Alpha Delta Gamma National
Fraternity
Office of the
National President
October 1, 2004
It
has been almost two months since the start of the school year and Alpha Delta
Gamma National Fraternity has been busily following our Chapters’ Rush and
Recruitment programs and situating the latest National administration into
their offices. My name is Derrick
Cabrera and I am the current National President of Alpha Delta Gamma National
Fraternity. While you may or may not
know me, I just wanted to take this opportunity to introduce myself as well as
mention some of the goals that we, as an Executive Council, have for the next
couple of years.
I took the Oath of Induction into the Office of National President at our most recent Convention in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, just this past August. It was an inspiring time for me as well as others as there have been many who have been expecting me to step up for some time now.
Nine years ago, I was inducted into membership at Beta Chapter of St. Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri. In that same month, I was voted onto the Chapter’s Executive Board as Recording Secretary. And since then, I have served consecutive terms nationally and/or locally either as an Officer or a Director. And aside from my current office, my most significant offices held include Chapter President, National Student Representative, and four consecutive years as National Executive Vice President.
Needless to say, I consider myself very well schooled in my National Fraternity’s affairs. And as a plus, I have the background of a large Greek System like St. Louis University who, when I attended, had over 10 National Fraternities on her campus – definitely the most “competition” a Chapter of Alpha Delta Gamma has nationwide.
My nine years of experience in the past has only better prepared me as a leader for my administration and has given me strong insight into our goals and improvements we see for ourselves.
Alpha Delta Gamma National Fraternity has always been a haven for True Brotherhood rather than being operated too much like a business. We must be Brothers to each other, but we also must know how to survive. The idea of properly performing the operations of this Brotherhood is always on everyone’s mind. We are too small of a National Fraternity to let any one Chapter fall. This National Council will audit our chapters to insure that they are indeed grooming the Chapter for the leaders of tomorrow. And we want to insure that their protocol from risk management to tradition to new member education is preserved, reviewed and, if necessary, improved.
Alpha Delta Gamma National Fraternity is also very interested in finding more campuses to expand to. This October marks the chartering of Alpha Delta Gamma onto the Philadelphia University campus. Twenty minutes away, Chestnut Hill College colony will start their final year of the colonization process. And while two opportunities may not seem much at all when compared against the much larger National Fraternities, this is great news for Alpha Delta Gamma. This National Council will continue to pursue other expansion opportunities and hope to attain at least two more colonies before this administration ends.
The last goal I’d like to mention revolves around our Actives and giving more in return. We want to return as much as we can back to the Chapters in several different programs. Some of these are:
· National Finance Incentive Program
o Providing financial assistance for Chapters’ rush and recruitment awarding timely Chapter/Active-to-National financial responsibility.
· Convention and Leadership Conference Travel Assistance Program
o For the purposes of further increasing attendance at the National Convention during the summer and the Leadership Conference during the winter – two of the largest annual Alpha Delt events.
· National Insurance
o Forcing more competitive quotes from a broader range of Fraternity Insurance providers allowing high coverage with lower premiums to Actives.
· Chapter President’s Leadership Forum
o Our most difficult-to-attain Financial goal that would fund travel and delegate fees for the Chapter Presidents who would come together in a forum setting, learn from each other and from other Leadership programs and seminars focused around their respective Presidency.
As a strictly volunteer-run organization, the other National Officers and I have a lot on our plate – as you can see. But we intend to use this National Government – this network of Active and Alum Officers and Directors – to its greatest potential as we have for so long now as we approach our 80th birthday on October 10.
I and the other members of this National Council look forward to working with you over these next two years. Thank you for taking the time to read about Alpha Delta Gamma and me, as her National President. Please feel free to contact me with anything you may need from this Fraternity and with any questions you may have.
Best Regards,
Derrick C. Cabrera, National President
Alpha Delta Gamma National Fraternity
1021 Clayton Brook Drive
Ballwin, MO 63011
314.322.4309 – Direct
President@alphadeltagamma.org
www.alphadeltagamma.org
***A Brother who
is helped by a Brother is like a City Walled***