POST CON AFLV’s ‘Philosophical Realm’

MEETING: 2011 National House Directors Conference, organized by the Association of Fraternal Leadership & Values (AFLV) at the Providence Biltmore in Providence, R.I., on June 23–26. Just over a hundredmanagers of frater- nity and sorority houses attended.

CHALLENGES: In a Pre Con profile of the con- ference (available atwww.pcma.org /Convene/Issue-Archives/March-2011 /Plenary.htm),AFLV Executive Director and CEOMark Koepsell discussed the perennial challenge of offering relevant programming for members who often come to the house-direc- tor profession as a second career,with wildly diverse experiences and skill sets. To appeal to everyone,AFLV usually aims

high—and this year was no exception. “We tried to really stick to that philosophical realm,” Koepsell said, “as opposed to getting into nuts- and-bolts skills.We talked about how gender is changing and influencing campus dynamics. We talked about riskmanagement. ...We tried to keep those topics higher-level.” Another challenge was organizing and run-

ning pre- and post-meeting trips to Newport, R.I. (pictured below), and NewYork City, respec-

tively. “The pre-conference was super-easy —you put themon a charter bus and you tour around,” Koepsell said. “The post-conference continues to be a good professional challenge, because you end up puttingmore of a travel- agent hat on than conference planner.”

INITIATIVES: Initially AFLV planned on debut- ing programming for the boardmembers of housing corporations that own fraternity and sorority houses at this year’s conference, but decided to hold off until 2012, Koepsell said, because “it was feeling rushed.” AFLV’s other big initiative? Its host city.

“Every single location, you do it a little bit dif- ferently,” Koepsell said. “It feels fresh and new because of that.” This year, for example,AFLV was able to use Providence-based Johnson & Wales College of Culinary Arts for its opening- night dinner—which was “relevant and fun” for members,whose job includes food service. Koepsell said: “That’s something we were able to take advantage of that fit our audience.” n — Christopher Durso

FOR MORE INFORMATION:www.aflv.org /EventsPrograms/HouseDirectors.aspx

National House

Directors Conference 2010 Albuquerque 78 Attendees Q 2011 Providence 102 Attendees www.pcma.org pcma convene September 2011 21

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