LOOK BACK KAPPA HISTORY
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his is the fourth of a five-part series entitled “The History of Grand Chapter Meetings.” In this installment, we examine and highlight the changes to the Grand Chapter Meetings, the modifications of seasons when and where the Conclaves were held, the type of entertainment, and its promotion and coverage in The Kappa Alpha Psi Journal .
ATTEMPTS TO IMPROVE THE EXECUTION AND ORGANIZATION Conclaves held over the first four
speak, and impacted the schedule of other events. At the 39th Grand Chapter Meeting in 1949, the Grand Chapter delegates authorized the creation of the Commit- tee on Reorganization and Procedure. This ad hoc committee’s primary task was to identify and recommend ideas to improve the organization and efficiency of Grand Chapter Meetings. The Committee on Reorganiza- tion and Procedure’s Chairman G. James Fleming, characterized the challenge of Conclaves adhering to its documented time and schedule as “too much of the trivial crowded the program and the election of Grand Officers was always a midnight affair.” The committee presented several recommendations to the 40th Grand Chapter Meeting, such as promptly
starting the business session at noon on the first day. “Getting down to business this early, we believe, will encourage prompt arrival at Grand Chapter and yet permit members to spend Christmas with their families.” Other recommendations included encouraging the Grand Polemarch to name committee chairmen and members as early as possible before Conclave, improving scheduling to avoid time conflicts with general business meetings, and maintaining planned social affairs so as not to conflict with business meetings. The implementation of these recommen- dations resulted in “more orderly and dignified” officer elections and installation ceremonies, which did not impact the Closed Banquet and Prom events.
decades lacked a central committee or standard operating procedure for logis- tics planning, causing inconsistencies in executing Grand Chapter activities and planning. By the late 1940s, the Grand Chapter began to address complaints from delegates. Likewise, Conclave delegate, chapter, and committee atten- dance increased as the fraternity grew. Over the years, Grand Chapter dele- gates expressed their dissatisfaction with the late starting and overextended business meetings, prolonged speeches, and lengthy committee reports. These circumstances caused inadequate time for others to report, left undergraduate delegates insufficient opportunities to
34 THE JOURNAL ♦ WINTER 2024-2025
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