Annual Meeting Special Events

The 2023 AFA Annual Meeting is designed to meet a diverse set of learning, development, and community building needs.. Attendees will find quality special events, networking opportunities, and chances to give back to the AFA Foundation. An overview of these special programs can be found below. Please review each carefully as some components require pre-registration or have a registration fee attached. Additionally, all events will take place in person at the AFA Annual Meeting unless designated otherwise.

Excursions

Excursions provide attendees an opportunity to explore the location the AFA Annual Meeting takes place in while building community with other attendees and understanding the city and region better. Excursions may last part of a day or an entire day. There is a vast array of things to experience in Tampa, FL and we hope attendees will take advantage of what the area has to offer!

The Florida Aquarium
Tuesday, November 28 | 9am, 11am & 1pm | $25

Join fellow attendees in exploring the deep blue sea at The Florida Aquarium!  As a conservation-based attraction with mission-focused programs that include conservation, research, education, and outreach, The Florida Aquarium welcomes visitors to experience a wide variety of aquatic and terrestrial animals with the goal of building awareness and inspiring action for species and habitat conservation. For edutainment, guests will also explore complex ecosystems and engage with interactive and informational exhibits.  More than a must-see attraction, The Florida Aquarium is working to protect and restore our blue planet through conservation efforts that include ground-breaking research and rescue efforts that help restore Florida’s coral and sea turtle populations.

To register for this event, follow the instructions to register for the AFA Annual Meeting – the only difference is you will click on the 2023 AFA Add-Ons Registration. 

Tampa Bay Lightning v Pittsburgh Penguins
Thursday, November 30 | 7 pm | $55

Come enjoy an evening of professional hockey with fellow #AFAAM attendees, as the Stanley Cup winning Tampa Bay Lightning host the Pittsburgh Penguins right next door to our conference hotel at Amalie Arena!

To register for this event, follow the instructions to register for the AFA Annual Meeting – the only difference is you will click on the 2023 AFA Add-Ons Registration. 

Graduate Student Programs

AFA values the preparation and development of graduate students. As those who will keep the profession thriving, the AFA Annual Meeting intentionally creates spaces and designs programs specific to helping elevate the work of graduate students within the profession. Below you will find programs curated to help graduate students thrive! 

Order of Omega Case Study Competition | Cost: Free
Virtual Orientation | Wednesday, November 8 | 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. ET
Competition | Wednesday, November 29 | 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. & 5:00 p.m.-6:30 p.m.

The Order of Omega Case Study Competition provides an educational learning experience for graduate students and headquarter consultants involved in the fraternity/sorority profession. The Case Study Competition provides participants the opportunity to reflect on their academic and/or practical learning and apply it to a case focused on a complex situation a professional in the field could encounter.  

The Case Study Competition consists of two tracks: (1) Crisis Intervention and (2) Systemic Issue. Teams of two will work on one case study and the team will present to a panel of judges. The intended goal is for participants to develop in their core competencies by participating in the track focused on the area they are seeking knowledge and skill.

Login credentials will be shared with participants closer to the virtual orientation session. Participants should plan on attending the virtual orientation session, but a recording will be made available. Participating in the Case Study Competition will not impact participants’ or judges’ opportunities to attend educational sessions on Wednesday. 

This program is free to all graduate students in attendance thanks to support provided by Order of Omega.

Register for the Order of Omega Case Study Competition here by Friday, November 3. Note: the maximum program registration is 28 individuals.

Project Job Search | Cost: Free
Wednesday, November 29 | 3:30 – 5:00 p.m. ET
Facilitator: Barbre (Bre) Berris,  Ph.D., Associate Executive Director at Chi Phi Fraternity

Project Job Search is designed to enhance your internship or job search experience. Join us as we explore the employment journey – from resume & cover letter preparation, the interview process (including phone, Zoom, and on-site interviews), to the important art of negotiation.  Project Job Search utilizes storytelling techniques and best practices to help you feel confident and prepared during your process. Participants will gain knowledge to enhance their resume and cover, questions to ask at different stages, negotiation tips, and strategies to identify your non-negotiables. Participants will leave with a personal action plan for their search experience. 

Participation in Project Job Search is free to all graduate students in attendance. Register for Project Job Search here by Friday, November 3. Note: the maximum program registration is 40 individuals.

Graduate Training Track | Cost: Free
Friday, December 1 | 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. ET
Facilitator: Guillermo Flores, Digital Media Director at Sigma Phi Epsilon, Founder of @FraternitySocialMedia

Graduate Training Track is designed to help you explore the AFA Core Competencies and forge your path to success. There is a theoretical side and practical side to the role of every fraternity/sorority educator  and both are valuable. You understand each end of the spectrum and put in the time to understand how they fit into the larger context of our profession. Graduate school may entrench you in the theory of higher education, but a practical approach is needed to build the skills and best practices of a proficient and successful fraternity/sorority professional.

This interactive and personalized experience will allow participants to develop their own professional development action plan utilizing the AFA Core Competencies. Participants will assess their current skills and through self-exploration, review of personal goals, reflection on passion projects, and collaborative conversations, develop an action-oriented blueprint to guide them through their next steps within our field. We will focus on current issues facing fraternity/sorority life professionals and provide strategies for practical application.

The Graduate Training Track is made possible through an endowment with the AFA Foundation made possible by the generous support of Michelle Guobadia.

Register for the Graduate Training Track here by Friday, November 3. Note: the maximum program registration is 40 individuals.

Fundraising

The AFA Foundation supports the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors, individual members, and our wider fraternal communities. It is the mission of the AFA Foundation to secure, invest, and distribute the necessary resources to support the educational objectives of AFA, other relevant research, scholarships, and educational programming that furthers the fraternity/sorority advising profession. Attendees are invited to participate in this year’s fundraising events, with proceeds all going to the AFA Foundation. 

AFA Foundation Silent Auction
Wednesday, November 29 | 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Thursday, November 30 | 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Friday, December | 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

The AFA Foundation Silent Auction is one of the most popular events at the Annual Meeting. This year will be no different! All proceeds go directly to support those involved in the advisement of sororities and fraternities. Your donations help the AFA Foundation fund projects aimed at strengthening our profession, including research and professional development programs. 

All individuals and organizations who donate items to the Silent Auction will be recognized by the AFA Foundation. Donors will receive fair market value for both donor credit and tax credit for their donated items or services. The fair market value of contributions is deductible to the extent allowed by law.

To donate to the Silent Auction, please fill out the Donation Form which is currently open and will close on Monday, November 13. 

Because You Believe Stickers 

Because You Believe stickers are a great way to acknowledge and thank your colleagues for believing in you! Stickers are $5 each and all sales benefit the AFA Foundation. Consider a sticker purchase for your mentors, fellow volunteers, current and former coworkers, or friends to display proudly on their Annual Meeting name tags. All sticker purchases can be made in-person at the Foundation desk at the Annual Meeting.

Trivia Night

Wednesday, November 29 | Doors open at 8:00 pm, Trivia Starts at 8:30 pm

Ever wonder if you are the smartest person in the room? Now’s your chance to find out! Grab a drink or two and head to Meeting Room 4 for our inaugural #AFAAM Trivia Night Fundraiser on Wednesday, November 29. Doors open at 8:00pm and play begins promptly at 8:30pm. There will be four rounds, with ten questions each, and will include a half-time and final round question. Tickets will be sold for cash or card at the door for $10 per person or $30 for a team of 4. Don’t have a team? We will have volunteers assist you in finding a team of new friends within the Association!

Plaid, LLC Program Design Competition

Back by popular demand, Plaid, LLC. will be sponsoring a Program Design Competition at the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors Annual Meeting 2023. The Plaid Program Design Competition is an immersive and interactive program and curriculum design challenge intended to bring together professionals from across the fraternal industry to conceptualize and pitch innovative learning experiences.

Participants join teams of up to 3 to develop a program or curriculum pitch that will align with an industry topic/challenge outlined in a prompt.

Prizes will be awarded to the top 3 teams.

Please use this form to register to participate in the Program Design Competition:

• Only one registration form needs to be completed per team.
• Teams may be two or three people.
• If you would like to participate, but do not have a team assembled, please complete this form and you will be paired with a team.

Calling on Community: Developing Affinity Spaces within AFA

Wednesday, November 29 | 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. 

Join in this collaborative communal session and be part of the foundational envisioning and planning of affinity/community/resource spaces for our AFA community! During this session, participants will collectively brainstorm together and identify potential groups while also offering next steps for building. Join us as we call on community to increase community and belonging within AFA.

Queer Affinity Group Social

Wednesday, November 29 | 9:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. 

The time has come for you to Lip Sync For Your Legacy! Be part of a thrilling night filled with epic lip sync performances – and the star of the show is YOU! We’ve created a fun and safe space for LGBTQIA+ Professionals to shine. Plus, seize the opportunity to discover more about Chi Epsilon at this unforgettable event. Join us for a night of spectacular entertainment and unforgettable camaraderie!

Black/African-American Affinity Group Social

Wednesday, November 29 | 10:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. 

Looking for a perfect vibe to dance the night away to some fantastic tunes? Search no more! We’ve curated an amazing atmosphere for our Black/African-American professionals to come together, dance, and connect. To ensure we cater to everyone’s musical preferences, you can contribute to our Spotify playlist through this link (https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6nUUjrsJEHH68TsdasfRPm?si=9e76645abd5b49ea). Let’s create the ultimate soundtrack for an unforgettable night!

Exhibit Hall

• Exhibit Hall Preview | Tuesday, November 28 | 5:45 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
• Exhibit Hall Hours | Wednesday, November 29 | 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• Exhibit Hall Demonstrations | Wednesday, November 29 | 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. 
• Exhibit Hall Hours | Thursday, November 30 | 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

The Exhibit Hall serves as a place where attendees can learn about the latest services, products, and technologies relevant to conduct quality work in fraternity/sorority life; it is a great networking space to learn how vendors can help you do your work better. AFA’s vendor members travel from all over the nation and offer services that enhance the work and operations of AFA’s members. Make sure to block off time to visit the Exhibit Hall; you may also earn some prizes in the process! 

New in 2023 – Exhibit Hall Demonstrations! 

Vendors will conduct 15-minutes onstage presentations in the Exhibit Hall to educate attendees about their products or services first-hand! 

There is no pre-registration required to attend the Exhibit Hall. If your company or organization would like to have a booth in the Exhibit Hall, click here for more information.

Hot Topic Discussions & Problem-Solving Roundtables
Thursday, November 30 | 5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

AFA members are looking for ways to engage with one another in a less structured environment, discussing topics that are important to them. In this space, attendees will select from different topics assigned to tables. Through group facilitated conversations, participants will contribute to each other’s learning focused on hot topics or will engage in conversation about issues they may be facing and work with other attendees on creating solutions. 

No registration is required to attend. A schedule with specific discussion topics and locations will be released in November. 

Toast to Award Winners and Celebration Dinner

Friday, December 1 | 7:15 p.m. – 9:45 p.m.
Join us for a celebration of the fraternity/sorority industry and to toast this year’s recipients of the Sue Kraft Fussell Distinguished Service Awards, the Robert H. Shaffer Award, the Jack L. Anson Award, and the Dr. Kent L. Gardner Award. Come ready to be inspired by the recipients’ journeys through storytelling, and to celebrate with fellow colleagues.

A meal ticket is required for this banquet. Those who register for the Annual Meeting full-time or for a daily pass on Friday, December 1 will receive a meal ticket as part of their registration.

Dinner Guest Tickets are Available for Purchase

If you are a guest of a registered Annual Meeting attendee or want to celebrate an award winner and are not registered for the Annual Meeting, you may purchase a ticket for the Toast to Award Winners and Celebration Dinner. Tickets for guests are available for $115 per person. Purchase your ticket here.

COMING SOON: Information about Regional Meetings!