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Mar 21

Galbreth and Westol Named 2012 NIC Gold Medal Recipients

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As one of the oldest traditions in the interfraternal world, the presentation of the Gold Medal dates back nearly 70 years.  The North-American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) is pleased to announce the presentation of the Gold Medal at the 2012 Annual Meeting in Washington, DC.  The Gold Medal is presented for lifelong service to the interfraternal community and is the highest honor that the NIC can bestow.  The 2012 medalists include Raymond Galbreth, Delta Chi and David Westol, Theta Chi.
 
A member of Delta Chi Fraternity, Galbreth has served his fraternity as executive director for over 30 years.  A steadfast advocate of the fraternal movement, he is the recipient of numerous awards from his own fraternity as well as interfraternal service awards from the fraternal community.  He is a past president of the Fraternity Executives Association (FEA), vice president of FIPG, and has chaired numerous FEA committees.
 
A member of Theta Chi Fraternity, Westol is the founder, owner, and current CEO of Limberlost Consulting and a past executive director of his fraternity.  His interfraternal service has included boards of directors, many interfraternal honors, and countless professional speaking engagements.  He is the current administrator of FIPG, past president of FEA, and a past NIC Silver Medalist.
 
NIC President and CEO Pete Smithhisler stated, “These men have dedicated their careers to advancing fraternity and many professionals in the field are grateful to have received their mentoring and coaching.  For decades, these men have worked tirelessly to make the fraternity experience relevant and impactful.”
 
Among the other honors presented at the NIC Annual Meeting are the Laurel Wreath Award and the NIC Awards of Distinction.  For more information regarding the NIC Annual Meeting, please visit http://www.nicindy.org/programs/nic-annual-meeting/.
 
Founded in 1909, the North-American Interfraternity Conference is the trade association representing 75 international and national men’s fraternities.  Through advocacy, collaboration, and education the NIC works to ensure that fraternities can operate in an environment conducive to their success.

 

Mar 9

Remembering Jim Vredenburgh of Theta Xi Fraternity

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It is with a heavy heart that we share the news from Theta Xi Fraternity that James E. Vredenburgh passed away on March 8, 2012. Jim served as the Executive Director of Theta Xi Fraternity and provided 38 years of interfraternal service. Vredenburgh is survived by his wife Caren, his sons Mike and Steve, his daughter-in-law Whitney, grand-daughter Ainsley, and his mother Carmella.

Jim was a 2011 recipient of the NIC Gold Medal. The following remarks were shared at that presentation this summer.

Good evening, I am Pete Smithhisler, president and CEO of the North-American Interfraternity Conference. I am honored to be here this evening to celebrate with Theta Xi and be able to recognize one of your brothers for his outstanding service to the fraternal community.

First presented in 1940, the Gold Medal recognizes lifetime service to the fraternity movement. Recipients of the Gold Medal are models of selfless service, visionary leadership, and courage of conviction. When considering nominations, the awards committee takes into account tenure of service, interfraternal leadership, and a dedication to advancing the fraternal movement.

For nearly 40 years, Mr. James Vredenburgh, Jr. has given of his time, his talents, and his service to the fraternity movement. Professionally, Jim began his service to Theta Xi as a junior staff member in 1974 and was named executive director in 1981. In the interfraternal community, he served on the Fraternity Executive Association Board of Directors between 1987-1994, joined as a founding member of the Fraternity Insurance Purchasing Group (FIPG) in 1987 and served as the first Secretary from 1987-1992, and has been a member of the Board of Directors and Secretary for FRMT, LTD. from 1992 to the present.

The Awards committee received an remarkable number of letters of support for him. Among the sentiments that were shared were the following:

Theta Xi national president, Donald Meringer, writes "Jim's service to Theta Xi has not only been long in duration, it has been of great distinction. Jim has demonstrated leadership within our organization by moving us forward on every significant issue that has confronted the fraternity world."

Gold Medalist Ray Orians, Pi Kappa Alpha, writes "I have known Jim for 27 years as a professional colleague, and more importantly, an interfraternal friend. Jim has been an advocate of the benefits of membership in the NIC and he has epitomized what it means to be a committed and dedicated leader to not only his fraternity but the greater bonds of brotherhood which so many deeply cherish."

Another Gold Medalist, Bill Bernier, Sigma Tau Gamma, writes "Theta Xi fraternity today is true to the Standards and a credit to the NIC in large measure because of the leadership, integrity, and dedication of Jim Vredenburgh."

Fellow Executive Director, Brad Beacham, Sigma Nu, writes "Jim leads by example; he has never been too busy or too successful to assist an interfraternal colleague or take on an assignment to advance the movement. To do this for a few years is remarkable; but, to do it for more than 27 years is exceptional and worthy of this high honor."

We have all seen that Jim represents not only the best of Theta Xi Fraternity, but also the collective fraternal movement. He is a fraternity man of the highest order and it is my pleasure to present Theta Xi brother, Jim Vredenburgh with the NIC Gold Medal.

Jim Vredenburgh

Pictured above (Left to Right): Phi Josephson (Alpha Gamma Rho), Ray Galbreth (Delta Chi), Jim Vredenburgh (Theta Xi), Mark Timmes (Pi Kappa Phi), Ray Orians (Pi Kappa Alpha), & Pete Smithhisler (NIC).

Information about funeral arrangements will be available on www.ThetaXi.org. More information about his passing was shared in the following announcement from Theta Xi: http://bit.ly/wHfTk2.

Mar 5

NIC Supports NPC’s International Badge Day

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The NIC encourages campuses, organizations and chapters to live their values every day. Created in 1997, the National Panhellenic Conference established International Badge Day to set aside a day for women across the nation to wear their sorority badges or Greek letters in a celebration of sisterhood. The NIC is fully supportive of this special NPC initiative to celebrate the panhellenic bonds of sisterhood.

We ask that fraternity men support NPC's International Badge Day by encouraging sorority women to participate. Furthermore, our daily actions should be such that every day is treated as badge day.

The NIC is pleased to be a partner in Phi Mu's National Ritual Celebration Week. Our programs, such as the Undergraduate Interfraternity Institute (UIFI), IMPACT and Futures Quest, help students gain a better understanding of how your organization and your fraternity experience is shaped by Ritual. This is a great opportunity to refocus attention on the celebration and understanding of your fraternal Ritual. Those NIC programs and this National Ritual Celebration Week can help you and your fraternity to highlight the founding values and precepts that are expected to be upheld by its members on a daily basis.

Share your National Ritual Celebration Week ideas, thoughts and activities with us at #NRCW2012 on Twitter, on Facebook, or in the comments below.

 

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