Grand Council Frequently Asked Questions What airport do I want to fly into? When should I arrive and depart? How do I get from the airport to the hotel? How can I find a roommate? What meals will be provided? What kind of clothes should I bring? What happens at the Business Sessions? What is the role of the delegate and alternate delegate? What happens at Regional Caucuses? What does my chapter need to bring? What events are planned? What goes on during the chapter showcase? What are Officer Training Courses (OTC s)? What are Policy Development Committees (PDC s)? What is included in the Alumni Weekend registration fee? What airport do I want to fly into? The closest airport to the Hyatt Regency is Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ). When should I arrive and depart? To get the maximum benefit from attending Grand Council, we recommend arriving Tuesday afternoon and departing on Sunday. There will be a Post Grand Council Meeting with the new National Officers on Sunday morning until noon. How do I get from the airport to the hotel? The Sunport Shuttle check-in counter is conveniently located inside the airport on the Baggage Claim Level across from Southwest's Baggage Carousel No. 3. One way trip to the hotel costs $11 for the first customer and $5 for each additional customer. Albuquerque Cab Company and Yellow Cab Company also provide service to our hotel for about $20 one way. How can I find a roommate? The National Office does not have a rooming list. Try using our Facebook page to find roommates.
What meals will be provided? Continental Breakfast is provided Wednesday - Saturday. Lunch is provided on Wednesday - Saturday. Dinner will not be provided, except during the Awards Banquet on Saturday evening. Free time during dinner can be utilized in several ways. A few examples are dinner with your buddy chapter, meeting with a regional officer, discussing policies as a chapter or exploring tastes of the local area. What kind of clothes should I bring? For all times and events not listed below, please feel free to dress casually as you would on any vacation. The important thing is to enjoy yourself and to portray a positive image on Phi Delta Chi, your Chapter, your school, and yourself. Business Sessions Business Attire Officer Training Courses Business Casual Banquet & Awards Presentation Formal (Coat & Tie or equivalent) Chapter Showcase Phi Delta Chi Attire / Casual What happens at the Business Sessions? During the Opening Business Session, first roll call is taken and the Grand Officers present formal reports of their respective offices for the last two years. The Executive Director will report on the state of the fraternity. At the Interim Business Meeting, roll call is taken and policies composed by the Policy Development Committees are presented to brothers for the first time. Policies are reviewed and voted on by delegates, national officers are elected, and Grand Council is officially adjourned at the Final Business Session. The Final Business Session is conducted in a full Formal Meeting with Regalia. Please bring enough White Member Aprons to clothe each Brother from your Chapter attending this meeting. What is the role of the delegate and alternate delegate? At Opening Business Session, delegates may sit with their chapter, but are expected to respond to the roll call. At the Interim and Final Business Sessions, delegates for the collegiate and alumni chapters sit together in Greek alphabetical order. Roll is again taken of the chapters present. The delegate is the voice of the chapter and is representative of the chapter. Alternate delegates step in at any time the delegate is unable to perform their duties. (See delegate guide for more information on delegates and business meetings)
What happens at Regional Caucuses? Regional caucuses are held several times during Grand Council. Regional caucuses are casual and run by the regional officers. Regional correspondents are elected during regional caucuses, announcements and decisions regarding Regional Meetings are discussed, and regional awards may be given out. Regions also may use this time to discuss policies to be voted on during the formal business meetings. Regional officers will also provide a copy of the last Regional Meeting minutes. Regional Caucuses also provide an opportunity for candidates running for national office to visit each region, allowing brothers to ask more questions of the candidates. What does my chapter need to bring? Chapter Report: Each Chapter attending Grand Council is required to bring a type written summary to present to the Regional Caucus. The 5-minute presentation should report the Chapter s membership, professional events, social & Brotherhood events, alumni news, and anything else worthwhile from the last year. The Chapter should also bring an electronic copy to be included in the official caucus minutes. Please submit this report electronically to your regional correspondent before coming to Grand Council. Scrapbook & Display for Chapter Showcase: Each Chapter attending Grand Council is asked to bring their scrapbooks and a display to be set up during the Chapter Showcase. This is the time when all Chapters can see first-hand what other Chapters do on their campuses. It is recommended that each Chapter use this as an opportunity to highlight a particular event or project conducted in the previous 2 years that would be considered the Best that your Chapter has to share. This Reception is also a great time for Chapters to market their T-shirts and other wares to all Brothers of the Fraternity. The Chapter with the best showcase is presented an award at the closing banquet. We would like the Chapters to target their displays on a particular event or project that they did, similar to a poster presentation on that event. White Member Aprons: The final Formal Business Session is conducted in a full Formal Meeting with Regalia. Please bring enough White Member Aprons to clothe each Brother from your Chapter attending this meeting. What events are planned? Tuesday Night Opening Reception Wednesday Night - Chapter Showcase/Ice Cream Social Thursday Night St. Jude Bowling Fundraiser Friday Night - Alumni Reception & Alumni Wine Trail Tour Saturday Night - Awards Banquet What goes on during the chapter showcase? One evening is used as a time to showcase your chapter s accomplishments. Each chapter is permitted a table to display their chapter scrapbook and to sell chapter t-shirts, mugs, key
chains, etc (only if local laws permit). Judges evaluating chapter displays will be circulating through the showcase with all other brothers. What are Officer Training Courses (OTC s)? At each Grand Council, facilitators guide the attendees through a series of Educational Programs designed to enhance your abilities and experiences at your Chapter. Your preference will depend on your position at your Chapter or your status in the Fraternity (Collegiate vs. Alumni vs. Advisor vs. Repeat attendee of Grand Council). Please split up the brothers in your chapter so you can attend as many tracks as possible. Your choices are: 1) Executive Track Designed for the WCC, WKRS, and WC. This course gives training on proper preparation and conduct of Chapter meetings. Advance planning, parliamentary procedure, crisis management, committee structure, motivation, and involvement are all concepts which are addressed in the Executive Track. Those Brothers that wish to enhance their knowledge about how Chapters are properly run will benefit from attending this OTC. 2) Membership Track Designed for the WMA, WAL, and WP. This course gives training on the recruitment, reporting, and retention of quality Brothers into Phi Delta Chi. A review of Ritual Initiation is conducted in this course, giving attendees further understanding and recognition of the importance of Ritual in Fraternity life. Because of this aspect, Initiated Brothers only may participate in this course. Because Phi Delta Chi is as strong as those Brothers that comprise them, developing strong Brothers with commitment to the customs of our Fraternity is paramount. 3) Financial Track Designed for the WKF and WVC. This course gives training on goal setting, action plans, and financial preparation for Chapter activities. Concepts of Cash Flow, Budgeting, and Money Management are discussed and a Fundraiser Roundtable will be conducted. Understanding the benefits and consequences of financial decisions gives each Brother the ability to play a larger role in the Chapter. 4) Alumni Track Designed for the WAL, WP, and WCC. This course gives training on the transitional stages of Brotherhood into Alumni Status. Since we will each spend a great deal more time in our Fraternity lives as Alumni, developing the model of a cohesive and interdependent relationship between Collegiate and Alumni Brothers will give each participant a greater appreciation for the concept of Brothers for Life.
What are Policy Development Committees (PDC s)? Grand Council is Phi Delta Chi s National Business Meeting. Each Chapter has a voice in the direction of the Fraternity. At Grand Council, topics affecting the Fraternity s Operations are divided into Committees for discussion and are voted on during the business sessions. The Policy Development Committees are: 1) Organizational Affairs Refers to business which affects the government, constitution, and bylaws of the Fraternity 2) Collegiate Affairs Refers to business which affects the establishment and operation of Collegiate Chapters of the Fraternity 3) Alumni Affairs Refers to business which affects our Alumni and the establishment and operation Alumni Chapters of the Fraternity 4) Professional Affairs Refers to business which affects the professional position of Phi Delta Chi within the community and among our relationships with other pharmacy organizations What is included in the Alumni Weekend registration fee? The Alumni Weekend registration includes the Alumni Reception on Friday night, breakfast and lunch on Saturday, and the banquet on Saturday night. You re also welcome to attend the memorial service and business session on Saturday.