We hope you and your loved ones are managing well under these new and unusual times. Phi Delta Theta is doing our best to navigate the dramatically changed landscape for all our members and we are working hard to make wise and informed decisions. While Phi Delta Theta brothers may be separated by distance along with the rest of society, we’ve never been so proud to see how brotherhood remains strong and true among our members.

In this current climate of uncertainty, and more importantly in the interest of the health and safety of our members and the greater community, the leadership and staff of Phi Delta Theta believe the smartest approach for the General Convention scheduled for this summer at the Downtown Westin in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is to delay for one year.

Because of the important legislative aspect of our General Convention, we carefully reviewed The Code to ensure that this change was within its guidelines. Section 6 states that “not more than three years should intervene between conventions…” which would require the next General Convention to occur no later than June 23, 2021. Additionally, Section 43 states the “term of office of the president and members of the General Council shall be until their successors have been duly elected and installed.” Therefore, the current General Council rightfully remains elected/appointed until the 2021 General Convention.

After conversations with hotel management, and the various venues, we have moved the convention to June 17–20, 2021. In addition, we have moved the subsequent 2022 General Convention scheduled for the Westin Kierland in Scottsdale, Arizona to 2023. Conventions thereafter will be held every odd year.

This one-year delay allows our undergraduates to focus on their wellness as they navigate these challenging times. We continue to produce programming to address this changed climate, making online programming options and services available that help each member to effectively lead and hold their chapters together from a distance.

As the Fraternity anticipates the impacts of this pandemic, along with all other businesses and nonprofits, the General Council and General Headquarter staff have begun to reduce expenses and maximize resources. Our organization’s new strategic plan, known as Phi Delt 2030, was carefully adjusted in the last few weeks to pivot according to the dramatically changing needs of our members and to ensure our place as the premier fraternal leadership society.

The General Convention also serves as a special time of celebration for our alumni and undergraduate members and the awarding of various accolades. Though an in-person presentation is our preference, we feel it is very important to follow through with the presentation of the Fraternity’s various annual awards. We are preparing for acceptable and special ways to express our thanks, and acknowledge awards of service, chapter achievements and bests, and impact.

We look forward to a return to normalcy soon and the opportunities to celebrate Phi Delta Theta at future General Conventions. In the meantime, please stay informed with all updates regarding COVID-19 and see the Convention FAQS below that provide additional information regarding the postponement of General Convention.

Yours in the Bond,

Chris W. Brussalis
President of the General Council

Sean Wagner
Executive Vice President Designee

FAQS

Do I need to cancel my registration?

Your registration will be cancelled for you and all payments refunded directly to you.

Do I need to call the hotel to cancel my reservations?

Your hotel reservation will be cancelled by the hotel. You should receive a confirmation to the email address which you used to make your reservation. If you do not receive a confirmation by May 1, please contact Renee Crist Lefter at renee@phideltatheta.org

Will I be refunded for my air travel that I have already booked?

Due to this global pandemic, most airlines are being very accommodating and providing an extended credit or refund altogether. Please contact the airline directly.

How does this impact awards?

All annual awards will be given out later this summer but special biennial awards such as the or Oliver Samuel Province President or Hoysgaard Alumni Club Awards will be given out at Convention next year.

With this cancellation in mind, how will the conference assessments be used?

Each chapter is billed $350 twice a year as a conference assessment. $250 of that assessment is allocated to the Convention and the remainder towards in-person educational experiences. Those allocated funds collected during the 19-20 academic year will be applied towards the overall expense of the 2021 Convention. It should be noted that the overall expense of the Convention always exceeds the funds provided by the assessment.

How can we be compliant with the Chapter Greatness Checklist if we are not registering a chapter delegate for the General Convention?

All chapters will be granted a credit for registration of a General Convention delegate.