after graduation. Jeff later presented, "Dude, What’s my Job?" to our alumni attendees which provided a perspective on managing millennials in the workforce.

In supporting our motto of Human Service, dozens of Acacians donated blood to support the Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center on Friday afternoon. Our donations to the blood center will help almost 100 people in need of blood this year.

"How Do You Want to be Remembered?" was the question posed by Friday’s speaker, Kent Stock. Kent’s story of following your passion, always having a Plan B, and being conscious about your interactions had an impact on all who attended.

Friday evening, dozens of Acacians braved the intense heat and humidity at Busch Stadium to watch the St. Louis Cardinals take on division rival Milwaukee Brewers. After falling behind 3-0 early in the game, St. Louis erased the deficit to take the game 9-3. A second group of brothers chose to visit the the City Museum. We also welcomed local alumni to join us for the George F. Patterson Society alumni reception.

On Saturday, featured speaker Andrew McCrea presented, "Losing to Win: The Leadership Paradox" as part of the speaking program sponsored by the International Council of Acacia Fraternity. Andrew illustrated that sometimes the direction you are heading is 180 degrees from where you thought you’d be, and how to adapt to changing circumstances.

Banquets, Scholarships, and Awards

On Friday, August 3, 2012, the entire delegation enjoyed the William A. Utic Acacia Fraternity Foundation Scholarship Banquet, recently named in recognition of the tireless service of William A. Utic, Cornell '74, to the AFF. The banquet was Brother Utic by its namesake as part of the Dr. Irving M. Field Lectureship Series. Through the generous support of the AFF, numerous scholarships were awarded to deserving undergraduate members (winners to be posted online later).

Also awarded during the AFF Scholarship Banquet were the Spirit of Excellence awards, earned by chapters for excellence in specific areas of chapter operations.

G.K. Nelson Academic Programming - Iowa State, Kansas State
Alumni Programming/Advisory - Illinois, Colorado, Kansas State
Best Publication - Iowa State, California (PA)
Athletic Achievement - Penn State
Campus Leadership - Kansas State, California (PA)
Chapter Programming/Membership Education - Kansas State
Communication Technology - Illinois Wesleyan, Kansas State
Dining Operations - Nebraska
Financial Operations - Kansas State, Iowa State
Good of the Fraternity - Ohio, Iowa State
House Management - Wisconsin, St. Cloud State
Human Service - Oregon State, Penn State, Ohio
Membership Recruitment - Ohio, Penn State
Officer Organization - Syracuse
Pledge Education - Ohio State, Texas
Ritual Exemplification - Illinois Wesleyan
Risk Management - Nebraska

Final Banquet and Awards & Honors

The 57th Biennial Conclave Final Banquet was held on Saturday, August 4, 2012. A formal dinner was enjoyed by all in attendance, with brothers of all generations joining to celebrate our Acacia experience together. The fraternity awarded high individual honors, additional chapter recognitions, and our highest chapter awards.

Founders’ Achievement Awards

Malcolm Award (best chapter of the biennium) - Kansas State


Superior Chapter - Iowa State


Outstanding Chapter - Penn State

George F. Patterson Outstanding Alumnus Award
Melvin W. Rapp, Illinois ‘49
Ronald T. Hopkins, Syracuse ‘69
(also pictured: Executive Director Keith M. Bushey, Indiana '86)

Award of Merit
Jeremy N. Davis, Iowa State ‘00
Robert W. Mickam, Texas ‘85
Edward Cunnington, Minnesota ‘63 (not pictured)
Larry Forsland, Minnesota ‘61 (not pictured)
Lucas D. Shivers, Kansas State ‘01 (not pictured)
(also pictured: International President Robert E. Roberson, Illinois Wesleyan '74)

Roy C. Clark Award
Justin M. M. Kaplan, Carleton ‘07
Michael S. Weber, Iowa State ‘06
Nicholas M. Montanari, Washington State ‘08
Joshua J. Gannon, Oregon State ‘07

Chapter Advisor of the Biennium
Cory S. Oakley, Ohio ‘94

Executive Director's Award (most improved chapter)
Illinois Wesleyan

President's Award (membership growth)
Ohio

Best Young Chapter
Washington State

Most Man Miles Traveled to Conclave
Morningside

Largest Conclave Delegation
Kansas State

View more Conclave photos on Facebook.

The experience of attending Conclave cannot be expressed adequately on a blog, or even from the lips of the brothers that attend; however we can be sure that this year's Conclave benefitted our members in terms of: making connections with other chapters and brothers, gaining insight and wisdom, gaining a broader perspective of what it means to be an Acacian, and gaining a boost in motivation to return to campus life knowing that each member’s leadership matters and will make a difference. If you were unable to attend this year's Conclave, we’d love for you to join us in 2014. Stay tuned for official announcements.

Events like our biennial Conclave can only happen with your support and the gracious gifts of our donors. If you’d like to help ensure our members have access to invaluable programs like the ones listed above, please visit our Acacia Fraternity Foundation donations page to make a contribution. Consider giving to the Area of Greatest Need, Acacia Annual Fund, or Cornerstones Program, and your gift will make a real impact.

Follow Conclave 2012 online

Greetings from the Acacia HQ staff! We are excitedly making final preparations for our journey across the hot desert sands to our 57th biennial Conclave in St. Louis, Missouri (okay, the drive from Indianapolis to St. Louis is more like prairie than dessert, but it is going to be hot as Egypt for the duration of our stay - check out the five-day weather forecast).



Can't make it to St. Louis? Follow from home!
We invite Acacians from all over the world to join us online as brothers from across North America assemble in St. Louis to conduct the business of the fraternity and strengthen the ties of friendship.

Where we'll be sharing online:
Facebook: http://facebook.com/acaciafraternity
Twitter: http://twitter.com/acaciahq
Storify: http://storify.com/AcaciaHQ/acacia-conclave-12
And find updates right here on the Acacia blog.

Twitter users contribute with hashtag #Acacia12:
Are you on Twitter and attending Conclave? Or following from home? Use hashtag #Acacia12 so we can find and share your Tweets and pics. We'll put our favorites on Storify.

Thanks for following, and we'll see you in St. Louis!

Pastko returns to headquarters staff

We are excited to announce the return of Michael Pastko, Purdue '04, to the Acacia Headquarters staff. Brother Pastko picks up where he left off in 2010, leading the fraternity's efforts in the digital world.


In his role, Michael oversees Acacia's efforts online, spanning from Acacia.org to social media to new initiatives, and provides technology, graphic design, and communications support to our chapters, headquarters staff, and Acacia Fraternity Foundation. With his primary responsibilities existing online, Michael is working remotely from Boulder, Colorado, and reporting directly to Keith Bushey, Executive Director.


Brother Pastko re-joins the staff after spending the last three years in the online and mobile technology industries, creating two startup companies with customers spanning North America and Europe. Michael previously served the fraternity beginning in 2007 as Co-Director of Membership Development before taking on the role of Director of Communications. He was awarded the Order of Pythagoras in 2008 and served as Venerable Dean of the Purdue Chapter as an undergraduate.

Acacia Fraternity Foundation Directors 2012 - 2015

Please refer to the following list of bios for those alumni brothers nominated to serve as Acacia Fraternity Foundation Directors for 2012 - 2015. 


To vote in the AFF Proxy Vote process, click on the following link to complete the online survey. 

John C. (Chip) Brueckman III

Cornell ’76. His career has been in marketing for Proctor and Gamble, Seven Up, Cadbury-Schweppes and most recently for the company that oversees the Texas state lottery. Sales, Merchandising, and Business Development Manager at GTECH, Inc. Resides in Plano, TX

Bryan W. Dowd

Morningside College ’02.  Treasurer of the Morningside Chapter 2002-2003.  Alumni Representative (Morningside College) for 2008 & 2010 Conclaves.  Currently Vice President of Commercial Banking & Treasury Management for First American Bank.  Resides in Fort Myers, FL.

Brian R. Durst

Wisconsin ’87.  Order of Pythagoras.  Current Vice President and Past President, Acacia Housing Corp of Wisconsin Chapter.  Founding Father, Wisconsin Chapter.   District Sales Manager, American Family Insurance.   Resides in Woodstock (Atlanta), GA.  

Amos D. Meyers, Jr.

Shippensburg ’66.  Founding member of Shippensburg chapter.  Member of the Acacia Fraternity Foundation Board of Directors, serving as chairman of the AFF Scholarship Committee.  Elementary classroom teacher and administrator (retired). Chairman, Hawaii County Transportation Commission.  Resides in Volcano, Hawaii.

Melvin W. (Mel) Rapp

Illinois ’49. Order of Pythagoras, Award of Merit.  Member of the Acacia Fraternity Foundation Board of Directors.  Managing director of Quality Chekd Dairies (retired).  Treasurer, Illinois Chapter House Corporation and Illinois Capital Campaign Committee.  Co-Chapter Advisor, Illinois chapter.  Resides in Wheaton, Illinois.

William M. (Bill) Riley, Jr.
Kansas State '60. Order of Pythagoras, Award of Merit. Currently serving as President of the Acacia Fraternity Foundation Board of Directors. President of The Pathfinder, Inc., retail outdoor clothing and equipment. Chairman of the National Trustee Council of the Nature Conservancy, Chairman of Colorado Association of Fund Raisers, CFRE, Board of Trustees Kansas United Methodist Foundation. Past president of Kansas 4-H Foundation and the Kansas State chapter alumni board. Resides in Manhattan, KS.

Richard S. (Rick) Rasmussen

California ’80. Order of Pythagoras.  Member of the Acacia Fraternity Foundation Board of Directors.  Director and Vice President of California Chapter House Corporation since 1982.  Venture Capital investor and member of Sand Hill Angels.  Silicon Valley trade commissioner for the Consulate General of Canada.  Former marketing vice president and general manager for C-Cube Microsystems, LSI Logic and other technology firms. Resides in San Jose, California.

Larry E. Schroeder

Georgia ’77. Order of Pythagoras, Award of Merit, George F. Patterson Award. Currently serving as Treasurer, Acacia Fraternity Foundation.  Software consultant, IBM DB2 Content Management.  Msonic Lodge, 32nd degree.  Resides in Cary, North Carolina.

Dewayne E. (Dewey) Ullsperger

Nebraska ’82. Order of Pythagoras, Award of Merit, George F. Patterson Award.  Vice president and chief actuary, United Healthcare.  Co-chair of the AFF New Century Campaign.  Currently serving as Vice-President, Acacia Fraternity Foundation.  Resides in Minnetonka, Minnesota.

William A.(Bill) Utic

Cornell, ‘74.  Order of Pythagoras, Award of Merit, George F. Patterson Award. Past President, Secretary/Treasurer of Acacia Fraternity Foundation and current member of Acacia Fraternity Foundation Board of Directors.  Past President, Director, California Chapter House Corporation; Presently, Manager of Corporate Real Estate for San Francisco-based Pacific Gas and Electric Company.  Resides in Fremont, California.

ChapterSpot / ACACIAconnect Demo Videos

In an effort to continue to provide relevant educational materials to our chapters, the team at ChapterSpot has hired another member that will be totally focused on educating chapters that have signed up for the service, which of course includes all Acacia Fraternity Chapters.

The videos, accessible at the link below, were created with a general ChapterSpot account, so it will not look exactly like ACACIAconnect, but it is very similar.

Communications Web Video: http://www.screenr.com/8ys8

Dues Part 1: http://www.screenr.com/GNT8

Dues Part 2: http://www.screenr.com/FNT8

Dues Part 3: http://www.screenr.com/TMT8

Events: http://www.screenr.com/3Vs8

Reports: http://www.screenr.com/fVs8

Docushare: http://www.screenr.com/59s8

Polls and Surveys: http://www.screenr.com/J9s8

Links specific to ACACIAconnect:
MyCornerstones function on ACACIAconnect: http://youtu.be/v07R6dmy-Ec
Service Hours function on ACACIAconnect: http://youtu.be/Jsdn0-ObLpo

Please let Acacia Headquarters know if there are any other videos that would be helpful for you in learning about and demonstrating ACACIAconnect by emailing to cornerstones@acacia.org.

ACACIAconnect Financial Features

Dues Processing & Merchant Account -

There have been a few points of confusion related to this service during fall 2011. This post will clear up those points.

This aspect of the service is different from the others in that the rest of the features are available for free through your chapter’s affiliation with Acacia International Fraternity, whereas there are some costs involved with the Dues Processing Service. Here is a link to ChapterSpot page regarding finances.

Here is a video that demonstrates how to Link Your Chapter Bank Account to ACACIAconnect.

Please note:

1. this part of the service is NOT mandatory or required - if your chapter is using a service that you are happy with, you can continue to use that service, or you may consider using this service
2. your chapter CAN use the other features of ACACIAconnect without using the Dues Processing service

ACACIA Fraternity Headquarters recommends that your chapter:

• weigh all reasonable & expedient options and choose what works best for your members
• at least setup the Merchant Account to link to chapter bank account & setup a donation goal that your alumni members or parents can support

Regarding Credit Card Processing

Here is a pdf that outlines the costs for processing payments via credit card.

In an email from Joe McMenamon, Director of Business Operations, he informed me of the following points:

“Our Credit Card Processing fees are very straight forward. For chapters that collect payments online there will be a set 3.89% and $0.35 fee removed from each payment collected. These fees include the Visa/MasterCard fees and Corduro’s card processing fees so there are no extra fees other then what is listed below (on the pdf link above).

In addition to the per transaction fees there are a few per occurrence fees listed below. The $25 fee for each chargeback and ACH Reject fee usually draws the most questions. These occur infrequently, but we recommend that these fees be passed through to the member in these occurrences. Please let me know if you have any further questions.”

In addition, there are a few other points to be clarified:

1) Confusion about a fee that Joe McMenamon mentioned at ALA.

• He did NOT say that Acacia Chapters would have the 35 cent per transaction fee waived
• He DID say the $5.00 per month fee for using Dues Payment service would be waived.
• Joe wanted me to reiterate that "if you sign up for the Dues Payment service, even if you don't use it, your chapter will not get charged the $5 per month fee."

2) ChapterSpot encourages you to setup your Merchant Account, even if you're not using the Dues Payment service for all of your financial transactions. Here is a list of benefits to completing the Merchant Application and linking it to a chapter bank account:

• collections for merchandise can be facilitated by the Merchant Account (i.e. tshirts, hoodies, anything that the chapter orders on behalf of its members)
• ability to use the Donation Goal function to collect donations from alumni or parents for any fundraising drives
• If you do use the Dues Payment feature, you are eliminating the relevance of the following excuses for members not getting their dues paid:
• "I don't have my checkbook so I can't make payment...", or "My parents are paying for me so I don't know when they will cut the check...", or "I would pay but I don't know how much I owe..."

3) ChapterSpot does want to make you aware of one difference from some of the competing services that are available:

• if you use the Dues Payment feature on ACACIAconnect to track or document a payment made via check or cash (as opposed to using the online payment feature at ACACIAconnect), the chapter keeps 100% of those payments; in other words: if a member doesn't use the credit card processing system to make the payment, then neither the member or the chapter pays the credit card processing or transaction fee; a chapter member with Finance Admin controls simply updates the amount of dues still owed for that member
• this is different from some of their competition, in that if you collect cash or check (even without using the online payment option), some services charge you a fee regardless

Link to ChapterSpot page regarding finances: https://www.chapterspot.com/finances.htm

ACACIAconnect Overview

During the 2011 Acacia Leadership Academy, one of the featured presenters was Joe McMenamon, Director of Business Operations for ChapterSpot, which is an innovative company we’ve been working with during 2011.

Joe demonstrated a new resource created in conjunction with Acacia Headquarters, called ACACIAconnect.

ACACIAconnect offers two main resources to our chapters. First, an intern

al, chapter management & communications network. Second, an easy-to-update public chapter website.

Chapter Management & Communications Network

Included as part of the service, our chapter members have the following abilities via ACACIAconnect:

• personal dashboard upon login
• Facebook app (members can utilize ACACIAconnect without leaving Facebook)
• member database with multiple statuses (Active, Pledge, Alumni, Parents, etc.)
• send mass text messages (to chapter, recruitment prospects, alumni, etc.)
• utilize mulitple email listserve accounts
• event calendar
• sign-up-lists (i.e. intramural teams, t-shirts, formal dance, etc.)
• setup groups (i.e. Exec, Recruitment Team, ACACIA Claus committee, Engineering Majors, etc.)
• create forums
• surveys & polls
• Recruitment database function
• track & record Human Service hours
• individual MyCornerstones account to participate in Cornerstones
• create reports
• dues processing ability (separate from the basic offering of ACACIAconnect, chapters may utilize if they decide to *see paragraph below)
• accept donations via Merchant Account
• sell merchandise
• collect dues from members
• See the ChapterSpot.com website for further explanation of communications features

Public Chapter Website

Included as part of the service, our chapter members have the following abilities via ACACIAconnect:

• easy-to-update Web 2.0 Website Editor
• registration forms (alumni, parent, recruitment prospect, scholarship applicant, etc.)
• social media link-ability (Twitter, Facebook)
• See the ChapterSpot.com website for further explanation of website features

Helpful Links:

Acacia YouTube video: Service Hours function: http://youtu.be/Jsdn0-ObLpo

Acacia YouTube video: Cornerstones function: http://youtu.be/v07R6dmy-Ec

About ChapterSpot: https://www.chapterspot.com/about.htm

ChapterSpot support webpage: https://www.chapterspot.com/support.htm

Email ChapterSpot support : support@chapterspot.com

ChapterSpot Communications Features: https://www.chapterspot.com/communication.htm

ChapterSpot Website Features: https://www.chapterspot.com/websites.htm

Chapter Utilization

Many of our chapters have begun using ACACIAconnect to make chapter management easier in many ways. There are some chapters that have not yet utilized this resource. If you are in a chapter that has not started using ACACIAconnect - email Patrick McGovern at pmcgovern@acacia.org .

3 Steps to Engaging Alumni on ACACIAconnect

3 Steps (and 3 tips!) to Engaging Alumni on ACACIAConnect
In working with over 1,200 chapters, ChapterSpot has seen a lot of active chapters successfully re-energize their alumni base. By following these 3 steps, we (the team at ChapterSpot) guarantee that your alumni base will be the strongest it’s been in years.

Step 1: Register your alumni
Email your alumni roster to support@chapterspot.com .
We’ll register them and send them activation links.
*Tip: Just like Constant Contact, your alumni need to opt-in by clicking on the activation link. Don’t worry if this doesn’t happen right away because you can send them up to 2 more reminders! Simply click "# Unactivated Members" under the "Members" tab to re-send activation reminders.

Step 2: Get your website ready for alumni visitors
- Create an Alumni page if you don’t have one (explain that you are making a new initiative to communicate with all alumni)

- Place an Events widget showing upcoming Alumni events

- Place an Alumni registration form on your Alumni page/Homepage

Step 3: Post Alumni Updates!! (this is the fun/important part)
The trick is posting often and posting consistently.

1. Pick an alumni you know well, call them, and ask them to answer a simple survey
What’s your occupation:
Where do you live?
Describe your average Friday night:
Any other alumni/actives living close to you?
Are you Married/Girlfriend/Boyfriend/Single?
What’s your favorite undergraduate memory?
What Alumni should I interview next?
What do you think of our new website?
Have you posted a link to our new website on your Facebook?

2. Post the survey as a News post on your Website (make sure you have a News widget on your homepage and on the Alumni Page)

3. Send a Message to all your Alumni
"Alumni – We just posted our interview with Brother John Doe. To see what John says he does on his Friday nights, click here to visit our Alumni page on our new website: [YOUR ALUMNI PAGE LINK HERE].  We’ll also tell you who John asked us to interview next week! New interviews are posted every Friday!"
4. Post the same message on Facebook/Twitter in case some Alumni aren’t in your email system (*that’s why you need the alumni registration form)
5. Reach out to the next Alumni and continue the trend!

Tips:
- Keep to your routine! Make sure to have a post every Friday no matter what. Once you miss posts, you lose reliability.
- Collect surveys whenever you can! Ran into an alumni at a BBQ? Survey them, save the responses in your phone and when mid-terms come up, you’ll have a interviews saved up.
- Things moving along quickly? Great – start thinking about featuring Alumni businesses!
- Check your database before calling to make sure you have their latest contact details

Questions! (Leave comments below) 
Brothers: What survey questions do you think would be good to ask?
Alumni: How should Actives grab your interest?

ACACIAconnect Service Hours Feature

ACACIAconnect has a new Service Hours feature that our chapters can use to track service hours for all members of the chapter.  Simply login to your ACACIAconnect dashboard, select Tools, then select Service Hours to log your activity.

Hours can be logged as they are completed, or they can be logged at a later date - so if your chapter is already using another format to track these hours, that is ok.  However, it would be ideal if all members log their service hours by the end of each semester.

Any questions?  Email Patrick McGovern at pmcgovern@acacia.org .

Here's a short video to demonstrate the functionality:

Top 5 Ways to Optimize your Website’s Homepage for Recruitment Success

Top 5 Ways to Optimize your Website’s Homepage for Recruitment Success

#1 Recruitment Sign-up Form

• Encourage prospective recruits to leave their contact information with you!
• After your visitors submit the form, your recruitment officers will be emailed their names, phone numbers and other details (it’s also saved in your Recruitment Database).
• Some chapters make the mistake of putting the sign-up form on its own Recruitment page but Webmasters should always keep a short and simple recruitment sign-up form on their homepage.

#2 Revolving Twitter Feed Widget

• The simple motion of a scrolling Twitter feed conveys that your chapter is active and makes your website look trendy compared to other groups/clubs on campus.
• Don’t have your own Twitter? No worries, it’s perfectly fine to HQ’s Twitter feed (@AcaciaHQ) –it will still make your chapter look active.

#3 Image Gallery Widget

• It’s a great idea to place a small Gallery on the homepage showcasing recent activities and great moments. Galleries are excellent opportunities to impress prospective recruits.
• But… avoid using multiple/duplicate images of one event on your homepage. Try to find 1 or 2 images that highlight a recent event and aim to show as many different events as possible. If you have 10+ images from one event, pick just 1 and save the other 9 for an album on one of your inner pages.
• Lastly, make sure pictures are up-to-date! Using pictures on your homepage that are older than 3 months old will make your website look neglected.

#4 Recruitment Calendar

• Place an Event Listing widget on the homepage to showing your next 3 to 5 recruitment events and put it right next to the recruitment sign-up form.
• Remember that your goal is to get prospects to see WHY THEY SHOULD JOIN your organization. Consider showing a list of your upcoming socials, academic, and athletic events that are members-only as well.

#5 Recruitment Officer Contact Information

• Make sure your chapter’s Recruitment Officer can be identified (and it’s even better if there’s a picture or link to their Facebook Profile).
• Prospects that are invited to your events will want to introduce themselves. This makes it more comfortable for the prospect knowing he has a point-of-contact with the chapter.
• This is also important so that your Recruitment Officer can have the opportunity to meet the prospects and introduce them to your other members.

Acacia Fraternity Names New Leadership to Foundation and International Headquarters

(INDIANAPOLIS, IN) October 17, 2011 – The Acacia Fraternity, an international college fraternity for men founded in 1904 at the University of Michigan and headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, announces the naming of Darold W. Larson as the first full-time Executive Director for the Acacia Fraternity Foundation and Keith M. Bushey as Executive Director for the Fraternity.

Darold will be responsible for providing the professional leadership in the management of the affairs of the Acacia Fraternity Foundation whose purpose is to advance the educational mission of the Acacia Fraternity. He will oversee the financial management, fund development, public relations, organizational records, and implementation of board policies in these and related areas of Foundation operations to achieve the established goals of the Foundation. He will report directly to the Foundation’s President, William M. Riley, Jr., of Manhattan, Kansas and member of the Kansas State Chapter of Acacia Fraternity.

“When the Board of Directors decided it was necessary to hire a full-time professional to lead the daily operations and development efforts of the Foundation, it was unquestionable that the best person for the job was Darold,” said Bill Riley, Foundation President. “We are fortunate to have someone lead the Foundation with his dedication to the Fraternity and institutional knowledge.”

Darold joins the Foundation after nearly three decades of leading Acacia Fraternity as its Executive Director. A 1981 initiate of the Washington State University Chapter of Acacia Fraternity, Darold joined the Fraternity’s International Headquarters in 1984 as a Leadership Consultant, then eventually was promoted to Executive Director and TRIAD Editor in 1987. He has received numerous awards for his work with the Fraternity, including its highest honors, as well as having served the interfraternity world as president of the Fraternity Executives Association and director of the Interfraternity Institute.
Under his leadership with Acacia Fraternity, he established Acacia’s chapter standards program, Spirit of Excellence; upon the dissolution of the Acacia Educational Foundation, assisted with the creation of the Acacia Fraternity Foundation in 1989 to support the educational mission of the Fraternity, now with assets of more than two million dollars; and in 1995 created the Acacia Leadership Academy, recently named in his honor, to provide leadership training to undergraduates over the summer during off-Conclave years in a model fraternal atmosphere. Through interfraternity networking, Darold ushered all Acacia entities into the national liability insurance program, FRMT Limited, with 27 other national fraternity members and today Acacia enjoys one of the lowest claim records of any national fraternity due to its risk management oversight and educational programs. In preparation of Acacia’s 100th Anniversary in 2004, he guided the Fraternity’s ambitious Strategic Plan that included strengthening undergraduate membership and retention and which led to the development of the Cornerstones membership education program in 2007 encompassing the entire undergraduate membership and including alumni mentoring.

“One-fourth of all Acacians have been initiated under Darold’s tenure with the Fraternity,” said Robert Roberson, International Council President for Acacia Fraternity. “He has also led the chartering or re-chartering of 22 chapters across the United States and Canada. Acacia owes much gratitude to this dedicated brother for his tireless efforts in strengthening our Fraternity."

Darold assumes his new role with the Acacia Fraternity Foundation beginning this month, October 2011.

Keith Bushey, the Assistant Executive Director for Acacia Fraternity has been promoted to Executive Director by the International Council of Acacia Fraternity. He will now oversee all the daily operations of the Fraternity’s International Headquarters, membership records, chapter operations and expansions, Leadership Consultants and office staff. He will report directly to the International Council President, Robert Roberson, of Richview, Illinois, and member of the Illinois Wesleyan Chapter of Acacia.

“Over the past decade Keith has played a major roll in ensuring the Fraternity’s operations were strengthened through increased communications with our undergraduate chapters and oversight of the traveling Leadership Consultants,” said Roberson, Council President. “He was the logical choice to assume the responsibilities of Executive Director and the Fraternity has much confidence in his abilities and looks forward to giving him our full support in leading our daily operations.”

Keith is a 1986 initiate of the Indiana Chapter of Acacia Fraternity at Indiana University.  Prior to joining the Acacia Fraternity’s staff in 2001 as Assistant Executive Director, Keith served the Fraternity for five years as the house director for the Indiana Chapter, responsible for the physical plant, daily operations and renovations.

As Assistant Executive Director, Keith was responsible for direct oversight of all Acacia undergraduate chapters and assisted in the establishment of nine colonies. He has trained more than 20 recent alumni who have joined the Fraternity’s staff since 2001 as Leadership Consultants to assist in overseeing chapter operations and expansions. Beginning in 2003, he became coordinator of the biennial Darold W. Larson Acacia Leadership Academy and has coordinated the Fraternity’s biennial Conclaves since 2002. As Conclave Coordinator, he was responsible for setting all programming for undergraduates and alumni, planning all speakers, meals and entertainment.  The 2004 Centennial Conclave was one of the largest of these events with over 325 Acacians in attendance.

The Acacia Fraternity and Acacia Fraternity Foundation are both headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana.

For more information, contact Acacia Fraternity International Headquarters, 317-872-8210, acacianat@acacia.org.

Fraternally,

Robert E. Roberson
International President
Acacia Fraternity

William M. Riley, Jr.
President
Acacia Fraternity Foundation

Ways to Boost Traffic to ACACIAconnect

The TOP 3 Ways to Instantly Boost Traffic to your ACACIAConnect Website…

Tip #1: Get your brothers to post your website link on Facebook

Send your brothers an ACACIAConnect Message or Text Message telling them to post your chapter’s website on their wall. This will get you new visitors almost immediately. (By the way, has your webmaster put a Facebook Like on your website yet?)

Tip #2: Make sure your University has the right website on their IFC/Greek Life website

      This one’s easy, but significant amount of traffic will come from your school. This is also a surefire and easy way to get your website ranked higher on Google and other search engines. 

Tip #3: Ask ACACIA HQ to Tweet your website!

         Have you posted some good content? Email us and we’ll tweet out your website!

Stay tuned for next week’s article: “The 5 Most Effective Widgets your Homepage should have for Maximizing Recruitment”

Acacia Fraternity Foundation Nominees for term as AFF Directors 2011 - 2014

Please refer to the following list of bios for those alumni brothers nominated to serve as Acacia Fraternity Foundation Directors for 2011 - 2014.  
To vote in the AFF Proxy Vote process, click the following link to complete the online survey.

Christopher Caywood - University of Michigan ‘80.  Order of Pythagoras.  Attorney.  Acacia Fraternity Foundation Director (2008 - present). President of Online Services at DeVry, Inc.  Resides in Kenilworth, IL.

Gerald C. Cook - Shippensburg University ‘66.  Order of Pythagoras; Award of Merit.  George F. Patterson Award. Past President, Board of Directors of the Acacia Fraternity Foundation, 1994 - 1998; International President, Acacia Fraternity, 1998-2002; Board of Directors, Acacia Fraternity Foundation, 2005-present.  Past Southern Region Director of Planned Parenthood Federation of America.  Currently Lead Public Health Advisor for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Atlanta, GA.  Resides in Roswell, GA.



Mark Guidry - Louisiana State University ‘57. Order of Pythagoras; Award of Merit; past Chapter Advisor, Louisiana State Chapter. Board of Directors, Acacia Fraternity Foundation, 1996-2000. Retired CEO, Avasem Corporation; General Manager, Avanti Bufalini, LLC and Avaline Partners, LLC.  Resides in Henderson, NV.

James N. Katsaounis - Ohio University ‘95.  Order of Pythagoras.  Past Alumni Director and President, Ohio Chapter Alumni Association and House Corporation.  Past Chapter Advisor, Ohio Chapter.  Past Assistant International Treasurer and Communications Director, Acacia International Headquarters.  Past director of public relations, Grand Lodge Free & Accepted Masons of Pennsylvania. Associate Vice President, University Communications, Drexel University.  Resides in Philadelphia, PA.

Gregory J. Owen - Carleton ’88.  Award of Merit, Order of Pythagoras. International Counselor, International Council, 2004-2010.  Founding Father, Carleton chapter. Chapter Advisor, Carleton chapter.  ALA Fellow, 1995, 2005, 2006.   Currently President of a public affairs/communications firm which he co-founded.  Served in government at the provincial and federal levels, including as a senior advisor to the Premier of Ontario and as Chief of Staff to a senior cabinet member.  Resides in Grimsby, Ontario, Canada.

L. Dennis Smith, Ph.D. - Indiana University ‘56.  Order of Pythagoras, Award of Merit. Professor and President Emeritus of the University of Nebraska.  Former Dean, Executive Vice Chancellor & Acting Chancellor of the University of California- Irvine.  Former professor at Purdue University and Staff Scientist at Argonne National Laboratory. Professor of Biology.  Acacia Fraternity Foundation Director (2005 - present), Acacia Fraternity Foundation Vice President and Co-Chair of the New Century Campaign.  Dennis divides his time between Monticello, IN & Naples, FL.
 
Donald W. Solanas, Jr.- Louisiana State University ‘68.  Order of Pythagoras; Award of Merit; George F. Patterson Award.  First Undergraduate Counselor on National Council; Regional Counselor; Second Vice-President 1982-1992;  President  1992-1998,  International Council of  Acacia Fraternity.  Past Chapter Advisor, Louisiana State Chapter. Board of Directors, Acacia Fraternity Foundation (2003-present). Co-Owner, COO Arrowhead Energy Exploration, LLC, Baton Rouge, LA.  Resides in Baton Rouge, LA.
Lamar Tims - University of Texas ‘61.  Order of Pythagoras.  Acacia Fraternity Foundation Director (2008 - present).  Assistant Vice President, Commercial Loan Operations, Citibank, Dallas, Texas.  Resides in Dallas, TX.


Harold Zarr - Iowa State University '73.  Order of Pythagoras, Award of Merit.  Alumni Board President, The Acacians at Iowa State.  Member of Investment Committee, Acacia Fraternity Foundation.  Professor, Mathematics and Business Finance, Des Moines Area Community College.  Resides in Ankeny, IA.