Welcome to a brief overview of the agenda of the Thirty-ninth National Convention and Leadership Workshops scheduled for October 3-5, 2008, and hosted by the Executive West Hotel, The Louisville Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the University of Louisville chapter of Phi Eta Sigma.

        In keeping with the long established spirit of past conventions and the colorful history of Louisville, our Executive Committee leadership has adopted the convention theme, “Think Nationally—Share Regionally—Act Locally.” The national office has included selected convention information on the Phi Eta Sigma web site (phietasigma.org) and will provide updates as planning continues.

        The convention logo features the Belle of Louisville riverboat, which appears in the upper left corner of this communication, as well as on our convention totes, T-shirts and attendees’ name badges. Our goal is for your trip to the Louisville convention to be a most pleasant experience.

        A welcoming committee will be stationed at the Louisville airport on Friday, October 3, from noon to 6 p.m. to meet incoming flights and direct attendees to taxi transportation to the hotel. The cost of airfare to and from the convention site and taxi service will be the responsibility of the attendee.

        Our host hotel is the Executive West Hotel, located at 830 Phillips Lane, approximately a mile from the Louisville International Airport. The telephone number is 800-633-8723. You may check out their web site at www.executivewest.com. We have contracted for hotel rooms with two double beds, each room to accommodate two male or two female attendees.

        Upon your arrival at the Executive West on Friday afternoon, check in at the Phi Eta Sigma reception and hospitality area and enjoy a snack while viewing displays and memorabilia from several chapters, as well as the national office. A specially designed tote will contain numerous items, includinga custom-prepared leadership certificate for everyone in attendance and a custom designed convention T-shirt. Hotel check-in time is 3 p.m. Attendees arriving early will be accommodated as rooms become available.

        Chapter advisers and delegates are requested to bring campus and chapter T-shirts, newsletters, miscellaneous publications, and other items for display at our reception and hospitality center. All chapters benefit when they “toot their horn” by sharing their chapter’s special touches. You will enjoy browsing in the hospitality area, greeting new friends, sharing your fellowship, and enjoying the leadership opportunity you have earned.

        Hotel registration will require a personal credit card to handle incidental expenses such as telephone calls and personal room charges. The Phi Eta Sigma national office provides housing and convention meals, but not personal charges.

        The average October temperature in Louisville is the mid 60’s, with the overnight temperature a bit cooler. It is recommended that attendees check the weather channel just prior to the convention date for current forecasts.

        Suggested dress for all activities is “smart casual.” Men need not wear coats and ties, and dresses or skirts are optional for females. Khakis are always appropriate and jeans fit the bill, especially during the Saturday afternoon and evening activities.

        A dinner buffet is planned for Friday evening from 5 to 7 p.m., to be followed by the first convention business session at 7:30 p.m. A vegetarian selection will be available at all convention meals for those who indicate that preference on their registration form.

        A major strength of Phi Eta Sigma is, and always has been, the guidance our Society receives from student-driven convention committees. For example, our Constitution and Laws is the work product of student members attending national conventions. Our student members believe that the best way to cope with change is to help create it. For example, the 2006 Finance, Constitution, and Scholarship Committee recommended the increase of the 34 undergraduate endowed scholarships from $4,000 to $5,000 each. The Phi Eta SigmaExecutive Committee may suggest to that convention committee another increase of these undergraduate endowed scholarships to $6,000 each, effective with the 2009-2010 school year.

        Delegates and alternate delegates may attend the committee meeting of their choice. The Nominations Committee functions best with no more than eight members. Each convention committee or sub-committee will elect a chairperson and a secretary. A written and oral report from every committee and sub-committee will be presented by the chairperson and secretary during the final business session on Sunday morning. Executive Committee positions up for election include Grand Vice President, Grand Secretary-Treasurer, three chapter adviser members, and three student leader members.

        Friday evening activities will end with a “Make Your Own Ice Cream Sundae” icebreaker and mixer. We request that you bring some items from your campus to exchange with someone from another chapter, such as your chapter or campus T-shirts, pens, pencils, etc. The national office plans to make available some honor cords and honor medallions as gifts. This activity is always a highlight and a fun activity for our convention weekend. Bring your cameras to document this activity and others that you will want to remember.

        In order for the Nominations Committee to begin planning interviews for Executive Committee positions on Friday evening and be able to enjoy our Saturday afternoon and evening off-site activities, it is necessary for all Executive Committee candidates to file their nomination form with the national office by September 24, 2008. The nomination form is included with this chapter mailing. The Phi Eta Sigma letterhead contains the national office address.

        We will begin Saturday morning activities at 6:45 a.m. with a continental breakfast in the hospitality center, followed by a brief second business session and convention workshops. After the second workshop sessions, we will continue our committee meetings. Several committees will be able to wrap up their reports at this time.

        The Saturday Convention Fellowship Luncheon will feature anappetizing buffet, as well as the presentation of Distinguished Service Awards, an additional Endowed Scholarship Certificate, and Pathways Awards.

        We will board our chartered tour buses at 2 p.m. for a special destination, Churchill Downs, the most famous racetrack in America and the home of the pinnacle of horse racing success, The Kentucky Derby. We will tour the Kentucky Derby Museum and have our official convention photograph taken at this facility. Then it’s on to the Ohio River riverfront area and a tour of the Muhammad Ali Center, the Frazier International History Museum, or the Louisville Slugger Museum.

        Plans are to board the Belle of Louisville sternwheeler at 6:30 p.m. for Ohio River sightseeing, dinner, and entertainment. Personal cameras are suggested to record your tour experiences and the dinner dance memories, as well as other convention highlights.

        Upon our return to the hotel, the Nominations Committee and other convention committees will complete their work and write their reports for presentation to the convention on Sunday.

        We will begin Sunday morning with a hearty breakfast buffet at 7:15 a.m. The final business session will begin at 8:30 a.m. and include the report of the Nominations Committee and the session should adjourn about 10 a.m. Transportation to the airport, including the cost, will be the responsibility of each individual.

        Even though lots of photographs will have been taken and many memories made, we cannot avoid the tough part of the convention—goodbyes are always difficult. Big hugs, more photographs, and sincere farewells will conclude the Thirty-ninth National Convention and Leadership Workshops of Phi Eta Sigma. Many students who attend the convention will befeatured in a future issue of the Forum magazine, and more yet will be featured in Founders Fund national scholarship announcements. The knowledge gained and the fellowship experienced at this convention will assist us in local chapter administration in the future, and we will reflect on our fellowship in Louisville for many years to come.