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.
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)
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.
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
Events Coordinator and House Manager at ‘Westwood’, The Purdue President’s official residence apcawdron@purdue.edu
@Etiquette_guy
Max Gruver Foundation info@maxgruverfoundation.com @flyhighmax__
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 Undergraduate space* Feliciana
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, shorts are okay)
6:15 PM - 6:30 PM Meet in Lobby for offsite dinner Departure at 6:30 pm
Friday, August 9
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
7:00 PM - 10:00 PM Schaffer Leadership Dinner** Paddlewheeler Creole Queen
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 Anthony Cawdron** Louisiana Ballroom
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
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 Convention t-shirt & closed-toed shoes required 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 Coat & tie expected Louisiana Ballroom
5:00 PM - 6:15 PM Model Initiation and Discussion Immediately following Business Meeting Feliciana
6:15 PM - 7:15 PM Purple Tie Cocktail Hour Cash bar 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
* 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.
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
Alcohol
Promptness
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
HOTEL
Ninth Floor
Pointe Coupee St. Landry
St. Tammany
Terrebonne
Lykes Boardroom
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
Take Notes
