Bittersweet - Blogabond

One of the toughest times I've had on the road so far. I'm sitting in a chapter meeting in Nebraska when I hear that the exciting news that the Akron chapter had won the Dean's Cup for 2008 (Most Outstanding Fraternity). Lambda Chi at Akron was a perenial second place or worse chapter on campus since we last won Dean's Cup in 2000. Year after year we came close to winning and I was blessed enough to be part of the chapter in 2008 to see us win again. As great as this news was though, it was really hard on me not being there to enjoy the victory with my brothers. The best I could do was write this email below to them. I've attached this mostly because I don't think I could write an entry here any better or more heart-felt than this email was. Enjoy!

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Hey Brothers,

After hearing the amazing news from last night I wanted to sent out a message over what is probably the best mode of communication to reach all of you with Spring Break coming up and you all still recovering from what I can only imagine was an awesome night last night.

Being away from home for nearly 3 months and on the road for 8 weeks now has taught me a lot about myself and this fraternity. Most notably it has taught me how important all of you are to me. I will be perfectly honest, yesterday was bittersweet. I was sitting in a chapter meeting at the University of Nebraska - Omaha and looked down at my phone to see three missed calls and 6 texts. I opened up the first and saw Preston had informed me that we had won. Naturally I thought Rojo was messing with me but as I continued to read through the messages and it hit me that we had actually done it. Though we never set out to better ourselves to win a trophy, the hard work paid off and the chapter was recognized. (Feel free to let your mind wander back to when we were ripped off at Songfest. Trust me, right about now it will feels amazing to recall the crowd gasping when we were named 2nd place.) Anyway, the reason it was bittersweet was because I was not there to celebrate with all of you, and trust me you would have likely seen John Cain in rare form. I truly love what I do and working with brothers around the country but its times like last night that hit me hard.

I was so excited for you guys and what you have accomplished in the nearly 3 years I have been affiliated with the fraternity. Those of you that were around for what the chapter has experienced over that time know what I am talking about when I say that you have done a hell of a job to make Gamma-Alpha Zeta something worth fighting for. Rest assured, each of you have played an integral role in this accomplishment. From the oldest brother (Conway) to the newest Associate who was not even around in 2008. Our desire to make this a better chapter for all of you new guys is what got us to this point. I appreciate the good words some of you guys have sent me. I'm humbled and honored by the President of the Year but when it comes down to it, there was abosultely no way any of that would be possible without all of you and I sincerely appreciate that.

I will leave you with one last thought. Yes, we won and stuck it to all those that never thought a wet house with not so great grades could win. However, you have any amazing group of guys there that will continue to do amazing things as long as you continue to work hard. Of all the chapters I have worked with, Gamma-Alpha is definitely one of the most cohesive. (and by the way, we are definetely the most comfortable being in a shower with other dudes. Hands down. No question.) You have the ability to exceed everyone's expectations. Today, as I sit in a student union almost 1000 miles away, I am glad to say I am the proudest Gamma-Alpha alum alive. You guys are why I do this job; my brothers, my closest friends.

With love in ZAX,

written by

jjcain on March 7, 2009 from Omaha, United States

from the travel blog: John Cain Spring 2009 Semester

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