The 2019 Annual Meeting of the National Council was held on Saturday, February 16, 2019 on the campus of Pace University in Pleasantville, New York, home of the members of our Gamma Iota Chapter. The meeting was held in Wilcox Hall, and found delegates present from over 90% of our Fraternity's chapters.

Among the many highlights of the meeting were:

• The re-election of Todd Cusato (Beta Sigma '97) and Salvatore Flagiello (Gamma Rho '06) as National President and National Vice President respectively;
  
• The official re-chartering, by unanimous vote, of our Beta Phi Chapter, with our entire chapter of students from Rowan University present to receive their re-chartering certificate;
  
• Adoption of the 2019-20 budget which, while sporting a 10% increase in chapter assessment (the first increase since 2007) saw no other appreciable fee changes;
  
• The election of Jonathan Cangin (Epsilon Zeta '17) as Chairman of the Undergraduate Coordinating Committee to succeed Meir Benishai (Delta Epsilon '15). Brother Cangin won his election in a spirited four-way race.
  
• The re-election of Michael Young (Beta Eta '85) as the Chairman of the Alumni Coordinating Committee. 

National Secretary Paul Zammit was absent for the meeting due to the birth of his second child, but a resolution was adopted by the Council congratulating Brother Zammit on the blessed event. Fr. James Lentini (National Chaplain) stepped up to act as National Secretary for the meeting. In other Council activity: the Council voted by a near-unanimous vote to close its Gamma Omicron Chapter at Stonybrook; it adopted a series of resolutions congratulating and thanking key groups and individuals; it added Beta Phi Chapter, officially, into the Delaware Valley District; it approved National President Cusato's appointees for 2019-20; and it heard a report from National Chaplain Lentini on various items and promotional materials that will be available to Chapters (some of the items were displayed),

There were six National Presidents present: the current one (Todd Cusato), Christopher Mancusi (2014-2016), Nicholas Franki (2011-2014), Robert DeVito (2009-2011), Manuel Rodriguez (2004-2005), and Alexander Fafara (1988-1990).

On February 24, 2018, the Annual Meeting of the National Council was held at Stockton University in Galloway, New Jersey. The brothers of our Gamma Mu Chapter served as hosts. Some of the highlights of the Council meeting were:

• CHARTERINGS. The chartering of three new chapters: Epsilon Mu (composed of students attending Queens College, in New York); Epsilon Nu (composed of students attending Penn State's Altoona Campus in Pennsylvania), and Epsilon Xi (composed of students attending Vaughn College).

 

• PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. Todd Cusato (Beta Sigma) was elected as National President for 2018-19, succeeding Jim Miller (Psi). Brother Cusato is only the second brother from Beta Sigma to hold this high office (the first being the late Santo Barbarino who served as National President from 1978-80).

 

• VICE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. Salvatore Flagiello (Gamma Rho) was elected National Vice President, succeeding Brother Cusato in that role. Previously, Brother Flagiello served Alpha Phi Delta as Expansion Chairman and as a District Governor for New York City North.

 

• U.C.C. ELECTION. Meir Page (Delta Epsilon) was elected by the members of the Undergraduate Coordinating Committee to succeed Harrison Kaufmann (Epsilon Lambda) and lead the U.C.C. in 2018-19.

 

• A.C.C. ELECTION. Michael Young (Beta Eta) was elected by the members of the Alumni Coordinating Committee to succeed long-time Chairman, Jeff Breen (Gamma Sigma) to lead the A.C.C. in 2018-19.

 

• LEGISLATION. Three Amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws were passed: one clarifying the amendment process for the Constitution and Bylaws; one removing term limits from the remaining appointed offices that have them; and one allowing the National Secretary to set the publication schedule for the Chapter Letter, as he does for all other publications.

 

• BUDGET. The 2018-19 budget was adopted with a slight increase in fees for alumni entities and for new initiates. Chapter Assessment remained unchanged.

 

• RESOLUTIONS. Resolutions were passed thanking the brothers of Gamma Mu Chapter for hosting the annual meeting and congratulating the brothers of Beta Theta for, this year, celebrating 70 years of continuous activity as a Chapter. Another resolution was adopted re-affirming the Fraternity's anti-discrimination policy.

• NEXT YEAR. Todd Cusato, newly elected National President, announced his intention to hold the 2019 Council Meeting at Manhattan College in The Bronx, New York. Beta Beta Chapter would serve as host for the meeting.
  

• EXPANSION. Todd Cusato, newly elected National President, announced that Zachary Bartolotta (Beta Lambda) would replace Salvatore Flagiello as Expansion Chairman.

The Annual Meeting of the National Council was held at the campus of Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven, Connecticut, on February 27, 2016. The meeting boasted a near records attendance with 100% of our undergraduate chapters in attendance, over 80% of our alumni entities, 100% of our districts were represented and only one out of our 14 national officers was absent. Additionally, every one of our colonies were present as observers. There were 126 voting members of the Council present, out of a possible 140; meaning attendance was 90%.

Some happy issues and some tough issues were tackled this year; here are the highlights:

CHARTERING. The Council approved charters for four (4) new chapters. The most new chapters chartered at one time, in nearly a quarter of a century. To wit,

Epsilon Eta Chapter
Composed of students from the State University of New York at Albany
It was placed in the Upstate New York District
One of it's founders, Christopher Mazzei received the Pioneer Award for his efforts
It's project manager Anthony Galli received an Expansion for his efforts

Epsilon Theta Chapter
Composed of students from Misericordia University in Dallas, Pennsylvania
It was placed in the Central Pennsylvania District
One of it's founders, Luigi Tirro received the Pioneer Award for his efforts
It's project manager David Kozak received an Expansion for his efforts

Epsilon Iota Chapter 
Composed of students from Centenary College in Hackettstown, New Jersey
It was placed in the North Jersey District
One of it's founders, Keith Bassford received the Pioneer Award for his efforts
It's project manager Christopher Mancusi received an Expansion for his efforts

Epsilon Kappa Chapter 
Composed of students from Dowling College, Oakdale, New York
It was placed in the Upstate New York District
One of it's founders, Bryan Nee received the Pioneer Award for his efforts
It's project manager Nicholas Marter received an Expansion for his efforts

NIC EXIT. The Fraternity voted to remove itself from membership in the North American Inter-fraternity Conference following that organizations near-quadrupling of fees, its stripping smaller fraternities from having voting privileges, its inability to assist us in any area over the years, and its moving to regulate areas of membership, administration and Ritual, which rightly belong to member fraternity. By a lopsided vote, it withdrawal from NIC membership was approved.

BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR. Our Budget was approved for the 2016-17, and it marks the fifth year without any increase in fees.

AMENDMENTS. The following amendments were passed by the National Council, all take effect immediately:

The Governance Amendment. This amendment provided governance structures for off-campus chapters that can be put in place by the District Governor; it also affirms the rights of chapters to exist and members to associate under the auspices of the First Amendment of the United State Constitution; and it makes the National President a defender of our Chapters.

The Fraternal Days of Observance Amendment. This amendment establish special days that our brother should observe in some way (for example, by wearing a white carnation or in some other appropriate way). The days of observance are:

• November 5, Founders Day; 
• August 12, Deceased Brother Remembrance Day (date of Joseph Cangiamila’s death as our first deceased brother); 
• February 19, Past National Presidents Day (date of Salvatore LaCorte’s Birthday, our first national leader); 
• September 2, Open Door Policy Anniversary; 
• The anniversary day of a chartering of a member’s chapter; 
• October 12 or the second Monday in October, Columbus Day; and 
• December 12, Brother Frank Sinatra’s Birthday. 

Faciamus Pin. The Establishment of the Faciamus Pin to reward undergraduate members for activity in the Fraternity by attending the National Council meeting, the National Convention and visiting an entity more than 100 miles away from their chapter.

Alumni Association Award. The Establishment of an Outstanding Alumni Association Award. This brings to eight, the number of National Awards.

Elections. Elections were held: sitting National President, Jim Miller of Psi was elected National President for 2016-17; sitting New York City South Governor Todd Cusato of Beta Sigma was elected as National President. Matteo Vitale of Delta Theta was elected Chairman of Undergraduate Coordinating Committee and Jeffrey Breen of Gamma Sigma was re-elected as Chairman of the Alumni Coordinating Committee.