SLB Retreat 2005
The 2005 Sigma Lambda Beta National retreat is over. It was a great weekend full of fraternity firsts, exciting programs, alumni networking, and catching up with Brothers I have not seen in a long time. It was a ton of fun. We had the first ever Alumni Retreat and that went great, we unveiled the first fraternity Charter (which I designed and OutSight will produce) document, and we had the first retreat with programming created entirely by Brothers and presented by Brothers.

I did not take a ton of pictures because I was very busy. As part of the facilitation group and a large session presenter I spent a lot of time working on the final touches to programs and running the sessions. It was great during the Alumni session to see all Brothers I have not seen in a while. We had two founding fathers there, two ex-national presidents, and tons of Brothers I have not seen in two or three years. It was great.

The programming we presented was good and I think the Brothers really took a lot to heart. I am excited to see the evaluations and hear what the Brothers have to say about the programs. Well her are the photos I did take...

We were at the beautiful Indianapolis Hyatt right next to the capital.

The WMU Neo, Ben and I at one of the sessions. Good work bro.

We had around 170 Brothers there.

After one of the alumni sessions with some UoM Alums.

The Michigan/Ohio Brothers.

I presented the final session of the weekend and wrapped everything up.

I have never been so nervous presenting. I have spoken to bigger crowds, and I have worked with my fraternity before as a presenter... but this one was different. Usually I talk about Risk Management or Hazing, the topics people hate to hear so I don't normally expect a good response from the crowd. This time I was presenting a motivational program I designed on the importance of courage in leadership. It seems that the Brothers liked it and I had several requests for my slides. I hope they took my message to heart and feel empowered to make differences on their campuses and communities.

Today it is back to work. I have some big projects I really need to start tackling and catching up on. Next week I have time off with Novali so really I am running low on summer time. I also need to plan when I will be moving into my new apartment... lots to coordinate right now.

Sun Burn
This weekend had many highlights. Kristi from work got married and had a beautiful ceremony at a golf course in Jension, MI. Helped moved Heather into her new place and get things arranged. Got a little sun burnt, what fourth is complete without some burn? Raced in my first Autocross in over a year, and got my first race trophy! So lets talk about how this race went...

We showed up around 9 AM, and when Jen showed up she said she decided to race as well. Hermen got there around 10 and Team PLP was in action. The course was long and fast, and I was worried about how the Sentra would do in its first race. I was entered in HS and Jen was in GS. I had 9 cars in my group and Jen had 5. Lots of competition.

Lots of great cars. EVOs, Miatas, an S2000, Hondas, and lots of hooked up rides.

The only other Nissan... and old Datsun Z Car. He was fast.

Jen and I were both in the second heat. So we had to wait for a while before we could race. In the meantime a bunch of the Betas showed and hung out with us. Finally it came race time, by then I was very anxious and ready to roll. We got six runs, and the first couple runs out felt good, but the guys said we looked slow. So we both stepped it up a little... by the time the day was done Jen cut 16 seconds off her first time to end with a 56 second time. I was able to shave even more off and ran a 51.6 second run... meaning I took 2nd place!

Ready for some fun.

I think the NX will be jealous of this #86.

Jen chose lucky #7.

Some 911s decided to park next to me... intimidating me.

#7 Ready to Roll.

#86 Ready to Roll.

The Sentra handled better then I thought.

Rolling through the finish line!

It was a great day, I never placed before. I even beat the times of some of the best drivers out there. I was just on fire when I ran my best time. So needless to say I was on cloud 9 after the race. Now I can't wait for the next race!

Well this week I get to work for just three days. Friday I am off to Indy for my national fraternity retreat. I am doing some programming there and really excited to see some old faces. We hope everyone has a happy fourth and have a great week.

The Weekend Trip
My weekends are generally full of a lot of driving and of course this weekend was much the same. Except this time the weekend started on Thursday since I took two days off work. Thursday was game seven of the NBA Playoffs, and the Pistons were in it so I figured we could do something cool. The pregame warm up was showing Heather my favorite Kzoo areas. We toured Wayside (no debate it is cooler then the CMU Wayside) and the ate at Burdicks, and of course we got the spinach dip. I got a suite at that Hawthorn (perks of all my Hyatt Points) and invited the Betas and Gammas to watch the game. We had a good turnout, and a good time, despite the Piston loss...

Finally got to see Ramiro back from France and Hermen back from Italy.

Marcie and our Neo Ben came out.

The Brothers smiles disappeared as the game came to a close.

We mourned the loss with beer and doritos.

Friday it was off to get Novali. A brief stop at the dollar store to get a pink swimming noodle and off to our hotel where of course... we went swimming. The weekend was a ton of fun, we went swimming, watched movies (Scooby Doo was better then I thought it would be), saw planes, blew bubbles, went to IKEA and the huge Woodfield Mall. It was funny... Saturday night I asked Novali what she wanted to do... I offered McD's Playland, the Park, the Mall, Swimming.... and she chose the mall. We had fun running up and down the ramps at Woodfield. It was a great weekend.

With her noodle at the pool.

she said we had to bite the noodle.

On the way to get food and videos we saw cool fountains.

She was entertained for a long time watching them go up and down...

You can't beat dollar store bubbles!

Nice picture with bubbles and flowers.

We stayed in Itasca, IL and there were a lot of ponds and fun things to see.

She finally was able to blow some big bubbles.

Who doesn't like IKEA... Novali stopped in each fake room and pretended... here she is cooking pancakes.

Here she said she was at work.

Here she is baking a pizza (she did not know it was a dishwasher).

Nothing is more IKEA then cool chairs! She does love pink.

It was a ton of fun. Sunday was a long day though. My presentation for LTA was at 8 AM... so I had to be there at 7:30 to prep. Needless to say it was an early morning. I was very excited to do it and met a lot of amazing women. I had several women ask me to come to their schools and speak. That would be great because I miss working with NALFO groups since we don't have any here at Albion. It was also great talking to leaders of another Latino group and hear that our struggles are all still pretty much the same. The best part was the email from a founder of their sorority thanking me for the job well done. Not every day a founder emails you..

The LTA Convention was at the Crowne Plaza in Rosemont, IL.

I had a cool powerpoint and some pictures which caused a little bit of a stir...

So now I am back in Michigan for a while... well two weeks at least before I head to Indy for my convention. I am helping with the curriculum for our convention and we have planned some great programs. I am doing the final session of the weekend to bang the points home, no pressure or anything... I am excited and have some cool things planned that I think will really impact my Brothers.

So right now I am doing the typical Albion things... The Phoenix for wings on Monday, mowed my lawn, oil change, returning videos, and working. This weekend will be spent at a wedding and then helping Heather move into her place in Jackson. Good times.

Summer!Part 2
Man this summer is great so far! I know I just wrote about how good summer was... but yesterday I did my favorite summer activity, I washed the GXE! Got her all cleaned up, after all the driving she has done for me she deserves it. Then I noticed the other day that my rose bush by my house, that I spent time this spring pruning and helping it stick to the trellis, now has roses on it! I felt so proud to have had enough of a Green Thumb to bring it back from the dead. The landscaping, as well as the gardening and everything else at this house was all poorly done. I can only fix so much... but I was glad to save the little rose bush.

My roses! I am so proud of them!

Nothing relaxes me more then a bucket of water and my car scrubbie.

Then tonight I am heading out to play soccer with some faculty and staff here in Albion. That will be great. I heard about that last night while the Pistons were beating the Spurs. Go Pistons! So all in all, it is a good time right now. I have not played soccer in maybe 4 years... so we will see how that goes.

Tomorrow night there is a small get together in Kalamazoo to watch the last basketball game for the year (good luck Pistons!). Then Friday morning I head to Chicago to see Novalí and hangout and then Sunday do my hazing lecture. So on Monday watch for pictures from a fun weekend...

Summer!
Man this summer is going well. Work is very good, it is busier then I thought it would be for the summer, which is good cause it makes the time fly. We are wrapping up our fiscal year and I have some money leftover I am figuring out how to spend, nice to have extra money somewhere in my life...

This weekend was a ton of fun. Friday Heather and I just had a Blockbuster night and watched movies and did laundry. I think Harold and Kumar go to WhiteCastle is a must see... and Garden State was very good as well. Saturday morning I went Golfing with Ramon, Ruben, and Franky Martinez in Holland. I did alright, I still really want to try golfing left handed cause I think I would do better. Afterwards we got some Greek food in Holland. That night it was another get together at the old Rich street house, saw some old faces and met some new. It was great and Gary came out so we got to chill a little which was nice. Sunday was laid back, got up late... lounged around and headed home to watch the Pistons in their overtime defeat! The good part was that I took all my files and organized stuff during the game, so at least I was productive during the Pistons loss.

I finished my plans for having Novali in Michigan. I will have her for nearly two weeks at the end of July. I am very excited about that. One week with me in Albion, and one week in Saginaw. To top it off Andres will even be coming to Michigan that time as well. So everyone will be around while she is visiting. Very cool!

More good news... despite early predictions in the year... Team PLP will be making a showing this year! On Sunday July 3rd at GVSU there will be a race and I entered the Sentra. So we will see what the little GXE can do. I wish the NX was fixed, but she still needs repairs before she can hit the course again. This worked out perfectly cause on the 2nd I have a wedding in Grand Rapids, what perfect timing. I am also seeing if I can fit one or two more races in this season. So if you are free that weekend come and cheer on Team PLP.

Finally, thank you to everyone who called, text messaged, or emailed me a Happy Fathers Day. That was great, Thank you!

UIFI
Well the Undergraduate Interfraternity Institute 2005 for me is over... and it was better then ever! I learned more then I have any other time, and had a great time with the other facilitators and the students. It was a ton of fun and I can not wait to do it again next year! For those who do not know what UIFI is... it is the premier leadership development program for fraternity and sorority members. The program covers every angle of being a good leader, from being courageous to holding people accountable, and even about living the values of all our organization rituals. It is a powerful program and I am glad to still be able to be a part of it. Of course a photo recap is in order...

We were at the Alpha Xi Delta house at Indiana University.

The house was amazing!

First up on the agenda... ice breakers!

Can't break the ice without water buckets!

Or Hoolahoops...

Students came from all over the country and all types of groups.

This one time... at Greek Camp... we ate together, worked together, and played together.

Lots of writing... contemplating... made some long 12+ hour days.

Puzzles and riddles.

Large group sessions.

One day we go out and do community service.

And of course... no Greek event is complete without... Togas.

Long days... means early mornings and lots of coffee.

There is that water bucket... poor Nolan.

One on One Consultations.

My group for the week... Chapter 1!

Me and Lorena (Gamma)

The last night we went out... Bowling!

The other half of Chapter 1, Sandi my cofacilitator.

No matter what people say... Bowling is always fun.

Chapter 1 dressed up for graduation.

What travel blog is not complete... without a picture of cheap gas prices.

So that was my trip folks... it was a great experience. I love to see that students are still working on solving the problems in fraternities and sororities and that values and integrity are still important on our college campuses. PEACE and LOVE!

Now I am back... tired as all get out, a lot has been going on... I wrapped up a contract with Lambda Theta Alpha and I will be speaking at their convention at the end of the month. I am excited about that. Today at work I was offered a free campus apartment as part of my job next year... got to work out the details but that is sweet and I am pumped. Work is surprisingly busy right now, but that is good cause I am working on some cool projects right now. Things are good... well except for the Pistons get stopped... hopefully Tuesday they will pull out a win.