(Based
on music from Rent and dedicated to Charles Hass, whose shoes I had trouble
filling)
(opening to Rent)
April
1st, 10 am, eastern day-light time.
Here on in I read from this script.
See if anything came of it, be-ing the President.
First
shot me, with a gavel in my hand, (which I’ve now had for a year). What’ve I done? Let’s see here…
(end
singing)
My
year started with a trip to Purdue, the 4th time I’ve made that event.
(edited for the sake of not giving anything away to the BITs) I then made a random trip to Akron the 1st
weekend of May. It was good to see
their meeting, as well as what some Brothers do for entertainment after
meetings. (don’t ask me, you’ll have to see for yourself)
Next
came the Summer meeting in Columbus. And I did find it interesting the
following Smacks had at the band camp he was working at when I picked him up.
(Oh Mr. Mackey…) It was a productive
meeting.
Of
course next was Summer FUNction. I
enjoyed the experience, but for some reason haven’t had many marshmallows
since. I still want to see the
spit-takes from that weekend. A good
time was had by all, even the 2 sisters who tried to canoe down the river by
doing 360s.
I
then had the fortune of heading to Stillwater, for a weekend of fun and games
with the National Council, Headquarter Staff, Trustees, and other District
Presidents. I highly suggest that you
go and just explore HQ. Just let your
ride know that you are back looking at the archives, so that they don’t leave
you (twice) and you have to beg rides from Trustees. And let me tell you, you haven’t lived until you’ve seen Trudy
step.
I
made a quick weekend trip to Michigan State, getting there after they had
marched a game. I enjoyed my visit. And
I didn’t have to sleep in a rest stop.
Thus
started school. Soon we had an officer
meeting at Kentucky State. The MER
planned, we headed off to Toledo. Much
was shared. I hope the MER continues to
grow as an event. I then headed
south-east to visit Zeta Lambda. On
behalf of Marshall, go visit them, they are a fun chapter. You might even be known for sprinting across
their football field when you leave.
Then
to Butler, first to see their new class installed and again for an officer
meeting.
Kappa
Nu, I tried to bring the Council up to Dekalb, but they wouldn’t go.
January
29th, 8 pm, Eastern standard time, I can believe the phone call that
I got…
That
brings us to Feburary…
(to
Tango Moreen)
It
was weird, very weird, but the car I was driving was new. Driving on darkened roads, freezing down to
my bones, but at least I got to see many of you. Felt like going insane, had Michigan on the brain, and my car was
drinking gasoline. As a matter of fact,
honey you know the act, it was time for the district to convene.
So
the district did convene. Driving the
district like I was on a merry-go-round.
I had a disco ball dangling, with a map I was wrangling. Yet I drove and
I turned, ‘til my eyes they did burn,
and I yearned and I yearned to get there. You know what I mean, to be there when the district convened.
(end)
Let
me say I enjoyed Leadership. Those of
you in attendance reminded me of the positive side of Brotherhood. You gave me companionship that I desperately
needed at that time. I did miss those
of you who currently (and permanately) occupy the back of the room. On that day I was with you in spirit.
Then
off to OSU, followed by MSU, and finally Purdue. I believe that those in attendance enjoyed themselves. The Brotherhood at these events could only
be measured by 12 goofballs, myself included, all wearing jeans and shoes
without traction, running around a basketball court, missing 9 shots out of 10,
laughing with each other, and enjoying every second of it.
After
a hectic month, March, of changes to plans and schedules long made, we are
here.
(to
“Will I lose my Dignity?”)
Have
I lost my sanity? Did I do well? Did good things come from these events? How do I tell?
(end)
Well,
the sanity was always in question. How
well this council did can only be measured by you and time. What I do know is that every meeting ended
either on time or early. I do know that
attendance was down from last year. I
do know that I and the other officers could have plugged the events much more,
especially over the list-serve. I do
know that we have 3 chapters on the Chapter Leadership Finalist list, more than
any other district. I do know that when
other Brothers visit us, they have a good time.
I
charge next year’s council with posting events well in advance and making sure
hosts send out timely directions and reminders.
I
charge next year’s officers with using the list-serve and NCD homepage
proactively, not reactively.
(and
now the hard part…)
(to
La Vi Boheme)
I
would like to propose a toast, to the Bothers one and all. This year went well. Was my spirit ever stomped? Not counting this trip, how many tanks of
gas have I pumped?
My
dear Brothers, I stand up here to say thanks, not good-byes. I should sigh, I can’t measure their worth,
these great, great people who provided love and mirth.
In
this little town of Ann Arbor, I raise my glass, you bet your ass, too - - -
the N --- CD. (that’s all of you)
(end)
I
can’t make this go on, I’m running out of ideas.
Thanks
to everyone who put me up for the night. (or is that put up with me?)
Thanks
you to the Alumni. Even though you’ve
had many a good laugh at my expense, your presence is welcome. Leadership proved that you are missed. Leadership also proved that you still need
to teach these characters next to me how to heckle. Thanks for your constant offers and efforts to help.
Eller. Thanks for just being there to talk to and
vent to. I welcome the chances we get
to chat when we actually see each other in Bloomington.
Thank
you to all advisors and those who served on committees.
To
those not in the room: The TBS council
– you wacky, crazy guys. (?) I can
definitely say you kept things light.
Sometimes to an extreme, but it was always interesting. And just for the official record, I won’t
take the nickname because I don’t look good in green tights.
To
Jill – I will miss the conversations.
To
Trudy, you were a better counterpart than I could have hoped for. Just don’t try stepping too much.
To
Lisa – welcome to the Brotherhood.
‘Nuff said.
To
Charles – Thank you for helping me and teaching me “I can do that”. You are and will be missed.
To
Holly (aka Renee) – I could try to list the numerous ways you have helped me,
through this and through life in general.
But I would need a forest of trees to have enough paper. I love you.
To
those in the room –
Alpha
Zeta - I sometimes think that you supported me in my district travels just to
get me the hell out of your way. I
thank you for your support. I thank you
for understanding when I missed stadium clean-ups and projects. Yet you never held that against me (not yet
at least). Props to those who made road
trips with me.
Sis/Bro
– Thanks for listening and being aaround to bounce ideals off of. I am proud to have you as my Brother.
Those
sitting next to me – Well, we’ve reached the end without killing (or
impeaching) each other.
Adam
– You amaze me that you manage to do so much in your life.
Smacks
– You might find it interesting that I’ve occasionally slipped and called your
brother by your name, unlike a couple years ago when I was doing the
opposite. In Australia, look up a guy
in Perth named Alan Lourens. Tell him
the baritone section from IU sent you, and he’ll either greet you kindly or
yell at you for bringing up memories he was trying to forget.
Ryan
– We can still complete each others sentences even though we only see each
other a few times a year. I will miss
the road trips. I will miss the
Brotherhood ball.
Malinda
– You once said I was a support. Yet,
the entire time I’ve been in office I feel that I’ve leaned on you. I would need that forest of paper
again. Last year I said that I was
proud to call you Brother, but I’d like to add friend to that sentence. You are an inspiration.
I’m
proud to call each of you Brother.
To
everyone in the room. If you’re here,
I’ve been to your chapter. Everyone has
made me feel welcome. You are the
definition of Brother. I encourage you
to continue being the Brothers that you are.
Being a Brother has cause some pain, the most recent of which was the
passing of Charles Hass. I would not
trade one day I’ve spent among Brothers
(La
Vi)
To
Baggage, road trips, hike, across time zones too. Not me, but to you, you, you, you, and YOU. You people living with, putting up with,
living, being a Brother to me. Let he
among us, who has not been, be the first to join in, the NCD.
(end)
Respectfully
submitted,
Doug
Morin
2000
– 2001 North Central District President,
Kappa
Kappa Psi