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NIC Annual Meeting

NIC Annual Meeting By Jonathan Nichols, NMSU ’05

The North-American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) was established in 1909 as the National Interfraternity Conference, and later assumed its current name in 1999. The NIC exists today with 69 member organizations with approximately 5,500 chapters. Its mission is threefold; to be an advocate, to advance the growth of the fraternity community and to enhance the educational mission of host institutions. There are numerous programs offered by the NIC such as Futures Quest, UIFI, the IFC Academy, and the Alumni Academy.

Each year the leaders from the NIC’s member fraternities gather to discuss the issues facing our fraternity community, attend educational programming, review the legislative agenda, elect new board members, and host the Congressional Reception. It is important to remember that the NIC is not a governing or regulatory board but rather a trade association. The Board of Directors is made up of volunteers from the respective member fraternities. The men elected are usually past international presidents of their organizations and are willing to dedicate their time to advance the fraternal movement by leading the highest body and advocacy unit of the fraternity community. Delta Chi has had numerous brothers elected to the Board of Directors of the NIC, five of whom have served as the Chairman/ President of the Board. No other fraternity has had more, and only two other fraternities have had five. The most recent brother to serve is Greg Hauser, MIST ’75, who was NIC President in 1999.

This year’s meeting was held on April 15, and Delta Chi’s presence was noticed. In attendance at the annual meeting were Executive Director Ray Galbreth, “AA” Steve Bossart, “CC” Ratheen Damle, “DD” Tom Horowitz, Retiring “AA” Chuck Mancuso, Greg Hauser, Patrick Alderdice, Jonathan Nichols and undergraduates Mike Tumolo and Zach Hauser. In addition, Matt Brunner, along with five brothers of the Kansas Chapter, were in attendance to accept the NIC Award of Distinction (see story on page 4 for more information).

What has become a major part of the NIC meeting is the opportunity to lobby the United States Congress on the legislative priorities that are held by the NIC. The Capital Fraternal Caucus (CFC) is made up of men and women from Greek organizations that work to stay abreast of the issues that are facing our Greek community. The Policy Development Committee of the CFC plays a major role in helping to develop legislative proposals. The two crucial pieces of legislation that have been introduced to the 108th Congress are the Collegiate Housing and Infrastructure Act and the Collegiate Fire Prevention Act (visit the CFC’s website at www.fraternalcaucus.org to see how you can help). Fraternity officers, staff members, and undergraduates were able to play a key role in advocating these proposed pieces of legislation by lobbying their respective representatives. Over 50 students from member organizations all across the country were on Capital Hill advancing the Greek community and helping gain support for the two proposals. Both Mike Tumolo and Zach Hauser were able to take part in this opportunity as undergraduate lobbyists to further the interests of Delta Chi and the Greek community. For more information on how undergraduates can take part in this opportunity next year, please watch for future issues of the InBRIEF for details.

In addition to the lobbying efforts, there has been even more political activism occurring on the grassroots level. This past year a massive congressional letter writing campaign began. In fact all undergraduate members and alumni who attended the 2006 Delta Chi Convention were able to participate when they each sent a letter to their respective Congressmen and Senators during registration and check-in. The hard work of this coordinated effort did not go unrecognized at the NIC meeting, when Delta Chi was recognized at that time for leading all Greek-lettered organizations in the number of letters written. Way to go brothers!

A high point of the NIC meeting is the awards banquet and Congressional Reception. At the awards banquet the NIC Awards of Distinction are presented, along with the NIC Gold and Silver Medals. During the Congressional reception attendees are able to mingle with members from other organizations and various legislators, many of whom are members of fraternities and sororities.

The 2007 NIC meeting was quite an experience, and as Patrick Alderdice mentioned afterward, “It felt good to be a Delta Chi”, in regard to how well our Fraternity was represented. If you would like more information on the NIC and the programs offered, you can check out its website at www.nicindy.org.

Brothers currently serving in Congress

Senator Larry Craig of Idaho, Idaho ’67 Senator Richard Shelby of Alabama, Alabama ’57 Senator Craig Thomas of Wyoming, Wyoming Alumnus* Senator James Webb of Virginia, Southern California ’67 Congressman John Mica of Florida 7th District, Florida ’67 Congressman Sam Johnson of Texas 3rd District, SMU ’51 Brothers who are past NIC Chairman/President*

John J. Kuhn, COR ’98, Chairman 1923 Dr. Charles W. Gerstenberg, NYU ’04, Chairman 1930 Russell C. MacFall, NYU ’22, Chairman 1938 Lewis S. Armstrong, WA ’39, President 1972 Greg Hauser, MIST ’75, President 1999

*In 1961 the title of Chairman was changed to President. NIC Standards

Academic Success for Chapters Active Faculty Advisors Alcohol Free New Member Programs Alcohol Free Recruitment Activities All Fraternities Insured Campus Assistance w/Financial Management Educational Programming Effective/Enforced Risk Management Policies Leadership Development Programs Maximum 12-Week New Member Programs Minimum GPAs for Joining No Little Sister Programs Ritual Education Support Open Expansion Policies Support Open Recruitment Practices