2024 SAM Convention Program Book

WELCOME TO Dave P. Kleppel (Washington University, ‘82), Supreme Prior

Fratres, On behalf of the Octagon, we are thrilled to have you as an active participant at the 2024 Convention. Take advantage of the many opportunities that you will have over the next few days: learn, make new friends, and share in our spirit of fraternity!

Please attend all sessions and represent our Fraternity in a way that is consistent with Sigma Alpha Mu’s values.

Fast and Firm,

Our Mission To foster the development of collegiate men and our alumni by instilling strong fraternal values, offering social and service opportunities, encouraging academic excellence and teaching leadership skills. We will continue to attract members of all beliefs who appreciate our heritage as a fraternity of Jewish men.

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Contents Meet Sammy Leadership

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Convention Rebate

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Featured Speakers

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Schedule QR Code

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Delegate Expectations

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Standards Policy

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Foundation

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Hotel Map

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Notes

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The 2024 Leadership Conference is supported by grants from the ΣAM Foundation, including distributions from the following funds: The Bobbi & Sidney Guller Leadership Fund Bradley Unger Educational Fund David Sergi Educational Fund Sigma Alpha Mu Endowment Fund Educational Grant Fund Thank you to our generous donors that have made this program possible.

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Leadership Meet our 2024 Sammy Leadership

Scan the QR Code to find the entire official family and staff of the Fraternity, Foundation, and SAM National Properties or go to www.sam.org/staff

Education Committee Nicholas D’Addabbo Education Committee Chair (Boston/Alabama, ‘09)

PSP Phillip Glauben Education Committee Chair Emeritus (North Texas, ‘73)

Benji Bearman Octagon Liason to the Education Committee (Minnesota, ‘97)

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REBATE

Every year, the Fraternity distributes a Convention Rebate after Convention based on your attendance at sessions throughout the weekend.

It is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to ensure you are checked in to each session. The rebate is directly tied to the percentage of sessions attended by the entire delegation. For more information on the rebate, scan the QR code.

Created in 1985, the Bobbi and Sidney Guller Leadership Development Fund has made it possible to provide outstanding programing at Sigma Alpha Mu Leadership Conferences.

The Leadership Development Fund helps cover the cost of keynote speakers and subject matter experts. This year, we are pleased to welcome the speakers listed on the following pages to join us in sharing their expertise.

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Featured Josh Orendi Co-Founder of Phired Up Productions Alpha Sigma Phi josh@phiredup.com @phired.up

Benjie Kaplan Campus Support Director Hillel International BKaplan@Hillel.org @hillelintl

Matthew Berger President & CEO Mashber Strategies

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speakers Anthony Cawdron Events Coordinator and House Manager at ‘Westwood’, The Purdue President’s official residence apcawdron@purdue.edu @Etiquette_guy

Rae Ann & Steve Gruver Max Gruver Foundation info@maxgruverfoundation.com @flyhighmax__

Maria Mandel SAM Foundation, Director of Programs & Administration Kappa Delta mariam@sam-fdn.org

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Convention Time

Schedule

Location

Thursday, August 8 9:00 AM - 1:30 PM

Registration

Parish Hall

12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Fleur-De-Lis Society Lounge

Feliciana

Undergraduate space*

2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Convention Welcome & Opening Keynote with Josh Orendi

Louisiana Ballroom

4:10 PM - 5:15 PM

Breakout Sessions

St. Tammany & Terrebonne

5:15 PM - 6:00 PM

Break & Change - “Boat attire” (khakis, polos,

6:15 PM - 6:30 PM

Meet in Lobby for offsite dinner

7:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Schaffer Leadership Dinner**

Paddlewheeler Creole Queen

8:30 AM - 9:30 AM

Breakfast**

St. Landry

8:30 AM - 11:30 AM

Endowment Fund Meeting

Terrebonne

9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

FDLS Lounge for Undergraduates

Feliciana

9:30 AM - 11:30 AM

Keynote & Breakouts with Benjie Kaplan & Matt Berger

Louisiana Ballroom

11:30 AM - 12:00 PM

Networking Break & Vendor Fair

Parish Hall

12:00 PM - 1:30 PM

Lunch & Etiquette Training Keynote with Louisiana Ballroom Anthony Cawdron**

1:00 PM - 4:00 PM

SAM Foundation Meeting

St. Landry

1:30 PM - 2:00 PM

Networking Break & Vendor Fair

Parish Hall

2:00 PM - 3:15 PM

Keynote with Rae Ann & Steve Gruver

Louisiana Ballroom

3:30 PM - 4:30 PM

Breakout Sessions

St. Tammany & Terrebonne

4:45 PM - 5:15 PM

Keynote with Maria Mandel

Louisiana Ballroom

5:30 PM - 6:30 PM

Alumni & Guest Reception**

Feliciana

6:30 PM

Dinner on your own

shorts are okay)

Departure at 6:30 pm

Friday, August 9

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Schedule

Please note that all times are listed in Central Daylight Time (CDT)

**See “Dress Code” on page 11 for information on attire.

Scan the QR code for the full schedule with details!

Saturday, August 10 7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

Breakfast**

8:15 AM

Undergraduates: Meet In Lobby

Hotel Lobby

8:30 AM - 12:00 PM

Service Project

Off Site

8:30 AM - 12:00 PM

SAM National Properties Meeting

Terrebonne

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Undergraduate Lunch

Off Site

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Alumni Luncheon**

Louisiana Ballroom

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Break & Change - Coat & Tie

2:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Convention Business Meeting

Louisiana Ballroom

5:00 PM - 6:15 PM

Model Initiation and Discussion

Feliciana

6:15 PM - 7:15 PM

Purple Tie Cocktail Hour

Parish Hall

7:30 PM - 9:00 PM

Purple Tie Banquet**

Louisiana Ballroom

9:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Dessert Reception with Award Winners

Parish Hall

Convention t-shirt & closed-toed shoes required

Coat & tie expected

Immediately following Business Meeting Cash bar

* The Fleur-De-Lis Society Lounge is a space for undergraduate fratres to network with one another. The Fleur-de-lis is the recognized symbol of noble men performing acts of honor and leadership and membership is granted to those who have attended Chapter Leaders Days (CLD). ** Event-specific registration required to attend this event.

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Delegate Nametags

Nametags must be worn at all times. Nametags are your admission ticket to all Convention events: education sessions, the business meeting, meals, and events.

Meals

Meal tickets for the meals you have registered for are included in the back of your nametag. If you have dietary restrictions, a card listing what you indicated is included to show hotel staff during meal times.

Alcohol

The consumption of alcohol prior to or during the educational programs is strictly prohibited. Any violators of this policy will be prevented from attending the sessions. The Convention Banquet will include a cash bar for attendees over the age of 21.

Promptness

We have a very full schedule planned for you, and it is important for all sessions to begin on time. Please arrive at all sessions early or when the session is scheduled to begin. This will help the presenter, Education Committee, and staff make the most of everyone’s time.

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Expectations Dress Code

- Thursday: For sessions, attendees should plan for business casual (shorts & polo is acceptable). Dinner will be on a boat, please be prepared for any changes or inclement weather.

- Friday: Business casual (shorts & polo is acceptable) - Saturday Morning: Wear the t-shirt provided and closed- toed shoes to the service project.

- Saturday Afternoon & Evening: Business attire (coat & tie) is requested for the Convention Business Meeting, Model Ritual, and Purple Tie Banquet. Bring your fraternity badge, purple tie, and name tag.

Quiet Hours

No excessive noise should be heard in the hotel hallways at any time. It is important to respect the privacy of all hotel guests, especially those who are not involved with our Convention. Violators will be reported to hotel security as well as to the Octagon.

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Standards To ensure that the Sigma Alpha Mu Convention continues to maintain a reputation for excellence and high standards, we have high expectations of appropriate behavior at the Convention. While each member is responsible for his behavior, it is expected that each delegate will read, understand and follow Convention rules as well as appropriate federal, state, and local laws. Each chapter will be held accountable for the actions of members from its delegation.

The Octagon expects all Convention attendees to respect the property and the rights of the hotel and its guests. Be advised that no alcohol is allowed to be brought into the hotel to be consumed in public areas. Alcohol is not permitted by our delegates in any of the sleeping rooms nor at any conference event, excluding the receptions where a cash bar is available for those over 21. Loud and disruptive music is also prohibited. The laws of the city and state apply to all in attendance. The hotel has a zero-tolerance policy for disruptions in the sleeping rooms and may ask our delegates to leave immediately.

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Policy After one warning, individuals violating other conduct expectations will be asked to leave the Convention. The Octagon and appropriate chapter advisors, chapter officers, and university officials will be informed of the conduct and the individuals responsible. Members asked to leave may face suspension and other sanctions from the Fraternity.

If you have any questions, please contact Ken Schneider at Ken@sam.org or (818) 294-3133.

You can also scan the QR code below for the full list of delegate expectations.

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Scholarships The Sigma Alpha Mu Foundation is fortunate to have a scholarship program with 150+ scholarships! In spring 2025, more than $215,000 will be available!

Applications will be posted in November-December 2024 and due in January-February 2025 with awards announced in April 2025. For more information on the Lawrence D. Schaffer Scholarship program please visit www.sam-fdn.org.

Chapter Educational Funds (CEFs) are chapter restricted funds created by alumni and friends for the benefit of a specific chapter. The funds may be granted to the chapter for initiatives such as educational & leadership development programs, student health, and financial literacy training, scholarships/academic achievement awards, community service or philanthropic activities, updating educational spaces in chapter houses, and grants to other qualified charities.

To see if your chapter has a Chapter Educational Fund, please visit www.sam-fdn.org.

The Jewish Endeavors Initiative provides chapters and members with funding for activities that promote Jewish life on campus, educate students on Jewish matters, combating antisemitism and foster an understanding of Jewish issues. Grants are available to Sigma Alpha Mu chapters/provisional chapters, undergraduate members of Sigma Alpha Mu, and to campus organizations partnering with Sigma Alpha Mu chapters/provisional chapters.

The maximum grant to a chapter/provisional chapter is $500, and the maximum scholarship to an individual is $250. Grant applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and the funds available are limited.

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And Grants As a 501(c)(3) public charity, the Sigma Alpha Mu Foundation may only fund programs that support leadership development, the furtherance of religion, community service, and scholarship.

SCAN BELOW TO GET STARTED ON YOUR APPLICATION TODAY!

Make a difference for Sigma Alpha Mu! Stop by the Foundation booth for a sweet treat and to make a donation! Join the Gold & Bronze Society with a gift of $20.24 and get entered to win a custom ΣAM North Face Jacket!

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HOTEL Beauregard

Lafourche

Prefunction

Acadia

Orleans

Pointe Coupee

elevator lobby

Prefunction

(Meeting Planners Office)

Restroom

St. Landry

Restroom service area

St. Tammany

Terrebonne

Ninth Floor

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Lykes Boardroom

MAP East

Feliciana

Parish Hall

West Elevator Lobby

Restroom

I

Restroom Louisiana Ballroom

Prefunction

Service Area

II

Tenth Floor

Lykes Boardroom

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Thanks Thank you for being an engaged participant throughout this weekend! We hope that you will enjoy Convention and learn valuable information that allows your chapter to thrive.

One last thing, please make sure to complete and submit the Convention Evaluation before leaving. See the QR code at the bottom of this page to be filled out.

Your feedback will help us plan and improve future conferences.

Safe Travels!

Nicholas D’Addabbo Education Committee Chair PSP Phillip Glauben Education Committee Chair Emeritus Benji Bearman Octagon Liason to the Education Committee

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Take Notes

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