LOOK BACK KAPPA HISTORY
T
his is the last of the five-part series entitled “The History of Grand Chapter Meetings.” Grand Historian Kevin P. Scott and Aaron S. Williams authored the series, which commenced with the Winter 2023 issue. The series highlights different types of Grand Chapter Meetings, various event developments, and vignettes from living and deceased members on their reflections on past Kappa Alpha Psi® Conclaves.
In this final installment of the article series, Brothers Scott and Wil- liams focus on the modern era of the Grand Chapter Meeting (GCM). This article examines how Kappa Alpha Psi selects cities to host GCMs, providing insight into the complex planning and execution strategies required to operate a GCM. GRAND CHAPTER MEETING– 21ST CENTURY Between July 1-6, 2025, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., hosts its 87th Grand Chapter Meeting at the multi-million-dollar Phoenix Conven- tion Center in downtown Phoenix, AZ. In the 21st century, GCMs are now held in major U.S. cities that can accommodate the Fraternity’s need for convention space for thousands of attendees, including: • Large meeting and banquet halls • Availability of dozens of meeting rooms • Convention center support staff • Large convention hotels near the convention center • Proximity to entertainment venues and restaurants
Phoenix Convention Center.
• Amenities such as internet access, elevators and escalators, food establishments, special needs accommodations, and parcel ship- ping services In the Fraternity’s first five decades, the Grand Chapter selected host cities one and two years in advance. Per the Fraternity’s current Constitution and Statutes, the final selection of a host city must now occur five years in advance, with contracts signed
between the Grand Chapter/IHQ, a city’s convention and visitors bureau, and selected hotels. By the 21st century, the Conclave’s space needs had expanded so much that we had outgrown the hotels and now seek convention centers to handle meetings, banquets, and other activities. Thus, the Fraternity had to transition to large cities with sufficient convention facilities and required ancillary services, such as airline service and hotels.
50 THE JOURNAL ♦ SPRING 2025
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