Vote, vote, vote!

We got so much business taken care of today, along with a healthy amount of interspersed entertainment. I’m currently sitting outside of the large ballroom after the last ΤΒΣ separate session as the room is being rearranged for the final joint session.

The delegation powered through our business today and made excellent decisions for the benefit of the future of our sorority. We voted to approve the dues increase for active/conditional and new initiate members of $10. I’m very excited that we’ll actually be allotting $2 from every member to save for the CFR program. In 2005, Gersh stood in front of the delegation and strongly opposed the continuation of the CFR program because we didn’t have the money to support it. With this allotment we will be able to actually save money before we spend it.

Other decisions that we made include increasing the life membership fee to $350 effective 12/31/09 and $500 effective 12/31/10, and streamlining the process around applying for life membership and getting chapter approval.

During the various reports from the different committees several interesting recommendations came up. The Ritual & Regalia committee recommended keeping the number of degrees that we have secret in honor of the chapters who do not disclose that information; they also recommended using battery-operated candles whenever possible. The History & Traditions committee recommended that every district create a historian position; it’ll be interesting to see if our district council follows through with that charge.

I’m happy to announce the 2009-2011 National Council of Tau Beta Sigma:

• National President: Dollie McDonald O’Neill

• National Vice President for Colonization and Membership: Dawn Farmer

• National Vice President for Special Projects: Dr. Kathryn Kelly

• National Vice President for Communication and Recognition: Nicole Burdick

• National Vice President for Public Relations: Dr. Joan deAlbuquerque

This has certainly been the best convention I have ever attended. I will not miss the next National Convention in 2011.