Members Present:

Kent Gardner (Executive Director), David Grady (Editor), Michael Shonrock (Vice President), Carol Thompson (Secretary/Treasurer), and Ed Whipple (President).

Members Absent:

Mardie Sorensen (Province Advisor Coordinator).

The Fall Executive Council Meeting of The National Order of Omega was called to order by Ed Whipple, President, on Saturday, November 19, 1997, 9:10 p.m. by conference call.

Reports:

1. Fellowship Report:

Michael Shonrock reported to the Executive Council that he has received the applications for The National Order of Omega Fellowship Awards.

The Executive Council reviewed the ten (10) candidates for the Doctoral Fellowship Award including:

Name                              Institution
Callais, Mari Ann               Louisiana State University
Engelbride, Edward P.           University of Maryland, College Park
Hart, Lori A.			Geogia State University
Hillman, Harriet J.             University of North Texas
Jones, Scott D. A.              Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Knudson, Tara L.                University of Nebraska, Lincoln
Pride, Charles L.               University of Louisville & Western Kentucky
Shushok, Frank Jr.              University of Maryland, College Park
Sullivan, Eileen G.             Bowling Green State University
Zacker, Terry Y.                University of Maryland, College Park

After further review and discussion, a motion was made by Ed Whipple and seconded by David Grady to select Lori Hart (Georgia State University), Charles Pride (University of Louisville & Western Kentucky), Eileen Sullivan (Bowling Green State University), and Terry Zacker (University of Maryland, College Park) for the Doctoral Fellowship Award ($1,000 each). Motion passed.

The Executive Council reviewed the four (4) candidates for the Masters Fellowship Award including:

Name                       Institution
Crowe, Jason A.            Central Missouri State University
Kingsley, Jennifer         Northern Arizona University
Maxwell, Tracy, L.         University of Wisconsin, Whitewater
Treadway, Barbara E.       University of Nebraska, Omaha

After further review and discussion, a motion was made by Carol Thompson and seconded by Kent Gardner to award the Masters Fellowship ($750) to Tracy Maxwell (University of Wisconsin, Whitewater) and Barbara Treadway (University of Nebraska, Omaha). Motion passed.

The Executive Council reviewed the twenty-three (23) applicants for the Graduate Assistant Fellowship Award including:

Name                     Institution
Aldrich, Karl E.         Eastern Illinois University
Beyer, Carrie J.         Texas A & M University
Bloom, Heather L.        Grand Valley State University
Carr, Mary Angela        Northwestern State University, LA
Crowe, Jason A.          Central Missouri State University
Epstein, Brian Scott     Plymouth State College
Fraim, Elizabeth Carter  University of San Diego
Gainey, Brooklyn E.      North Carolina State University
Hartzell, Heidi A.       Bowling Green State University
Kelley, Aaron C.         Purdue University
Kingsley, Jennifer       Northern Arizona University
Kosloski, Kristine J.    Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Lantz, Amy E.            Kent State University
Martin, Tonia M.         Syracuse University
Newton, Michelle N.      University of Louisville
Nixon, Caroline E.       Washington University, St.Louis
Norris, Pamela D.        University of Kansas
Palmquist, Douglas       Texas Tech University
Regas, Zeno J.           Bowling Green State University
Settle, Rohsaan C.       Virginia Tech University
Wacker, Camilla M.       Michigan State University
Whittier, Carolyn E.     Ball State University
Willerton, Ryan D.       Eastern Illinois University

After further review and discussion, a motion was made by David Grady and seconded by Carol Thompson to select Carrie Beyer (Texas A & M University), Jason Crowe (Central Missouri State University), Elizabeth Fraim (University of San Diego), Brooklyn Gainey (North Carolina State University), Michelle Newton (University of Louisville), and Ryan Willerton (Eastern Illinois University) for the Graduate Assistant Fellowship Award ($500 each). Motion passed.

Michael reported that the Fellowship recipients would be announced at the Order of Omega Recognition Reception Saturday, December 6, 1997. Michael also shared that he would mail follow-up congratulation letters to each of the Fellowship recipients and their respective supervisors.

2. Case Study Competition:

Michael Shonrock reported to the Executive Council that the Order of Omega Case Study Competition will be held on Thursday, December 4, 1997 from 1:30 - 6:00 p.m.. Interested graduate students register to participate through the conference registration process. Michael asked the Executive Council to serve as judges. He noted that Cindy Pennington will serve as the Association of Fraternity Advisors representative on the judging team.

The team winners will receive cash awards of $350 (first place), $250 (second place), and $150 (third place), respectively. Kent reminded the Executive Council that the judges will be providing constructive feedback to each team on their case study presentation. The feedback will be provided to the team at the conclusion of their presentation.

3. Omega Trends:

David Grady reported that the current issue of Omega Trends would be in the mail this Friday. He noted that it was a six-page issue and included four pages of chapter trends. David indicated that the next edition of the Omega Trends will include coverage of the Order of Omega Scholarship and Fellowship recipients. He also added that the second spring edition will highlight the thirty Order of Omega's who have made a difference.

4. Executive Council Meeting:

Kent Gardner recommended that the Executive Council hold its meeting at the Annual National Interfraternity and Association of Fraternity Advisors Conference prior to the Order of Omega Recognition Reception. Carol Thompson reported that Howard Farrell, Mardie Sorensen, Barbara Rossier, Daisy Woods, and Larry Lunsford from the Board of Directors indicated that they would be in attendance at the conference and planned to attend the Executive Council meeting. TheExecutive Council decided to meet from 3:00 - 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 6, 1997.

5. National Interfraternity Conference Laurel Wreath Award:

Kent Gardner reported that the National Interfraternity Conference is presenting the National Order of Omega with the Laurel Wreath Award. Kent noted that this award will be presented to Ed Whipple at the National Interfraternity Conference and National Panhellenic Conference luncheon, Friday, December 5, 1997.

6. Recognition Reception:

Carol Thompson reported that the Order of Omega Recognition Reception will be held in the Regency C Room at the Annual Association of Fraternity Advisors and National Interfraternity Meeting, Saturday, December 6, 1997.

7. 30th Anniversary - Special Recognition:

Kent Gardner reported that he has thriteen strong nominations for the thirty (30) Order of Omega alumni who have made a difference. He also added that he has resumes on these nominees. He noted that most of the nominations for this recognition have come from individuals other than members of the Board of Directors. Kent asked Carol Thompson to remind the Board of Directors through the listserv to send nominations to him. Ed Whipple suggest adding Sue Supple and Drew Hunter to the nomination list.

8. Province Advisors:

Kent Gardner reported that all the Province Advisor positions are currently filled. He also added that Mardie Sorensen reported that Scott Walters has done an outstanding job as a new province advisor.

9. Order of Omega Web Page:

Kent Gardner reported that Kent Pawlak has accepted the position as the Order of Omega Webmaster. Kent noted that Kent Pawlak has already updated the current web page and is looking forward to providing additional improvements.

10. Strategic Plan:

Ed Whipple asked Kent Gardner and Carol Thompson to bring the most recent copy of the Order of Omega Strategic Plan to the December Executive Council meeting. Ed noted that it was time to review the document and discuss possible updates to the strategic plan.

11. Order of Omega Scholarship Program:

Michael Shonrock reported that 112 scholarship applications were received and distributed to the review committee at Texas Tech University.

12. Executive Council Agenda - December Meeting:

Kent Gardner reviewed the tentative agenda items for the December Executive Council Meeting:

Review Minutes - Summer Board of Directors Meeting
Order of Omega Scholarships
Omega Trends
Province Coordinator Report
Fiscal Report 1996-1997
Speakers Bureau
Regional Conferences
Order of Omega Web Page
Chapter Concerns

Respectfully submitted,

Carol D. Thompson
Secretary/Treasurer

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