Alpha Pi at AEPi Convention-Las Vegas

Over the past few days, AEPi held its annual international convention is Las Vegas, Nevada. The chapter was represented by Jon DeSantis (2010 and Pesach Kessler (2010), who had an incredible time in Sin City. Jeff Gutkin (2010), Alex Mandel (2011), and Brandon Cohen (2011), who happened to be a cross country road trip at the time, spent a night in Vegas during convention. Alumni Marc Prine (2008), Jon Alexander (2007), and Rabbi Shalom Denbo (honorary) were also there proudly representing Temple. In a repeat performance of last year the chapter would several awards as well as a number of individual awards. The chapter received Century Club recognition for our philanthropy contributions as well as the Philip and Susan Cohen Jewish Communal Activity Award. Not only is this a huge honor, but it also won the chapter $50 and a $50 to Temple Hillel. Pesach won the prestigious Nehemiah Gitelson Medallion for Jewish communal activity, and Jon won the Philip H. Cohen Undergraduate Achievement Key. All in all, Alpha Pi received a lot of recognition for our hard work over the course of last year. It was a great time in Las Vegas, and convention next year is slated for New Orleans.

Picture: Pesach Kessler's award certificate and medallion.

9 Alpha Pi brothers attend AEPi Convention

9 Alpha Pi brothers were in Chicago last week at AEPi's 95th annual Convention. Highlights included attending a White Sox-Red Sox game at U.S. Cellular Field and went to a comedy show at Second City. The chapter won three awards including the Standford and Sheila Odesky Outsanding Rush Results Awards for initiating 25 men last year and an award for raising over $1,000 for our official philanthropies. The brothers toured the city including visiting Navy Pier and downtown Chicago. Master Jon DeSantis won the Robert Silverman Outstanding Scribe Award for his service last year. The hotel's sauna broke down on their third day there, which substanially increased their attendance at sessions. The attending brothers were Jon DeSantis, Jeff Gutkin, Alex Mandel, Past Master Joe Littman, Ross Klinger, Ari Charlestein and alumni Past Master Jonathan Alexander (Class of 2007), Past Master Marc Prine (Class of 2008), and Rabbi Shalom Denbo of the International Board of Rabbis.

Pictures: Above (L-R) Joe Littman, Alex Mandel, Jeff Gutkin, Marc Prine, and Jon Alexander at U.S. Cellular Field for the White Sox-Red Sox game. Below (L-R) Jon DeSantis, Joe Littman, Marc Prine, and Jon Alexander before the gala banquet.