SIGMA CHI Alumni Newsletter JANUARY 2018 SHELDON DETRICK, PUBLISHER CARRIE COLVARD, Welcome New Leaders and President Andrew Grimm!!!! Thank you Bob for two years of service to Sigma Chi!! President- Andrew Grimm President Elect- Willis Allen Past President Bob Wandres President Elect Willis Allen Secretary Bill Grimm Treasurer Lucas Daffern Chapter Eternal- Hap Fry Ritual -Willis Allen Day of Caring Ken Klein Song Leader Vince Siren Alumni Relations Shel Detrick Events Chairman: Christmas Party: Rick Guild Pictured Above: Sheldon Detrick and Andrew Grimm present Bob Wandres with Grand Consul Citation. Valentine Luncheon: Hap Fry Golf Tournament: Andrew Grimm Sigma Chi Sail Away Bob Wandres Happy Hour Tulio Remington
SIGMA CHI Alumni Significance Save the Date Thursday, January 11th Happy Hour, Brookside Brewery 5:00-7:00 Friday, January 12th Alumni Connection, Dr. James Meehan Summit Club 12:00-1:00 Friday, January 19th The Honest Jim Luncheon 12:00 Summit Club Friday, January 26th Alumni Connection Tribute to John Eagleton Summit Club 12:00-1:00
President s Report ANDREW GRIMM OU 02 Dear Brothers, The 2018 year has begun, and I am honored to be serving as the President of our organization for the upcoming 2 years. This year starts out with a flurry of events this coming January. We have our Alumni Connection luncheon speaker (insert speaker s name) on the 12 th, Honest Jim on the 19 th and we will be finishing off the month with Tribute to John Eagleton luncheon on the 26 th. All of these events will be held on the 31 st floor of the Summit. You do not need to be a member of the Summit to attend these events. I would like to thank our outgoing President Bob Wandres. Our organization s membership, attendance at weekly meetings as well as special events are as strong as they have been in years. This goes to my next point. In January we are going to be doing a membership drive. Our $35 annual dues go towards paying our chapters national dues as well as supplementing our special events like the Sweetheart Luncheon and the Christmas Party. All of us have numerous Sigma Chi s in our day to day lives and I would like you to encourage them to get active in the alumni chapter. If you are interested in becoming more involved, or if you have any questions, suggestions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me. I look forward to seeing everyone at our upcoming events. In Hoc, Andrew R. Grimm, OU 02 918-629-2734
Bob Wandres Letter BOB WANDRES, TU 66 The new year is here, and this is the time when so many of us resolve to change some things. We tell ourselves that we will hit the gym, eat smarter, lose some weight, stay in touch with family and friends, spend less time on the internet, turn off the TV, give more to charities, go back to church, etc. It all lasts for about 2 months, if that. Years ago, when I was working my way through school in a men s clothing shop, every January and July was a time for doing inventory, where every piece of merchandise was counted. Among other things, we learned of the successes and failures in our marketing. This turned out to be a lesson for me to remember for the future years. Today, instead of dubious resolutions, I take inventory of my life to evaluate where I stand. Of course, life happens to all of us including disappointments, tragedies, financial set backs, and broken hearts. But, if we are honest with ourselves, we also find that we have done some things very well, and we can re-stock on those winners. Try it. Your glass will always be half full. Wishing you and yours a very Happy New Year! In hoc, Bob Wandres, TU 66
Active Chapter Reports University of Oklahoma Beta Kappa No Report This Month. University of Tulsa Delta Omega No Report This Month. SCOTT MILBURN, OU CHAPTER ADVISOR 918.430.5037 scott@milburn.net Oklahoma State University Gamma Delta No Report This Month. BRET GWARTNEY, TU CHAPTER ADVISOR 918.557.7986 bgwartney@gmail.com ED SHAW, HΘ 87 CHAPTER ADVISOR, OSU 405-880-0349 Ed.shaw@okstate.edu
Treasure s Report LUCAS DAFFERN OSU 17 Worthy Brothers, I first want to thank you for the honor and privilege to serve as your treasure for the next two years. I also want to acknowledge the commitment and dedication that my mentor, Brother Britt Radford has put into stabilizing the financial health of our Alumni chapter. As we enter our 105 th year of continuous weekly meetings, it s a perfect time to remind everyone that annual, recurring revenue is our life blood. It allows us to enhance our enviable tradition through high quality events that keep Brothers connected. You will be receiving information very soon about how you can help financially with the continuation of our programs. IH, Lucas Daffern, OSU 17
Brothers of the Sigma Chi Alumni Grand Praetor Report DON MCKINNEY TU 84 February 10th is our Provence Workshop in Norman. We will be spending that Saturday offering Ritual Peer training. Two of Sigma Chi s Ritual Masters will be there to explore, discuss and educate us on the history of our ritual. This is a great opportunity to learn more about what makes Sigma Chi so special. Please mark your calendar to attend this special event. Don McKinney, TU 84 DOUG STUART, TU TOM BLOOMFIELD, TU
Chapter Eternal Report All Honor to His Name HAP FRY, MICHIGAN STATE 64 / TU 67 Harold Jackson Jack Haus, Delta Omega 59. Harold Jackson Jack Haus, Jr. was born December 2, 1937 to Harold Jackson Haus and Nelle Moore in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Jack entered Chapter Eternal on Thursday, December 21, 2017 at the age of 80 surrounded by his children. Jack was a longstanding member of the Tulsa Community where he was often seen at a rotary club luncheon or at Sunday services at First Presbyterian Church. Jack worked at Albert and Harlow Equipment Company. He also owned a rental car agency in Ponca City and office machines company in Tulsa. He sold large coal mining trucks in South America for Unit Rig Corporation and finally had a Dunn and Bradstreet franchise in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Jack was married to Judith Albert Haus Kantor and they had 4 children. Jack had a passion for the Tulsa Community and was often seen ringing the Salvation Army bell in front of Petty s in Utica Square. He was always the life of the party and his friends simply meant the world to him. A celebration of life will be held at First Presbyterian Church date pending. Charles William Simcoe, MD. Gamma Delta 53. Significant Sig Simcoe, C. William, 86, retired ophthalmologist entered Chapter Eternal Sunday, October 22nd. Celebration of life is scheduled for 2p.m. Friday, January 26th at Harvard Avenue Christian Church. Jim Kuykendall, OSU Equipmentworldinc.com
Ritual Report WILLIS ALLEN TU, 68 On Christmas Eve in 1855 The 2 nd Chapter of Sigma Chi Was Founded After The birth of Sigma Chi at The University of Miami Ohio in June of 1855 it was apparent that the Founders intended to build a national and not a merely local fraternity. They began a movement of expansion immediately. The Founders soon went to Ohio Wesleyan University and on December 24, 1855, they established the second chapter of the Fraternity under the name of Gamma. (Pictured 1855 Gamma Charter with officers listed) Photo of some of Gamma Chapter first members In 1856 Epsilon (original) at Western Military Institute was founded. In 1857 Eta at The University of Mississippi was established and The Seven Founders attended the Fraternity s first biennial convention, held June 12 in Cincinnati. By the time of this first convention and before the disbandment of Alpha, Jefferson College in Pennsylvania had been installed. At the end of the school year in 1857 Founders Bell, Caldwell, Cooper, Runkle and Jordan graduated from Miami University. In 1858, the other two Founders, Lockwood and Scobey, graduate from Miami. By June, 1858 Alpha, the parent chapter, became inactive, and Gamma chapter assumed its governing power for the next 24 years. Every member of Sigma Chi should hold the early members of Gamma Chapter in very high regard because if it was not for them there might not be a Sigma Chi. (Pictured 1860 Badge from Gamma Brother) In 1861The third Grand Chapter met in Wheeling, West Virginia, and there the first official Form of Initiation was designated for all chapters. In Hoc Signo Vinces, a secret motto since 1856 was made the official public motto. Sigma Chi had twelve chapters that had been installed by the start of the Civil War. Fraternity records contain the names of 265 active and alumni members who were in the conflict. Of this number, 147 were in the Union forces and 118 with the Confederacy, totaling more than 60 percent of the total Sigma Chi membership of 432. During the Civil War expansion was on hold except for the Installation of Theta at Gettysburg College in 1863. In 1864 however, Harry St. John Dixon and his small band of Sigma Chi soldiers established what has come to be known as the Constantine Chapter of Sigma Chi on the night of September 17 during the heated Atlanta campaign of the Civil War. Artist interpretation of the Founding of The Constantine Chapter (Next Month more on Harry St John Dixon)