Ohio Gamma Enjoys Carlson Leadership Academy Recognitions

Carlson Leadership Academy

The Midwestern Carlson Leadership Academy was held Feb. 6-8, 2009 in Chicago, Ill. Over 600 undergraduates and alumni were in attendance. Sig Ep Chapters from Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Minnesota and the Dakotas were represented. Ohio Gamma was well represented with 21 undergraduates participating plus one alumnus, Mike Lockwood. These Academies consist of a series of small group leaning sessions and discussions with your undergraduate peers and typically lead by an Alumni and/or senior undergraduate on various aspects of fraternity operations, e.g. recruitment, financial, programming, membership development, Chaplain, and President. The Alumni Volunteers also met in small group sessions to discuss and share successes with volunteer recruitment, Board operations, alumni relations activities, alumni newsletters and fundraising events.

Numerous awards were distributed during the Academy. Ohio Gamma won the 90+ Manpower Award and the Phi Beta Kappa Wheelhouse Award for a Chapter GPA in excess of 3.15 – fall quarter was 3.36. On the alumni side, Mike Lockwood was selected the District 13 (Ohio) Volunteer of the Year Award for 2009 for his work on the Centennial Committee for Ohio Gamma’s 100the Anniversary Celebrations during 2008. Mike was recommended by the Undergraduate Chapter and selected from a group of Alumni Volunteers for the Ohio Sig Ep Chapters by Marcus Robinson, the District Governor for District 13. Mike was most appreciate of this honor but wanted to make sure it was shared by all of the members of his 2008 Centennial Committee.

Alumni Board Meeting Minutes from January 22, 2009

Alumni Board Meeting
January 22, 2009

Attendees:

Jeff DuBois, Bob Jennings, Ken Butler, Don Stenta, John Barta, George Gornall, John Waggoner, Brad Griffith, Bob Barnett, Sean Mittelman, Tom Vetter, Scott Dudis, Jim Oliver

Undergraduate Update
Recruitment
i. Current manpower- 110
ii. Winter quarter- goal of 30 new members, 19 new members so far
iii. BM Scholarship banquet was very successful
Communications
i. Undergrad website has been completely revamped
ii. New member packets have been developed to be given to new members
iii. Chapter evaluations were completed to let the E-board know the chapter’s opinions
Finance
i. Curiosity about the parlor fees have been expressed by anonymous members
ii. Ken to create a summary of expenses for anyone interested
iii. Alumni board and UG to meet with OSU to discuss budget for upcoming year- 1/28
Member Development
i. Sound body fitness tests coming up- 1/24
ii. Sigma and Phi challenges progressing well
iii. Epsilon challenge helping members transition from college to the professional world
iv. 16 members attending Carlson Leadership Academy in Chicago
v. Upcoming issue of Journal will feature chapter profile on house
vi. Information is being compiled on undergraduates looking for alumni mentors
Standards
i. Autumn Quarter 2008 chapter GPA: 3.36- ranked 3rd
ii. 14 brothers on academic probation
Other announcements
i. Sean has been hired as a new regional director
ii. Scott honored at the Balanced Man Scholarship Banquet as Balanced Man of the Year
iii. Regional recruitment seminar hosted by at OSU- 1/24- 15 chapters attending

Advisor Report- Don
Rich Hollingsworth Retirement
i. Rich would like more information on what would be required from him in becoming a Renaissance Brother
ii. Various AB members will take Rich to lunch in the near future to discuss in more detail
Alumni Contact Information
i. Kay Baker- OSU Alumni Association- was contacted about looking up SigEp alumni contact information
ii. Kay is able to compile all registered information if we supply a list of names

House Issues
Stair treads are coming off
Water damage needs to be revisited with OSU
Ice machine is broken again

Alumni Board Business
Fundraising with undergrads- UG’s would like to partner with alumni to have “call party” for donations
Winter formal- UG’s would like to continue joint winter formal with alumni- winter 2010
Insurance discount- UG’s will incorporate program either WI or SP quarter to qualify for discount

Ohio Gamma Foundation
Now over $400,000 including pledges
Next AB Meeting- 2/26/09- 5:30pm

SigEp Original Artwork for Sale

Janet Waggoner (wife of John "CJ" Waggoner '70) completed an original watercolor of our previous chapter house at 154 Woodruff and our current house at 1943 Waldeck. Our Foundation is now making these prints available for sale to all brothers.

Prints sell for $100 each and will fit into a standard 16"x 20" frame. For each print purchased, $65 will be applied as a donation in your name to the Ohio Gamma Foundation. These prints are a unique form of SigEp memorabilia and are available for a limited time. You can request your print by emailing CJ at waggonj55@aol.com any time!

OSU SigEp Brothers Celebrate 100 Years!

The celebration 100 years in the making was the "Most sensational alumni event in our chapter's history" according to Brother Dennis Kaps '03.

Nearly 300 brothers and guests gathered in Columbus over the weekend of October 3-5, to celebrate our first century of Ohio Gamma SigEp, and to look forward at the future. Ohio Gamma Alumni met on Friday night in the hospitality suite of the DoubleTree hotel in Worthington, Ohio. Among the distinguished guests present was Grand President Steve Shanklin, who said some kind words about the fraternity's future and how great an asset Ohio Gamma is to the SigEp nation.

On Saturday morning we joined for the strategic planning committee session discussing the use of our current funds, and our future intentions for raising more money. The discussion was led by Strategic Planning Committee Chairman, George Smith '63, and Bob Barnett '71, Chairman of the Ohio Gamma Foundation. Much conversation revolved around the future of housing and scholarships, the tangible byproducts of fundraising.

We proceeded to the chapter house at 1943 Waldeck Avenue, for house tours, lunch, and campus tours. Many alumni were pleasantly surprised by the pristine condition the house is in without the "old-time luxury" of having pledges! The undergraduates also prepared an Alumni Reaffirmation Ceremony which they held at the Indianola Church, across from SigEp. Alumni were reinvigorated with SigEp Pride and reminded of the special qualities of the ritual.

Finally, the Brothers, Alumni Brothers, and guests of honor joined together at the DoubleTree Hotel and Banquet Center in Worthington, Ohio. The banquet began with an address from emcee John "CJ" Waggoner. CJ was followed up by Sean Mittleman (undergraduate President), Dr. Rich Hollingsworth (VP of Student Affairs), The Honorable Archie Yeatts (Past Grand President), and finally Bob Barnett (Ohio Gamma Foundation President.) The speeches recalled memories, shared inspiration for the future, and called all brothers to action so we can move into our second century. To help jumpstart that, the brothers in attendence who graduated between the years 2000-2008 made a joint donation of over $20,000 to the foundation!

The event concluded with dancing and watching the Buckeyes beat Wisconsin on the big screen TV. Brothers are looking to get together on a regular basis for regional events to keep up the spirit of brotherhood that has built up for the Centennial Celebration!