OUR ORDER
News, Notes & Recog nition
80th Convention & Brotherhood Weekend in Orlando The Order’s 80th Convention & Brotherhood weekend was held from August 10 through 12, 2023, in Orlando, Florida. The headquarters and all primary meetings were held at the JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes. Thursday Thursday played host to The Values Center, a trade show style and fishing-themed event registration that showcased vendors and partners, live music by KA brother and country artist Hunter L. Chastain (Delta Phi–Jacksonville State ’18), and the traveling archives. Knight Commander Simmons called the 80th Convention to order. Province Commander P. Michael Ruff (Gamma Eta–Florida State ’67) welcomed everyone to Crawford Province and Orlando, Florida, and Executive Director Larry Stanton Wiese (Gamma 64
Omega–Midwestern State ’87) read letters of greeting from Virginia Governor Glenn Younkin, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee (Nu–Auburn ’78), Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves (Alpha Mu–Millsaps ’93), and South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster (Rho–South Carolina ’67), and a video welcome from Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was played. He also read letters from Former Knight Commanders Idris R. Traylor, Jr. and William E. Dreyer who were not able to attend. Knight Commander Simmons eulogized former Executive Director William Allen “Dick” Barnes (Delta Lambda–Middle Tennessee State ’69) who passed earlier in the year. Knight Commander Simmons presented several awards and his Biennial Report, which included the launch of a new website at KappaAlphaOrder.org, and lauded the success of the Kappa Alpha Order Educational Foundation and its Crimson & Gold Campaign, along with continued growth and success‘s of the Order. That night the KAOEF 26th Annual Bid for Brotherhood (B4B) was held at the House of Blues Orlando where attendees enjoyed the “fund of need” push, a “Last KA Standing” game, a bourbon pull, and the silent and live auctions. The evening grossed approximately $125,000 to support leadership education programs and scholarships for our undergraduate members.
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