It’s a whole different world being a Trustee for the foundation, really.

There are a few entries that are set to automatically load while I’m away so you’ll have something to read on this site over the next few days. And, for what it’s worth, I think that this is going to be my last trip to this conference so long as it continues to be held during Super Bowl weekend. As you’ll read in the entries that are set to automatically load over the next few days, I’ve been finishing up (or am getting ready to finish up) some major projects for the foundation that will allow me to regain some of my free time in the coming months and years.

Once those projects are completed, I’ll have less of an obligation to attend these awkwardly scheduled events (it’s Super Bowl weekend!) and thus I’ll be able to spend some more time working on items outside of the fraternity. Plus, I won’t be running late to my own Super Bowl parties any more!

Enjoy the next few entries as they’re uploaded and I’ll be back next week!

This time was a little bit different, though, as I was present at the event not as a chapter or regional volunteer, but rather as a member of the Board of Trustees for our fraternity’s Foundation. I’ve really enjoyed my short stint as a Trustee for the Foundation and I thought we had some great meetings in St. Louis. But there was more that I noticed out there this time around…

My favorite burger joint and bar were both closed! There used to be a place called Skeeter’s Eatery down by Laclede’s Landing (near the Arch) which is where we all used to go to each February. The place was gone! That was a bit upsetting – I assume the crappy economy had something to do with the decision for that place to close up. My fellow conference attendees and I went to the Morgan Street Brewery instead.

The Brewery is right down the block from where Skeeter’s used to be, but it’s a little bit different of a place for me the fifth time around. I remember the first time I went out there with two of my fraternity brothers – Booey and Gummo. We were shocked at the 22 ounce beers and we got completely hammered in the second building of the complex, which is more like a club/dance type of place. This time around I sat down in the main restaurant area and had a bite to eat with some of my fellow alumni and our undergraduates.

After dinner at the Brewery I was all amped up to go across the street to a bar called Study Hall, but they were closed and gone, too! That was pretty upsetting because I really enjoyed going there last time I was in town. The bar was set up with a schoolhouse theme and the waitresses were all dressed in the schoolgirl outfits. You can understand why someone would miss that place…

Anyway, my latest trip to St. Louis was fun, but I’m glad to be back and busy at work. Oh, and my undergraduates and alumni volunteers in New Jersey are awesome! They got me this beautiful engraved waistcoat watch thanking me for my time serving as their Province Archon (regional volunteer). That was really nice and I really appreciated it – New Jersey is the best!