COMMEMORATING 60 YEARS OF CRWLC: 1961- 2021
the Conference prepares the leaders of tomorrow for achievement, whether that is within the Fraternity, career vocation, or community. The theme Training for Leadership had been used to describe the goals of the Fraternity, thus by 1957, the membership wanted the theme to be implemented. The implementation came from 16th Grand Polemarch C. Rodger Wilson that a national program in the interest of undergraduates includes a formalized school of leadership training. Hence, the C. Rodger Wilson Leader- ship Conference was born during the Golden Anniversary of Kappa Alpha Psi. The inaugural Undergraduate Lead- ership Conference was held three days before the opening Golden Anniversary Grand Ch pter M eting in Indianapo- lis on August 24, 1961. According to The Story of Kappa Alpha Psi (Bryson, 2003), “56 Undergraduates from 51 different chapters assembled at the Van Orman Hotel for the first meeting of the Undergraduate Leadership Conference. Four types of experiences were provided: 1) experiences which lead to an under- standing of and insight into the nature of leadership, the dynamics of Kappa Alpha Psi and the concomitant, 2) experi- ences with actual fraternity problems and goals, leading to the development of abilities and skills in problem-solving and goal achievement, 3) experiences designed to effect positive and negative reinforcement in the form of criticism, evaluation, and re-exposure and 4) experiences in the production of such projects as a manual, recommendations and chapter leadership conferences. For three days and nights, those fifty- six young men dedicated themselves to Kappa Alpha Psi, seldom getting more than five hours any night. From all in- dications, the first national event of the Golden Anniversary Celebration was a resounding success.” The C. Rodger Wilson Leadership Conference will always be associated and identified in connection with the Golden Anniversary: 50 th Grand Chap- ter Meeting (Indianapolis, Indiana) of Kappa Alpha Psi.
Ebony/Jet Magazine features the service of the Omicron Chapter.. Omicron Queen circa 1957. Omicron Scrollers circa 1957. Used by permission from author.
C. Rodger Wilson Leadership Conference 1961.
According to The Journal of Kappa Alpha Psi, Number 3, “For the first time in the 50 years of Kappa Alpha Psi’s existence, the Fraternity embarked upon a plan this year which will, if conscientiously worked with, improve the calibre of its young men to a degree that they will be able to assume responsible positions of leadership and contribute to commu- nity living as fully qualified individuals capable of representing Kappa Alpha Psi at any time at any point on the globe... This expansive opening statement describes the giant step forward which took place during the three days prior to the Golden Anniversary Conclave… representing 51 different active chapters assembled with a staff of 13 alumni brothers to ‘critically analyze some of the issues facing the fraternity.’” Conference director Brother Dr. Harland L. Randolph a Fall 1952 initiate of the Ohio State University Chapter, the Zeta of Kappa Alpha Psi, described the Undergraduate Leader- ship Conference as “one of the Fra- ternity’s instruments for ensuring the
Holding high the adopted theme of the Golden Anniversary Conclave titled “Reclamation, Rededication, Reflec- tion and Projection,” Grand Polemarch C. Rodger Wilson led the throng in a parade towards the celebration of the Golden Anniversary, which included the Undergraduate Leadership Conference in Indianapolis. The Conference began as the brain- child of the 16 th Grand Polemarch C. Rodger Wilson, who pushed for such a conference throughout the late 1950s. By 1960, the idea had taken hold and it was agreed that the Conference would be planned to coincide with the Golden Anniversary celebration in Bloomington, IN. A faculty of educators, accountants and administrators was assembled to conduct the meetings and the ses- sions—attended by a group of some 60 undergraduates covered all manner of fraternity procedures and leadership practices.
The 1961 Undergraduate Leader- ship Conference was a huge success.
16 | FALL 2021 ♦ THE JOURNAL
PUBLISHING ACHIEVEMENT FOR MORE THAN 110 YEARS
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