Winter 2013

Happy Holidays!

This time of year it is wise to reflect on all for which we are grateful: our fraternal and associate members; the advice, counsel, and

experience we gain from one another; the lessons we learn with one another; the values, benefits, and opportunities we share.

The Professional Fraternity Association wishes

you a wonderful Holiday Season and New Year ahead.

How Do I Find New Leaders? By Bob Harris, CAE The most common question asked by executive directors is, “how do I find new leaders?” Whether seeking directors for the board, volunteers for committees, or industry leaders to serve on allied boards, the critical step is to ASK. Nearly every volunteer remembers who flattered them with the question, “Would you accept a leadership role in our organization?” Consider this approach to building a corps of future leaders. The time & expense is minimal while the message conveys the opportunities for giving back and personal growth. Every other year, plan a half day “leadership summit” for prospective volunteers. Start in the morning with time to chat over coffee, and invite speakers to describe the importance of volunteering. Promote opportunities on allied boards/councils as well as in your organization. Subjects to cover: • Reasons and opportunities to be a leader in your profession, community and the organization • How to be an effective volunteer --- skillsets and respected principles • Understanding governing documents, finances, strategic plan, etc • Risk management, including volunteer immunity, insurance, conflicts, antitrust and authority • Personal growth and balance as a volunteer • Questions and answers End with casual lunch conversations gauging the interest of volunteers. Bob Harris and his Nonprofit Center has also recently published the Facilitator’s Guide to Board Orientation. It serves not only as a guide, but also as a workbook for individual board members. Those familiar with Bob’s work and experience in the association management field already know this manual adds to the already vast supply of tools he has created to benefit associations.

Textbook savings! Skyo is taking another 10% off textbook purchases for PFA member groups. Simply enter the discount code PFASkyo upon checkout at www.skyo.com.

Response Ability Project by Mike Dilbeck So, how have things been since I was with you at the PFA meeting and provided you with three critical tools for intervening in problem situations and being an Every|Day Hero? • Have you noticed situations that you targeted as problems? • Have you gone beyond any barriers that showed up in that moment? • Have you taken the necessary actions to intervene and make the difference you want to make? If so – awesome! If not – you’re not a bad, awful, wrong person. You are just being a human being. And, you’re simply robbing others – and possibly your organization – of making this difference. You are also robbing yourself of the experience of being a true leader – which is oftentimes very uncomfortable, risky, and scary. Once again, I invite you to visit the RESPONSE ABILITY Project’s website and take the Every|Day Hero pledge. You will immediately receive an email from me with a link to free and valuable resources created to support you in fulfilling this pledge in your life. If you need me for anything at all, contact me directly at mike@RAProject.org.

2012 Annual Conference Recap The PFA Conference this past September in Rochester, NY was truly exceptional. Both the Hyatt Rochester and the Rochester CVB made us feel welcome throughout our stay, and went the extra mile to show off Rochester’s heritage and beauty. The activities weren’t confined to the classroom where we were schooled by some of the top speakers in fraternal issues, challenges, and opportunities. The assistance in advance and during

the conference from PSE’s Ann Devine and the Conference Committee’s was invaluable to the Executive Director and our association. Our closing extravaganza was great fun thanks to the hard work of our Associate Liaison Lynn Mueller and Rochester CVB’s Michael Hardy. We certainly look forward to seeing you all for another great PFA Annual Conference in 2013. Truly, the PFA would not be a success (or as much fun) without your support!

During the 2012 Annual Conference, several governance and legislative matters were raised for consideration. While it did not seem that we had adequate time on site during our brief conference to fully debate and consider these matters, it is expected that some will be addressed via mail ballot for the consideration of PFA members during the year ahead. A very special congratulations to all our 2012 Award Winners: Career Achievement Award - Lisa Lawson, Kappa Epsilon

Outstanding Community Service Award - Kappa Psi, Delta Rho Chapter Dance Marathon Outstanding Professional Program - Phi Sigma Pi, Leadership in Action Program We look forward to seeing you September 6-8 in Saint Louis, MO for the 2013 Annual Conference at the Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark.

Update on Paddle Tramps Case Affinity Consultants The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled on the Paddle Tramps case – and the ruling upholds the injunction against Paddle Tramps! Therefore, the injunction shall remain permanently in place, with the following restrictions:

-No use of the Greek organizations’ “names, insignia and symbols” on products (with the exception that they are allowed to sell a licensed decal coat of arms/crest affixed to a raised wooden backing

in the shape of the decal) -No use of the Greek organizations’ names, insignia and symbols on their website or in advertising (with the exception that they are allowed to market licensed products, including the licensed decal affixed to a raised wooden backing in the shape of the decal)

This outcome has been hard-fought and very expensive, but has: -Confirmed the trademark ownership rights of Greek organizations’ in a published federal court decision -Expanded our traditional definition of a trademark to include any nicknames or symbols that the organizations’ use in trade -Challenged the longest and most recalcitrant infringer selling in our industry, and levied a fairly comprehensive injunction against them -Given us the valuable insight that organizations will be vulnerable in the future, if the organizations are slow to enforce trademark rights

Options that Paddle Tramps has moving forward: -Paddle Tramps can ask the court to reconsider the case (though this is very rarely granted). We believe the Greeks will not have to respond unless the Court agrees to reconsider. -Paddle Tramps can ask the Supreme Court to take up the case (even more rarely granted). Greeks would not have to respond unless the Supreme Court hears the case.

Fraternal News Phi Delta Epsilon International Medical Fraternity is proud to announce the return of two medical chapters at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and University of Kansas School of Medicine. In 2012, eight new premedical chapters were added to the roster including (pictured) University of Nevada, Reno, the first PhiDE chapter ever in the state of Nevada. Premedical and medical chapters continue to support Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals through service and philanthropy on the local and international level raising more than $100,000 each year.

Theta Tau was pleased to install its newest chapter at the George Mason University and will install the next chapter at Rutgers University and next colony at Miami University in Oxford, both in early 2013. At its 2012 National Convention this past summer, UVA Dean of Engineering James H. Aylor, Pi ’65; Arizona home builder and UA sports booster William A. Estes, Chi ’61; inventor Lawrence Mulholland, Beta ’55; Memphis Engineering Dean Richard C. Warder, Omega ’58; and the Theta Tau Educational Foundation President Janice L. Wiitala, Omicron ’90, were inducted into its Alumni Hall of Fame. Also at the Convention, its Kappa Gamma at VCU was named winner of Erich J. Schrader Award for best chapter for the

2010-12 biennium with Alpha at the U recognized as most improved during the same period. Delta Sigma Pi business fraternity is growing! We recently installed new chapters at University of Hawaii-Manoa and South Florida-St. Petersburg and reactivated our chapter at Savannah State University. We are also making plans to install a chapter at La Salle University in Philadelphia in January, bringing our active collegiate chapter count to 207. Alpha Phi Omega is happy to announce a new partnership with Youtopia. This new online (youtopia.com) tool will help APO chapters track their members’ involvement. Youtopia was created to track service learning however APO believes that chapters will use this tool to track all member engagement with the Fraternity. Youtopia is a student engagement platform that provides instant access to plug-and-play gamification tools (points, badges, and leaderboards) that incentivizes students to become more engaged in their school and their community. The partnership is kicking off this month at APO’s Biennial Convention. Kappa Kappa Psi & Tau Beta Sigma are holding their 2013 National Convention in Springfield, Mass, July 23-28.

Board of Directors Contact Information Liz Nordling, Sigma Alpha Iota – President Patrick Johanns, Alpha Chi Sigma - President –elect Fran Irwin, Mu Phi Epsilon - Secretary Robert Heyman, Rho Pi Phi - Treasurer Karen Katz, Phi Delta Phi – Director Gary Hodge, Phi Chi Theta - Director Gary Epperson, Alpha Kappa Psi, President Lynn Mueller, Doubletree Universal Orlando – Associate Liaison

Michael T. Abraham - Executive Director

Professional Fraternity Association 1011 San Jacinto, Suite 205

Austin, TX 78701 PFA Website

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