Sigma Nu Grand Chapter Helps Prepare for the Fraternity's Future

Austin, Texas was the location of Sigma Nu's 63rd Grand Chapter as well as the celebration of several important milestones for the Sigma Nu Educational Foundation. On Sunday, the Foundation formally announced its first-ever $14 million capital campaign, which has been in its silent phase since July 2006. The campaign, aptly called Building

Upon the Rock…Preserving Our Future, is an investment in the future of Sigma Nu and will provide additional funding for the LEAD Program, chapter housing, scholarships, and preservation of the Headquarters Shrine. For more on the campaign, read this article in the Foundation News Briefs.

In support of the campaign, the Foundation held its second-ever live and silent auction called "Sold! …For Sigma Nu" the day prior to the opening of Grand Chapter. Approximately 125 alumni and guests were present to bid on items like a pearl and onyx membership badge, a one-week stay in the Bahamas, limited edition commemorative Makers Mark bottles custom-dipped in Sigma Nu black and gold wax, and five nights lodging in Manhattan near Carnegie Hall and Central Park. The auction raised more than $38,000 for Foundation-funded programs.

Following the announcement of the Building Upon the Rock campaign, Robert Durham (Mu, Georgia) offered a matching challenge to the collegians present, indicating that he would match up to $1,000 in undergraduate donations given to the campaign at Grand Chapter. Campaign Committee member Bob Gingras (Epsilon Chi, Bowling Green) issued a similar challenge to his son Trevor (Theta Xi, Virginia Tech) pledging a 10 to 1 match for Trevor's $100 gift. At a typical Grand Chapter, 40-50 undergraduates join the Foundation's 1869 Club with a gift of about $10. This year, the number of 1869 Club members more than doubled when 113 undergraduates gave $4,700, $2,000 of which was matched by Durham and Gingras. Another $65,000 was raised from alumni during Grand Chapter. In total, brothers and guests gave more than $115,000 to the Building Upon the Rock campaign while in Austin.

This Grand Chapter also marked the beginning of a new tradition to recognize brothers who have contributed $25,000 or more to the Foundation during their lifetime. At an alumni reception held on Saturday night, 20 brothers who have given at this level were presented with a special Sigma Nu Jacket to be worn at Fraternity events in appreciation for their example of generous giving. Several brothers who were unable to attend Grand Chapter will also receive the Sigma Nu Jacket at other events throughout the year. In all 71 men, many of which were recently added to the list because of gifts made in support of the campaign, are eligible to receive the Sigma Nu Jacket. Click here for a list of members recognized for lifetime giving of $25,000 or more. Also at Grand Chapter, Charlie Eitel (Epsilon Epsilon, Oklahoma State) gave an excellent Maddox Honor Lecture on the topic of "Leadership in the 21st Century." Author, speaker and Ernst & Young's 2008

Robert Durham receives his Sigma Nu Jacket

Entrepreneur of the Year for the southeast, Eitel is the current Chairman and CEO of the Simmons Bedding Company, one of the largest branded bedding companies in the world. Immediately following his lecture, Eitel was honored as the 45th Inductee in the Sigma Nu Hall of Fame. Eitel's wife, two daughters, a son-in-law and his best friend, Dr. Gary Hill (Epsilon Epsilon, Oklahoma State), and Hill's wife were notified of the award and were able to come to Austin to surprise him on the morning of the presentation. Since Grand Chapter, Eitel has recently accepted a position on the Foundation Board.

While several individual donors were recognized in Austin for their generous campaign contributions, the close of Grand Chapter 2008 marked the end of one phase of the Building Upon the Rock campaign and the beginning of another. The public phase of the campaign provides every brother the opportunity to step up and demonstrate his commitment to advance the LEAD Program, undergraduate scholarships, chapter housing, the preservation our Headquarters Shrine, and the future of Sigma Nu Fraternity.

There is much work to be done. Over the next two years, the Foundation looks forward to meeting with and recognizing even more members of the Legion of Honor for their giving and loyal support to Sigma Nu. At the close of this decade in 2010, the next Grand Chapter will be held in Boston, Massachusetts, where the Foundation will report on Building Upon the Rock…Preserving Our Future, with the hope that the $14 million goal has been met. Don't miss your chance to participate. Your gift matters as we all make an investment in the future of Sigma Nu.

For more information about the campaign, please contact Brad Hastings at brad.hastings@sigmanu.org or Erik Tomalis at erik.tomalis@sigmanu.org.