Sigma Chi is doing a neat thing by partnering up with Foursquare and allowing users to get a “Sigma Chi Badge”. If you check-in 3 times at any of the designated “Sigma Chi Houses” listed on Foursquare, you’ll receive the badge. Below is what I was sent from headquarters.
basically check-in three times at a sig house or once at an international event (horizons, balfour, grand chapter, etc.) and you get the badge.
Earlier today I noticed that the official Sigma Chi YouTube account posted a video about Horizons. These are exactly the types of videos that Sigma Chi should be producing on a consistent basis. I’ve embedded the video below as well as some other videos about Horizons that I created myself.
Below are a few videos I’ve recorded about Horizons. The first video is a compilation of quotes from former Grand Consul, Keith Krach, discussing the Horizons program.
The next two videos are interviews I did with Ryan Wakefield. The discussions focused on Horizons and Ryan’s role as a facilitator at Horizons. The 1st video is our talk focuses on Ryan’s expectations before he went to Horizons and the 2nd video he talks about his expereience.
We encourage Sigs to take part in the second-annual Merlin Olsen Day of Service on Thursday, Sept. 15 by volunteering in their community. Whatever you do, do it in honor of the late Merlin Olsen, UTAH STATE 1962, affectionately referred to by many as a ‘gentle giant.’
At 6 feet 9 inches tall, Merlin’s competitive nature drove him to success as an NFL defensive lineman, actor and broadcaster; and his generous soul propelled him to support Children’s Miracle Network (now called Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals) for many years. In fact, Merlin helped forge Sigma Chi’s partnership with CMN Hospitals, one of the Fraternity’s preferred philanthropies.
Take part in the Merlin Olsen Day of Service to honor his philanthropic spirit. Imagine the difference that we could make if all of Sigma Chi’s approximately 238,000 living members volunteered just a few hours of their time.
The international fraternity has created the Merlin Olsen Day of Service official Facebook event page, entitled “Merlin Olsen Day of Service 2011.” You can access it by clicking here.
We hope to capitalize on the success of last year’s inaugural Merlin Olsen Day of Service, in which Sigs across the United States and Canada served their communities by volunteering in local parks, donating blood, and collecting money for charity, to name just a few examples.
After participating in the Merlin Olsen Day of Service, send photos of your volunteer activities (please send the original files from your camera to ensure that we receive the highest-quality images possible), along with a short description of where the event was held and what you did, to honormerlin@sigmachi.org. Your photo may be published in an upcoming issue of The Magazine of Sigma Chi. You can also post photos, videos and descriptions of your service projects on the Merlin Olsen Day of Service 2011 Facebook event page. Lastly, share your stories on Twitter using the hashtag #olsendayofservice.
We thank you for your efforts to keep the spirit of service exemplified by Brother Merlin alive.
Undergraduates and alumni could serenade new sweetheart
This October marks the 100th anniversary of the creation of The Sweetheart of Sigma Chi song. To honor this special occasion, Sigma Chi will chose one brother to serenade the incoming international sweetheart at the 2011 Grand Chapter Sweetheart Reception on June 24 at the downtown Dallas Sheraton Hotel.
To enter the contetst, submit a song rendition via a YouTube video, an mpeg or QuickTime video on a DVD, a CD or a jump drive. Label the entry with the following title: 100 Years Sweetheart of Sigma Chi Song Serenade Contest. All entries are due May 31.
The entry title should not include your name in or on the video. YouTube videos can be e-mailed to GC@sigmachi.org, while CDs/DVDs/jump drives can be mailed to:
Sweetheart of Sigma Chi Contest
Sigma Chi International Fraternity Headquarters
1714 Hinman Ave.
Evanston, IL 60201
The winner will receive: one roundtrip airline ticket to Dallas; a complimentary overnight stay at the Dallas Sheraton; and a complimentary ticket to the Sweetheart Reception.
Anyone with questions can contact Natalie Konowal, director of conferences and travel services, at (847) 869-3566, ext. 232, or at natalie.konowal@sigmachi.org.
According to the Balfour Leadership Operating Board and its chairman, Order of Constantine Sig Chris Brown, FURMAN 1989, the 2011 Balfour Leadership Training Workshop will be hosted at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill on July 28-31.
The process for applying to attend Balfour LTW will begin in the next few weeks. Stay on the lookout for more information. For additional info, please visit balfourltw.sigmachi.org.
Registration fees for Grand Chapter increase May 1
Anyone interested in attending the 78th Grand Chapter have until April 30, 2011, to register at early-bird prices. On May 1, package fees increase $50, while a la carte fees increase $10 per event. To register or book flights, rental cars or hotel reservations, visit grandchapter.sigmachi.org and scroll down to the “Quick Links” section on the bottom right part of the page.
It has been rumored for a long time now that comedian Daniel Tosh is a Sigma Chi from the University of Central Florida. Today I was able to confirm with headquarters that he is NOT a Sigma Chi. In an email exchange with an employee at headquarters I was given the following response.
Nope, he’s not a member.
This may disappoint some of you. I’ve noticed over the last year that a ton of Sigs have sent messages to Daniel Tosh’s twitter account asking if he was indeed a Sigma Chi. I never once saw him actually respond to those messages. A few months back I sent a message to a Sig at the University of Central Florida asking if Daniel Tosh was initiated there. He sounded confused by my question and pretty much had no idea what I was talking about. But now that headquarters has responded, I think we can all agree that Daniel Tosh is not a Sigma Chi.
[updated: 4.06.2011 10:00am] A follow up response from headquarters.
He is not a member according to our database/ membership records.
We don’t know anything concrete about the rumors. The only thing we’ve heard is that he briefly pledged one of the Florida chapters and dropped well before Initiation, however we don’t have evidence to back that up.
For those that are still curious, feel free to contact headquarters on the matter here: (e) feedback@sigmachi.org (p) (847) 869-3655
Or use the contact list.
Reports and applications mandatory for all undergraduate chapters
The 2011 Annual Report/Peterson site has been launched and chapters can now log in to work on their reports. The report is at annualreport.sigmachi.org and is a mandatory annual submission for all undergraduate chapters. It is due May 1.
The annual report’s use is two-fold: First, it provides chapters with an opportunity to analyze themselves against guidelines Sigma Chi sets for them and offers feedback, and secondly, the report’s completion allows chapters to be eligible to win the Fraternity’s major awards, including the Peterson Significant Chapter Award, the James F. Bash Significant Improvement Award, the Daniel William Cooper Outstanding Scholarship Award and the Legion of Honor.
Chapters should visit annualreport.sigmachi.org to immediately begin working on their submission. Questions can be directed to Mike Church, operations manager, (847) 869-3655, ext. 269, or michael.church@sigmachi.org.
This 18-in. by 24-in. poster of the cover of The Magazine of Sigma Chi could be yours! It would look awesome in the chapter house. And it is an excellent way to show your chapter’s support of Super Bowl MVP Drew Brees, PURDUE 2001, and those he helps through the Brees Dream Foundation. Send a chapter donation of $250 to Brees’ foundation, and we’ll send you a poster. One poster per chapter.
Here’s what to do:
Have a date auction. A dunk tank with the Consul as the dunkee. Anything fun, safe and respectful to raise money for charity.
Send a check or money order from the chapter for $250 to:
Brees Dream Foundation
c/o Judy Hogan
MAI
1360 East 9th Street
Suite 100
Cleveland, OH 44114
You’re on your honor to e-mail us at feedback@sigmachi.org to tell us you’ve sent the check.
We’ll mail you the poster.
For information on the Brees Dream Foundation, created to raise funds to advance the cancer research and provide care, education and opportunities to children in need, go to drewbrees.com. For information about the fundraising challenge, contact Susan Lorimor, editor/director of communications at (847) 869-3655, ext. 214 or susan.lorimor@sigmachi.org.
An email sent out by Grand Consul Wayne Tucker. To view this message you can also click here.
In the next few days, we will have the opportunity to exercise good citizenship by casting our votes for many local, state and national elected positions. Many of those seeking political office are members of Greek–letter organizations. If elected, they could be of significant support for our Fraternity in the coming year as we face issues that greatly impact Sigma Chi. That is why I am writing you today. I urge you to support our Greek brothers and sisters in their election bid; not only by voting on Nov. 2nd, but by supporting the Fraternity and Sorority Political Action Committee (FSPAC), which also assists Greeks in their bid for office. Ultimately, a vote for a Greek-letter legislator means a vote for Sigma Chi, as Greeks in office support key issues that affect the Fraternity.
We are proud that Sigma Chi has more brothers in the U.S. Congress than any other Fraternity. There are 140 Greeks in Congress; Sigma Chi has five senators and six congressmen. Eight Sigs are running for election this year. Among those up for election are Significant Sigs Ike Skelton, MISSOURI-COLUMBIA 1953, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, and Steny Hoyer, MARYLAND 1963, House Majority Leader. For a list of candidates and office holders, click here.
Our brothers are leaders on Capitol Hill — they have impressive track records. They have passed key legislation for the good of their constituents, and they have joined other Greek legislators to support initiatives that would directly impact us. Among the initiatives is the Collegiate Housing and Infrastructure Act (CHIA), which would allow tax-deductible contributions to be made to a foundation for the construction, renovation, maintenance and operation of a chapter house. The bill, when passed, would help our undergraduates in their ability to maintain existing and obtain new safe and adequate housing.
Our brothers and other Greek legislators can make a great impact our lives — but only if we see that they are elected or reelected to office. Please join me in supporting the FSPAC through a donation, which can be made at fspac.org. In the past six years, Sigma Chis have donated some $42,425 to the FSPAC, and of the more than 100 bipartisan members that the FSPAC has supported, 88 percent have been elected to office. Let’s do our part to see that the support continues.
About a week ago I was in Atlanta and decided to stop by and see the Constantine Memorial. This wasn’t my first time there, which made it a lot easier to find. It got me thinking that I should probably write a blog post that gives some good detailed information on how to get to the Constantine Memorial.
33.4549420, -84.3277560
Those are the exact GPS coordinates for the Constantine Memorial. Its about 25 miles south of Atlanta, GA right off of US-19/US-41. Google has the address listed as 10945-10973 Tara Blvd, Hampton, GA 30228.
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