I feel that, in light of recent events, and because y’all seem to unknowingly be demanding this be addressed, it’s time for us to say some things out loud that we’ve been shying away from. It’s time for us at the Executive Office to address an issue that’s not only plaguing our chapters, but our alumni as well. It’s time to lay it all out on the table. It’s time to discuss purpose.

            Far too many people have either posted, commented, or said to me in person that their main reason for being in Sigma Pi is because they wanted to party and have fun in college, that they joined not for the purpose of fraternal bonds in brotherhood, or because of the ideals to which we each subscribe our name at pinning, but because Sigma Pi happened to throw some pretty sweet parties, and this intrigued them. To these people, and you know who you are, I say thank you for being honest. Really. It takes a lot to admit to yourself and to others that you blatantly lied when pinned, and disregarded pretty much everything you learned throughout your pledgeship. It takes some real guts to openly admit to people who spend countless hours and years of their lives trying to educate you on the value of the fraternal movement, that you really didn’t care to begin with, that they were just wasting their time. And finally, thank you, for helping us at the Executive Office know that we’re not doing enough to help our chapters keep out the worthless members like you.

            But we will be.

            Personally, every time I hear someone tell me that they came for the party, it makes me want to work that much harder to take Sigma Pi back to what it really is, a brotherhood, kindred minds working together for shared purpose, MEN who choose to lead, not BOYS who choose to follow.

            The best part is, those of you who feel so adamantly that partying is the ONLY purpose of a fraternity are in chapters that are either failing, struggling to do anything productive, or are on the verge of being shut down. At what point are you able to make the correlation that the two might be somehow related? If you RECRUIT members with a party, they will STAY for the party. And excuse the blunt delivery, but what happens when the beer runs out?

Read more: So You Came For The Party?

            “Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.”

― Thomas A. Edison

           One of the great benefits of being a travelling consultant is the fact that my job takes me to a new place every week. Every few days I witness a new way of life, a new culture, and a new environment. Sometimes I stare in awe and wonder at the new cities, the bright lights, and the overwhelming feeling of success all around me. Occasionally, however, I come to an area that time and the elements have forgotten. A place that leaves only memories of what used to exist. Today, as I drove through what I would venture to call a forgotten part of a Midwestern city, I was amazed at how taken aback the landscape left me, and how what I was seeing, in many ways, reflected so closely the work I do every day.

            As I drove the streets, each block brought another empty lot, another boarded up storefront, and another rundown building sure to be only days away from shutting its doors forever. I couldn’t help but to imagine these places in their prime, a busy main street, bustling local pharmacies and restaurants, people walking the streets before the cement was broken and jagged. What happened to these once majestic meccas of this local community? The more I reflected, the more I realized that these now forgotten storefronts are something of a mirror image of how many of us (unfortunately) leave our chapters when we move on. Don’t worry, I’ll explain.

Read more: Protecting The Investment

This past month I had the pleasure of visiting the state of Oregon and the two universities where we have chapters. This was a nice break from my typical schedule of membership reviews and conduct visits. I had previously visited the University of Oregon but I had not yet been to the Oregon State campus. I was excited to see how these two chapters operated and performed despite being isolated from other Sigma Pi chapters (closest other Sigma Pi chapter is six hours away in California). The primary goals of both visits were to assist with the education of new officers that were being elected, setting goals for the chapter and evaluating chapter performance.

I was able to time both of my chapter visits to coincide with chapter elections. I observed the process both chapters took with their elections and I was very impressed. Both chapters had a strong contingent of leaders running for each position and both chapters debated meticulously over each candidate. In the end both chapters elected a junior sage and five sophomores to the other five Executive Council positions. I spent most of my time at each chapter conducing new officer training as well as goal setting for the new Executive Councils. Both Executive Councils have many goals and plans to improve their chapters.

Read more: Oregon Travels