INDIANAPOLIS (April 28, 2016) — The spring Fraternity Advisor Conference (FAC) was held in Indianapolis, Indiana from April 8 – 10. Volunteers received an opportunity to share ideas, explore issues and current challenges, and discuss strategies to better relate to college students.
The FAC focuses on the concepts, skills, and values which advisors need to be effective in their roles as chapter and fraternity leaders. The conference is for volunteers who want to go further than the basics of advising and want to gain education on the “bigger picture” of working with successful chapters, maintaining a healthy Chapter Advisory Board, and be the best resource to the fraternity and the chapter.
Events during the spring conference included workshops on bridging the gap between volunteers and students, how to better understand the collegiate generation, re-visiting the importance of fraternity policies, and more. “I really enjoyed learning about what else I can offer to the chapter I advise while getting to know my brothers from around the world. The FAC gave me the chance to recall some policies and practices that I hadn’t thought about for a while and it gave me the opportunity to discuss those policies and how they come into play within various chapters and situations. Another aspect of the FAC that I really enjoyed was the career development portion of I, Inc. While giving more insight into today’s students, this program also provided tips that I can use in my own professional life. I really enjoyed my time at the FAC and look forward to the next AKPsi event,” said Leeza Zhmurkin, Shippensburg ‘10-Life, chapter advisor for Gamma Epsilon.
Those who attended the conference were from various volunteer positions such as: CAB members, chapter or faculty advisors, regional managers, section directors and regional directors. As the conference progressed, attendees reflected on their shared experiences and what they hope to bring back to their students. “The Fraternity Advisor Conference provided insight to the many components of being a volunteer for Alpha Kappa Psi on several levels,” said Cheri Cannon, Southern Mississippi ’09, Regional Manager of Recruitment for the Southern Delta Region. “I learned that we as advisors contribute heavily to the success of the fraternity, yet there is no cookie cutter plan to meet goals as a chapter or even as a region. However, hearing the experiences of different volunteers from diverse cultures and universities gave me tools that I can take and implement with my own role.”
Presenters during the conference included Mike Callahan, author of “I Inc.”, Chrissy Vasquez, Fraternity Board of Directors Secretary, and staff: Steve Hartman, Brian Parker, Jason Pierce, Mackenzie Lauka, Cady Tabeling and Liz Vickers.