ADG RED CARNATION
Fall 2003	Volume 79, Issue 1

2003-2004
National Executive Council

President

Bryan “Lucky” Lind

Beta Chapter

bryanlind@hotmail.com

Executive Vice President

Derrick “Fugi” Cabrera

Beta Chapter

derrickcabrera@aol.com

Vice President of

Internal Affairs

Bill Phelan

Kappa Chapter

85phelan@cua.edu

Vice President of

External Affairs

James Smith

Kappa Chapter

ADG1924@yahoo.com

Vice President of Finance

Mark Niemeyer

Beta Chapter

markniemeyer@hotmail.com

Student Representative

Alex Razzook

Kappa Chapter

49razzook@cua.edu

Past National President
-
Michael Blackstock
Epsilon Chapter
adg085@aol.com

National List-serve:

members@alphadeltagamma.org

Homepage:

http://www.alphadeltagamma.org/

Convention 2003 in

New Orleans, Louisiana

August 5^th through August 10^th

Proves that the “Big Easy” can attract us all…

Joe Bazzetta, Red Carnation Editor

This summer, Epsilon Chapter held our 72^nd National Convention. Meetings and functions were located at the very elegant Chateau Sonesta Hotel. As my 4^th consecutive Convention, I have to say this year’s was extra special to me, as it was the first time I have personally set foot around the French Quarter in New Orleans. Although I did not make it down until Thursday night (due to work back in St. Louis), I quickly adapted as to how the business was going during the meetings. As for Bourbon Street, I had to play a little bit of catch up. We all had the opportunity to sit in during meetings that saw the passage of our new service organization, Habitat For Humanity. In addition there were many other informational colloquiums including detailed financial seminars for our National Budget, a personal investing seminar, and even a talk representing international business in China.

Some of the hot spots for our active members during the week and alumni were: Pat O’Brien’s (home of the hurricane), the Cat’s Meow, and this other bar (but I forgot it’s name because I drank too many Hand Grenades there!)

This year’s convention featured an all out closing banquet at the Court of Two Sisters with a unique menu that included turtle soup. An emotional speech from now retired National Moderator, Brother Smoulders, set the tone for the end of our Convention, but the opportunity to look towards the future and growth.

The Link for Convention 2003 pictures

Notes From The National Treasurer:

New Finance Program implemented

Mark Niemeyer, Vice President of Finance

At convention this past August, the financial system of the National Fraternity underwent a major overhaul. A new National Finance Program was implemented that puts in place a variety of incentives for active members to pay monies in a timely manner. The National Council is very excited about the success of this new plan and hopes to see it begin paying dividends, in the form of increased collections of active dues, insurance, and fees, by the end of 2003.

Another major item of note is the National Insurance Policy, which has jumped in price over last year and it looks as though these increases will continue each year with our current provider. The National Council has already been in contact with several alumni in an attempt to find an alternative to the current policy. If any alumni believe that they could help in this endeavor in any way, please contact Mark Niemeyer (VP of Finance) at markniemeyer@hotmail.com or Derrick Cabrera (Executive VP) at derrickcabrera@aol.com.

70 Years of Toga Tradition At Zeta

Eric Budd, Zeta President

Zeta chapter - through thick and thin - has built and sustained a long history of parties with participants wearing togas. Although Zeta currently stands at a stout five members, we did manage to throw one hell of a party. We had a great turnout from underclassmen as well as a few notable Beta alums (who wanted me to tell y'all that they *were not* working the bar). Overall, with this many attractive women wearing bed sheets, the party was an event not to be missed, and was easily the best party we have thrown in the past five years. The highlight of my night was near the end of the party, when a friend of mine (who is a member of PKA) came up to me and said, "I should have been an ADG."

Link to pictures of Toga 2003

Red Carnation

~Alpha Delta Gamma National Fraternity~

Big Hearts Bring Alphadelts to Guatemala

Ian Hennessy, Xi Chapter

Former Xi chapter president Anthony Schembari would tell you of nervous families he consoled outside the operating room. Anthony would update them on the condition of their children who were undergoing cleft pallet surgery in the rundown Guatemalan hospital.

I would tell you about the patients who walked into a makeshift dentist office and sat in a plastic lawn chair under a dentist whose only source of light was a rock climbing headband lamp. The patients were cooperative; they sat quietly as a dentist pulled decayed portions of their ‘never-brushed’ teeth out.

Honorary Brother and Chapter Moderator Bob Lockhart would smile though, as he told you about what he saw -- the extraordinary changes and the reshaping of three Alpha Delta Gamma brothers as they spent a week in Zacapa, Guatemala serving the truly poor and downtrodden. Bob could explain the catharsis well, as he’s seen it four years straight. Since Bob began the service trips to Guatemala in 1999, at least one brother of ADG’s Xi chapter has been in the group accompanying him. The Brothers already bring an elevated level of commitment and volunteerism, but the days in Guatemala are like no other service endeavors they will ever experience.

Lewis, Anthony, and I were three of the twenty Bellarmine University students who raised thousands of dollars and collected hundreds of bags of donated clothes and personal items over a five-month period prior to the trip. When we reached Guatemala in April, we worked with the Hearts In Motion group, a not-for-profit agency helping churches and other organizations in the country. Our group worked to rebuild a church, assisted in medical and dental clinics, built a playground in the pediatric ward of the hospital, and watched as reconstructive surgeries were performed on children who had cleft pallet deformities. In our spare time we handed out school supplies and toys to the children, and played and laughed with them.

As Brothers of Alpha Delta Gamma, we’re rooted in service and volunteerism, but this experience was different than any other. The first hand interaction with the people of a third-world country, who had so little and but were so content, changed the way we look at our lives. Lewis, Anthony and I could tell our stories and experiences from the trip for hours, but the impact can’t be put into words.

National Delegates Vote for Habitat for Humanity

Anthony Schembari, Jr., Philanthropy Chair

At this years National Convention an exciting new change was made concerning our National Philanthropic and service efforts. The previous organization, The Ronald McDonald House, was not offering our National fraternity enough opportunities to extend our helping hands. In some cases, including this years National Convention, they were not responding to offers of service or backing out at the last minute. The brothers decided that they wanted an organization we could make a difference in and take a more “hands on” approach. Therefore, at the 2003 National Convention in New Orleans, three philanthropic organizations were presented to the active body: Muscular dystrophy Association, American Cancer Society, and Habitat for Humanity. All seemed to offer several exciting service opportunities. In the end, the active body selected Habitat as the new National Philanthropy. Also the National philanthropic Director was changed from Joe Bazzetta to myself, Anthony Schembari, Jr. I have sent out a contact list to all of the chapter’s containing one or more locations of Habitat in their area. Also, a Letter has been sent to the Habitat’s National Office informing them of our future commitment to them.

Two millionaires in Georgia wanting to redirect their lives formed Habitat for Humanity in 1965. To provide some context, this excerpt (from the Habitat website) explains how the houses are built for the residents:

“The houses would be built with no profit added and no interest charged. Building would be financed by a revolving Fund for Humanity. The fund's money would come from the new homeowners' house payments, donations and no-interest loans provided by supporters and money earned by fund-raising activities. The monies in the Fund for Humanity would be used to build more houses. The prospective resident is heavily involved with the building of the house would not be able to afford a new house without the help of Habitat. Habitat is an international organization that has received most of its recognition since 1984 when former President of the United States, Jimmy Carter, devoted his self to the future of Habitat. In the 38 years of Habitat they have built more than 150,000 homes sheltering more than 625,000 people in some 3,000 communities worldwide.”

Expansion 2003 & Beyond

Colony in Philadelphia shows bright future for ADG expansion…

Jim Smith, National Vice President of External Affairs

Alpha Delta Gamma has seen many changes over the past year. One of the biggest has been our desire to expand sensibly and develop those groups into quality additions to the fraternity. In the Spring of 2003, a group of ambitious young men from Philadelphia University laid the foundation for a dynasty. This would be ADG's second venture into the city of Brotherly Love- but this time would be different. With a great emphasis on the 5 S's and the fundamentals of the fraternity, the group at Philadelphia University, led by Nick Saunders, has been doing an impressive job. This group, only started in March, has become a visible force on campus in just a few short months.

Already this semester, the colony has conducted a successful recruitment period, successful candidate period and continues to be highly visible on campus by being involved with and planning, numerous philanthropic activities. The foundation for this dynasty is solid. Mid Year Council will be held in Philadelphia this year as well. This coming year will continue to be an exciting one for the colony and the fraternity as a whole as we watch them develop from a colony to a chapter.

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