A MESSAGE FROM THE GRAND CONSUL - Week 6

Post date: Sep 15, 2019 8:23:13 PM

Well, we have gone over 16,000 members in the Sigma Chi International Facebook page and climbing quickly. Keep up your efforts including asking your Sigma Chi friends to join via an invite and let's blast through 17,000. Only requirement is that they be in good standing with Sigma Chi. Jack probably loves me for all this activity (he approves each applicant to join) but we are just "spreading the word". Please, keep up your activities to grow the network.

Today, we are going to discuss the concept of Engagement and what makes an "engaged volunteer". This is a concept we continue to have many a discussion on at the leadership level and something Bob Wilson and his Alumni Engagement Committee (new name) and its corresponding Alumni Education Continuum (new committee) are working hard in this area and you will see new developments on an ongoing basis.

I personally think an "engaged" alumnus can have many forms. He can be that alumni brother who works at the chapter level doing a variety of jobs. He can be that Chapter Advisor, Advisory Board Member, that House Corporation Officer and the list goes on. He can be that brother who is at KTLW every year, at Grand Chapter and Province Workshops. Thank you to all those brothers who donate SO much personal time to make Sigma Chi work. We could not make this engine run without you... But, we need more.

He can also be that alumnus brother who just reads the chapter website or an International Facebook page. He can be that brother who plays golf once a month with other brothers. He can be that brother who comes to homecoming and interacts with other brothers. He can be that member of a Sigma Chi Alumni Chapter who attends scheduled meetings and social events. My point is simply this: An engaged brother comes in many forms and interacts in a variety of ways. We each choose how to engage in our own way. However, my challenge to you is this: ENGAGE.

I understand each of us has unique time challenges and for any young man graduating from one of our chapters the challenge is to balance a new career, a new wife or husband, children, and the myriad of time challenges of a new or older graduate. In spite of that: ENGAGE. You might be surprised how much productivity and progress we can make as an organization by increasing our volunteer base. With our plans we have right now- we need thousands of new volunteers. If you want to volunteer- PLEASE DO SO. We need you. If you just want to periodically interact with Sigma Chi- that is great too. Just ENGAGE.

You are going to see many new changes in our marketing and branding in the coming months. You are going to see vast improvements in our membership records and IT infrastructure in the coming months and years. You are going to see new ways we communicate with you and keep you informed on exciting new developments in YOUR FRATERNITY. My efforts here are just part of that plan. You will see an improving website, a new and retooled Magazine of Sigma Chi, and new and innovative opportunities to interact with each other through social media means.

We have traditionally looked at alumni groups as just bricks and mortar chartered groups. Thank you for the outstanding work by our alumni groups out there- and there are alot of them and growing. If you are new to a community- find the Sigma Chi Alumni Chapter and join. We are looking at expanding that footprint in London, Asia- wherever we have Sig brothers who want to hang out and discuss Sigma Chi. We are now looking at the virtual chapter for chapter based groups who will not be able to physically meet- but they will be able to inform the brotherhood of what is going on at the chapter and university level. Many of those groups already exist and we will be expanding our footprint in that area.

We just want Sigs to interact and talk about what makes our fraternity a special life long experience. I am always enthused when I see posts asking if someone is in an airport, if someone is in a City and wants to meet. One thing about Sigs- we like to be with other Sigs. Let's work together to expand those networks in any fashion that we can. Let's foster non-traditional means to accomplish this and post what we are doing to foster and promote interaction and engagement.

Lastly, let's commit ourselves to challenging the thousands of brothers who have not taken that leap. They have, for whatever reason or circumstance, not had the opportunity to serve Sigma Chi Fraternity. The organization is thriving- it will do better with you helping mentor young brothers and young alumni. It will be better with each of you fostering and promoting our mental health initiatives, our leadership and education programs, working to promote the support of the Sigma Chi Foundation. Without their financial support we would not be able to be doing those things that we are leading the fraternal world doing.

The Sigma Chi Foundation is setting a new standard in support of our programs, scholarship and tuition support, and more all the time. The Board of Governors will be meeting in Florida next month to discuss these plans. If all you can do to engage is to support the Foundation financially- then good for you brother. Please continue to do that and even do more if you can.

It is time, money and sometimes just saying I support what you are doing that make a difference in our Order. To all of you working so hard to make Sigma Chi succeed- thank you. For those sitting on the sidelines- ENGAGE. I promise you that you will get back far more in the way it makes you feel than you give.

The academic year 2019-2020 is starting. We are adding new pledge classes all over North America. Be part of that action- We Need Each of You.

See the Facebook post here: https://www.facebook.com/SigmaChiGrandConsul/posts/123350089042883?__tn__=K-R

IN HOC,

-Steve Schuyler, ARIZONA 1979 - 71^th Grand Consul