Conclaves

[JoinerLxa]

Was it my imagination, or did I hear someone at GA say that
the Conclaves (or at least their meetings) were being dissolved?

Anyway, I've been thinking about the subject. I've mentioned
in other posts that I've been involved (slightly) with APhiOmega.
They are organized into regions, like conclaves, but regions
are subdivided into Sections. Alot of work goes on at the
sectional level. This is something I think we could benefit
from.

Conclaves involve dozens of chapters, require members
to travel long distances and pay for expensive hotel rooms.
They also require a great deal of work by members from
HQ.

On a more practical level, I think "sectional meetings"
would work. Ideally, no chapter would have to travel more
than 150 miles to the meeting. A section would consist
of as few as four or no more than a dozen Zetas.


Meetings could be held at a chapter
house, with maybe a nearby cheap motel for sleeping.
This would allow practically ALL of the High Zeta for
ALL chapters in the section to have the time and the $$$
to make the meeting.

Chapters could share ideas; plan to help each other with
rush, initiation, etc.; possibly even plan for expansion
to a local college where we don't have a chapter; and strengthen the bonds between local Zetas.

If HQ wanted to send a chapter consultant, he could
lead a seminar or two. However I think High Pi's from
the chapters could also do alot to organize the meeting.
This would alleviate the time/$$$ HQ would have to spend.
(APO's section leaders are all unpaid volunteers I believe)

However I think LXA has a "tradition" of not trusting
Zetas to organize themselves without HQ oversite.
I remember a clause in the constitution that prohibits
sending mail to a list of Zetas without HQ approval
(maybe that's not in there anymore).

Anyway, thought this idea might be worth talking about.
I think we could easily organize a "Bluegrass Area"
meeting in Lexington...At least 5 or 6 Zetas within
100 miles, including some in SW Ohio and SE Indiana.

What do you think?

[lifesaver]

Couldnt agree more.

The conclave thing hasnt happened since about 1997. Thats when they move to RLC's (Regional Leadership Conferences). It was messed up when they did it too. The GHZ had made the decision to eliminate conclave meetings and when the General Assembly met in 1996, we voted, overwhelmingly so, to reinstate the conclave meetings. Not that the voice of the undergrads counts for much, becasue at the first GHZ meeting after GA, they again voted to do away with conclaves.

I coudl understand that it might have been for financial reasons, but conclave meetings are important (as you said above). Thats one of the reasons I didnt support the restructuring of the Student Advisory Committee. Its now no longer regionally based. One more nail in the coffin of regionalism.

Regionalism is important to me because Lambda Chi is a mid-western fraternity. Look at your paeds. Starting in Jersey and moving in a band westward to Illinois is where the majority of our chapters are. Thats ok. I have no problem with that. (There are more LXA chapters in Pennsylvania than Texas). But I want to make sure Texas chapters have a voice in the affairs of the fraternity. The best way to do that is being strong regionally. Without organizing regionally, I feel our voice is lost. At least as a conclave we were equal to the other 11 conclaves.

Conclaves no longer serve any purpose and just exist in name only.

[Tom Earp]

I for one wish to throw My Support behind Both of the Above Brothers who were at GA.

Yes, there was discussion between us!

lifesaver and I had a very good conversastion about this and talked to JoinerLXA out side at my smoke break.

I attened one full Conclave years back, and 1 with Banquet only and guess what, I saved money from staying in a Marriot at The Hotel at the Airport when I could have driven home nightly.

Did not set right with me then and not now. Thinking of saving Fraternity Money only.

Granted, it has to be a big enough Hotel to House and have meeting Rooms for functions, but to try to fined Hotels that are not as expensive should be the Priority.

The Hotel was fine as far as rooms and mneetings were concerned, but the food sucked.

I am like many, heck Pizza and Burgers sounded and would have tasted better.

Conclaves, Can be centered in Those Areas! The one I was attending covered Colo. to Ill. Neb. to Oak. Great Plains with the fartherst Wy. What totally amazed me, was the Big Schools not there, they were in another Conclave meeting. Never really understood that one. U. Mo. U Oak., Oak. State, U. Neb., U. Ks, Ks State., U. Ill. , U. Co.

Yes, there are more Regions to cover, but not every GHZ or Staff or ELC has to be there. Put Bids out for what is needed for the best price.

Central Locations are by far the best such as Indy for GA, There are other places like Kansas City, Denver, Somewhere in Tex, Cal.

Maybe We the Three Bothers posting are all wet, this is our opinion. We are trying to save money, and have a chance to be and meet with Brothers who have the same problems.

An over all is what G A is about, to Get All Of Us Together and discuss Over All Problems. This is When All Zetas Have a voice, The Staff is there and The GHZ!

"While I may Never Be Wrong, I am not always right"!

But, to interact with Brothers who have similar Problems, it is important. We can then go back and discuss this on a Zeta to Zeta Level!