Eta Lambda Brotherhood
Please find links to a letter and survey that Mike Church, Executive Director at Sigma Chi HQ sent to chapter advisors and other Sigma Chi’s. They are asking any and all Sigma Chi’s to complete the brief survey mentioned in the letter. A link is also attached.
We have no news to report about the status of the chapter in regards to Sigma Chi HQ.
You will also find a brief synopsis of the meeting minutes from the summer meeting of your House Corporation.
Mike Church Letter
RAP Index Survey
Update contact information using this link or copy & paste into your preferred internet browser:
https://docs.google.com/…/1FAIpQLScFMX7TFn12M-V7m…/viewform…
Don’t Let George Do it Alone – We appreciate all that have completed this and the contact link!
Complete the Interest Survey with this form:
https://docs.google.com/…/1FAIpQLSfCDEkLS8KcRUu_Q…/viewform…
Main Street 1971 Corporation
Summer Meeting
June 23, 2016
10:00 a.m.
Location: Richmond VA, Eddie Pearson’s office
In Attendance:
On Site: Charles Kepley, Tim Facius, Adi Gelem, Brown Pearson, John Hays, Jeff Francis, Doug Pulsifer, Eddie Pearson, Matt Dugan, John Hays, Cooper Crenshaw, Matt Lazor, Corey Rooney
Remote: Brendon Parr, Bill Ortega, Nathan Hays, Chuck McKibben, Christian Birsic, Phil Cornett
Cannot Attend, no reply: Anton Hummer, Alan E Turovlin, Bill Moesta, Jon Purdy, Ricky Christian, Carl E. Mitchell, Jordan Mangum, Ken Cadden, Ed Spencer, Jeff Mitchell, Eddie Brewer
Primary Agenda
- Current Financial – Aid & Ken 15 minutes
Minutes: Adi reported approximately $570K in total assets. Full report embedded in this document and placed on Google Drive. Approximately 2K put out for moving and such to vacate and begin storage of Chapter property. HC paid the Hyatt bill to assist active chapter in conducting meetings. The HC will pay the #120 monthly recurring storage fee. Discussion on replacement of officers that have been with HC for years. Doug expressed interest in assisting but vacating his officer position too.
Action Items: Adi will follow up with potential candidates for the position of Treasurer that have completed the survey sent to all Eta Lambda brothers that we have contact information for
- Old Business – Remaining details in closing Oak Lane Property, costs incurred Jeff, Trevor, & Brown 15 minutes
Minutes: Several of these items were mentioned in the financial report above.
- Spent about $2K in moving and relocation fees
- Adi has set up recurring payments of $120 for the storage unit
- University stated that they will be responsible for removal of deck, terracing, cross
- Jeff F asked Beta Iotas about cross and overwhelmingly the group was in favor of letting VT take it, build new when time is right. Fulton Sensabaugh was asked to assess cost of removing, transporting and storing (no place had been determined where). His assessment is >$4K
- All House Corporation and invited brothers including actives were invited to vote on whether to attempt to relocate the White Cross at our expense or allow the university to remove the White Cross at their expense. Motion made by Brown, seconded by John Hays. – Unanimous vote to leave the cross for VT to deal with.
Action Items: None
- State of the Chapter – specifically Sigma Chi Fraternity Ed, Jeff M, Jeff F – 15 minutes
Minutes: Neither Jeff Mitchell or Ed Spencer could be present. The following is a synopsis from a letter sent by Sigma Chi to Ed Spencer and widely distributed to alumni via the newsletter feature of the website and Facebook. Jeff Francis wrote to Mike Ursillo asking questions as to what HQ was attempting to work out with VT. Per his letter “CAMAC is attempting to convince the University to reduce the 5 year suspension.” Jeff asked and was told that “there are no negotiations involving housing—we are simply looking to reduce the penalty. I am not at liberty to share with you at this time those who we are speaking with given the extremely sensitive nature of trying to “save face” on all sides. This entire endeavor is a long shot, but we are making the effort. We do not have a timeline but will advise all as soon as there is news to report—good or bad.”
From this a discussion ensued. Key Points:
- We will need Jeff M, Ed Spencer, and Christian to report to the HC of any decisions by HQ.
- Brown made it abundantly clear that and most concurred that until such time as HQ tells the chapter otherwise, we are an active Sigma Chi Chapter and all activities by both alumni to support the active chapter will proceed normally.
- Likewise it was emphasized to the active chapter officers in attendance that they should do the same, completing forms, making plans, communicating with the greater chapter for the Fall 2018/Spring 2019 school year.
- To date, no membership reviews have been requested. Eta Lambda alumni in conjunction with the Executive officers may decide to do so during the fall 2018 semester.
- At this time it was noted that having to vacate the house has had no negative impact on the active chapter enthusiasm to proceed. In fact, the financial savings from paying $11K annually to VT for the public spaces that were too small should help the chapter be able to secure meeting and social space at local establishments throughout Blacksburg such as the meetings held at the Hyatt.
- Nathan brought up that VT may never allow Sigma Chi back on campus depending on the relationships that ensue over the next couple of years. Jeff Francis stated that the benefits of being recognized by VT are not significant and that it is likely the chapter would never seek to return to some type of on campus housing arrangement with VT. The actives can still pursue academic, club, and intramural endeavors without being part of IFC
Action Items: Brown advised that we should look into who is and is not on campus, what they are doing. Agreed the contact should be Byron Hughes – Christian to follow up as he believes he still has a decent relationship with him
- Active Chapter Report – Christian Birsic or other representative 15 minutes
Minutes: Christian, Matt, Matt, & Cooper all concurred that the brothers are determined to make the chapter thrive. There are approximately 107 active brothers. Discussions ensued regarding the following item. After each is the action item to be taken
- Scholarships for this past spring – Zach Tekamp was stated is the chair. Jeff Francis stated that the active chapter effectively forfeited $3K in awards by not completing grade submission. Offered to make the new Scholarship chair, Zack aware. All agreed that the chapter brothers should self-report their grades since VT will not be providing that list to Christian or Jeff Mitchell. All agreed if the process was started now, the checks from HQ could be available by September. Action: Jeff Francis has followed up with and spoken to Zach. He is in the process of notifying active brothers to submit grades and forms. Instructions were sent to Zack
- Chapter’s finances. Jeff M has released the accounts back to the active chapter. Cooper is in the process or has been providing refunds due to brothers for social and other expenses not incurred. A discussion ensued and recommendation made that the chapter should always provide a copy of their financial report for each HC meeting. The chapter should also be using Google Drive to store its financial and other official documents in the chapter’s drive so that they can be utilized by future officers and brothers. Action: Cooper is to put two budgets together ASAP. One as if the chapter is a functioning recognized by HQ and a second one where undergrads would pay dues towards being a Social Sigma Chi Alumni club. Cooper is to send copies of the budget as well as Income/Expense Statement
- RMF – Adi is coordinating with Matt Lazor, Vincent Sciacca Action: The form has been completed and forward to HC
- Controlling alumni at football games – Discussion ensued on the difficulty of controlling younger alumni coming back for games that want to consume excessive amounts of alcohol. It is recognized that it is a very difficult thing to control as the Center St. parties have no barriers or controls as to who can come & go. Action: None at this time
- Discipline and accountability – Discussion on the following took place: Should we conduct a review on our own as alumni? Should the active executives want to identify those active brothers that should be spoken with? Chapter will need most help with accountability – J board – should alumni be part of it? Action: Christian and executive committee to convene, discuss and inform HC in August
- Election based on rotation – 30 minutes
V.P. of Alumni Relations – John Hays. Discussion: John advised he would continue to serve. Brown nominated, Adi seconded. Unanimous decision to reelect
V.P. of Undergraduate Relations – Chuck McKibben. Discussion: Chuck expressed an interest in having a replacement due to family commitments. He advised that he would approach Carl Mitchell and Eric Scruggs about an interest in doing so,
Alumni Member-At Large: In charge of Undergraduate representation – Doug Pulsifer. Discussion: time and distance now that both sons have graduated make it difficult to be in Blacksburg even for a single meeting. He will continue to provide advice as part of the financial committee with Ken and Adi. Charles Kepley volunteered. Motion seconded by Brown. Unanimous vote to elect.
- Future House Ideas – 30 minutes
Discussion: Jeff and Brown advised that they had looked at several properties in Blacksburg the same weekend as the work party. Looked at the local apartment buildings and a few commercial properties like Anchy’s on N Main. Also looked at the Delta Psi or Old Delta Gamma house on Jackson. That property is grandfathered for > 10 individuals and offered at $700K with a minimum of $100K renovation needed. Major drawback is not enough open space in basement, bathrooms or individual bedrooms. Easiest option regardless of price would be an existing zoned property like apartment complexes. Discussed that possibility as alumni could invest in and regardless of the chapter’s status have a viable option for rental income. The public space like Anchy’s would be less marketable to the population in Blacksburg. Below is a rough draft of an investment club idea open to Brothers for investing. The committee can work on fine tuning as it learns what property might be offered for sale. All brothers have secured office campus housing
Action Item: A committee headed by Brown and to include HC members Eddie, John, Jeff and Adi with support from Phil Cornett will meet regularly and call existing leasing agents to check into the market. Brown to contact Troy Henderson about involvement and Christian will seek active representatives.
- New Business – 10 minutes
- Look into who is and is not on campus, what they are doing agreed it should be Byron Hughes – Christian concurred. Action item listed above
- Congratulations for the Eta Lambda House Corporation’s winning of the Gold Award of the 2018 Outstanding House Corporation awarded by the Board of Grand Trustees.
- Dates for Fall & Spring Semester meetings – 5 minutes
Sunday September 10th