Frequently Asked Questions
Convention registration includes access to all four days of programming: Friday and Saturday business sessions (box lunches included), the Thursday Welcome Reception, Friday Night Out on the Town, the Saturday banquet and afterparty, and the Sunday morning worship service at Trinity UCC. A convention swag bag is also included.
Thursday’s open time and self-guided city plans around the golf outing and welcome reception are arranged separately by attendees unless otherwise noted by the committee.
A Convention Guest add-on is available for spouses, family members, and guests accompanying a registered brother. See the Registration page for current pricing.
The dress code varies by event:
Friday Business Sessions: Casual attire for immediate transition to the Chicago outing.
Saturday Business Sessions: Business casual — slacks, button-down shirt, blazer optional. No athletic wear.
Welcome Reception: Casual or smart casual.
Saturday Banquet: Semi-formal. This is the signature evening event of the convention.
Worship Service at Trinity UCC: Sunday Best.
Excursions & Tours: Casual and comfortable. Venue-appropriate footwear recommended; golf attire for the Thursday outing.
Each active chapter in good standing is entitled to one (1) official voting delegate. The chapter president must designate the delegate prior to the convention. The delegate must be a dues-current member of that chapter.
Delegate credentials will be distributed upon check-in at registration. Delegates must be present during all business sessions to exercise voting rights. Proxy voting is not permitted unless specified in the Constitution and Bylaws.
Questions about delegate eligibility should be directed to Convention Chair Leo Rich at leo.rich@att.net.
The following meals are included with convention registration:
Friday: Box lunch during business meetings.
Saturday: Box lunch during business meetings; multi-course Saturday banquet (evening).
The Thursday Welcome Reception and Saturday afterparty may include light hospitality, but breakfasts are not provided — the host hotel will have on-site dining options. Attendees are responsible for any meals not listed above.
Dietary accommodations (vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal, etc.) can be requested during registration. Please note your needs in the registration form.
Convention registration covers the full four-day event (Thursday through Sunday). If you can only attend part of the convention, contact leo.rich@att.net to discuss options.
Note that voting delegates must be present for all business sessions in order to maintain voting eligibility.
Yes. A Convention Guest add-on is available for spouses, partners, children, and other guests accompanying a registered brother. Guest registration covers social events and meals. Business sessions (legislation and elections) are for members only.
Children under a certain age may attend certain events at no charge — details to be confirmed. Contact leo.rich@att.net with specific questions about family attendance.
Full refund and transfer policies will be published alongside the early-bird deadline announcement. The general framework:
Cancellations before [Date TBD]: full refund minus a processing fee. Cancellations after [Date TBD] but before [Date TBD]: 50% refund. Cancellations after the final deadline: no refund, but the ticket may be transferred to another member.
To cancel or transfer a registration, contact leo.rich@att.net at least 48 hours before the convention start.
The host hotel is the Holiday Inn & Suites Bolingbrook. Chicago is served by O'Hare International (ORD) and Midway International (MDW), but CTA airport trains serve downtown Chicago rather than the Bolingbrook hotel directly.
Visit the Travel & Hotel page for hotel-specific airport and ground-transportation guidance.
Yes. The convention venue and hotel are committed to accessibility. If you require specific accommodations — including wheelchair access, hearing assistance, accessible seating, or other needs — please indicate this during registration or contact us at leo.rich@att.net as early as possible so we can make appropriate arrangements.
Welcome! The National Convention is the largest gathering of Phi Eta Psi brothers — a high-energy, high-significance event that combines fraternity business with brotherhood and celebration.
A few tips: arrive Thursday to join the early-arrival fellowship, including the noon golf outing and 6 PM Welcome Reception; bring your member ID; review chapter-report expectations, the Code of Conduct discussion, and honorary membership voting item before the business meetings so you understand what will be discussed.
First-timers can use Thursday open time for independent Chicago planning — the Obama Presidential Center and the Magnificent Mile are both strong introductions to the city. The Saturday banquet is the signature gathering of the weekend.
If you have questions during the convention, the registration desk is staffed throughout and there will be a first-timers orientation. Watch for announcements.
Proposed legislation and constitutional amendments must be submitted by a specified deadline prior to the convention (date to be announced). Submissions should include: the proposed text, the rationale, and the name and chapter of the sponsoring member or chapter.
All properly submitted proposals will be distributed to delegates in advance of the business sessions. Late submissions may be accepted at the discretion of the presiding officer on the floor.
Contact Convention Chair Leo Rich at leo.rich@att.net for the submission template and deadline.
Booklet ads can be submitted two ways: Camera-ready art, where the sponsor provides finished artwork with no further changes needed, or layout and design support.
Available ad sizes are quarter-page, half-page, and full-page. Full-page ads are 8.5" x 11", half-page ads are 8.5" x 5.5", and quarter-page ads are 4.25" x 5.5". For bleed ads, keep all text and critical art at least 1/4 inch from the edges.
For layout and design support, contact Ricky Bradford at 818-391-3910 or Rickybradford@rocketmail.com. Design costs start at $75.00 and depend on the materials and layout request. Visit the Registration page for the spec download and WildApricot link.
For general convention questions: leo.rich@att.net
For registration-specific questions, visit the Contact page for Leo Rich's contact information.
You can also visit the Phi Eta Psi national contact page for chapter and national office contacts.