By Greg Ruesiduelli & Matt Micolich
Our journey to the 2023 Sigma Phi Epsilon Conclave event held in San Antonio this past August was a smooth one, except for a random airport security check I endured. Once we reached our hotel on Wednesday, we had the pleasure of meeting our roommates from MO Gamma. We also caught up with the MI Theta group, who impressively brought along a third of their chapter. After attending the initial ritual and other opening events, we decided to satisfy our hunger at the nearby Denny’s. It seemed like a popular choice, as nearly every other fraternity member had the same idea. Despite a minor hiccup where the cooks briefly walked out, we eventually got our delicious but greasy food. The delay didn’t bother us; we were too engrossed in getting to know our roommates and fellow brothers.
Thursday marked the beginning of the more substantial events. For Mikolich, our delegate, it was a day packed with hours of legislative meetings. As the alternate, my schedule was lighter, with just two brief educational sessions to attend before I could explore the city with our other alternate roommate. We strolled along the picturesque River Walk, visited the historic Alamo, and pondered how civilization could endure such sweltering heat. Seriously, it was scorching. Later, we realized we needed to stock up on sustenance. When we reunited with Mikolich and our other roommate, we embarked on a mission to secure a dozen burritos from Taco Bell, our culinary solution for the weekend. Finally, we attended the Balanced Man Celebration, where chapters, excluding ours, were awarded Buchanan Cups. Nevertheless, it was inspiring to witness the progress and achievements of other chapters, and we took diligent notes.
Friday was devoted to attending educational sessions. I had the privilege of receiving valuable mentoring from alumni speakers and received assistance in updating my resume for an upcoming career fair. Following the Brotherhood Luncheon, where we got acquainted with some brothers from Kansas, we attended various alumni presentations and unwound in the pool. Oh, and we had a heart-pounding adventure navigating through some sketchy neighborhoods while searching for a place to buy lottery tickets, but that’s a tale for another time.
On Saturday, we attended the Arete Awards Luncheon, where Mikolich and I had the pleasure of meeting alumni member Kevin Maguire. It was a fantastic experience to connect with him and hear about the remarkable adventures of our older fraternity members. Fond memories of the hobo parade resurfaced, and humorous speculations about a brewing storm in the south seas ensued – all in good fun. Lastly, I wrapped up my remaining educational sessions while Mikolich engaged in legislative meetings, and our Conclave journey concluded with the Alumni Awards Dinner.
In retrospect, Conclave 2023 was an absolute blast. Not only did we have the chance to connect with brothers and alumni from across the nation, but I also learned a great deal. It wasn’t just from the alumni presentations; most of my knowledge was gained through conversations with fellow brothers about their chapter’s practices. Witnessing the diverse approaches of other chapters was truly eye-opening, and I’m excited to introduce several innovative ideas in our own fraternity house this semester. Attending Conclave was an enriching experience, and I wholeheartedly encourage more of our brothers to participate in future events.