PBK Triennial Conference Wrap-Up
Winter 2009–10
The 2009 Phi Beta Kappa Triennial Council took place in Austin, Texas, in October, bringing together representatives from many of the chapters and associations across the country. Representing PBKACA were President Judi Strauss-Lipkin and Vice President Christopher Kopacz. Jules Gleicher, a PBKACA Executive Board member, represented Rockford College. Other local PBK chapters represented were: the University of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago, and the University of Illinois at Chicago.
The main business of the meeting was voting. The delegates elected the Society’s new president, Fred H. Cates, a law professor at Indiana University, and vice president, Katherine R. Soule, an administrator at Dartmouth College. The delegates also elected 11 new members to the PBK Senate. Greg Gocek was chosen to continue his role as chairperson of the East Central District, which includes Chicago.
The delegates also voted overwhelmingly to award charters to four universities that met PBK’s rigorous qualification standards: Butler University, College of Saint Benedict/Saint John’s University, Elon University, and James Madison University. The final set of votes involved a number of proposed amendments to the PBK constitution and bylaws.
The delegates also voted to recognize the late Judith Krug for her many contributions to the Society. Krug served as the Society’s vice president and was a former president of PBKACA.
The Triennial also provided some intellectual and social stimulation, including a visit to the Lyndon Johnson Presidential Library and Museum, and a banquet featuring speeches by two distinguished scholars. Delegates also had a chance to meet one another and share their ideas for improving the chapters and associations. Judi and Chris spent time with members of other active associations, including Houston, Northern and Southern California, as well as the Washington D.C. Association, which has a very active Young Professionals group.