Region IV Delegate Guide for the 2014 National Convention

1. The 43rd Biennial AFW
National Convention
DECEMBER 27-30, 2014
HY A T T R E G EN C Y O ’HA R E ; CHI C A GO , I L
REGION IV NATIONAL CONVENTION
ADDENDUM

2. National Convention Overview

3. What is the National Convention?
 The Biennial APO
National Gathering
 Three Major Functions:
 Conduct the business of
the Fraternity.
 Educate our student and
alumni members.
 Celebrate who we are and
what we do!
 A complete four-day
immersive experience of
all things Alpha Phi
Omega

4. Convention Registration
 Registration is open on the national website!
 Basic cost
 Student/Advisor: $99
 Alumni Life Member: $109
 Alumni Non-Life Member: $129
 Banquets
 Brotherhood: $38 / Recognition: $43
 Value Package (includes both banquets)
 Student/Advisor: $170
 Alumni Life Member: $180
 Alumni Non-Life Member: $200

5. 2014 National Convention Site
 Hyatt Regency O’Hare
 Room rate is $89/night per room
 Wi-Fi for up to four devices per room is included
 On-site Parking is $10/day with in-and-out privileges
 On CTA Blue Line for direct connection to downtown Chicago
 Hotel facility and staff culture are best in line with
what makes our Convention successful

6. Traveling to Chicago
 Planes – 2 Airports
 Chicago O’Hare (3 miles from hotel)
 Chicago Midway (23 miles from hotel)
 Trains – Chicago Union Station
 Amtrak’s main cross-country hub is Chicago
 Over 40 trains in and out of the city every day
 Two blocks from CTA Blue Line Station
 Automobiles
 Hyatt Regency O’Hare is at the junction of
I-294, I-190, and I-90

7. Day-by-Day Breakdown of
National Convention

8. December 27th
 Check-in begins – make
sure your Chapter is in
Good Standing before you
arrive!
 Workshops and Service
Projects begin
 Fraternity Store & History
Exhibits open
 Voting Delegate
Orientation is held
 1st Regional Meeting occurs
 Opening Session late in the
day
 Reference Committees
begin meeting

9. December 28th
 Reference Committees
re-convene until done
 Workshops & Service
Projects Continue
 Alumni Luncheon
 Fraternity Store &
History Exhibits
 2nd Regional Meeting
 Brotherhood Banquet
 Major Fellowship
Activity

10. December 29th
 Legislative Session
begins!
 Workshops & Service
Projects continue
 Fraternity Store &
History Exhibits
 3rd Regional Meeting
 Candidates Forum
 Major Fellowship Event

11. December 30th
 Legislative Session
continues
 Board Elections and 2016
Convention Host Selection
 Workshops & Service
Projects Continue
 Regional Director Elections
 Fraternity Store & History
Exhibits
 Recognition Banquet
 Major Fellowship Event

12. Region IV Delegate Guide

13. Purpose of this Guide
 Document is Region IV specific, and is to be used as
a supplement to the Voting Delegate Handbook
 Voting Delegate Handbook has all information
Voting Delegates needs to know with regards to
responsibility as a Voting Delegate, as well as a
primer on parliamentary procedure
 Document covers the following:
 Activities prior to Nationals
 Best Practices
 Tips and Suggestions
 Region Expectations
 How to get the best experiences out of Nationals

14. Prior to the National Convention
 Fundraise and submit a request for funding to your
school
http://www.apo.org/leadershipdevelopment/nation
alconvention/resources Under “Convention
Resources”
 Elect your Voting Delegates and choose at least one,
if not two alternates.
 Have your Chapter review the legislation prior to the
convention. Your Voting Delegates need to know
how the CHAPTER would vote, not just how they
would vote

15. Prior to the National Convention
 Make sure your Chapter is in Good Standing, i.e. all
items that are due on November 15th are done,
including that you have the requisite number of
Advisors and that your chapter does not owe the
National Office any money
 Review guidelines for Regional and National awards.
Some you have to submit prior to Nationals, some
are due the first day. Be prepared!
 There will be a Regional Awards Committee and
usually one to two people from each Section are on
the committee. Let your Section Chair know if you
are interested in serving on this committee

16. Best Practices
 Network, Network,
Network. Don’t just hang
out with your own
Chapter/Section/Region
 Enjoy the city!
 Come early (day before
27th), leave late (NYE or
later)
 Get to know the layout of
the hotel before Nationals
begins
 Do your research. Read
the conference guide
cover to cover
 Go to workshops and
Service Projects you
wouldn’t normally do-break
out of your box
 Volunteer to serve as a
SAA/Floor Services
during the legislative
session or do other
convention related service
outside of the normal
Service Projects
 Attend fellowship events
 Plan a schedule, then stick
to it

17. Best Practices-Health, Food and Drink
 Nationals consists of early
mornings and long days.
Make sure you rest and take
care of your body!
 Get some rest before
Nationals, and try to get
rest when you can during
Nationals.
 Take your vitamins
 Stay hydrated
 Go outside a little each
day and get a breath of
fresh air
 Food
 Chapters—provide snacks
for your Voting Delegates
for legislative session.
 Make sure you eat! Stake
out the nearby restaurants
early so that you can run
out quickly and get food.
Don’t just survive on
Starbucks!
 Find a nearby grocery or
convenient store and stock
up on granola bars,
apples, candy bars, sodas

18. Special Events/Highlights
 COE & PPOE Winners
Reception on 12/28
 Alumni Reception 12/28
 Encourage your newly
initiated Brothers (NIBs) to
meet their Pledge Class
Namesake , Kay Krenek on
12/29
 VIP Meet & Greet on 12/29
 Candidates Forum 12/29.
Encourage all your
delegates, not just your
Voting Delegates to attend
 Attend APO LEADS
workshops. Explore is
usually only offered at
Nationals and Regionals,
take advantage of it
 Nationals Choir-everyone is
invited to join. Practice is
held throughout Nationals

19. How to Survive Nationals: Veteran Tips
 Voting Delegates and those serving on Reference
Committees must arrive no later than noon on December
27th. Plan accordingly, and allow time for travel/weather
delays
 Get everywhere early. The elevators are packed before
banquets, fellowship events and legislative sessions
 Know the phone numbers of all your delegates attending
as well as your Section Chair. If you leave the hotel, go in
groups
 Make sure to bring any and all medicines that you may
need that week
 Bring a portable humidifier for your hotel room

20. How to Survive Nationals: Veteran Tips
 Bring things to do during downtime (i.e. Sudoku,
crossword puzzles, books) to help you relax.
 Attend both banquets. You don’t want to miss anything!
If your Chapter is getting a COE or PPOE, make sure to
attend the first banquet as well as the second
 Send someone down early from your chapter to save a
table at banquet. Everyone else has the same idea!
 Consider having someone sitting in the peanut gallery
(the area behind the Voting Delegates) at specific times
so that your VDs can send you notes/requests
 Hang out in the lobby and meet new Brothers

21. Region Expectations of Delegates
 Attend all four Regional
meetings and be on time. Each
one has a specific purpose
 Attend Candidates Forum,
asking questions as appropriate
 Think of and ask questions to
your leadership
(Sectional/Regional)—we
represent you!
 Represent your Chapter and
the Region with pride
 Communicate with your
Section Chair/volunteer staff
 HAVE FUN!

22. Getting the Best out of Nationals
 Don’t spend all your time on your phone or tablet. Nationals
only comes around every two years-make the most of it!
 Meet people outside of your Section, and even outside of your
Region
 Attend all events (fellowships, banquets, etc.)
 Explore the host city where time allows
 Visit the fraternity store and buy things (shirts, banners, key
chains, etc.)
 Visit the Fraternity History exhibit and explore almost 90
years of Fraternity history
 Attend workshops that you can take lessons learned back to
your chapter
 Take notes on key legislative changes to take back and explain
to your Chapter

23. Key Topics to Leave Nationals Understanding
 State of the Fraternity—what’s been accomplished
recently
 State of the Region—what’s been accomplished
recently
 Changes made to the Fraternity through legislation
 Thoughts on the direction the Region will be going
 Key goals and objectives for the Fraternity and the
region
 New National and Regional Leaders

24. Key Documents
 2014 National Convention Delegate Handbook
 Previous Delegate Handbooks
 Convention Resources Page:
http://www.apo.org/leadershipdevelopment/nationalconv
ention/resources

25. Thank you for all you do for
Alpha Phi Omega!