It is time to reserve your place at the 2023 Convention, in Berkeley October 13 - 14. This is the best time of the year to visit Berkeley and Northern California. It has been 14 years since the convention was last in Berkeley so, gather up your pledge brothers and make way to celebrate our traditions, renew friendships, and meet new brothers in the bonds of the Thrice Illustrious. Please include your spouses or significant others!
Convention Options Update
We have added a new option for those of you who cannot attend the Saturday night cocktail party and banquet – You can attend the Friday cocktails & dinner party, Hicks contest, conclave, plus Saturday continental breakfast, and post-convention lunch – all for $90 (early-bird rate)! Hopefully, this gives more of you an opportunity to attend.
Remember, Early-bird pricing ends 9/15, so book early and take advantage of the deal. Get the most out of the convention by selecting the “Alumni All Inclusive” option. This will include all functions and events, meals, and a special gift for your long-term remembrance. Also, enjoy complementary beer and wine at House functions.
Since we need to get final food numbers to our vendors, we need to cut off registration by September 29. If you want to enjoy the exceptional meals and drinks, you must get your reservation in by then.
Agenda Update
We have a great agenda planned which include keynote speaker Spencer Christian, a nationally known weatherman who educated TV audiences for 12 years on Good Morning America. He now delivers the weather for KGO TV in the Bay Area. He’s an entertaining speaker who will talk about his experiences in the TV industry, famous people he has known, and his personal life challenges.
World-class house band Short Notice has confirmed they will be playing after the banquet Saturday Oct 14th at the Sig House in Berkeley. These awesome musicians are traveling from all corners of the world to appear for our listening pleasures, adding to the highly anticipated mirth and hilarity, post-banquet.
Hotel Options Nearby:
· Faculty Club (special rooms reserved, extended through 9/8)
· Berkeley City Club
· The Graduate
· Bancroft Hotel
· Claremont Hotel
Transportation to Berkeley from Local Airports
· Take BART (public train) from the San Francisco or Oakland airports to Downtown Berkeley station, then UBER/LYFT or taxi to your hotel or the Chapter House
· UBER/LYFT directly to your hotel or the Chapter House
· Airport shuttle
· Rent a car (parking is tight in Berkeley)
· Phone a friend
Things to do in Berkeley during Saturday Open Activities time (1:00 – 5:00 pm.)
After lunch on Saturday, we have reserved some free time for you and suggest you explore one of the finest public universities in the United States.
1. The University was home to many Nobel Prize scientists involved in nuclear research. In fact, the periodic table was expanded by elements created in Berkeley’s particle accelerators (Californium, Lawrencium, Berkelium, Einsteinium and several more). Named after Ernest Lawrence, University of California professor and Nobel prize winner, the Lawrence Hall of Science is on the hill above the campus. It is a hands-on exploration of science of all kinds. It includes a planetarium and theater. Right now, it is featuring exhibits about DNA, but there are many other activities there too. It is open from 10 am. until 5 pm. on Saturday. For more information: Lawrencehallofscience.org. The view of the Bay Area from the parking lot is unsurpassed: Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, Alcatraz, Marin County and on a clear day, the Farallon Islands are some 49 miles offshore.
2. If science does not interest you, consider the University Botanical Garden, just up the hill from the Lawrence Hall of Science. It contains some 10,000 plant species of trees, shrubs and flowers from all over the world. It is open from 10 am. until 5 pm. on Saturday. For more information: botanicalgarden.berkeley.edu.
3. If visual arts turn you on, there is an art museum right on campus. The Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive is down the street from the Sigma Phi chapter house at 2155 Center Street. It is open from 11 am. until 7 pm. on Saturday. For more information: bampfa.org.
4. The University of California Alumni Association sponsors a self-guided audio tour of 22 sites on campus. The website and map are located: visit.berkeley.edu and Self-Guided Tours | Visitor Services (berkeley.edu). Just go to each stop and call the phone number to hear an interesting and entertaining narrative. The tour will take about 90 minutes, but you can join it any time and take as much or as little time as you like.
We encourage you to experience the University of California on Saturday and hope you enjoy your time here.
Call for Photographers and Videographers
We are looking for a few volunteers to be our photographers and videographers at the convention Friday and Saturday. If you know your way around a camera and would like to volunteer, please contact Cliff Graffuis I’71 at cegraffuis@comcast.net .