GRAND POLEMARCH’S MESSAGE
Brothers, It's Time to Give...
A s we prepare for our 84 th Grand Chapter Meeting in Philadelphia next year, I often think about the op- portunities that summertime offers to Kappa’s in a non-conclave year. Typi- cally, the host chapter of a conclave is busier than usual during an “off” year because of the time required to ensure a countless number of “i’s” are dotted and “t’s” crossed. Many of us know from tried-and-true experience that it’s the only way to guarantee a successful Grand Chapter meeting. Philadelphia Alumni, is in fact already working and mobilizing countless resources to ensure we enjoy our 84 th Grand Chapter Meet- ing. But for the rest of Kappa, summer can be somewhat of a downtime, when monthly meetings are postponed and focus is on socials like black-and-white balls, family outings, Kappa boat rides, and youth service activities through our Guide Right programs. This year we introduced our first Kappa League National Conference. It was a resound- ing Kappa success. Nevertheless, it’s also the perfect time to engage in the fraternity’s philan- thropic initiatives. During conclaves, we traditionally conduct a community service project, where Kappa leaves its mark on the town through voluntary public service. In 2017, for instance, host chapters, Orlando and Winter Park actually executed the conclave’s theme “Leave a Legacy/Build a Future” around the concept of giving back to the com- munity. Those chapters collaborated
with a local community partner, The Ex- perience Christian Center, to establish the Diamond Experience Learning Cen- ter. This facility is enabling access to the Internet and technology to students and families in the underserved Pine Hills community of Orlando, Florida. When the conclave is over and thou- sands of brothers, their families, friends and associates have ventured back home, surely we must consider the pub- lic perception of us by local citizens of all walks. After all, our conclaves affect a community economically, politically and socially. More directly, however, how will we as a fraternity evaluate our philanthropic stewardship? Serving others, whether through com- munity volunteerism or charitable dona- tions, is woven into the DNA of Kappa Alpha Psi ® . It’s what we do. It is who we are. It is embedded in our objec- tives, “To inspire service in the public interest.” And, I repeat, summer offers a ripe opportunity to support such causes through visits while vacationing and, importantly, financial contributions. As chapters have held their summer retreats, I trust that you reflected on our objective, and then identify opportuni- ties for volunteerism and philanthropy for your chapter. Luckily, on a national scale, Kappa has longstanding philanthropic initiatives that I highly encourage brothers to par- ticipate in as a way of serving the less fortunate. You can find details on them and how to contribute on our website
6 | SUMMER ISSUE THE JOURNAL
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