Presidential Address

Brothers-

I write this sitting on the plane finally having time to myself and having a chance to collect my thoughts on our Convention.

Nine National Conventions ago I sat on the plane back to St. Louis from Miami with the President of Beta Chapter at the time and thought about what I really wanted to do for the Fraternity. I had just witnessed younger members of the Fraternity come forward and take National offices and I couldn't believe how much energy and they had for our Future while they were just a few years older than me.

I sat on the plane and hand-wrote a two-page letter that I wanted to send to campuses that did not have Alpha Delta Gamma on their campus. I almost felt that what I had experienced at my first Convention shouldn't be kept inside. It shouldn't be kept to myself. I wanted to spread what I had witnessed to everyone! This is what the '96 Convention did to me in regards to how much I was inspired and impressed with the True Brotherhood, close relationships developed, and excitement felt by the Actives.

And while I cannot expect any of the delegates to do what I did back in '96 - authoring a letter on a plane to explore expansion opportunities -what I experienced at this Convention in 2004 was truly amazing and comparable to the feelings I had when I left Convention in 1996. I trust other Actives and Alumni feel the same.

This Convention's Brotherhood was unsurpassed in any Convention I've been to. Practically everyone went to the same bars as everyone else each night. Actives and Alumni across Chapters shared stories, hugs and tears during the Circle of Friends that was introduced. And most amazingly, and in probably one of the most unbelievable and unselfish displays of Brotherhood, individual active members came forward to offer out-of-pocket monies to ensure the immediate induction of Alpha Beta Chapter.

It really was an amazing Convention.

Below are my National President Candidacy and Acceptance speeches that I presented. Feel free to read through them, as they are a good background of myself as your next National President and the overall goals that the Council will be focused on.

After my induction as President and after the close of the banquet, I walked around the room and recognized words that were repeated by many individuals: "I'm really excited about these next two years."

Brothers, I wholeheartedly agree.

City Walled,
Derrick "Mr. Fugi" Cabrera
National President.

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