PLEDGE MANUAL
PLEDGE MANUAL - Sigma Phi Delta Engineering Fraternity
PLEDGE MANUAL - Sigma Phi Delta Engineering Fraternity
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<strong>PLEDGE</strong><br />
<strong>MANUAL</strong><br />
Tenth Edition - 2003
<strong>PLEDGE</strong> <strong>MANUAL</strong><br />
of the<br />
SIGMA PHI DELTA FRATERNITY<br />
Edited by<br />
EDWARD A. HURST<br />
Treasurer & Information Systems Manager<br />
TENTH EDITION - 2003<br />
Printed in U.S.A.<br />
ii
SIGMA PHI DELTA FRATERNITY<br />
THIS <strong>PLEDGE</strong> <strong>MANUAL</strong> IS THE PERSONAL PROPERTY OF<br />
_____________________________________________________<br />
CLASS OF __________________________ CURRICULUM ___________________________________<br />
(graduation year)<br />
WHO WAS <strong>PLEDGE</strong>D BY____________________________ CHAPTER ON _______________________<br />
(date)<br />
THE <strong>PLEDGE</strong> CLASS WAS FORMALLY INITIATED ON ____________________<br />
(date)<br />
AND CONSISTED OF:<br />
Pledge Brother Home Town Curriculum Graduation<br />
________________________________ ______________________ _______________ ________<br />
________________________________ ______________________ _______________ ________<br />
________________________________ ______________________ _______________ ________<br />
________________________________ ______________________ _______________ ________<br />
________________________________ ______________________ _______________ ________<br />
________________________________ ______________________ _______________ ________<br />
________________________________ ______________________ _______________ ________<br />
________________________________ ______________________ _______________ ________<br />
________________________________ ______________________ _______________ ________<br />
________________________________ ______________________ _______________ ________<br />
________________________________ ______________________ _______________ ________<br />
________________________________ ______________________ _______________ ________<br />
________________________________ ______________________ _______________ ________<br />
________________________________ ______________________ _______________ ________<br />
________________________________ ______________________ _______________ ________<br />
iii
ACTIVE CHAPTER OFFICERS<br />
Chapter __________________________________ Address ________________________________________<br />
CHIEF ENGINEER<br />
VICE CHIEF ENGINEER<br />
SECRETARY<br />
BUSINESS MANAGER<br />
RUSH CHAIRMAN<br />
HOUSE MANAGER<br />
CHAPLAIN<br />
GUIDE<br />
<strong>PLEDGE</strong>MASTER<br />
ASSOCIATE EDITOR, THE CASTLE<br />
SCHOLASTIC CHAIRMAN<br />
RISK REDUCTION CHAIRMAN<br />
GENERAL CONVENTION DELEGATE<br />
CHAPTER COUNCILOR<br />
FACULTY ADVISOR<br />
ALUMNUS ADVISOR<br />
________________________________________<br />
________________________________________<br />
________________________________________<br />
________________________________________<br />
________________________________________<br />
________________________________________<br />
________________________________________<br />
________________________________________<br />
________________________________________<br />
________________________________________<br />
________________________________________<br />
________________________________________<br />
________________________________________<br />
________________________________________<br />
________________________________________<br />
________________________________________<br />
ALUMNI CHAPTER OFFICERS<br />
PRESIDENT<br />
VICE-PRESIDENT<br />
SECRETARY<br />
TREASURER<br />
EDITOR<br />
RISK REDUCTION CHAIRMAN<br />
________________________________________<br />
________________________________________<br />
________________________________________<br />
________________________________________<br />
________________________________________<br />
________________________________________<br />
iv
PREFACE, TENTH EDITION<br />
In the nearly 6 years that have past since the Ninth Edition of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity Pledge Manual<br />
was printed, Sigma Phi Delta has undergone unparalleled changes. Three new active chapters have been chartered,<br />
previously inactive alumni chapters are being re-activated, the National Office has been restructured and virtually<br />
every office on the Supreme Council has changed holders. Now, as we begin a new millenium, the time has come to<br />
give a new face to the Fraternity's most important instrument of training and knowledge. In bringing this Pledge<br />
Manual up to date, an emphasis was placed on preserving the order of presentation, while utilizing a more consistent<br />
and modern format. It is hoped that this new look, combined with the time-tested content itself, will yield a more<br />
effective pledge training experience.<br />
The pledges of the undergraduate, or active, chapters of the Sigma Phi Delta are its future. If the Fraternity is<br />
to be successful, if it is to grow in numbers of chapters and members, if it is to fulfill its object, then these pledges<br />
must be inculcated with the ideals, principles and history of the Fraternity. In this way, their continued interest in<br />
and support of the Fraternity as an active and as an alumnus should be assured. An organization can be appreciated<br />
to its fullest extent only by those who thoroughly understand it and who have a complete knowledge of the<br />
organization and its purposes and objectives.<br />
This Pledge Manual combines, as did the previous nine editions, the most complete information available<br />
from many sources on the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity, its role and purpose. Past issues of the CASTLE, copies of<br />
the Convention Minutes, private communications and many years of personal experience have all been sources of<br />
information for this Manual. This publication is more than a Manual for Pledges. It is, in reality, the sole location<br />
where most of the history of our Fraternity can be found in one volume.<br />
This Manual is meant to be the personal, permanent, possession of the pledge so that, following initiation, he<br />
may continue to grow in knowledge of the Fraternity by reference to this work. If, while a pledge, one lesson per<br />
week is studied, the assignment should not be excessive and the subject matter can be readily assimilated. The<br />
specific order in which the material is studied depends on the individual Chapter of the Fraternity and its Officers.<br />
There are few active members who cannot learn more of the history, goals and ideals of our Brotherhood than they<br />
presently know, thereby improving their insight and perception. All members are encouraged to retain this Manual<br />
throughout their adult life.<br />
Membership in the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity is not for the brief few years of undergraduate study but for<br />
the entire lifetime of the member. The training the pledge receives may well determine the activity of the<br />
undergraduate member and the continued support and interest of the alumnus member.<br />
This book is dedicated, not alone to our pledges, as have been most of the past editions, but to the entire<br />
membership of our Brotherhood.<br />
Fraternally,<br />
Fairfax, Virginia<br />
January 20, 2001<br />
Edward A. Hurst<br />
Treasurer &<br />
Information Systems Manager<br />
v
PREFACE, FIRST EDITION<br />
For many years, the training of future Sigma Phi Delta members has been through the whims and fancies of<br />
the individual chapters. The adequacy of this instruction in many cases has not been too complete. Therefore, there<br />
has been a definite need for a pledge training program at a National level. With this thought in mind this Pledge<br />
Manual was written to provide a useful guide and a required course for all chapters in their pledge training.<br />
Many suggestions have been received as to the contents of this manual. A lot of these ideas have been<br />
incorporated into the logical sequence of the study outline. The material covered by the various lessons provides a<br />
complete review of our Constitution and Statutory Code along with general information about our Fraternity and<br />
your College or University.<br />
If your pledge class meets on a weekly basis, one lesson per week would not be too difficult an assignment.<br />
The Pledge Master should have a posted chart showing lessons to be covered during the pledge's training period,<br />
including dates. It will be his duty to question the pledges on their current assignment using the questions in the<br />
Manual. He will also report to the active Chapter the pledge's progress from time to time.<br />
The Pledge Master should see that the Constitution and Statutory Code is readily available. If any pledge is<br />
having trouble with his lessons, designate some Active Member to help him.<br />
It is hoped that this method of pledge orientation will provide a better understanding of Sigma Phi Delta and<br />
will promote our high ideals of brotherhood. A more thorough knowledge of our Fraternity should result in better<br />
cooperation, universal thinking and a better-informed Fraternity.<br />
Fargo, North Dakota<br />
November 1, 1953<br />
ORVILLE J. BANASIK<br />
vi
<strong>PLEDGE</strong> <strong>MANUAL</strong>S<br />
of the<br />
SIGMA PHI DELTA FRATERNITY<br />
First Edition<br />
Second Edition<br />
Third Edition<br />
Second Printing<br />
Fourth Edition<br />
Second Printing<br />
Fifth Edition<br />
Sixth Edition<br />
Seventh Edition<br />
Eighth Edition<br />
Ninth Edition<br />
Tenth Edition<br />
- Office of the Central Province Councilor, Fargo, North Dakota<br />
November 1, 1953, by Orville J. Banasik<br />
- Office of the Grand President, Urbana, Illinois<br />
January 1, 1959, by Robert J. Beals<br />
- Office of the Grand President, Urbana, Illinois<br />
January 1, 1962, by Robert J. Beals<br />
- Office of the Grand President, Naperville, Illinois<br />
January 1, 1966, by Robert J. Beals<br />
- Office of the Grand President, Naperville, Illinois<br />
October 1, 1968, by Robert J. Beals<br />
- Office of the Grand President, Cincinnati, Ohio<br />
September 1, 1971, by Robert J. Beals<br />
- Office of the Executive Secretary, East Liverpool, Ohio<br />
September 1, 1978, by Robert J. Beals<br />
- Office of the Executive Secretary, East Liverpool, Ohio<br />
September 1, 1984, by Robert J. Beals<br />
- Office of the Executive Secretary, East Liverpool, Ohio<br />
January 1, 1988, by Robert J. Beals<br />
- Office of the Executive Secretary, East Liverpool, Ohio<br />
January 1, 1991, by Robert J. Beals<br />
- Office of the Executive Secretary, East Liverpool, Ohio<br />
November 1, 1995, by Robert J. Beals<br />
- Office of the Treasurer & Information Systems Manager, Fairfax, Virginia<br />
January 1, 2003, by Edward A. Hurst<br />
vii
TABLE OF CONTENTS<br />
OUR FRATERNITY....................................................................................................................................................................... 1<br />
CODE OF ETHICS......................................................................................................................................................................... 1<br />
WHAT IS A FRATERNITY? ........................................................................................................................................................ 2<br />
STATUS OF A <strong>PLEDGE</strong>............................................................................................................................................................... 3<br />
RESPONSIBILITIES OF MEMBERSHIP................................................................................................................................. 5<br />
THE DEVELOPMENT OF FRATERNITIES ........................................................................................................................... 7<br />
THE GREEK ALPHABET............................................................................................................................................................ 9<br />
ACTIVE CHAPTERS OF SIGMA PHI DELTA..................................................................................................................... 10<br />
ALUMNI CHAPTERS OF SIGMA PHI DELTA ................................................................................................................... 12<br />
INSIGNIA OF SIGMA PHI DELTA ......................................................................................................................................... 13<br />
BLAZON FOR THE SIGMA PHI DELTA COAT OF ARMS............................................................................................ 15<br />
HERALDIC REPORT ON THE BLAZON FOR THE SIGMA PHI DELTA COAT OF ARMS................................. 16<br />
FRATERNITY PUBLICATIONS.............................................................................................................................................. 19<br />
SIGMA PHI DELTA EFFICIENCY CONTEST..................................................................................................................... 20<br />
EFFICIENCY CONTEST WINNERS....................................................................................................................................... 21<br />
THE RISK REDUCTION POLICY of THE SIGMA PHI DELTA FRATERNITY......................................................... 22<br />
THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF SIGMA PHI DELTA ......................................................................................... 25<br />
LEGISLATIVE.......................................................................................................................................................................... 25<br />
JUDICIAL................................................................................................................................................................................... 25<br />
EXECUTIVE.............................................................................................................................................................................. 26<br />
BOARD OF TRUSTEES ......................................................................................................................................................... 26<br />
ENDOWMENT FUNDS.......................................................................................................................................................... 26<br />
FINANCES ................................................................................................................................................................................. 27<br />
SIGMA PHI DELTA FOUNDATION.................................................................................................................................. 27<br />
FRATERNITY LAWS............................................................................................................................................................. 27<br />
PROVINCES .............................................................................................................................................................................. 28<br />
ACTIVE AND ALUMNI CHAPTERS................................................................................................................................. 28<br />
MEMBERSHIP.......................................................................................................................................................................... 29<br />
<strong>PLEDGE</strong>SHIP............................................................................................................................................................................ 29<br />
SPECIAL DAYS ....................................................................................................................................................................... 30<br />
GENERAL CONVENTIONS OF SIGMA PHI DELTA ....................................................................................................... 31<br />
PROVINCE CONVENTIONS OF SIGMA PHI DELTA...................................................................................................... 33<br />
CENTRAL PROVINCE........................................................................................................................................................... 33<br />
EASTERN PROVINCE........................................................................................................................................................... 35<br />
WESTERN PROVINCE.......................................................................................................................................................... 37<br />
THE SUPREME COUNCIL OF SIGMA PHI DELTA.......................................................................................................... 39<br />
GENERAL MANAGERS of SIGMA PHI DELTA ................................................................................................................ 45<br />
EXECUTIVE SECRETARIES OF SIGMA PHI DELTA ..................................................................................................... 45<br />
TREASURERS OF SIGMA PHI DELTA ................................................................................................................................ 45<br />
EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS OF SIGMA PHI DELTA .......................................................................................................... 45<br />
BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF SIGMA PHI DELTA ............................................................................................................... 46<br />
BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE SIGMA PHI DELTA FOUNDATION..................................................................... 50<br />
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE......................................................................................................................................... 51<br />
A HISTORY OF SIGMA PHI DELTA FRATERNITY......................................................................................................... 55<br />
1923 - 1931 ................................................................................................................................................................................. 55<br />
1931 - 1939 ................................................................................................................................................................................. 59<br />
1939 - 1952 ................................................................................................................................................................................. 61<br />
1952 - 1960 ................................................................................................................................................................................. 63<br />
1960 - 1968 ................................................................................................................................................................................. 66<br />
1968 - 1974 ................................................................................................................................................................................. 68<br />
1974 - 1984 ................................................................................................................................................................................. 70<br />
viii
1985 - 1989 ................................................................................................................................................................................. 74<br />
1990 - 1995 ................................................................................................................................................................................. 77<br />
1996 - 2001 ................................................................................................................................................................................. 81<br />
<strong>PLEDGE</strong> LESSONS...................................................................................................................................................................... 85<br />
Lesson One................................................................................................................................................................................. 85<br />
Lesson Two ................................................................................................................................................................................ 85<br />
Lesson Three.............................................................................................................................................................................. 85<br />
Lesson Four................................................................................................................................................................................ 86<br />
Lesson Five................................................................................................................................................................................. 86<br />
Lesson Six................................................................................................................................................................................... 86<br />
Lesson Seven ............................................................................................................................................................................. 87<br />
Lesson Eight............................................................................................................................................................................... 87<br />
Lesson Nine................................................................................................................................................................................ 88<br />
Lesson Ten ................................................................................................................................................................................. 88<br />
Lesson Eleven ............................................................................................................................................................................ 89<br />
Lesson Twelve ........................................................................................................................................................................... 89<br />
ix
Pledge Manual of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity Tenth Edition - 2002<br />
OUR FRATERNITY<br />
The object of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity shall be to promote the advancement of the Engineering<br />
Profession; to foster the advancement of Engineering Education; to instill a greater spirit of cooperation among<br />
Engineering Students and Organizations; to inculcate in its members the highest ideals of virtuous manhood, good<br />
citizenship, obedience to Law, and Brotherhood; and to encourage excellence in scholarship.<br />
CODE OF ETHICS<br />
The Code of Ethics of Sigma Phi Delta is founded upon the basic principles of truth and honesty. The<br />
quotation "Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest" should be the light guiding the footsteps of an<br />
Engineer toward service and success.<br />
An Engineer should at all times be mentally, physically, and morally clean, and should conduct himself as a<br />
gentleman. He should be courageous in following his own convictions, mentally awake to make use of every<br />
opportunity, and should consider the welfare of others before his own.<br />
To his superiors, an Engineer should be dutiful; to his co-workers, helpful; to his subordinates, generous; to<br />
all men, brotherly. An Engineer should take a good grip on the joys of life. He should play the game like a man.<br />
He should fight against nothing so hard as his own weaknesses, and should endeavor to gain in strength. He should<br />
live so that his actions shall never besmirch his own honor, and thus maintain the honor of the Engineering<br />
Profession.<br />
Page 1
Pledge Manual of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity Tenth Edition - 2002<br />
WHAT IS A FRATERNITY?<br />
A Fraternity is fundamentally a group of college students congenial in tastes and character, living together<br />
happily because they have something in common with each other. A fraternity house differs from a dormitory or a<br />
boarding house in that its success, financial and otherwise, depends upon the cooperation of its members. It is<br />
something, which should be described in terms of friendship and brotherhood. Common aims, common names,<br />
common worries, common problems, and common plans weld the group into one homogeneous body.<br />
The benefits which may be derived from a Fraternity are found in the opportunities which the student enjoys<br />
for independent action, for developing self-reliance, for taking personal responsibility, for working out his own<br />
problems, and for assisting in the solution of problems common to others around him. The relationship, which<br />
exists between the members of the Fraternity, a brotherhood that is more than a mechanical union, is a most potent<br />
force in a student's life. The running of the chapter house may be a business proposition, but in the personal<br />
relations between the members there must be something of sentiment, some affection, some warm regard of one man<br />
for another, and some interest in his progress and welfare. There must be a unity of feeling, which binds all the<br />
members closely together as if they were blood brothers.<br />
To fulfill its purpose, the Fraternity must give its members higher ideals of life. Unless its influence is such<br />
as to make men more honest in their work and in their business relations, cleaner in their lives and cleaner in their<br />
talk, more temperate in eating and more temperate in drinking, better students, better men and better citizens, it is<br />
failing in the purpose for which it was founded. The purpose of every fraternity member should be to enlarge upon<br />
the ideals of his fraternity, to exemplify them more fully in his own daily life and to impress them more forcefully<br />
upon the undergraduate members with whom he comes in contact.<br />
Just as the perfect home life is not attained except through sacrifice and unselfishness and mutual<br />
concessions so the fraternity life must be a period of sharing and working for the good of the whole, rather than the<br />
good of the individual. The fraternity is no stronger than the men who are its members. If a man can be a drone or<br />
dissolute, or disinterested in the ideals of the fraternity and not lose standing in the group, there is something wrong<br />
with his fraternity's ideals. The pledge period is devoted and directed toward the development of the attitudes and<br />
ideals, which are essential to the success of the organization.<br />
Today, our schools are doing an excellent job in teaching technical knowledge and practical skill. Yet many<br />
a graduate from our colleges and universities has an unbalanced education. Education cannot be attained solely<br />
from the textbook and the laboratory. There is more to a complete life than salary and position. The well-educated<br />
man has learned to be tolerant of others, to know the value of friendship, and to do his duty to his fellowman and to<br />
his profession. A well-educated man goes beyond the textbook and the laboratory report and becomes familiar with<br />
the faculties of the college, with the history and the aims of his Alma Mater, with the attitudes and the Customs of<br />
his community. More than this, he makes a conscientious effort to be a contributing part of these bodies.<br />
The fraternity offers the finest training ground available for the development of potential qualities -- qualities<br />
which, in the non-fraternity men, may never be developed. The chapter, which does not stress scholarship, is the<br />
exception. One of the ideals expressed by most of the fraternities is the development of character.<br />
A fraternity is many things -- a home where the member learns cooperation and tolerance; a social program<br />
where the individual acquires poise and courtesy; an ideal for the man to follow while in college and also after<br />
graduation. To quote: "To afford stimulating associations; to offer inspiration in the quest for knowledge; to give<br />
discipline in social cooperation -- this, in short, is the purpose of the fraternity".<br />
Page 2
Pledge Manual of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity Tenth Edition - 2002<br />
STATUS OF A <strong>PLEDGE</strong><br />
A man who has agreed to join a college fraternity is usually called a pledge, and he will be known by this<br />
term until he has been formally initiated into the society. As a rule, student society is hard on the newcomer and<br />
will expect both conformity and discipline from him.<br />
Frequently the pledge knows little or nothing of his status. In some instances this may be due to limited<br />
knowledge on his part, and in others, it may be due to the fact that circumstances arise due to the mismanagement on<br />
the part of the chapter officers, which develop situations contrary to his preconceived notions.<br />
A Fraternity is more of an ideal than a fact. Its members are expected to be ever striving toward the true<br />
brotherhood, but being human, they are subject to many faults which prevent the fraternity from becoming the ideal<br />
brotherhood that is being striven after. For this reason, it is well for the pledge to know something of his rights, his<br />
privileges and his duties.<br />
When a man is pledged, he surrenders none of his legal or social rights, none of his personal or family ties,<br />
and none of his moral or religious ideals and standards. His status changes only in that he has assumed certain<br />
additional obligations and responsibilities. This will usually require some adaptation, since an individuals rights or<br />
capacities are limited. His rights remain, but unless he is willing to adapt himself as much as possible to the<br />
fraternity's ways and standards, he may find that he is not welcome. He will learn more and more about these ideals<br />
as his pledgeship continues.<br />
The fraternity chapter professes to provide a home for its members. If the pledge resides in this home, he has<br />
a right to expect a reasonable home-like atmosphere, comfortable quarters, good food, reasonable privacy, and study<br />
conditions which permit plenty of quiet concentration, free from constant interruption. He has the right to expect<br />
that his clothing, books and other property will not be used by others without his permission. However, he has no<br />
right to demand more than he pays for.<br />
A fraternity claims to be a brotherhood, and although a pledge is not yet a member, he has the right to expect<br />
a brotherly attitude and brotherly treatment from the members. He may be given certain tasks to perform and be<br />
expected to study certain things diligently, but he still may expect fair consideration and treatment.<br />
Because members have received improper treatment while they were pledges, it does not give them the right<br />
to become abusive to pledges or to demand certain things merely because they themselves received such treatment.<br />
Pledges, on the other hand, should refrain from going around with a chip on their shoulders.<br />
The Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity recognizes that improper treatment of pledges may sometimes, in some<br />
organizations, be an acceptable norm. The phrase "hazing" is often applied to this improper treatment. Hazing is<br />
not condoned in the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity. Hazing is defined (in the Laws of the Fraternity) "as the performing<br />
of an act or insisting or encouraging another to perform an act, which may cause or create a risk to physical or<br />
mental health. Such acts include, but are not limited to, the following: requiring a person to ingest alcohol or any<br />
substance; causing excessive fatigue - mental or physical; preventing a person from having at least six hours of sleep<br />
in any 24-hour period; paddling, anything that could cause unreasonable discomfort, pain, fright, disgrace, injury or<br />
degradation; and any act that violates any federal, state, provincial or local statute or university policy."<br />
A fraternity is held responsible, to a large extent, for the social behavior of its members, and a pledge should<br />
expect that the members will properly conduct themselves. Clean conversation and moral and gentlemanly conduct<br />
on the part of the members is essential so that the atmosphere of the chapter house may be kept on a wholesome<br />
level. A pledge is thoroughly justified in speaking his mind on any moral issue or in declining to take part in any<br />
activity which he feels is objectionable upon such grounds.<br />
A pledge of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity is expected to conduct himself as a gentleman. He should defend<br />
gentlemanly standards of honor, morality and fair play. Courtesy and consideration should be shown to others at all<br />
times. Pledges should not be snobbish in dealing with persons not affiliated with the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity.<br />
Page 3
Pledge Manual of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity Tenth Edition - 2002<br />
Certain obligations are assumed upon becoming a pledge. No man should pledge a fraternity unless he can<br />
give a reasonable amount of time to its activities. Thin includes work around the chapter house, participation in<br />
social and other extra-curricular activities of the chapter and, as an active member, holding office in the chapter.<br />
Without money the fraternity cannot survive. The pledge, no less than the active member, is expected to pay<br />
his chapter bills when due. Every pledge should realize from the very moment of his affiliation with a fraternity that<br />
he is assuming certain financial obligations and that these obligations must be considered in a strictly business sense,<br />
devoid of fraternal sentiment. The fraternity is justified in severing connections with a pledge, or with a member,<br />
who fails to pay his bills promptly.<br />
The college man's first duty is application to scholarship. This is a duty he owes to his college, his fraternity,<br />
his parents and himself. No other activity is as important and none should be allowed to interfere with his efforts to<br />
secure a reasonable degree of attainment in his course of study. Sigma Phi Delta expects its members and its<br />
pledges to maintain a high scholastic average.<br />
Page 4
Pledge Manual of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity Tenth Edition - 2002<br />
RESPONSIBILITIES OF MEMBERSHIP<br />
In becoming a member of an organization such as the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity, the individual incurs<br />
several responsibilities which may not be readily apparent in the first rush of pledging nor, perhaps, in the early days<br />
of active membership.<br />
First, it must be assumed that, by joining a fraternity, the individual is interested in furthering the ideals of<br />
the group, that he is willing to work with and for the brothers, that he is willing to share in the experience of<br />
community living. Not every man can, or wants to, be president. While the president is a very important office in<br />
the Chapter, he can serve best when assisted by capable men in the other offices of the Chapter. It is the<br />
responsibility of every member to assume the duties of Chapter office if his brothers elect him to that office and if he<br />
has the capabilities and qualifications to carry out the functions of that office. No office should be considered as too<br />
trivial for any member. Once in office, the incumbent must continually strive to better himself and his office. Those<br />
members not elected to office must give their wholehearted support to the Chapter program.<br />
The Chapter program is fraternal, professional, academic, social and athletic. Some phases may be of more<br />
interest to the individual than others, but only the full support of the membership for each phase will make the<br />
complete program a success. In Sigma Phi Delta, professional development through scholastic attainment is<br />
stressed. Each member must develop academically for himself and for his Chapter. The college graduate who has<br />
best made use of the facilities the college and the fraternity have to offer is the one who has fully realized the value<br />
of a college education. No phase of the Chapter program can be neglected if the member is to be truly educated.<br />
These programs take money, which comes from the dues and the fees of the membership. Any member who<br />
is delinquent in his financial relationships with the Chapter is placing an unfair burden on his brothers. The<br />
responsibility the member has in paying his own bills and in insisting that everyone else pay up cannot be stressed<br />
too highly. One of the things that the Chapter must teach is fiscal responsibility. It is truly the brotherly thing to<br />
help the delinquent member realize his responsibility and to hold him accountable for payment.<br />
Most of the Chapters of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity have a Building Fund which is used toward payment<br />
for the present Chapter house or for the purchase of newer, or larger, chapter quarters. In some instances, this Fund<br />
is retired during the undergraduate career. In most instances, the Fund is paid off following graduation. Whether<br />
the agreement be legal or moral, it is the responsibility of the member to keep good faith and to meet this obligation<br />
of membership.<br />
It is relatively easy, as an undergraduate member, living in the Chapter house, to keep an active interest in the<br />
welfare of the Fraternity. It is another problem for the alumnus member. It should be borne in mind that once a man<br />
is initiated into membership In the Fraternity, he is a member for life. The Alumni Chapter of the Fraternity is to<br />
provide the fraternal, professional and social activities for the alumnus, in part, that the Active Chapter does for the<br />
undergraduate. With the press of everyday living, the family, the outside social contacts, the member must<br />
remember his responsibility to support the program of his alumni chapter. The alumnus member provides the<br />
necessary stability to the Fraternity. In the Alumni Chapter, also, the member must be willing and ready to assume<br />
responsibility of office so that the details necessary to the operation of the Chapter are carried out by more than a<br />
few. If elected as an officer, the member must work to provide a program, which will interest his brothers.<br />
Every organization, if it is successful, must continue to grow in numbers and in stature. It is the<br />
responsibility of every member to watch for good prospective members for the Chapter. It is every member's<br />
responsibility to work toward the establishment of new chapters of the Fraternity. Alumni are in a particularly good<br />
position to do this as they go out from the undergraduate chapter to jobs on other campuses or in communities close<br />
to campuses. The more chapters the Fraternity has, the more efficient the operation of the organization will be. As<br />
we increase in numbers we increase in stature.<br />
Membership in a fraternity carries with it prestige. Membership carries with it responsibility. Without the<br />
latter, the former is impossible. It is the responsibility of every member to do as much for his Fraternity as his best<br />
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efforts will permit, to support its program completely, to continue his loyalty and interest in the Brotherhood of<br />
Sigma Phi Delta throughout a lifetime of service.<br />
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THE DEVELOPMENT OF FRATERNITIES<br />
It is well for the fraternity man to know something of the history of the Greek-letter movement in the United<br />
States and Canada. Fraternities and sororities are a unique North American institution in that they have no European<br />
or Asian counterpart.<br />
The early colleges developed in this country slowly. For many years they remained small and student<br />
activities were closely controlled. Even in 1820, Yale was the largest college in the country with 371 students! The<br />
small numbers rendered the fraternity unnecessary and made its functioning difficult.<br />
The first American college fraternity of which we have record appeared at the College of William and Mary<br />
in 1750 and continued to exist until 1772. It was named "The Flat Hat Club" and was secret, literary and social in<br />
character, with a grip and a badge, and held regular meeting.<br />
Somewhat later, at the same college, in Williamsburg, Virginia, a new organization was formed. On<br />
December 5, 1776, Phi Beta Kappa was founded. At first, it was similar to other literary societies of the day in that<br />
its program consisted of essays, orations and debates. Later, it developed a grip, ritual, and plans for expansion. Up<br />
to 1831, Phi Beta Kappa resembled the other college fraternities of those and later times. Later, it was denounced at<br />
Dartmouth, its secrets published at Harvard and Yale. In 1831, the Fraternity was transformed into its present-day<br />
role as an honor society.<br />
The next Fraternity was organized at the University of North Carolina around 1812. Its founders were four<br />
Phi Beta Kappas who did not belong to a chapter. It expanded to include twenty-one chapters, but the national<br />
group was never strong and the political differences of the Civil War resulted in its demise.<br />
Other fraternities were founded, but the first several failed to last for long. In the third and fourth decades of<br />
the nineteenth century, there appeared a number of social fraternities. By 1850, there were fifteen, with branches<br />
spreading in all directions. By 1865, there were twenty-five, two of which were founded in the South. The total<br />
number of chapters established up to this time was 375. Of these, ninety-one were inactive, largely due to a strong<br />
faculty opposition. Many resorted to a sub-rosa existence. From 1869 to 1890, but one new fraternity was added.<br />
Since this time growth of fraternities has been rapid. In 1922, there were 2,000 active chapters and fifty-five men's<br />
nationals with about one-half million graduate. Today, despite the problems of the 1960's, when several fraternities<br />
became inactive and membership in Greek organizations was looked on with disfavor, there are over 60 men's<br />
nationals in existence.<br />
The first fraternity house was established as a result of a conflict between the students and faculty at the<br />
University of Michigan. The president had demanded that the Students sever their affiliations with all fraternities.<br />
The members refused to do this. They met secretly in an abandoned log cabin in a nearby forest. This was in 1845.<br />
Through the intercession of several organizations, this faculty stand was reversed and the fraternities permitted to<br />
grow. The first modern fraternity house was built and opened for meetings only, at Williams College, in 1864. It<br />
was ten years later before a house was used for members to live in.<br />
During this period, there were many bitter struggles between students and faculty. Alumni control had not<br />
yet been started. Fraternities had not found themselves and lacked a mission. The turning point came in 1888.<br />
With the increase in the number of new universities, which were developing in the West, the fraternity system<br />
expanded. The fraternities were able to solve the critical housing problems that developed. The faculties threw<br />
some of the responsibility of government upon the students and gave them needed encouragement and cooperation<br />
to accomplish the desired ends. The average fraternity house ceased to be a loafing place and became more of a<br />
workshop. Competition between houses became less bitter and more wholesome.<br />
In 1869, the first Professional Fraternity was formed. This trend has continued until practically every field of<br />
endeavor has one or more professional fraternities. In general, the professional fraternities are somewhat smaller<br />
than the general or so-called "social" fraternities.<br />
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In 1908, the general fraternities organized the National Interfraternity Conference. Representatives from the<br />
various member fraternities met annually to consider the problems confronting the Greek system. This organization<br />
has cooperated fully with the colleges and universities and has faced the criticism directed at the fraternity system.<br />
It has helped to correct the faults, which were inherent in the system.<br />
Early in 1928, the Conference of Law Fraternities contacted the various professional fraternities concerning<br />
the formation of a Professional Interfraternity Conference. Twenty-seven fraternities attended the first meeting on<br />
March 2, 1928. The Conference established as qualifications for membership: (1) the profession must be generally<br />
recognized by universities and colleges as a profession by the creation of courses therein in separate colleges or<br />
schools leading to a degree; (2) the fraternity must have a recognized Code of Ethics, generally accepted as binding<br />
upon the members thereof; (3) the profession must recognize the duty of public service as binding on the members<br />
thereof; and (4) the profession must require principally mental rather than manual or artistic labor for its successful<br />
prosecution.<br />
Officers of the Professional Panhellenic Association (founded in 1925) and the Professional Interfraternity<br />
Conference met jointly and separately in Indianapolis, Indiana, on October 19 - 22, 1977, and voted to consolidate<br />
both organizations into the Professional Fraternity Association (PFA), representing thirty-four national and<br />
international fraternities with over one and one-half million members.<br />
Today, three classes of fraternities exist. First are the honor societies and honor fraternities. Almost every<br />
branch of learning has one or more such organizations. Members are selected primarily on the basis of scholastic<br />
attainment and usually not until they have completed at least two years of college work. They seldom attempt a<br />
social program and admit into membership fraternity and non-fraternity men and women equally.<br />
The general fraternities offer membership to students in practically any branch of academic endeavor. Most<br />
of these fraternities have chapter houses and pursue a well-rounded program of activities, giving rise to the<br />
commonly used term, "social" fraternities.<br />
The professional fraternities admit to membership students who are enrolled in a particular curriculum or<br />
school. Sometimes, they border on the honorary fraternities, selecting only men or women who have been enrolled<br />
one or more years and who have indicated promise in the particular field of endeavor. Their program is primarily<br />
professional and is planned to supplement the college courses.<br />
Some professional fraternities, however, have developed into social fraternities and differ but little from the<br />
general fraternities. The main difference is the practice of admitting only those pursuing a particular course of<br />
study, while the general fraternity admits without regard to curriculum. Thus, the professional fraternities band<br />
together men (and sometimes women) who are pursuing a similar course of study, making it possible for them to aid<br />
each other to a greater extent than is usual in the general fraternity.<br />
There are three fraternities in the United States and Canada specializing in engineering: Triangle Fraternity, a<br />
member of the National Interfraternity Conference; Theta Tau Fraternity and Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity, members<br />
of the Professional Fraternity Association. All are social as well as professional, having houses on the various<br />
campuses and following a social and athletic, as well as a professional, program.<br />
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THE GREEK ALPHABET<br />
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ACTIVE CHAPTERS OF SIGMA PHI DELTA<br />
1. Alpha - Founded at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, on April 11,<br />
1924.<br />
2. Beta - Founded at the University of South Dakota, Vermillion, South Dakota, on May 2,<br />
1926. (Now Inactive)<br />
3. Gamma - Founded at the University of Texas, Austin, Texas, on May 11, 1927. (Now Inactive)<br />
4. Delta - Founded at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, on January 25, 1928.<br />
5. Epsilon - Founded at North Dakota Agricultural College, Fargo, North Dakota, on May 21, 1928.<br />
(Now, North Dakota State University)<br />
6. Zeta - Founded at Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, on April 26, 1929. (Now Inactive)<br />
7. Eta - Founded at Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on May 23, 1931.<br />
8. Theta - Founded at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, on April 24,<br />
1932.<br />
9. Iota - Founded at the Chicago Technical College, Chicago, Illinois, on October 12, 1935. (Now<br />
Inactive)<br />
10. Kappa - Founded at Tri-State College, Angola, Indiana, on May 25, 1947. (Now Tri-State<br />
University)<br />
11. Lambda - Founded at Indiana Technical College, Fort Wayne, Indiana, on May 11, 1951. (Now<br />
Indiana Institute of Technology) (Now Inactive)<br />
12. Mu - Founded at the University of California (UCLA), Los Angeles, California, on July 14,<br />
1951. (Now Inactive)<br />
13. Nu - Founded at the University of California, Berkeley, California, on December 6, 1952. (Now<br />
Inactive)<br />
14. Xi - Founded at the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, on May 2, 1953. (Now<br />
Inactive)<br />
15. Omicron - Founded at the Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, on May 3, 1958. (Now<br />
Inactive)<br />
16. Pi - Founded at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Institute, Miami, Florida, on September 10, 1960.<br />
(Later, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Florida) (Now Inactive)<br />
17. Rho - Founded at Bradley University, Peoria, Illinois, on December 18, 1955. (Now Inactive)<br />
18. Sigma - Founded at the California State College at Long Beach, California, on February 1, 1969.<br />
(Now Inactive)<br />
19. Tau - Founded at Loyola University of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, on April 11, 1970.<br />
(Later, the Loyola-Marymount University) (Now Inactive)<br />
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20. Upsilon - Founded at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, on April 8, 1989. (Now<br />
Inactive)<br />
21. Phi - Founded at South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota, on May 4, 1991.<br />
22. Chi - Founded at the University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, on April 10, 1999. (Now<br />
Inactive)<br />
23. Psi - Founded at the University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, on April 11, 1999.<br />
24. Omega - Founded at Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey, on May 13, 2000.<br />
25. Beta Alpha - Founded at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka, Bangladesh, on<br />
January 5, 2003<br />
26. Beta Gamma -<br />
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Pledge Manual of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity Tenth Edition - 2002<br />
ALUMNI CHAPTERS OF SIGMA PHI DELTA<br />
1. Los Angeles Alumni - Chartered in Los Angeles, California, on July 15, 1926. Associated<br />
with Alpha Active Chapter.<br />
2. Delta Alumni - Chartered in Chicago, Illinois, on May 16, 1930. Associated with Delta<br />
Active Chapter.<br />
3. Fargo Alumni - Chartered in Fargo, North Dakota, on July 22, 1953. Associated with<br />
Epsilon Active Chapter.<br />
4. Milwaukee Alumni - Chartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on January 18, 1955. Associated<br />
with Eta Active Chapter. (Now Inactive)<br />
5. Vancouver Alumni - Chartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, on February 12, 1948.<br />
Associated with Theta Active Chapter.<br />
6. Iota Alumni - Chartered in Chicago, Illinois, on April 26, 1953. Associated with the<br />
now-Inactive Iota Active Chapter.<br />
7. Kappa Alumni - Chartered in Angola, Indiana, on Novemb er 3, 1952. Associated with<br />
Kappa Active Chapter.<br />
8. Fort Wayne Alumni - Chartered in Fort Wayne, Indiana, on October 14, 1958. Associated<br />
with the now inactive Lambda Active Chapter. (Now Inactive)<br />
9. Mu Alumni - Chartered in Los Angeles, California, on August 24, 1953. Associated<br />
with the now-Inactive Mu Active Chapter. (Now Inactive)<br />
10. San Francisco Bay Area Alumni - Chartered in San Francisco, California, on June 21, 1957. Associated<br />
with the now-Inactive Nu Active Chapter. (Now Inactive)<br />
11. Seattle Area Alumni - Chartered in Seattle, Washington, on March 26, 1963. (Now Inactive)<br />
12. Winnipeg Alumni - Chartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on June 21, 1965. Associated with<br />
the now-Inactive Xi Active Chapter. (Now Inactive)<br />
13. Twin Cities Alumni - Chartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on July 24, 1965.<br />
14. Central Illinois Alumni - Chartered in Peoria, Illinois, on September 28, 1974. Associated with<br />
the now-Inactive Rho Active Chapter. (Now Inactive)<br />
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INSIGNIA OF SIGMA PHI DELTA<br />
1. The Name of the Fraternity is represented by the capital form of the Greek letters Sigma (S ), Phi (F ), Delta<br />
(D ) which stand for Science, Friendship and Duty.<br />
2. The Symbol of the Fraternity is the Castle.<br />
3. The Colors of the Fraternity are Red and Black.<br />
4. The Flower of the Fraternity is the American Beauty Rose.<br />
5. The Motto of the Fraternity is "Pro Bono Professionis", which is translated "For the Good of the Profession".<br />
6. The Pledge Button, illustrated below, is described as: "A red triangular background on which is a black Castle,<br />
the whole bordered in gold".<br />
7. The Membership Badge, illustrated on the next page, is described as: "A triangle having concave corners on<br />
which are superimposed three smaller triangles having concave sides and having their vertices at the center of<br />
the badge on which is placed a ruby. The smaller triangles, which contain the letters Sigma, Phi and Delta, are<br />
black, the background between them being white. A gold star is located near each of the vertices of the large<br />
triangle. The border may be engraved gold or may be jeweled. The crown pearl badge has four pearls on each<br />
side of the badge. The ruby point badge has two rubies and two pearls on each side, the pearls being in the<br />
middle and the rubies at the outside".<br />
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8. The Membership Card, containing the name of the member, his school, the date of initiation and the assigned<br />
General Number is given to each new Member at the time of initiation. On the obverse side, the printing is<br />
superimposed on a representation of the Seal of the Fraternity. On the reverse side, the Code of Ethics of the<br />
Fraternity is carried. The card is signed by the Grand President, the Executive Secretary and the member.<br />
9. The Membership Certificate, giving the name of the member, his Chapter, and the date of initiation, is given to<br />
each member. This Certificate is signed by the Grand President, Executive Secretary, Chapter President and<br />
Chapter Secretary.<br />
10. The Fraternity Flag, illustrated below, is 4' x 6' cotton bunting or nylon. The design is black letters and Castle<br />
on a red field. This is a standard flag, that is, reading correctly from left to right on one side and in reverse on<br />
the other.<br />
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BLAZON FOR THE SIGMA PHI DELTA COAT OF ARMS<br />
Gules, a pall or, between, in chief two retorts crossed argent, in dexter base a quill sable surmounting a key in<br />
saltire, of the third, in sinister base a hammer fesswise of the fourth debruising a compass, points downward, of the<br />
third; over all the escutcheon of pretense, azure, charged with a castle or, masoned sable, with a bordure argent.<br />
Crest, over a duke's helmet and a torse of the colors, a dexter cubit arm, proper, grasping a thunderbolt,<br />
winged or<br />
Mantling:<br />
Supporters:<br />
Motto:<br />
Gules doubled, or<br />
Two lions, rampant, proper<br />
Sigma Phi Delta, in upper and lower case Greek letters<br />
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Pledge Manual of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity Tenth Edition - 2002<br />
HERALDIC REPORT ON THE BLAZON FOR THE SIGMA PHI DELTA<br />
COAT OF ARMS<br />
ARMS<br />
GULES<br />
PALL<br />
OR<br />
BETWEEN<br />
IN CHIEF<br />
TWO RETORTS<br />
CROSSED<br />
ARGENT<br />
IN DEXTER BASE<br />
SABLE<br />
IN SALTIRE<br />
OF THE THIRD<br />
IN SINISTER BASE<br />
A HAMMER<br />
FESSWISE<br />
OF THE FOURTH<br />
DEBRUISING<br />
A COMPASS<br />
POINTS DOWNWARD<br />
Refers to the Coat of Arms as a whole.<br />
is the Heraldic term for red. It is represented in monotone by equal distant vertical lines.<br />
This refers to the color of the shield.<br />
is the Y-shaped ordinary, which divides the SHIELD into three divisions. It finds its origin<br />
as a scarf in the shape of the letter "Y", forming part of the vesture of a Roman Catholic<br />
Prelate. It is introduced as the principal bearing of the Archbishops of Canterbury, Armagh<br />
and Dublin.<br />
is the Heraldic term for gold or yellow. It is represented by equal spaced dots and refers to<br />
the color or metal of the PALL.<br />
is a preposition describing that the ordinary mentioned lies in the center of other charges to<br />
be described.<br />
is a phrase locating the top center of the SHIELD.<br />
describes two chemical condensing apparatus.<br />
designates that the tapered stems lie one upon the other.<br />
is the Heraldic term for white or silver and is represented in monotone by no line or dot<br />
formation whatsoever. It refers to the color of the RETORTS.<br />
is the lower right hand side of the SHIELD, the left to the observer. Here we find a QUILL<br />
surmounting a KEY.<br />
is the Heraldic term for black and is represented in monotone by solid color or with crosshatched<br />
lines from top to bottom and left to right.<br />
is a Heraldic phrase explaining that these two symbols are crossed diagonally.<br />
is a Heraldic phrase describing the color of the KEY, being the third color mentioned in the<br />
BLAZON, namely, argent or silver.<br />
is a Heraldic phrase describing the location in the lower left hand corner of the shield, to<br />
the right of the observer.<br />
as the word described refers to a mechanic's tool.<br />
defines the horizontal position of this tool.<br />
is a Heraldic phrase indicating that this hammer is colored black, the fourth color<br />
mentioned in the BLAZON<br />
signifies that the hammer debruises or lies over another charge to be described next.<br />
is the charge, which is debruised by the HAMMER.<br />
indicates the position of the COMPASS.<br />
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Pledge Manual of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity Tenth Edition - 2002<br />
OF THE THIRD<br />
OVERALL<br />
has been described above and refers to the COMPASS.<br />
merely means that in the center of these charges we find a small SHIELD.<br />
AN ESCUTCHEON OF PRETENSES is the small SHIELD mentioned above.<br />
AZURE<br />
is the Heraldic term for blue and is represented by equal spaced horizontal lines which<br />
refers to the color of the SHIELD of the PRETENSES.<br />
CHARGED WITH A CASTLE means that a CASTLE is shown on a SHIELD OF PRETENSES.<br />
OR<br />
KASONED<br />
SABLE<br />
has been defined previously.<br />
means merely that the CASTLE has been shown in masoned or bricked formation.<br />
has been described previously.<br />
WITHIN A BORDURE means that the SHIELD OF PRETENSES is decorated with a border.<br />
ARGENT<br />
CREST<br />
has been defined previously.<br />
is that part of the COAT OF ARMS, which lies above the HELMET and the MANTLING.<br />
OVER A DUKE'S HELMET is in error. The HELMET is not necessarily that of a duke, but the HELMET of a<br />
sovereign. It would be, therefore, more exact to describe this HELMET, which is shown in<br />
front view with the visor opened, as the HELMET of the nobility.<br />
A TORSE OF COLORS refers to the CREST WREATH, the little six divisional affair immediately above the<br />
HELMET, alternately colored gold and red.<br />
DEXTER<br />
A CUBIT ARM<br />
PROPER<br />
means merely the right side.<br />
combined with the word DEXTER means a right arm cut off at the wrist, issuing from the<br />
CREST WREATH.<br />
is a phrase designating that it is shown in natural or proper colors, here flesh.<br />
GRASPING A THUNDERBOLT means that the fingers and thumb hold within them the representation of a bolt of<br />
LIGHTNING.<br />
WINGED<br />
OR<br />
MANTLING<br />
GULES<br />
DOUBLED<br />
OR<br />
SUPPORTERS<br />
indicates that the LIGHTNING has wings spread.<br />
has been described previously.<br />
refers to the lacy-like cloak that emanates from behind the HELMET and drapes itself<br />
gracefully along the top of the SHIELD.<br />
has been described previously.<br />
means that the MANTLING is twisted in certain parts so that it shows both the outside and<br />
the lining, or the inside. Thus, the MANTLING is both red and gold.<br />
has been described previously.<br />
described the two Heraldic LIONS, which are reared and leaning toward the SHIELD on<br />
either side.<br />
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RAMPANT<br />
PROPER<br />
MOTTO<br />
indicates the rearing position of the LIONS.<br />
has been previously described.<br />
is the phrase for the SCROLL RIBBON beneath the SHIELD, on which appears SIGMA<br />
PHI DELTA in upper and lower case Greek letters.<br />
The words SIGMA, PHI and DELTA are the initials of three Greek words, the meaning of<br />
which is disclosed to the initiate at the time of his formal initiation into the Fraternity.<br />
SIGMA PHI DELTA LOGOTYPE<br />
The logotype of Sigma Phi Delta fraternity was adopted on December 17, 2002. It embodies our symbol, the Castle,<br />
our letters SFD, and our profession ”Engineers.”<br />
SIGMA PHI DELTA SLOGAN<br />
The slogan of Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity was adopted on November 19, 2002, and recognizes us as the only<br />
international engineering fraternity: Sigma Phi Delta, The Premier International Fraternity of Engineers.<br />
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Pledge Manual of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity Tenth Edition - 2002<br />
FRATERNITY PUBLICATIONS<br />
1. The CASTLE. The Fraternity publishes an exoteric magazine, known as the Sigma Phi Delta CASTLE,<br />
devoted to the Interests of the Fraternity, engineering and college life and other information of general interest.<br />
This magazine is traditionally published twice a year, generally around December 1 and May 1 of the college<br />
year. An experiment was undertaken in 1984 to publish this magazine more frequently in a six to eight page<br />
publication rather than the sixteen to twenty-four page editions published twice each year. For a time, starting in<br />
1965, every fifth year's December issue used to contain a Directory of the Fraternity membership. With the<br />
advent of the Internet and the Fraternity's online membership database, hardcopy publication of the membership<br />
directory is not as essential.<br />
The staff of the CASTLE consists of an Editor, a Circulation Manager, Chapter Associate Editors (Historians)<br />
and such assistants as may seem desirable. The Editor and Circulation Manager may be the same person, if<br />
desired. The Editor of the CASTLE is a member of the Supreme Council and of the General Convention. He<br />
receives no salary. The Circulation Manager is an appointed staff member and receives a salary and an expense<br />
account. The Executive Secretary of the Fraternity handles the monies in the CASTLE Fund, as he does all<br />
other Funds in the National Office Treasury. The Editor of the CASTLE is elected at the General Convention<br />
for a two-year term; the Circulation Manager is appointed by the Grand President, upon recommendation of the<br />
Editor and with the approval of the Supreme Council.<br />
2. The STAR. The STAR is an esoteric publication issued by the Fraternity at least twice times a year and mailed<br />
on or around October 1 and April 1 of each year. It is issued to all members of the Fraternity. In the experiment<br />
to change the circulation of the CASTLE, the publication of the STAR would be combined with the morefrequent<br />
and smaller CASTLE, and the Fraternity would have one publication, perhaps four to six times per<br />
year.<br />
At present, the Fraternity Law provides that the Grand President edits the STAR. Included in the material are<br />
summarized reports on the activities of the Chapters, of the National Officers, of membership changes, and such<br />
other news for members of the Fraternity only as the Grand President desires.<br />
3. Monthly Communiqué. The Executive Secretary and Treasurer publish, in electronic form, monthly<br />
communiqués, which are available to read online by all National Officers, all Active and Alumni Chapters, and<br />
to any interested members having access to the Internet. These communiqués consist of minutes of all monthly<br />
online Supreme Council meetings, announcements and current information on any item of concern to the<br />
membership of the Fraternity and the Fraternity's Financial Statements. The Internet has facilitated<br />
communication with all units of the Fraternity as well as the hundreds of electronically connected alumni<br />
members.<br />
4. What Fraternity? This small booklet is based on an article written by the First Grand President. Certain<br />
changes have been made to bring it up to date. It is used by the chapters in their Rush program and as a source<br />
of information in their pledge lessons. This is supplied to the Chapters at a nominal fee to cover the cost of<br />
printing.<br />
5. Pro Bono Professionis. This brochure, in color, includes a summary of the history and activities of the<br />
Fraternity. It is one of the better items available for use in a Rush program. It is meant to augment the locally<br />
prepared Active Chapter Rush Brochure. It is supplied to the Chapters at a nominal fee. It is of a size to slip<br />
into an envelope for mailing to prospective pledges and their parents.<br />
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Pledge Manual of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity Tenth Edition - 2002<br />
SIGMA PHI DELTA EFFICIENCY CONTEST<br />
During the college year 1933 - 1934, the Supreme Council of Sigma Phi Delta inaugurated the Sigma Phi<br />
Delta Chapter Efficiency Contest. Its purpose was to provide an impetus for a more effective and efficient chapter<br />
operation. Each Chapter was allotted points for the various categories, and the organization submitting the highest<br />
total number of points was awarded a large bronze plaque. A Chapter that won this award three times in succession<br />
was allowed to keep the trophy. Permanent trophies are held by Alpha and Epsilon Chapters.<br />
World War II halted contest participation until 1949 when the Contest was revived. A small plaque was<br />
designed which could be presented on an annual, and permanent, basis. In order to increase interest and Chapter<br />
entries, the Contest was revised by the Tenth General Convention in 1953. This version helped to further the<br />
purpose of the Contest.<br />
The Twelfth General Convention, in 1957, revised the Contest considerably. Where, in the past, the Chapter<br />
had made the entire submission, sending the Forms to the Grand Vice-President, who made the final evaluation, the<br />
new Contest was submitted by several agencies. The Grand President sent one section on each of the undergraduate<br />
Chapters in the Fraternity, as did the Executive Secretary; the Province Councilor submitted one section for each<br />
undergraduate Chapter under his jurisdiction; and the individual Chapter submitted an entry. The Grand Vice-<br />
President determined the maximum number of points any one chapter could attain and the final score was based on a<br />
percentage of possible points that the individual undergraduate Chapter had attained. This improved the chances of<br />
the smaller Chapter.<br />
The Seventeenth General Convention added a fifth section to the Contest in 1968, this section being<br />
submitted by the Editor of the CASTLE, recognizing the importance of and devoted primarily to the publications of<br />
the Fraternity.<br />
The Contest was completely revised by the Supreme Council at the Twenty-First General Convention in<br />
1975, and it became effective on January 1, 1976. This new form gives increased emphasis on the activities of the<br />
Chapter while recognizing the importance of the reporting and communications with other offices of the Fraternity.<br />
In an attempt to derive more points, thus more credit, from the individual Chapter portion of the Contest, the<br />
Supreme Council decided that a semi-annual, rather than an annual, submission would be made by the<br />
undergraduate Chapters, these reports being due on July 1 and March 1 of the year. However, the response from the<br />
Chapters indicated that they did not care for the frequent reporting and the Contest returned to the annual submission<br />
by all offices.<br />
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EFFICIENCY CONTEST WINNERS<br />
When the Chapter Efficiency Contest was reinstated in 1949, it was tabulated on the academic year. This continued<br />
until 1953, at which time the tabulations were changed to a calendar year basis.<br />
1951 - Kappa Chapter<br />
1952 - Epsilon Chapter<br />
1953 - Delta Chapter<br />
1954 - Delta Chapter<br />
1955 - Eta Chapter<br />
1956 - Epsilon and Eta Chapters<br />
1957 - Eta Chapter<br />
1958 - Eta Chapter<br />
1959 - Eta Chapter<br />
1960 - Eta Chapter<br />
1961 - Kappa Chapter<br />
1962 - Kappa Chapter<br />
1963 - Kappa Chapter<br />
1964 - Delta and Kappa Chapters<br />
1965 - Delta Chapter<br />
1966 - Delta Chapter<br />
1967 - Rho Chapter<br />
1968 - Rho Chapter<br />
1969 - Rho Chapter<br />
1970 - Kappa Chapter<br />
1971 - Rho Chapter<br />
1972 - Rho Chapter<br />
1973 - Kappa Chapter<br />
1974 - Rho Chapter<br />
1975 - Rho Chapter<br />
1976 - Delta Chapter<br />
1977 - Delta Chapter<br />
1978 - Rho Chapter<br />
1979 - Alpha Chapter<br />
1980 - Rho Chapter<br />
1981 - Eta Chapter<br />
1982 - Delta Chapter<br />
1983 - Delta and Kappa Chapters<br />
1984 - Delta Chapter<br />
1985 - Delta and Eta Chapters<br />
1986 - Delta Chapter<br />
1987 - Pi and Delta Chapters<br />
1988 - Delta Chapter<br />
1989 - Eta and Epsilon Chapters<br />
1990 - Epsilon Chapter<br />
1991 - Delta and Epsilon Chapters<br />
1992 - Eta Chapter<br />
1993 - Epsilon and Eta Chapter<br />
1994 - Kappa Chapter<br />
1995 - Kappa Chapter<br />
1996 - Eta and Kappa Chapters<br />
1997 - Epsilon Chapter<br />
1998 - Kappa Chapter<br />
1999 - Kappa Chapter<br />
2000 - Kappa Chapter<br />
2001 - Kappa Chapter<br />
2002 - Eta and Omega Chapters<br />
2003 -<br />
2004 -<br />
2005 -<br />
2006 -<br />
2007 -<br />
2008 -<br />
2009 -<br />
2010 -<br />
2011 -<br />
2012 -<br />
2013 -<br />
2014 -<br />
2015 -<br />
2016 -<br />
2017 -<br />
2018 -<br />
2019 -<br />
2020 -<br />
2021 -<br />
2022 -<br />
2023 -<br />
2024 -<br />
2025 -<br />
2026 -<br />
2027 -<br />
2028 -<br />
2029 -<br />
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Pledge Manual of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity Tenth Edition - 2002<br />
THE RISK REDUCTION POLICY of THE SIGMA PHI DELTA<br />
FRATERNITY<br />
SIGMA PHI DELTA is an association of congenial minds and kindred souls founded for the specific<br />
purpose to influence the development of mind, heart and character. Its Object: To promote the advancement of the<br />
Engineering Profession; to foster the advancement of Engineering Education; to instill a greater spirit of<br />
cooperation among Engineering students and organizations; to inculcate in its members the highest ideals of<br />
virtuous manhood, good citizenship, obedience to law, and brotherhood; and to encourage excellence in<br />
scholarship, represents the basic principles that form the philosophical underpinnings which guide its actions in the<br />
development of future leaders.<br />
Like the larger society, and the universities and colleges at which its Chapters reside, Sigma Phi Delta is<br />
not a police state. Indeed, it employs no law enforcement agents, nor was it ever founded or chartered to do so. It<br />
regards its members as subjects of the Host College or University first, and members of Sigma Phi Delta second.<br />
however, Sigma Phi Delta is an organization that advises and encourages its members to conform to and to abide by<br />
the Laws of the Land and the policies, rules and regulations of the Host Institution, but under its structure, it does<br />
not possess the authority or capability to actually enforce such laws, policies, rules and regulations.<br />
In addition, Sigma Phi Delta has adopted certain laws and rules of governance to which its members are<br />
expected to abide (see the Constitution and Statutory Code) subject only to the laws of the land and the rules,<br />
regulations and policies of the Host Institution. Failure of any member to abide by said laws and rules may be<br />
punishable by suspension or expulsion from membership, removal from elected or appointed office within the<br />
Fraternity, or the suspension or revocation of a Chapter’s Charter.<br />
The following rules and regulations are the propriety of Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity and they are in effect<br />
immediately for each Chapter of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity.<br />
I. Risk Reduction Committee: Upon taking office, the Chapter Chief Engineer shall appoint a Risk Reduction<br />
Chairman and Committee, whose names shall be forwarded to the National Office of the Fraternity. The charge<br />
to the Committee shall be to review all areas of potential chapter liability and to implement a full Chapter Risk<br />
Reduction Plan coordinated through all relevant officers of the Chapter. The Committee shall also seek the<br />
advice and counsel of the appropriate College or University official.<br />
II. Education of Initiates:<br />
A. Alcohol and Drug Abuse Program - to be conducted for the entire Chapter immediately and to each new<br />
pledge class henceforth. (University administrations usually have programs on this subject.)<br />
B. Sexual Abuse Program - to be conducted for the entire Chapter immediately and for each new pledge class<br />
henceforth. (University administrations usually have programs on this subject.)<br />
C. Fire Prevention Program - to be conducted for the entire Chapter (including pledges) each fall and spring;<br />
to include fire drills, posting and discussion of evacuation routes, etc. (Contact the local Fire Marshall for<br />
assistance.)<br />
D. Criminal Liability Education Program - to be conducted for the entire Chapter immediately and for pledge<br />
classes henceforth. (Contact campus security, the local District Attorney, Police Chief or a local attorney.)<br />
E. Health Education Program - to be conducted to ensure that the Chapter facility y meets all health codes and<br />
that the Chapter is aware of current health risks collegians face in their personal lives. (Contact Host<br />
Institution’s health services or appropriate local medical professionals.)<br />
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Pledge Manual of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity Tenth Edition - 2002<br />
F. Basic Legal Concepts - to be introduced for the entire Chapter immediately and for each pledge class<br />
henceforth. (Contact Host Institution’s legal assistance officer, or show Sigma Phi Epsilon’s or Alpha Tau<br />
Omega’s or a similar film as a part of the presentation.)<br />
III. Social Activities of the Chapter Must Meet the Following Criteria:<br />
A. The ILLEGAL use, possession, sale or distribution of any controlled substance, including alcohol, at<br />
Chapter functions shall be strictly prohibited.<br />
B. No alcoholic beverages may be purchased through the Chapter Treasurer nor may the purchase of same for<br />
members or guests be undertaken or coordinated by any member or pledge in the name of or on behalf of<br />
the Chapter.<br />
C. No Chapter members, collectively or individually, shall purchase for, serve to, or sell alcoholic beverages<br />
to any minor (i. e., those under legal “drinking age”.)<br />
D. No Chapter members shall provide alcoholic beverages to members or guests by selling tickets or cups, by<br />
charging admission fees, by taking up a collection (passing the hat), or by using any other direct or indirect<br />
means of collection monies from persons attending Chapter functions.<br />
E. No Chapter shall serve, or permit the use, possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages at Chapter<br />
rush functions. In addition, each Chapter is expected to be an active proponent of “dry rush” among all<br />
fraternities on campus.<br />
F. No Chapter may host an “open” party (social function). Individual non-members attending a Chapter<br />
function may do so only by specific written (or approved verbal) invitation of Chapter members who shall<br />
assume responsibility for the welfare of said guests and for any damage to chapter premises caused by<br />
those guests. A list of individual guest’s names must be maintained and monitored at the door or entry to<br />
the function. The safety and welfare of each guest must be an assumed responsibility of the individual<br />
member who invited said guest.<br />
G. Valid identification of those claiming to be entitled legally to consume alcohol at chapter functions (where<br />
legal consumption is permitted) must be checked for their correct age. The possession, distribution or<br />
consumption of alcoholic beverages at said functions must not violate federal, state, and local laws and<br />
ordinances as well as the rules and regulations of the Host Institution.<br />
H. At any and all Chapter functions where the legal consumption of alcoholic beverages is permitted, alternate<br />
or non-alcoholic beverages and food shall be served. At such functions, trained individuals, who will<br />
commit themselves not to consume alcoholic beverages or illegal or controlled substances shall be<br />
appointed or hired to be on duty at all exits in order to check the sobriety level of invited persons arriving<br />
or leaving chapter functions, and to prevent uninvited and/or intoxicated guests from entering.<br />
I. If any member or guest appears to be even slightly intoxicated, at any chapter function, the chapter<br />
members shall escort said member or guest from the function. The chapter must not permit intoxicated<br />
persons to drive automobiles or to walk themselves home, but rather they must be accompanied by a<br />
responsible member who has not consumed alcoholic beverages or any illegal or controlled substance.<br />
J. Where alcoholic beverages are served or consumed legally (i.e., by those of legal age) such beverages shall<br />
be served only in non-transparent containers for purposes of reducing peer pressure on those who choose<br />
not to consume said beverages or those who are not of legal age.<br />
K. No chapter shall permit, tolerate, encourage or participate in “drinking games” at any chapter function.<br />
L. Any and all alcoholic beverages shall be strictly prohibited from being served to, provided for, or<br />
purchased for any pledge or initiated member in connection with any and all aspects of the pledge<br />
education program.<br />
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Pledge Manual of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity Tenth Edition - 2002<br />
M. Intoxication of any member or pledge at any chapter function or at any other time shall be deemed conduct<br />
unbecoming a gentleman and the Chapter’s Executive Committee shall invoke full provisions of the law<br />
should such circumstances occur, including fines and/or suspension or expulsion for a continual pattern of<br />
drunken behavior. Habitual violators shall be advised to seek qualified counseling.<br />
IV. Premises of the Chapter:<br />
A. The Chapter premises shall be inspected twice annually by the Fire Marshall and local health officials, with<br />
reports to be forwarded immediately to the Housing Corporation and to the National Office. Any and all<br />
violations must be corrected immediately.<br />
B. Maximum occupancy numbers for house and rooms for all group activities shall be posted conspicuously<br />
and shall not be violated.<br />
C. Proper fire exits must be marked with diagrams posted.<br />
V. Hazing:<br />
No Chapter shall conduct hazing. In addition to the definition included in the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity<br />
Constitution and Statutory Code, Section 100, the following definition shall apply:<br />
Any action taken or situation created, intentionally, whether on or off Fraternity premises, to produce<br />
mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment or ridicule. Such activities may include, but are not<br />
limited to, the following: paddling in any form; creation of excessive fatigue; physical or psychological shocks;<br />
quests, treasure hunts; scavenger hunts, road trips or any other such activities carried on outside or inside the<br />
confines of the chapter house; the wearing of public apparel which is conspicuous and not normally in good taste;<br />
engaging in public stunts and buffoonery; morally degrading or humiliating games and activities; late work sessions<br />
which interfere with scholastic activities; and any other activities which are not consistent with Fraternity Law,<br />
Ritual or policy or the regulations and policies of the hose educational institution.<br />
VI. All chapters shall encourage and cooperate fully with local Interfraternity/Panhellenic Risk Reduction Policies<br />
and Programs and shall encourage their University to sponsor Risk Reduction seminars annually.<br />
VII. Punishment for violation of Sigma Phi Delta’s rules and regulations may include: probation, suspension or<br />
revocation of the Chapter charter; probation, suspension or expulsion of the individual(s) involved; the denial of<br />
membership to pledges who allow themselves to become involved in any of the aforementioned.<br />
(This Risk Reduction Policy was adopted by the Twenty-Seventh General Convention on September 5, 1987, and is reprinted<br />
herein to ensure distribution and compliance with the provisions contained in the Policy.)<br />
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Pledge Manual of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity Tenth Edition - 2002<br />
THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF SIGMA PHI DELTA<br />
The general government of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity consists of a General Convention, a Supreme<br />
Council, and such other units as are provided for in the Constitution and Statutory Code of the National<br />
Organization, the By-Laws of the separate Provinces and the By-Laws of the individual Active and Alumni<br />
Chapters. The Fraternity is composed of those persons who have been or who shall be duly initiated into<br />
membership.<br />
LEGISLATIVE<br />
General Convention: The supreme legislative power of the Fraternity rests in the General Convention, which<br />
is a continuous body. Regular sessions of the Convention are held every odd-numbered year. Business of the<br />
Convention is transacted by mail between sessions.<br />
The General Convention is composed of the Members of the Supreme Council, the Executive Secretary, one<br />
delegate from each of the Active Chapters and one delegate from each of the Alumni Chapters. The Delegate from<br />
the Active Chapter must be enrolled in the Engineering College or in a curriculum leading toward a Degree in<br />
Engineering at the school where his Chapter is located.<br />
The Officers of the General Convention are a Chairman (who is the Grand President if he is in attendance or<br />
the Grand Vice-President, if the Grand President is absent), a Vice-Chairman (who is the Grand Vice-President if he<br />
is present and not serving otherwise), a Secretary (who is the Executive Secretary, during sessions, if he is present),<br />
a Guide and a Chaplain (who are elected at the opening session of the Convention, and a Historian (who is the<br />
Editor of the CASTLE is he is present). In the event that any of the Permanent Officers are absent, the positions are<br />
filled by election at the opening session of the Convention. The Grand President may appoint a Parliamentarian to<br />
assist him. Between sessions of the Convention, the Grand President acts as Secretary of the General Convention.<br />
On all matters coming before the General Convention, every Member is entitled to one vote. No proxies are<br />
permitted on any matter. A Quorum consists of two-thirds of the Members representing the Active Chapters and<br />
two Members of the Supreme Council.<br />
REFERENCE:<br />
Constitution, Articles I, II, III; Statutory Code, Titles I, II.<br />
Supreme Council: Legislative powers subordinate to the General Convention are held by the Supreme<br />
Council, subject to the Laws of the Fraternity. The Supreme Council is composed of the Grand President, the Grand<br />
Vice-President, the Editor of the CASTLE, the Councilor from each Province, and the Executive Secretary as an exofficio<br />
member. Business of the Supreme Council is general, limited to matters not requiring General Convention<br />
action, or which has been Specifically delegated to it by Fraternity Law. Business may be transacted in session or<br />
by correspondence. The Grand President acts as Secretary to the Council and presides at any Supreme Council<br />
meetings. The Grand President does not vote on Supreme Council proceedings unless his vote would result in a tie,<br />
or unless a tie vote exists. In the former case, a clear majority is necessary to pass the legislation. Members of the<br />
Supreme Council are elected at General or Province Conventions, as appropriate, except that the Executive<br />
Secretary is appointed by the Grand President, with the approval of the Supreme Council.<br />
REFERENCE: Constitution, Article III, Sections 4, 5 and 6; Statutory Code, Titles III, V.<br />
JUDICIAL<br />
The supreme judicial power of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity rests in the General Convention. Subordinate<br />
judicial powers are given to the Supreme Council and to the individual Active Chapters. Every member of the<br />
Fraternity is under the original jurisdiction of the Active Chapter of which he is or was last a member. Any charges,<br />
which might lead to expulsion, suspension, a fine, or a reprimand of the member must be handled in accordance<br />
with the appropriate sections of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity Constitution and Statutory Code.<br />
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Pledge Manual of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity Tenth Edition - 2002<br />
REFERENCES:<br />
Constitution, Article IV; Statutory Code, Title IV.<br />
EXECUTIVE<br />
The executive powers of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity are vested in the Grand President, assisted by the<br />
Members of the Supreme Council and such others as the Fraternity Law provides. The Grand President, as<br />
executive head of the Fraternity, is responsible for the general welfare of the Fraternity. He coordinates the work of<br />
the entire Fraternity, appoints the Executive Secretary and members of regular or special committees, as needed.<br />
The Grand President handles all correspondence with organizations or individuals who are not members of the<br />
Fraternity, unless otherwise provided for. He receives periodic reports from the officers assisting him in carrying<br />
out the functions of the Fraternity.<br />
The Grand Vice-President is responsible for the Expansion and Efficiency programs of the Fraternity. He<br />
performs such additional duties as may be required by the Grand President.<br />
The Executive Secretary keeps all the necessary records and has charge of all Funds of the Fraternity, with<br />
certain exceptions. He is charged with the business operation of the Fraternity and is directly responsible to the<br />
Grand President for the conduct of his office. A close cooperation must exist between the Grand President and the<br />
Executive Secretary in all matters relating to Fraternity operations.<br />
The Province Councilors are charged with the operation of the affairs of their respective Provinces and of the<br />
Chapters contained therein. They are responsible to the Grand President for the proper conduct of their offices.<br />
REFERENCE: Constitution, Article V; Statutory Code, Title V.<br />
BOARD OF TRUSTEES<br />
The Board of Trustees of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity is charged with the acquisition and maintenance of<br />
all real property and all other property and equipment of the National Fraternity. The Board is in charge of all<br />
Endowment Funds of the Fraternity. The Board of Trustees and the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity are incorporated in<br />
the State of California, having been incorporated on September 29, 1952. Membership on the Board is composed of<br />
the Grand President; the Executive Secretary, ex-officio; and two Members elected at a session of the General<br />
Convention. The latter two members are elected for staggered four-year terms. Two of the elected Members (which<br />
may include the Grand President) must be resident in California and not more than two elected members may be<br />
alumni of the same active chapter.<br />
REFERENCE:<br />
Constitution, Article V, Sections 8, 9 and 10; Statutory Code, Title VI.<br />
ENDOWMENT FUNDS<br />
The Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity has two Endowment Funds - the General Endowment Fund and the CASTLE<br />
Endowment Fund. These funds are administered by the Board of Trustees.<br />
The General Endowment Fund is made up and collected from: (1) a portion of the undergraduate initiation<br />
fee; (2) such other funds as may be contributed to the Fraternity for this purpose or such surplus funds as may be<br />
appropriated to this Fund by the Supreme Council or the General Convention. Its purpose is to promote the building<br />
of a nations' headquarters building, to include a national library, museum and o house the national administrative<br />
offices of the Fraternity. This Fund is also used to promote the building or purchase of houses for the active<br />
chapters of the Fraternity. In September 1984, the interest accrued from this Fund was first used to fund an<br />
undergraduate scholarship program in each of the undergraduate chapters of the Fraternity.<br />
The CASTLE Endowment Fund is made up and collected from a portion of the undergraduate initiation fee.<br />
The principal of this Fund is meant to be kept intact and invested. The income from this Fund is used to administer<br />
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Pledge Manual of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity Tenth Edition - 2002<br />
the Fund, to publish the CASTLE magazine, or for any other necessary expenses of the Fraternity, as authorized by<br />
the Supreme Council.<br />
The Treasurer pays, in a quarterly basis, such income as may be available, to the Secretary-Treasurer of the<br />
Board of Trustees. Semiannually, interest income from the Endowment Funds is transferred to the Executive<br />
Secretary from the Board of Trustees. Depending on the Supreme Council authorization for the use of these Funds,<br />
the interest may be added to the principal of the appropriate Fund or used for other Fraternal objectives.<br />
REFERENCE:<br />
Statutory Code, Title VII.<br />
FINANCES<br />
The income of the National Office of the Fraternity is derived from: (1) annual undergraduate National dues<br />
paid by each active member; (2) annual National dues paid by each Alumni Chapter; (3) initiation fees paid by each<br />
undergraduate initiate; (4) charter fees paid by each undergraduate and alumni chapter; (5) Interest income from the<br />
investments of the Fraternity; and (6) contributions from alumni and friends of the Fraternity.<br />
Each undergraduate initiate pays eighty dollars, plus the cost of the badge and other Fraternity jewelry of his<br />
choice, at the time of initiation. Each active member pays annual undergraduate National dues, half on October 1<br />
and half on March 1 of each year. Each Alumni Chapter pays annual National dues of one hundred dollars per year.<br />
The Charter fee for the establishment of an active chapter is one hundred dollars; of an alumni chapter is also one<br />
hundred dollars.<br />
Initiation fees from the undergraduate members are apportioned into the General Fund, the CASTLE Fund,<br />
the Convention Fund, the General Endowment Fund and the CASTLE Endowment Fund. The Annual Dues are<br />
divided into the General, Convention and CASTLE Funds. All other income, unless specifically designated<br />
otherwise, is placed in the General Fund of the Fraternity. Alumni contributions, in a program established in 1976,<br />
are used to fund the General Fund, the CASTLE Fund, the Scholarship Fund and the Expansion Fund.<br />
REFERENCE:<br />
Statutory Code, Title VIII.<br />
SIGMA PHI DELTA FOUNDATION<br />
Realizing that there are many things that a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit foundation can do that the Fraternity, a<br />
501(c)(7) organization, cannot do, in 1991, the Fraternity organized the Sigma Phi Delta Foundation, with offices in<br />
the State of Ohio. Contributions to the Foundation, when used for the purposes specified, are tax deductible in the<br />
United States of America. The Officers of the Board of Directors are three: a President, Vice President and<br />
Secretary-Treasurer. Board members are elected for six-year terms and may succeed themselves only once.<br />
The purposes of the Foundation are to promote and support education, educational aims and educational<br />
institutions, and to faster intellectual excellence through scholarships and other means, to cultivate useful<br />
citizenship, to promote and encourage religious, moral, civic and social responsibility and to carry out such<br />
purposes through contributions to corporations, trusts, community chests and funds organized and operated<br />
exclusively for educational, religious, charitable, scientific or literary purposes, no substantial part of the activities<br />
of which consist of the carrying on of propaganda or otherwise attempting to influence legislation or participating<br />
in or intervening in (including the publishing or distributing of statements) any political campaign on behalf of any<br />
candidate for public office, and no part of the net earnings of which insure to the benefit of any private shareholder<br />
or individual, and otherwise.<br />
FRATERNITY LAWS<br />
The Laws of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity consist of the Constitution, the Statutory Code, the Ritual, Acts<br />
of the Supreme Council, and Executive Orders.<br />
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Pledge Manual of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity Tenth Edition - 2002<br />
The Constitution is the Supreme Law of the Fraternity and all other Laws must be in accord with it. The<br />
Statutory Code contains the necessary rules and regulations to provide for the proper operation of the Fraternity and<br />
to provide specifications and restrictions on badges and other insignia. The Ritual contains the ceremony for the<br />
initiation of members, the installation of officers and the formal pledging ceremony. Interpretation of the<br />
Constitution and the Statutory Code is the responsibility of the Supreme Council.<br />
Acts of the Supreme Council consist of m4nor regulations or provisions, which require frequent changes.<br />
Executive Orders include all orders issued by the Executive Offices of the Fraternity, not in conflict with any of the<br />
foregoing Laws. Executive Orders, as well as Acts of the Supreme Council, may be appealed to the General<br />
Convention in case of question regarding conflict with other Laws of the Fraternity.<br />
REFERENCE: Constitution, Article X.<br />
PROVINCES<br />
The National Fraternity is divided into districts, known as Provinces, embracing such territory as the General<br />
Convention may determine. At present, there are three Provinces - Eastern, Central and Western, each representing<br />
approximately one-third of the United States and Canada along a north-south boundary. The boundaries were set in<br />
1948 along north-south lines and remained in effect until 1990. The back cover of this Manual shows the<br />
boundaries as established in 1990 and which are in effect at this time.<br />
In September, 2002, the General Convention voted to streamline the organization of the fraternity by eliminating the<br />
Provinces as a level of governance. However, Province Conventions will continue to be held in even numbered<br />
years, alternating with the General Convention. These are held concurrent with retreats or other brotherhood type<br />
events, where the focus is on brotherhood, tutorials, training, and developing a written Rush Plan. The only business<br />
conducted is to elect the Province Councilor.<br />
REFERENCE: Statutory Code, Title X.<br />
ACTIVE AND ALUMNI CHAPTERS<br />
Active Chapters of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity may be established at any college or university offering a<br />
degree in an engineering curriculum which is approved by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology<br />
(ABET), successor organization to the Engineers' Council for Professional Development (ECPD). This provision is<br />
necessary for membership in the Professional Fraternities Association, in which Sigma Phi Delta is one of the two<br />
engineering fraternities. It assures that the undergraduate membership meets or exceeds the professional standards<br />
expected of engineers. A separate group governs the accreditation of Engineering curricula and engineers in Canada<br />
but it works closely with ABET in the United States.<br />
An Active Chapter consists of the undergraduate members, pledges, such alumni members as signify their<br />
intention of remaining or becoming subject to the Laws of that Chapter, and faculty members. Alumni members on<br />
the active roll must be regularly enrolled students in the school where the Chapter is located.<br />
An Active Chapter may provide for dues and assessments of its members, may adopt a set of By-Laws and<br />
such other Rules as may be necessary, provided that the By-Laws, rules and regulations must be approved by the<br />
Supreme Council before they become effective. Regular meetings of the Chapter are to be held at least twice each<br />
month during the academic year.<br />
Alumni Chapters may be established in any city or locality upon petition of not less than ten resident alumni<br />
members in good standing. Such petition will be submitted to and approved by the Supreme Council.<br />
An Alumni Chapter may adopt By-Laws, may assess dues and may adopt such other rules as may be<br />
necessary for the operation of the Chapter. An Alumni Chapter does not have the power to confer membership in<br />
the Fraternity. Most of the Alumni Chapters are incorporated for the purpose of holding property and most of the<br />
undergraduate Chapter houses are owned by the alumni chapter associated with that active chapter.<br />
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Pledge Manual of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity Tenth Edition - 2002<br />
REFERENCE:<br />
Constitution, Articles VII and VIII; Statutory Code, Titles XI, XIII and XIV.<br />
MEMBERSHIP<br />
There are four classes of membership in the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity: undergraduate, alumni, faculty and<br />
honorary. An Undergraduate Member is one who is an undergraduate student at the college or university at which<br />
the Chapter is located. An Alumnus Member is one who had been an undergraduate at the time of graduation or<br />
withdrawal from school or who is a regularly enrolled graduate student at a college or university at which an active<br />
chapter is located. Faculty Membership is conferred upon members of the Engineering and allied faculties of the<br />
university or college where the active chapter is located. Honorary Members are outstanding engineers elected to<br />
the Fraternity-at-large by the General Convention.<br />
Active and Alumni members may not hold dual membership in any other general or professional fraternity.<br />
Faculty and Honorary Members may be members of other fraternities, either general or professional.<br />
REFERENCE:<br />
Constitution, Article VI; Statutory Code, Title IX.<br />
<strong>PLEDGE</strong>SHIP<br />
To be eligible for pledgeship, a man must be a regularly enrolled student working toward a degree in<br />
Engineering at the school where the Chapter is located, or, with special permission from the General Convention,<br />
working toward a degree in a four-year ABET accredited engineering technology curriculum at the School where<br />
the chapter is located. Before a man may be initiated, he must have been enrolled at the School for at least one term,<br />
he cannot be on probation, his grades must be equal to those required for graduation, he must be in good standing in<br />
the school, and must have been a pledge for a prescribed minimum period of time. No person may remain<br />
continuously a pledge for more than two semesters or three-quarters. At the end of such time, a pledge is<br />
automatically rescinded. A man must be a Pledge for at least three-fourths of a semester or one full quarter prior to<br />
initiation, except that the Supreme Council may approve a shortened pledge period for cause. Time of pledging is<br />
from the time of formal pledging at the time of initiation, provided an established pledge training program is in<br />
effect during that time.<br />
Each undergraduate chapter is required to maintain a pledge training school, for which this Manual is<br />
prepared. Prior to initiation, the pledge must be examined on his knowledge of the Fraternity and must pass an<br />
examination by a grade of at least 70%. No pledge may be subjected to any indecent or dangerous ordeal during his<br />
pledgeship. Pledges will not be hazed, as defined in an earlier section of this Manual. At the same time, the pledge<br />
is prohibited from destroying or appropriating property belonging to others, to other chapters or to the National<br />
Fraternity. The single exception to this is the Rip-Off Trophy which each Chapter is expected to maintain for this<br />
purpose.<br />
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Pledge Manual of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity Tenth Edition - 2002<br />
SPECIAL DAYS<br />
April 11 of each year is observed as Founder's Day of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity. Each Chapter is<br />
expected to observe this day with an appropriate ceremony, which shall include such features as the Grand President<br />
prescribes.<br />
CASTLE Day is celebrated each year during the month of October. The Province Councilor designates the<br />
nature of the program, which is to be held at this time.<br />
REFERENCE: Statutory Code, Title XVI, Article 59.<br />
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Pledge Manual of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity Tenth Edition - 2002<br />
GENERAL CONVENTIONS OF SIGMA PHI DELTA<br />
First - Held on April 15 and 16, 1927, in Los Angeles, California, with Alpha Chapter as Host<br />
Chapter.<br />
Second - Held on September 3 and 4, 1929, in Austin, Texas, with Gamma Chapter as Host Chapter.<br />
Third - Held on September 1 and 2, 1931, in Fargo, North Dakota, with Epsilon Chapter as Host<br />
Chapter.<br />
Fourth - Held on June 29 and 30 and July 1, 1933, in Urbana, Illinois, with Delta Chapter as Host<br />
Chapter.<br />
Fifth - Held on July 29, 30 and 31, 1936, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with Eta Chapter as Host<br />
Chapter.<br />
Sixth - Held on June 29 and 30 and July 1, 1939, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with Epsilon Active<br />
and Minneapolis Alumni Chapters as Host Chapters.<br />
Seventh - Held on January 2, 3 and 4, 1948, in Chicago, Illinois, with Iota Chapter as Host Chapter.<br />
Eighth - Held on September 1, 2 and 3, 1949, in Los Angeles, California, with Alpha Chapter as Host<br />
Chapter.<br />
Ninth - Held on September 3, 4 and 5, 1951, in Vancouver, British Columbia, with Theta Chapter as<br />
Host Chapter.<br />
Tenth - Held on September 3, 4 and 5, 1953, in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, with Epsilon Chapter as<br />
Host Chapter.<br />
Eleventh - Held on September 1, 2 and 3, 1955, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with Eta Chapter as Host<br />
Chapter.<br />
Twelfth - Held on September 5, 6 and 7, 1957, in Hamilton Lakes, Indiana, with Kappa Chapter as<br />
Host Chapter.<br />
Thirteenth - Held on September 3, 4 and 5, 1959, in Berkeley, California, with Nu Chapter as Host<br />
Chapter.<br />
Fourteenth - Held on August 31, September I and 2, 1961, in Oak Park, Illinois, with Delta Chapter as<br />
Host Chapter.<br />
Fifteenth - Held on August 29, 30 and 31, 1963, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, with Lambda Chapter as Host<br />
Chapter.<br />
Sixteenth - Held on September 2, 3 and 4, 1965, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, with Xi Chapter as Host<br />
Chapter.<br />
Seventeenth - Held on August 30 and 31 and September 1, 1967, in Los Angeles, California, with Alpha<br />
Chapter as Host Chapter.<br />
Eighteenth - Held on August 28, 29 and 30, 1969, in Chicago, Illinois, with Iota Chapter as Host Chapter.<br />
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Pledge Manual of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity Tenth Edition - 2002<br />
Nineteenth - Held on September 2, 3 and 4, 1971, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with Eta Chapter as Host<br />
Chapter.<br />
Twentieth - Held on August 30 and 31 and September 1, 1973, in Moorhead, Minnesota, with Epsilon<br />
Chapter as Host Chapter.<br />
Twenty-First - Held on August 28, 29 and 30, 1975, in Los Angeles, California, with Alpha Chapter as Host<br />
Chapter.<br />
Twenty-Second - Held on September 1, 2 and 3, 1977, in Peoria, Illinois, with Rho Active and Central Illinois<br />
Alumni Chapters as Host Chapters.<br />
Twenty-Third - Held an August 30 and 31 and September 1, 1979, near Angola, Indiana, with Kappa Active<br />
and Kappa Alumni Chapters as Host Chapters.<br />
Twenty-Fourth - Held on September 3, 4 and 5, 1981, in Daytona Beach, Florida, with Pi Chapter as Host<br />
Chapter.<br />
Twenty-Fifth - Held on September 1, 2 and 3, 1983, in Urbana, Illinois, with Delta Chapter as Host Chapter.<br />
Twenty-Sixth - Held an August 29, 30 and 31, 1985, in Vancouver, British Columbia, with Theta Chapter as<br />
Host Chapter.<br />
Twenty-Seventh - Held on September 1, 2 and 3, 1987, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with Eta Chapter as Host<br />
Chapter.<br />
Twenty-Eighth - Held on August 31, September 1 and 2, 1989, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, with Xi Chapter as<br />
Host Chapter.<br />
Twenty-Ninth - Held on August 29, 30 and 31, 1991, in Angola, Indiana, with Kappa Chapter as Host<br />
Chapter.<br />
Thirtieth - Held on September 2, 3 and 4, 1993, in Los Angeles, California, with Alpha Chapter as Host<br />
Chapter.<br />
Thirty-First - Held on August 31, September 1 and 2, 1995, in Fargo, North Dakota, with Epsilon Chapter<br />
as Host Chapter.<br />
Thirty-Second - Held on August 28, 29 and 30, 1997, in Brookings, South Dakota, with Phi Chapter as Host<br />
Chapter.<br />
Thirty-Third - Held on July 15, 16 and 17, 1999, in Los Angeles, California, with Alpha Chapter as Host<br />
Chapter.<br />
Thirty-Fourth - Held on July 19, 20 and 21, 2001, in Angola, Indiana, with Kappa Chapter as Host Chapter.<br />
Thirty-Fifth - Held on July 24, 25, and 26, 2003, at Champaign, Illinois, with Delta Chapter as Host<br />
Chapter.<br />
Thirty-Sixth - Held on 2005, in ___________________________________________<br />
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Pledge Manual of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity Tenth Edition - 2002<br />
CENTRAL PROVINCE<br />
PROVINCE CONVENTIONS OF SIGMA PHI DELTA<br />
First - Held on September 9 and 10, 1950, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with Eta Chapter as Host<br />
Chapter.<br />
Second - Held on September 5 and 6, 1952, in Fargo, North Dakota, with Epsilon Chapter as Host<br />
Chapter.<br />
Third - Held on September 24 and 25, 1954, in Chicago, Illinois, with Iota Chapter as Host Chapter.<br />
Fourth - Held on September 28 and 29, 1956, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, with Xi Chapter as Host<br />
Chapter.<br />
Fifth - Held on September 5 and 6, 1958, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with Eta Chapter as Host<br />
Chapter.<br />
Sixth - Held on September 23 and 24, 1960, in Fargo, North Dakota, with Epsilon Chapter as Host<br />
Chapter.<br />
Seventh - Held on September 28 and 29, 1962, in Chicago, Illinois, with Iota Chapter as Host Chapter.<br />
Eighth - Held on September 25 and 26, 1964, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, with Xi Chapter as Host<br />
Chapter.<br />
Ninth - Held on September 23 and 24, 1966, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with Eta Chapter as Host<br />
Chapter.<br />
Tenth - Held on September 20 and 21, 1968, in Fargo, North Dakota, with Epsilon Chapter as Host<br />
Chapter.<br />
Eleventh - Held on September 19 and 20, 1970, in Chicago, Illinois, with Iota Chapter as Host Chapter.<br />
Twelfth - Held on September 22 and 23, 1972, in Peoria, Illinois, with Rho Chapter as Host Chapter.<br />
Thirteenth - Held on September 27 and 28, 1974, in Oak Park, Illinois, with Iota Chapter as Host Chapter.<br />
Fourteenth - Held on October 29 and 30, 1976, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, with Xi Chapter as Host Chapter.<br />
Fifteenth - Held on October 7 and 8, 1978, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with Eta Chapter as Host Chapter.<br />
Sixteenth - Held on September 19 and 20, 1980, in Fargo, North Dakota, with Epsilon Chapter as Host<br />
Chapter.<br />
Seventeenth - Held on September 17 and 18, 1982, in Peoria, Illinois, with Rho Chapter as Host Chapter.<br />
Eighteenth - Held on September 7 and 8, 1984, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, with Xi Chapter as Host Chapter.<br />
Nineteenth - Held on August 29 and 30, 1986, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with Eta Chapter as Host<br />
Chapter.<br />
Twentieth - Held on September 23 and 24, 1988, in Fargo, North Dakota, with Epsilon Chapter as Host<br />
Chapter.<br />
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Pledge Manual of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity Tenth Edition - 2002<br />
Twenty-First - Held on November 9 and 10, 1990, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, with Xi Chapter as Host<br />
Chapter.<br />
Twenty-Second - Held on September 4, 5 and 6, 1992, in Elk Grove Village, Illinois, as part of the First<br />
Tutorial and Joint Province Convention.<br />
Twenty-Third - Held on September 2, 3 and 4, 1994, in Rosemont, Illinois, as part of the Second Tutorial and<br />
Joint Province Convention.<br />
Twenty-Fourth - Held on August 30, 31 and September 1, 1996, in Urbana, Illinois, with Delta Chapter as<br />
Host Chapter, as part of the Third Tutorial and Joint Province Convention.<br />
Twenty-Fifth - Held on July 30, 31 and August 1, 1998, in Vancouver, British Columbia, with Theta<br />
Chapter as Host Chapter, as part of the Fourth Tutorial and Joint Province Convention.<br />
Twenty-Sixth - Held on June 29, 30 and July 1, 2000, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with Eta Chapter as Host<br />
Chapter, as part of the Fifth Tutorial and Joint Province Convention.<br />
Twenty-Seventh - Retreat held over the weekend of 18-20 January, 2002, near Eau Claire, WI.<br />
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Pledge Manual of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity Tenth Edition - 2002<br />
EASTERN PROVINCE<br />
First - Held on December 2 and 3, 1950, in Urbana, Illinois, with Delta Chapter as Host Chapter.<br />
Second - Held on October 4 and 5, 1952, in Angola, Indiana, with Kappa Chapter as Host Chapter.<br />
Third - Held on October 9 and 10, 1954, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, with Lambda Chapter as Host<br />
Chapter.<br />
Fourth - Held on October 20 and 21, 1956, in Urbana, Illinois, with Delta Chapter as Host Chapter.<br />
Fifth - Held on September 26 and 27, 1958, in Angola, Indiana, with Kappa Chapter as Host<br />
Chapter.<br />
Sixth - Held on September 30 and October 1, 1960, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, with Lambda Chapter<br />
as Host Chapter.<br />
Seventh - Held on October 19 and 20, 1962, in East Lansing, Michigan, with Omicron Chapter as Host<br />
Chapter.<br />
Eighth - Held on November 27 and 28, 1964, in Miami, Florida, with Pi Chapter as Host Chapter.<br />
Ninth - Held on October 14 and 15, 1966, in Champaign, Illinois, with Delta Chapter as Host<br />
Chapter.<br />
Tenth - Held on October 18 and 19, 1968, in Angola, Indiana, with Kappa Chapter as Host Chapter.<br />
Eleventh - Held on October 23 and 24, 1970, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, with Lambda Chapter as Host<br />
Chapter.<br />
Twelfth - Held on November 24 and 25, 1972, in Daytona Beach, Florida, with Pi Chapter as Host<br />
Chapter.<br />
Thirteenth - Held on October 11 and 12, 1974, in Champaign, Illinois, with Delta Chapter as Host<br />
Chapter.<br />
Fourteenth - Held on September 24 and 25, 1976, in Angola, Indiana, with Kappa Chapter as Host<br />
Chapter.<br />
Fifteenth - Held on October 27 and 28, 1978, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, with Lambda Chapter as Host<br />
Chapter.<br />
Sixteenth - Held on November 28 and 29, 1980, in Daytona Beach, Florida, with Pi Chapter as Host<br />
Chapter.<br />
Seventeenth - Held on October 29 and 30, 1982, in Champaign, Illinois, with Delta Chapter as Host<br />
Chapter.<br />
Eighteenth - Held on October 12 and 13, 1984, in Angola, Indiana, with Kappa Chapter as Host Chapter.<br />
Nineteenth - Held on October 24 and 25, 1986, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, with Lambda Chapter as Host<br />
Chapter.<br />
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Pledge Manual of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity Tenth Edition - 2002<br />
Twentieth - Held on September 2 and 3, 1988, in Daytona Beach, Florida, with Pi Chapter as Host<br />
Chapter.<br />
Twenty-First - Held on October 6 and 7, 1990, in Champaign, Illinois, with Delta Chapter as Host Chapter.<br />
Twenty-Second - Held on September 4, 5 and 6, 1992, in Elk Grove Village, Illinois, as part of the First<br />
Tutorial and Joint Province Convention.<br />
Twenty-Third<br />
- Held on September 2, 3 and 4, 1994, in Rosemont, Illinois, as part of the Second Tutorial and<br />
Joint Province Convention.<br />
Twenty-Fourth - Held on August 30, 31 and September 1, 1996, in Urbana, Illinois, with Delta Chapter as<br />
Host Chapter, as part of the Third Tutorial and Joint Province Convention.<br />
Twenty-Fifth - Held on July 30, 31 and August 1, 1998, in Vancouver, British Columbia, with Theta<br />
Chapter as Host Chapter, as part of the Fourth Tutorial and Joint Province Convention.<br />
Twenty-Sixth - Held on June 29, 30 and July 1, 2000, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with Eta Chapter as Host<br />
Chapter, as part of the Fifth Tutorial and Joint Province Convention.<br />
Twenty-Seventh - Retreat held at Ohioplye State Park in southwestern Pennsylvania, on June 7-9, 2002.<br />
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Pledge Manual of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity Tenth Edition - 2002<br />
WESTERN PROVINCE<br />
First - Held on September 20 and 21, 1952, in Los Angeles, California, with Alpha Chapter as Host<br />
Chapter.<br />
Second - Held on September 4 and 5, 1954, in Santa Monica, California, with Mu Chapter as Host<br />
Chapter.<br />
Third - Held on September 1 and 2, 1956, in Los Angeles, California, with Alpha Chapter as Host<br />
Chapter.<br />
Fourth - Held on August 30 and 31, 1958, in Berkeley, California, with Nu Chapter as Host Chapter.<br />
Fifth - Held on September 2 and 3, 1960, in Vancouver, British Columbia, with Theta Chapter as<br />
Host Chapter.<br />
Sixth - Held on August 31 and September 1, 1962, in Los Angeles, California, with Alpha Chapter<br />
as Host Chapter.<br />
Seventh - Held on September 4 and 5, 1964, in Berkeley, California, with Nu Chapter as Host Chapter.<br />
Eighth - Held on September 2 and 3, 1966, in Vancouver, British Columbia, with Theta Chapter as<br />
Host Chapter.<br />
Ninth - Held on August 30 and 31, 1968, in Los Angeles, California, with Alpha Chapter as Host<br />
Chapter.<br />
Tenth - Held on September 5 and 6, 1970, in Berkeley, California, with Nu Chapter as Host Chapter.<br />
Eleventh - Held on September 1 and 2, 1972, in Long Beach, California, with Sigma Chapter as Host<br />
Chapter.<br />
Twelfth - Held on November 1 and 2, 1974, in Vancouver, British Columbia, with Theta Chapter as<br />
Host Chapter.<br />
Thirteenth - Held on November 12 and 13, 1976, in Los Angeles, California, with Tau Chapter as Host<br />
Chapter.<br />
Fourteenth - Held on October 14 and 15, 1978, in Los Angeles, California, with Alpha Chapter as Host<br />
Chapter.<br />
Fifteenth - Held on September 26 and 27, 1980, in Vancouver, British Columbia, with Theta Chapter as<br />
Host Chapter.<br />
Sixteenth - Held on October 9 and 10, 1982, in Los Angeles, California, with Alpha Chapter as Host<br />
Chapter.<br />
Seventeenth - Held on October 6 and 7, 1984, in Vancouver, British Columbia, with Theta Chapter as Host<br />
Chapter.<br />
Eighteenth - Held on September 9 and 10, 1988, in Vancouver, British Columbia, with Theta Chapter as<br />
Host.<br />
Nineteenth - Held on November 9 and 10, 1990, in Los Angeles, California, with Alpha Chapter as Host.<br />
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Pledge Manual of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity Tenth Edition - 2002<br />
Twentieth - Held on September 4, 5 and 6, 1992, in Elk Grove Village, Illinois, as part of the First<br />
Tutorial and Joint Province Convention.<br />
Twenty-First<br />
- Held on September 2, 3 and 4, 1994, in Rosemont, Illinois, as part of the Second Tutorial and<br />
Joint Province Convention.<br />
Twenty- Second - Held on August 30, 31 and September 1, 1996, in Urbana, Illinois, with Delta Chapter as<br />
Host Chapter, as part of the Third Tutorial and Joint Province Convention.<br />
Twenty-Third - Held on July 30, 31 and August 1, 1998, in Vancouver, British Columbia, with Theta<br />
Chapter as Host Chapter, as part of the Fourth Tutorial and Joint Province Convention.<br />
Twenty-Fourth - Held on June 29, 30 and July 1, 2000, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with Eta Chapter as Host<br />
Chapter, as part of the Fifth Tutorial and Joint Province Convention.<br />
Twenty-Fifth - Because of the distances involved, two Western Province Retreats were held: One was at<br />
Evans Lake in the Vancouver area over the weekend of January 18-20, 2002. The second<br />
was held at Camp Arbolado, near Los Angeles, on February 1-3, 2002.<br />
Page 38
Pledge Manual of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity Tenth Edition - 2002<br />
THE SUPREME COUNCIL OF SIGMA PHI DELTA<br />
1926-1927 Grand President Gilbert H. Dunstan, Alpha (1)<br />
Grand Vice-President H. R. Rosenow, Beta (2)<br />
Grand Secretary-Treasurer F. E. Ridley, Alpha (3)<br />
Field Representatives M. B. Pritchard, Alpha (4)<br />
Nathan E. Way, Beta (5)<br />
1928-1929 Grand President Maurice B. Nelles, Beta (69)<br />
Grand Vice-President Orris Shattuck, Jr., Beta (71)<br />
Grand Secretary-Treasurer Ralph M. Sherick, Alpha (25)<br />
Field Representatives Gilbert H. Dunstan, Alpha<br />
George H. Tomkins, Beta (77)<br />
1930-1931 Grand President Maurice B. Nelles, Beta<br />
Grand Vice-President William A. Rundquist, Epsilon (211)<br />
Grand Secretary-Treasurer Irving L. Peabody, Gamma (138)<br />
Field Representatives Gilbert H. Dunstan, Alpha<br />
Donald W. Brown, Delta (197) (Resigned, replaced by Cornelius E. Hogeboom, Beta (64)<br />
1932-1933 Grand President William A. Rundquist, Epsilon<br />
Grand Vice-President William C. Hellings, Alpha (21) (Resigned, replaced by Francis J.<br />
Simonitsch, Epsilon (210))<br />
Grand Editor Gilbert H. Dunstan, Alpha<br />
Northern Province Councilor Cornelius E. Hogeboom, Beta (64)<br />
Southern Province Councilor Murvan M. Maxwell, Zeta (297)<br />
1934-1935 Grand President William A. Rundquist, Epsilon<br />
Grand Vice-President Francis J. Simonitsch, Epsilon (210) (Resigned, replaced by Albert A.<br />
Wells, Delta (192))<br />
Grand Editor Gilbert H. Dunstan<br />
Northern Province Councilor Cornelius E. Hogeboom, Beta<br />
Southern Province Councilor Murvan M. Maxwell, Zeta<br />
Western Province Councilor Donald J. MacLaurin, Theta (564)<br />
1936-1937 Grand President William A. Rundquist, Epsilon<br />
Grand Vice-President Albert A. Wells, Delta<br />
Grand Editor Cornelius E. Hogeboom, Beta<br />
Member-at-Large Gordon J. Griffith, Eta (476)<br />
Northern Province Councilor Delbert R. McNew, Iota (737)<br />
Western Province Councilor John H. Ganzenhuber, Alpha (374)<br />
1938-1939 Grand President William A. Rundquist, Epsilon<br />
Grand Vice-President Albert A. Wells, Delta<br />
Editor of the CASTLE Cornelius E. Hogeboom, Beta<br />
Councilor-at-Large Gordon J. Griffith, Eta<br />
Northern Province Councilor Delbert R. McNew, Iota<br />
Western Province Councilor John H. Ganzenhuber, Alpha<br />
1940-1947 Grand President William A. Rundquist, Epsilon<br />
Grand Vice-President John G. Ganzenhuber, Alpha<br />
Councilor-at-Large David J. McDonald, Epsilon (677)<br />
Northern Province Councilor John J. Dunphy, Eta (463)<br />
Western Province Councilor John MacDermot, Theta (783)<br />
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Pledge Manual of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity Tenth Edition - 2002<br />
1948-1949 Grand President LeRoy C. Horpedahl, Epsilon (1264)<br />
Grand Vice-President David McDonald, Epsilon (677)<br />
Editor of the CASTLE William A. Rundquist, Epsilon (211)<br />
Eastern Province Councilor Wilfred Hamilton, Kappa (1646)<br />
Central Province Councilor John Gray, Iota (1585)<br />
Western Province Councilor John G. Ellis, Alpha (38)<br />
1950-1951 Grand President Russell C. Smith, Delta (208)<br />
Grand Vice-President LeRoy C. Horpedahl, Epsilon (1264)<br />
Editor of the CASTLE Carl E. Huxley, Alpha (1188)<br />
Eastern Province Councilor Robert J. Beals, Delta (1248)<br />
Central Province Councilor John Gray, Iota<br />
Western Province Councilor John G. Ellis, Alpha<br />
1952-1953 Grand President Robert J. Beals, Delta (1248)<br />
Grand Vice-President Albert G. Shore, Theta (1137)<br />
Editor of the CASTLE Carl E. Huxley, Alpha (Resigned June 9, 1952, replaced by Edwin A.<br />
Witort, Delta (1555) on July 1, 1952)<br />
Eastern Province Councilor Lester R. Medlen, Lambda (2357)<br />
Central Province Councilor Russell C. Smith, Delta (Resigned on October 1, 1952, replaced by<br />
Orville J. Banasik, Epsilon (1572))<br />
Western Province Councilor John G. Ellis, Alpha<br />
1954-1955 Grand President Robert J. Beals, Delta<br />
Grand Vice-President Albert G. Shore, Theta<br />
Editor of the CASTLE Edwin A. Witort, Delta<br />
Eastern Province Councilor Lyle D. Oleson, Kappa (1632)<br />
Central Province Councilor Orville J. Banasik, Epsilon<br />
Western Province Councilor John G. Ellis, Alpha<br />
1956-1957 Grand President Dr. Robert J. Beals, Delta<br />
Grand Vice-President Orville J. Banasik, Epsilon<br />
Editor of the CASTLE Lyle D. Oleson, Kappa<br />
Eastern Province Councilor Ronald D. Hughes, Lambda (2871) (Resigned on November 1,<br />
1956, replaced by Joseph F. Bowers, Lambda (3155))<br />
Central Province Councilor Raymond J. Kipp, Eta (2196) (Resigned on September 1, 1956,<br />
replaced by William M. Jermain, Jr., Eta (2496))<br />
Western Province Councilor Philip R. Field, Alpha (2330)<br />
1958-1959 Grand President Dr. Robert J. Beals, Delta<br />
Grand Vice-President Orville J. Banasik, Epsilon<br />
Editor of the CASTLE Lyle D. Oleson, Kappa<br />
Eastern Province Councilor Marion B. Stults, Lambda (2962) (Succeeded by Charles E.<br />
Peterson, Kappa (3165) on January 1, 1959)<br />
Central Province Councilor William M. Jermain, Jr., Eta (Resigned on July 1, 1959, replaced by<br />
Virgil D. Miller, Epsilon (3345) on September 3, 1959)<br />
Western Province Councilor Philip R. Field, Alpha (Succeeded by Barnard C. Johnson, Nu<br />
(2795) on January 1, 1959)<br />
1960-1961 Grand President Dr. Robert J. Beals, Delta<br />
Grand Vice-President John G. Ellis, Alpha (38)<br />
Editor of the CASTLE Lyle D. Oleson, Kappa (Resigned on April 1, 1960, replaced by John<br />
Gray, Iota, on April 4, 1960)<br />
Eastern Province Councilor Charles E. Peterson, Kappa (3165)<br />
Central Province Councilor Virgil D. Miller, Epsilon (Resigned on July 1, 1960, replaced by<br />
Joseph M. Mann, Epsilon (3044), on October 1, 1960)<br />
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Pledge Manual of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity Tenth Edition - 2002<br />
Western Province Councilor on January 1, 1961, by Barnard C. Johnson, Nu (2795) (Succeeded<br />
William W. Wilson, Mu (3102))<br />
1962-1963 Grand President Dr. Robert J. Beals, Delta<br />
Grand Vice-President John G. Ellis, Alpha<br />
Editor of the CASTLE John Gray, Iota (Resigned on February 11, 1963, replaced by Orville J.<br />
Banasik, Epsilon, on February 11, 1963)<br />
Eastern Province Councilor Charles E. Peterson, Kappa<br />
Central Province Councilor Joseph M. Mann, Epsilon (Resigned an October 1, 1962, replaced<br />
by Richard J. DeJonghe, Iota (2114) on October 1, 1962)<br />
Western Province Councilor William H. Wilson, Nu<br />
1964-1965 Grand President Dr. Robert J. Beals, Delta<br />
Grand Vice-President Lyle D. Oleson, Kappa (Resigned on October 16, 1964, replaced by Allyn<br />
E. Harth, Epsilon (2316) on December 5, 1964)<br />
Editor of the CASTLE Orville J. Banasik, Epsilon<br />
Eastern Province Councilor Charles E. Peterson, Kappa (Resigned on January 20, 1965,<br />
replaced by Robert D. Malinowski, Delta (4047) on January 20, 1965)<br />
Central Province Councilor Richard J. DeJonghe, Iota (Succeeded by William M. Jermain, Jr.,<br />
Eta (2496) on January 1, 1965)<br />
Western Province Councilor William H. Wilson, Mu (Resigned on February 1, 1964, replaced<br />
by W. Robert McIlvenna, Alpha (1257) on February 1, 1964. McIlvenna was recalled by<br />
the General Convention on September 1, 1965, replaced by John G. Ellis, Alpha, (38) on<br />
September 1, 1965)<br />
1966-1967 Grand President Dr. Robert J. Beals, Delta<br />
Grand Vice-President William M. Jermain, Jr. Eta (2496) (Resigned on January 1, 1967,<br />
replaced by Michael J. Deuel, Eta (3680) on January 1, 1967)<br />
Editor of the CASTLE Orville J. Banasik, Epsilon<br />
Eastern Province Councilor Robert D. Malinowski, Delta (Resigned on January 20, 1967,<br />
replaced by Joseph M. Mann, Epsilon (3044) on January 28, 1967)<br />
Central Province Councilor Robert S. Morrison, Xi (2883)<br />
Western Province Councilor John G. Ellis, Alpha<br />
1968-1969 Grand President Dr. Robert J. Beals, Delta<br />
Grand Vice-President Michael J. Deuel, Eta<br />
Editor of the CASTLE Orville J. Banasik, Epsilon<br />
Eastern Province Councilor Joseph M. Mann, Epsilon (Succeeded on January 1, 1969, by Terrill<br />
G. Hicks, Delta (3652)<br />
Central Province Councilor Robert S. Morrison, Xi (Succeeded on January 1, 1969, by<br />
Theodore W. Olsen, Rho (4731))<br />
Western Province Councilor Kenneth R. Gielow, Nu (3550)<br />
1970-1971 Grand President Dr. Robert J. Beals, Delta<br />
Grand Vice-President Kenneth J. Puckall, Xi (4485) (Resigned on August 29, 1970, replaced by<br />
Gerald A. Kraatz, Rho (4728) on August 29, 1970)<br />
Editor of the CASTLE Albert H. Perdon, Sigma (5175)<br />
Eastern Province Councilor Terrill G. Hicks, Delta (Resigned on April 21, 1970, replaced by<br />
Charles E. Newell, Lambda (4911) on April 21, 1970)<br />
Central Province Councilor Theodore W. Olsen, Rho (Succeeded on January 1, 1971, by Dennis<br />
E. Kroll, Rho (4896))<br />
Western Province Councilor Kenneth R. Gielow, Nu (Resigned on March 1, 1970, replaced by<br />
Charles A. Freberg, Alpha (4512) on March 1, 1970)<br />
1972-1973 Grand President Dr. Robert J. Beals, Delta<br />
Grand Vice-President Gerald A. Kraatz, Rho (4728)<br />
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Pledge Manual of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity Tenth Edition - 2002<br />
Editor of the CASTLE Dale A. Hachtel, Rho (4725)<br />
Eastern Province Councilor Charles E. Newell, Lambda (4911) (Resigned on February 1, 1972,<br />
replaced by James M. Fleming, Kappa (4795), who was succeeded on January 1, 1973, by<br />
Frank J. Fronczak, Jr., Delta (5238), who resigned on August 11, 1973, and was replaced by<br />
James F. Sapienza, Delta (5194))<br />
Central Province Councilor Dennis E. Kroll, Rho<br />
Western Province Councilor Charles A. Freberg, Alpha (4512) (Succeeded on January 1, 1973,<br />
by Robert D. Malinowski, Delta)<br />
1974-1975 Grand President Gerald A. Kraatz, Rho (4728)<br />
Grand Vice-President Russel K. Sanford, Kappa (5262)<br />
Editor of the CASTLE Dale A. Hachtel, Rho<br />
Eastern Province Councilor James F. Sapienza, Delta (5194) (Resigned on March 15, 1974,<br />
succeeded by Benjamin L. McCash, Delta (4900) on March 15, 1974)<br />
Central Province Councilor Dennis E. Kroll, (Rho) (Succeeded on January 1, 1975, by Craig<br />
Nolan, Iota (5044), who resigned on August 1, 1975, to be succeeded by Robert A.<br />
Wilcopolski, Iota (5038) on August 1, 1975)<br />
Western Province Councilor Robert D. Malinowski, Delta (Resigned on December 1, 1974,<br />
replaced by Philip G. Robinson, Tau (5494), who was recalled by the General Convention<br />
on June 1, 1975, to be replaced by Bruce C. Myatt, Alpha (5573) on September 1, 1975)<br />
1976-1977 Grand President Benjamin L. McCash, Delta<br />
Grand Vice-President Richard N. Zigler, Kappa (5219)<br />
Editor of the CASTLE Dale A. Hachtel, Rho<br />
Eastern Province Councilor Arnold A. Taube, Delta (5536) (Succeeded on January 1, 1977, by<br />
Robert A. Wileopolski, Iota, who resigned on August 31, 1977, to be replaced by Richard<br />
N. Zigler, Kappa, while also serving as Grand Vice-President)<br />
Central Province Councilor Robert A. Wilcopolski, Iota (Succeeded on January 1, 1977, by<br />
Dennis E. Kroll, Rho)<br />
Western Province Councilor Bruce C. Myatt, Alpha (Resigned on April 1, 1977, replaced by<br />
Raymond T. Lulewicz, Delta (5635) on April 1, 1977)<br />
1978-1979 Grand President Benjamin L. McCash, Delta<br />
Grand Vice-President Robert A. Podoll, Epsilon (5677)<br />
Editor of the CASTLE David E. Vosecky, Delta (4959)<br />
Eastern Province Councilor Richard N. Zigler, Kappa (Resigned on March 17, 1979. The<br />
position was vacant for the remainder of the calendar year.)<br />
Central Province Councilor Douglas H. McFadzean, Xi (5608)<br />
Western Province Councilor Raymond T. Lulewicz, Delta (Resigned on April 1, 1978, replaced<br />
by Robert M. Ferrell, Alpha (5426) on April 1, 1978)<br />
1980-1981 Grand President Benjamin L. McCash, Delta<br />
Grand Vice-President Robert S. Giurato, Delta (5100)<br />
Editor of the CASTLE David E. Vosecky, Delta<br />
Eastern Province Councilor Anthony R. Phillips, Pi (5886)<br />
Central Province Councilor Douglas H. McFadzean, Xi<br />
Western Province Councilor Robert M. Ferrell, Alpha (Resigned an September 25, 1980,<br />
replaced by Walter A. Hornby, Xi (5771) on September 28, 1980)<br />
1982-1983 Grand President William J. Reinert, Delta (3178)<br />
Grand Vice-President Robert S. Giurato, Delta<br />
Editor of the CASTLE David E. Vosecky, Delta<br />
Eastern Province Councilor Anthony R. Phillips, Pi (Resigned on November 1, 1982, replaced<br />
by Donald J. Nelson, Delta (6090) on November 1, 1982)<br />
Central Province Councilor Douglas H. McFadzean, Xi (Resigned on September 18, 1982,<br />
replaced by Jacob L. LaRue, Epsilon (5729) on September 18, 1982)<br />
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Pledge Manual of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity Tenth Edition - 2002<br />
Western Province Councilor Walter A. Hornby, Xi<br />
1984-1985 Grand President William J. Reinert, Delta<br />
Grand Vice-President Dennis E. Kroll, Rho<br />
Editor of the CASTLE David E. Vosecky, Delta<br />
Eastern Province Councilor Donald J. Nelson, Delta<br />
Central Province Councilor Jacob L. LaRue, Epsilon (Resigned on March 10, 1984, replaced by<br />
George J. Flanders, Rho (6122) on March 10, 1984)<br />
Western Province Councilor Walter A. Hornby, Xi<br />
1986-1987 Grand President William J. Reinert, Delta<br />
Grand Vice-President George J. Flanders, Rho (6122)<br />
Editor of the CASTLE David E. Vosecky, Delta<br />
Eastern Province Councilor James C. Kwock, Alpha (6444)<br />
Central Province Councilor James P. Schleck, Epsilon (6184)<br />
Western Province Councilor Michael Schulz, Epsilon (6244)<br />
1988-1989 Grand President George J. Flanders, Rho<br />
Grand Vice-President James P. Schleck, Epsilon<br />
Editor of the CASTLE LeRoy Kadrmas, Epsilon (6289)<br />
Eastern Province Councilor James C. Kwock, Alpha (Resigned on September 15, 1989,<br />
replaced by G. Mark Shaw, Delta (6321) on September 15, 1989)<br />
Central Province Councilor Donald J. Nelson, Delta<br />
Western Province Councilor Michael Schulz, Epsilon (Succeeded on January 1, 1989, by<br />
Bradley T. Fiechtner, Epsilon (6332))<br />
1990-1991 Grand President William J. Reinert, Delta (3178)<br />
Grand Vice-President Brian S. Nissley, Kappa (6601)<br />
Editor of the CASTLE LeRoy Kadrmas, Epsilon<br />
Eastern Province Councilor G. Mark Shaw, Delta (6321) (Succeeded on January 1, 1991, by<br />
David A. Forder, Delta (6619))<br />
Central Province Councilor Donald J. Nelson, Delta (Succeeded on January 1, 1991, by Michael<br />
L. Fox, Eta (6656))<br />
Western Province Councilor Bradley T. Fiechtner, Epsilon (Succeeded on January 1, 1991, by<br />
Randall J. Hein, Delta (6662))<br />
1992-1993 Grand President Paul A. Lindner, Delta (6621)<br />
Grand Vice-President Keith A. Colombo, Pi (6015)<br />
Editor of the CASTLE Edward A. Hurst, Alpha (6501)<br />
Eastern Province Councilor David A. Forder, Delta<br />
Central Province Councilor Michael L. Fox, Eta (Succeeded on January 1, 1993, by Jason E.<br />
Lukas, Eta (6799))<br />
Western Province Councilor Randall J. Hein, Delta<br />
1994-1995 Grand President Paul A. Lindner, Delta<br />
Grand Vice-President Dennis E. Kroll, Rho (4896)<br />
Editor of the CASTLE Peter J. Zingelman, Eta (6804)<br />
Eastern Province Councilor David A. Forder, Delta (Resigned on April 22, 1995. Replaced by<br />
Eric P. Messerschmidt, Delta (6419) on August 30, 1995)<br />
Central Province Councilor Jason E. Lukas, Eta (Resigned on April 22, 1995. Replaced by<br />
Michael W. Louden, Delta (6891) on August 30, 1995)<br />
Western Province Councilor Randall J. Hein, Delta<br />
1996-1997 Grand President Scott F. Everett, Epsilon (6544)<br />
Grand Vice-President Paul A. Lindner, Delta<br />
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Pledge Manual of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity Tenth Edition - 2002<br />
Editor of the CASTLE Joseph J. Welinski, Delta (6046) (Resigned on February 22, 1997.<br />
Replaced by Burt A. Wagner III, Delta (6896), as Communications Director on August 30,<br />
1997)<br />
Eastern Province Councilor Eric P. Messerschmidt, Delta (Resigned on on August 30, 1997.<br />
Replaced by Michael L. Votaw, Kappa (6860) on August 30, 1997)<br />
Central Province Councilor Michael W. Louden, Delta (Succeeded on January 1, 1997, by Jason<br />
W. Larson, Epsilon (7044))<br />
Western Province Councilor Randall J. Hein, Delta (Succeeded on January 1, 1997, by<br />
Benjamin D. Prins, Theta (6812))<br />
1998-1999 Grand President Paul A. Lindner, Delta<br />
Grand Vice-President Scott F. Everett, Epsilon (Resigned on April 26, 1999. Replaced Keith J.<br />
Hileman, Kappa (7289) on April 26, 1999)<br />
Communications Director Burt A. Wagner III, Delta<br />
Eastern Province Councilor Michael L. Votaw, Kappa<br />
Central Province Councilor Jason W. Larson, Epsilon (Resigned on March 7, 1998. Replaced by<br />
J. Christopher Perez, Eta (6802) on July 30, 1998)<br />
Western Province Councilor Benjamin D. Prins, Theta<br />
2000-2001 Grand President Paul A. Lindner, Delta<br />
Grand Vice-President Keith J. Hileman, Kappa<br />
Communications Director Burt A. Wagner III, Delta<br />
Eastern Province Councilor Michael L. Votaw, Kappa<br />
Central Province Councilor J. Christopher Perez, Eta (Resigned on February 26, 2001. Replaced<br />
by Michael J. Stelzner, Eta (7339) on February 26, 2001)<br />
Western Province Councilor Benjamin D. Prins, Theta (Resigned on July 1, 2000. Replaced by<br />
Kevin D. Oldknow, Theta (7153) on July 1, 2000)<br />
2002-2003 Grand President Derek R. Troy, Alpha (7232)<br />
Grand Vice-President Keith J. Hileman, Kappa<br />
Communications Director Alixandre R. Minden, Kappa (7436)<br />
Eastern Province Councilor Michael L. Votaw, Kappa<br />
Central Province Councilor Michael J. Stelzner, Eta (Succeeded on January 1, 2003 by<br />
Matt C. Hayes, Eta (7585) on January 1, 2003)<br />
Western Province Councilor Kevin D. Oldknow, Theta (Resigned on January 1, 2002. Replaced<br />
by Darren Farnworth (7297), Theta on January 1, 2002)<br />
2004-2005 Grand President ______________________________________________<br />
Grand Vice-President __________________________________________<br />
Communications Director _______________________________________<br />
Eastern Province Councilor _____________________________________<br />
Central Province Councilor ______________________________________<br />
Western Province Councilor _____________________________________<br />
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Pledge Manual of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity Tenth Edition - 2002<br />
GENERAL MANAGERS of SIGMA PHI DELTA<br />
1928 Gilbert H. Dunstan, Alpha (1)<br />
1929-1931 William C. Hellings, Alpha (21)<br />
1931-1933 Walter C. Nelson, Epsilon (234)<br />
1934-1949 Russell C. Smith, Delta (208)<br />
1950-1951 Warren E. Porter, Iota (1953)<br />
1952-1957 John Gray, Iota (1985)<br />
(On December 31, 1957, the Office of General Manager was eliminated and was superseded by the Office of<br />
Executive Secretary, which became operational on January 1, 1958.)<br />
EXECUTIVE SECRETARIES OF SIGMA PHI DELTA<br />
January 1, 1958 to July 1, 1959<br />
July 1, 1959 to January 1, 1963<br />
January 1, 1963 to June 1, 1964<br />
June 1, 1964 to January 20, 1965<br />
January 20, 1965 to January 21, 1967<br />
January 21, 1967 to January 13, 1968<br />
January 13, 1968 to June 1, 1968<br />
June 1, 1968 to January 1, 1974<br />
January 1, 1974 to July 1, 1998<br />
July 1, 1998 to January 1, 2000 Edward A. Hurst, Alpha (6501)<br />
January 1, 2000 to June 1, 2001 Derek R. Troy, Alpha (7232)<br />
Joseph F. Bowers, Lambda (3155) (Resigned)<br />
William M. Jermain, Jr., Eta (2496) (Resigned)<br />
Michael J. Deuel, Eta (3680) (Resigned)<br />
J. Patrick Carey, Eta (4141) (Resigned)<br />
Charles E. Peterson, Kappa (3165) (Resigned)<br />
Robert D. Malinowski, Delta (4047) (Resigned)<br />
Donald G. Janiak, Iota (4122) (Removed from Office by the Supreme<br />
Council)<br />
William M. Jermain, Jr., Eta<br />
Dr. Robert J. Beals, Delta (1248) (Retired)<br />
(On January 1, 2000 the appointed offices of Treasurer and Merchandise/Fundraising Manager were created to assist<br />
in the duties of the Office of Executive Secretary)<br />
TREASURERS OF SIGMA PHI DELTA<br />
January 1, 2000 to ___________ Edward A. Hurst, Alpha (6501)<br />
(On June 1, 2001, the office of Executive Director was created as Sigma Phi Delta’s first full-time salaried position.<br />
This office encompasses the duties of Executive Secretary, Circulation Manager and Merchandise/Fundraising<br />
Manager)<br />
EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS OF SIGMA PHI DELTA<br />
June 1, 2001 to _____________ Robert R. Featheringham, Lambda (3798)<br />
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Pledge Manual of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity Tenth Edition - 2002<br />
BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF SIGMA PHI DELTA<br />
The Board of Trustees of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity was established by an Act of the Second General<br />
Convention in 1929. The Board of Trustees became functional for the first time in 1952, however, when the<br />
Endowment Funds of the Fraternity were turned over to the Board by the General Manager, who had managed the<br />
Funds to this date. The transfer of funds was carried out when the Fraternity was Incorporated in the State of<br />
California on September 29, 1952.<br />
1930-1931 Maurice B. Nelles, Beta (69)<br />
Albert B. Collins, Alpha (11)<br />
M. B. Pritchard, Alpha (4)<br />
1932-1933 William A. Rundquist, Epsilon (211)<br />
Albert B. Collins, Alpha<br />
M. B. Pritchard, Alpha<br />
1934-1935 William A. Rundquist, Epsilon<br />
Albert B. Collins, Alpha<br />
M. B. Pritchard, Alpha<br />
1936-1937 William A. Rundquist, Epsilon<br />
Albert B. Collins, Alpha<br />
M. B. Pritchard, Alpha<br />
1938-1938 William A. Rundquist, Epsilon<br />
Albert B. Collins, Alpha<br />
M. B. Pritchard, Alpha<br />
1940-1941 William A. Rundquist, Epsilon<br />
Gordon Strong, Epsilon (402)<br />
Abner M. Ingebretson, Epsilon (338)<br />
1942-1947 William A. Rundquist, Epsilon<br />
Walter S. Eschbach, Alpha (598)<br />
Jack A. Cortright, Alpha (1276)<br />
1948-1949 LeRoy C. Horpedahl, Epsilon (1264)<br />
Jack A. Cortright, Alpha<br />
J. W. B. Stanley, Alpha (706)<br />
1950-1951 Russell C. Smith, Delta (208)<br />
J. W. B. Stanley, Alpha<br />
Jack A. Cortright, Alpha<br />
1952-1953 Robert J. Beals, Delta (1248)<br />
Richard C. Sandusky, Alpha (939)<br />
W. Robert McIlvenna, Alpha (1257)<br />
1954-1955 Dr. Robert J. Beals, Delta<br />
Richard C. Sandusky, Alpha<br />
W. Robert McIlvenna, Alpha<br />
1956-1957 Dr. Robert J. Beals , Delta<br />
Richard C. Sandusky, Alpha<br />
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Pledge Manual of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity Tenth Edition - 2002<br />
W. Robert McIlvenna, Alpha<br />
1958-1959 Dr. Robert J. Beals , Delta<br />
W. Robert McIlvenna, Alpha<br />
Richard C. Sandusky, Alpha (Succeeded on January 1, 1959, by George 0. Neuman, Mu (2399))<br />
Joseph F. Bowers, Lambda (3155), ex-officio from January 1, 1958, to July 1, 1959, succeeded<br />
by William M. Jermain, Jr., Eta (2496) on July 1, 1959)<br />
1960-1961 Dr. Robert J. Beals, Delta<br />
George 0. Neuman, Mu<br />
W. Robert McIlvenna, Alpha (Succeeded on January 1, 1961, by A. Robert Nagy, Alpha<br />
(2323))<br />
William M. Jermain, Jr., Eta, ex-officio<br />
1962-1963 Dr. Robert J. Beals, Delta<br />
George 0. Neuman, Mu (Succeeded on January 1, 1963, by Paul M. Sapp, Alpha (73))<br />
A. Robert Nagy, Alpha<br />
William M. Jermain, Jr., Eta, ex-officio (Succeeded on January 1, 1963, by Michael J. Deuel,<br />
Eta (3680)<br />
1964-1965 Dr. Robert J. Beals, Delta<br />
A. Robert Nagy, Alpha (Succeeded on November 1, 1965, by James E. Sublett, Jr., Alpha<br />
(2103))<br />
Paul M. Sapp, Alpha (Deceased March 28, 1964, succeeded by John G. Ellis, Alpha (38) on<br />
March 28, 1964)<br />
Michael J. Deuel, Eta, ex-officio (Succeeded on June 1, 1964, by J. Patrick Carey, Eta (4141),<br />
who was succeeded on January 20, 1965, by Charles E. Peterson, Kappa (3165))<br />
1966-1967 Dr. Robert J. Beals, Delta<br />
John G. Ellis, Alpha<br />
James E. Sublett, Jr., Alpha<br />
Charles E. Peterson, Kappa, ex-officio (Succeeded an January 21, 1967, by Robert D.<br />
Malinowski, Delta (4047))<br />
1968-1969 Dr. Robert J. Beals, Delta<br />
Brian F. George, Nu (3549)<br />
James E. Sublett, Jr., Alpha (Succeeded on January 1, 1969, by Robert D. Malinowski, Delta)<br />
Donald G. Janiak, Iota (4122), ex-officio (Succeeded on June 1, 1968, by William M. Jermain,<br />
Jr., Eta (2496))<br />
1970-1971 Dr. Robert J. Beals, Delta<br />
Brian F. George, Nu (Succeeded on January 1, 1971, by Michael J. Deuel, Eta (3680)<br />
Robert D. Malinowski, Delta<br />
William M. Jermain, Jr., Eta, ex-officio<br />
1972-1973 Dr. Robert J. Beals, Delta<br />
Michael J. Deuel, Eta<br />
Robert D. Malinowski, Delta<br />
William M. Jermain, Jr., Eta, ex-officio<br />
1974-1975 Gerald A. Kraatz, Rho (4728)<br />
Michael J. Deuel, Eta<br />
Robert D. Malinowski, Delta<br />
Dr. Robert J. Beals, Delta, ex-officio<br />
1976-1977 Benjamin L. McCash, Delta (4900)<br />
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Pledge Manual of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity Tenth Edition - 2002<br />
Michael J. Deuel, Eta<br />
Robert D. Malinowski, Delta (Resigned on April 15, 1977, succeeded by Ernest L. Cody, Eta<br />
(3869) on April 15, 1977)<br />
Dr. Robert J. Beals, Delta, ex-officio<br />
1978-1979 Benjamin L. McCash, Delta<br />
Michael J. Deuel, Eta<br />
Ernest L. Cody, Eta<br />
Dr. Robert J. Beals, Delta, ex-officio<br />
1980-1981 Benjamin L. McCash, Delta<br />
Michael J. Deuel, Eta<br />
Ernest L. Cody, Eta<br />
Dr. Robert J. Beals, Delta, ex-officio<br />
1982-1983 William J. Reinert, Delta (3178)<br />
Michael J. Deuel, Eta<br />
Ernest L. Cody, Eta<br />
Dr. Robert J. Beals, Delta, ex-officio<br />
1984-1985 William J. Reinert, Delta<br />
Michael J. Deuel, Eta<br />
Ernest L. Cody, Eta (Succeeded on January 1, 1985, by Steven D. Reichwein, Alpha (6281))<br />
Dr. Robert J. Beals, Delta, ex-officio<br />
1986-1987 William J. Reinert, Delta<br />
Michael J. Deuel, Eta (Succeeded on January 1, 1987, by James C. Phillips, Alpha (6341)<br />
Steven D. Reichwein, Alpha (6281)<br />
Dr. Robert J. Beals, Delta, ex-officio<br />
1988-1989 George J. Flanders, Rho (6122)<br />
James C. Phillips, Alpha<br />
Steven D. Reichwein, Alpha<br />
Dr. Robert J. Beals, Delta, ex-officio<br />
1990-1991 William J. Reinert, Delta (3178)<br />
Steven D. Reichwein, Alpha<br />
James C. Phillips, Alpha (Succeeded on January 1, 1991, by Scott E. Zerga, Alpha (6562))<br />
Dr. Robert J. Beals, Delta, ex-officio<br />
1992-1993 Paul A. Lindner, Delta (6621)<br />
Steven D. Reichwein, Alpha<br />
Scott E. Zerga, Alpha<br />
Dr. Robert J. Beals, Delta, ex-officio<br />
1994-1995 Paul A. Lindner, Delta<br />
Steven D. Reichwein, Alpha<br />
Scott E. Zerga, Alpha<br />
Dr. Robert J. Beals, Delta, ex-officio<br />
1996-1997 Scott F. Everett, Epsilon (6544)<br />
Steven D. Reichwein, Alpha (Succeeded on January 1, 1997, by Bruce C. Myatt, Alpha (5573))<br />
Scott E. Zerga, Alpha<br />
Dr. Robert J. Beals, Delta, ex-officio<br />
1998-1999 Paul A. Lindner, Delta<br />
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Pledge Manual of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity Tenth Edition - 2002<br />
Bruce C. Myatt, Alpha<br />
Scott E. Zerga, Alpha (Succeeded on February 14, 1999, by Roger Fischer, Alpha (6553),<br />
following the death of Trustee-elect William J. Trader, Delta (1180) on November 4, 1998)<br />
Dr. Robert J. Beals, Delta, ex-officio (Retired on July 1, 1998, succeeded by Edward A. Hurst,<br />
Alpha (6501) on July 1, 1998)<br />
2000-2001 Paul A. Lindner, Delta<br />
Bruce C. Myatt, Alpha<br />
Roger Fischer, Alpha<br />
Derek R. Troy, Alpha (7232), ex-officio<br />
2002-2003 Derek R. Troy, Alpha<br />
Bruce C. Myatt, Alpha<br />
Roger Fischer, Alpha (Succeeded on January 1, 2003, by Adam C. Lynch, Alpha (6854))<br />
Robert R. Featheringham, Lambda (3798), ex-officio<br />
2004-2005 ________________________________<br />
________________________________<br />
________________________________<br />
________________________________<br />
Page 49
Pledge Manual of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity Tenth Edition - 2002<br />
BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE SIGMA PHI DELTA FOUNDATION<br />
The Sigma Phi Delta Foundation was established in 1991 as a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3), organization, which<br />
could accept (U.S.) tax-deductible contributions for educational purposes. It was incorporated on November 5,<br />
1991, in the state of Ohio. The three Officers of the Foundation’s Board of Directors are: a President, Vice<br />
President and Secretary-Treasurer. Board members are elected for six-year terms and may succeed themselves only<br />
once. One Board member is elected every two years at the General Convention.<br />
1992-1997 William J. Reinert, Delta (3178)<br />
Gary L. Ray, Kappa (4526)<br />
Dr. Robert J. Beals, Delta (1248)<br />
1998-2003 William J. Reinert, Delta (Succeeded on January 1, 2000, by Dennis E. Kroll, Rho (4896))<br />
Gary L. Ray, Kappa (Succeeded on January 1, 2002, by Charles D. Shrontz, Lambda (4618))<br />
Dr. Robert J. Beals, Delta<br />
2004-2009 ________________________________<br />
________________________________<br />
________________________________<br />
2010-2015 ________________________________<br />
________________________________<br />
________________________________<br />
Page 50
Pledge Manual of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity Tenth Edition - 2002<br />
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE<br />
Practically any meeting of consequence is governed by parliamentary law. A knowledge of the general<br />
principles and practices will serve as an invaluable aid throughout life. It is important that a pledge become<br />
acquainted with these Rules in order to better take his place in a formal house meeting after initiation. He will also<br />
be much better qualified for leadership in campus activities if he understands, and uses, these practices.<br />
The list of rules and definitions which follow are by no means complete. For a complete consideration, the<br />
reader's attention is directed to the latest edition of Robert's Rules of Order or Jones' Parliamentary Procedure at a<br />
Glance. Other books of equal value are in your campus library and one such book should be a part of the Chapter<br />
library.<br />
In most organizations, the following general order of Business is followed:<br />
1. CALL TO ORDER: The Chairman says: "The meeting will please come to order".<br />
2. ROLL CALL: Members may say "present' as their names are called, or the Secretary may take a silent<br />
roll call.<br />
3. MINUTES : The Secretary reads a record of the last meeting. In most organizations, a member moves to<br />
"receive" or "accept" or "approve" the Minutes after they are read. If there are mistakes they are<br />
corrected before they are approved or accepted. The use of "approved" or "accepted" has the same<br />
connotation. The use of "receive" is of lesser stature and does not necessarily imply either approval or<br />
acceptance but the desire of the organization to get the concerned material in the Minutes of the meeting.<br />
4. OFFICER'S REPORTS: Often limited to a Report from the Treasurer, but others may report at this<br />
time.<br />
5. COMMITTEE REPORTS: First come reports from "Standing" or permanent committees, then reports<br />
from "Ad hoc" or "Special" committees. Depending on the organization, reports are received or<br />
accepted. The explanation of the difference of these two motions is discussed above and will be<br />
enlarged upon later.<br />
6. SPECIAL ORDERS: Important business previously designated for consideration at this meeting,<br />
perhaps referred from a previous meeting to be considered at this time.<br />
7. UNFINISHED OR OLD BUSINESS: This is business left over from previous meetings. It might<br />
resemble "Special Orders" and sometimes the two are combined. Special Orders must be considered.<br />
Unfinished business might be overlooked.<br />
8. NEW BUSINESS AND RESOLUTIONS: The introduction of new topics for consideration by the<br />
group is "New business". At this time, announcements of other subjects and topics for information of<br />
the group may be made.<br />
9. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting ends by a vote or by general consent (or by the Chair's decision if the<br />
time of adjournment was prearranged by vote.<br />
The following terms are used in the conduct of meetings and should be learned by all attempting<br />
parliamentary procedure:<br />
THE CHAIR: This is the chairman of the meeting. This, in the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity, is normally the<br />
Chapter Chief Engineer in Chapter meetings. He is to be addressed as “Mr. Chairman” or “Mr. President” or<br />
possibly “Brother Chairman”, in the case of house meetings or Fraternity Conventions. This form of address should<br />
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Pledge Manual of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity Tenth Edition - 2002<br />
be used to the Member occupying the Chair, even if he should be only temporarily in charge, as when the vicepresident<br />
presides in lieu of the president.<br />
MINUTES : The minutes are the record of previous meetings. They should be taken as completely as the<br />
situation warrants. Motions should be recorded verbatim, where this is possible. The Chair calls on the Secretary to<br />
read the Minutes of the previous meetings. After the reading, the Chairman asks, “Are there any corrections or<br />
additions?” Any changes are made and then the Minutes “stand approved as read (or printed, in the case of<br />
Convention Minutes)”. Even minor changes to the Minutes should be confirmed by vote. Expunging from the<br />
Minutes requires a unanimous vote and should seldom be attempted.<br />
REPORTS: These reports follow the reading of the Minutes. First comes the reading, or the summarization,<br />
of the Officers’ Reports. The Chair will have a listing of the Standing Committees and should ask for their<br />
Chairmen to report in the order of importance. He may ask, “Has the Social Committee a Report?” If the<br />
Committee has a Report, the Chairman of the Committee rises, addresses the Chair, is recognized and proceeds to<br />
give his Committee’s report. If there is no Report, the Chair is so advised and the next Report is called for.<br />
RECIEPT OR ACCEPTANCE OF A REPORT: While this was mentioned briefly on the previous page, it<br />
is discussed in greater detail here. Normally, after a report is given, it must be received or accepted before it<br />
becomes a part of the Official Record, or Minutes, of the organization. While “to accept” a Report is in common<br />
usage, the correct form is “to receive” a Report unless it is the intent of the Member to give approval to everything<br />
contained in that report. The Chair may say, “You have heard the Report of the Social Committee. What is your<br />
pleasure?” A Member addresses the Chair, is recognized, and says: “I move that the Report of the Social Committee<br />
be received”. The Motion is seconded by another Member and the Chair states, “The motion is made and seconded<br />
to receive the Report of the Social Committee. Is there any discussion?” The Member moving receipt has the first<br />
opportunity to support his motion. Discussion on the Report may or may not occur. Discussion should be restricted<br />
to whether or not to receive the Report. As soon as it is obvious to the Chair that the discussion is terminated or that<br />
sufficient discussion has been held on the subject, he may say, “All in favor of the motion to receive the Report will<br />
say ‘aye’. All opposed say ‘no’. The ‘ayes’ have it. The motion is carried and the Report is received.” Should the<br />
‘no’s’ prevail, the Report is not accepted and is not included in the Minutes of the meeting. “Receiving” a Report<br />
does not adopt any of the provisions of the Report, while “accepting” or “adopting” the Report implies adoption of<br />
the total content of the Report. If there are items within the Report which should be adopted, a motion to this effect<br />
should be made, either after the Report has been received or at a later time, perhaps under New Business, if this is<br />
the wish of the Chair and the assembly.<br />
FLOOR: All business must be introduced by motion or by presenting a report; this being done only after the<br />
speaker “obtains the floor”. To obtain the floor (or the opportunity to speak), one rises (or raises his hand) and<br />
addresses the presiding officer. It is not considered good form to interrupt a speaker and is not tolerated in well-run<br />
organizations. There are a couple of situations which might arise where this is permissible, but they are not<br />
discussed here.<br />
RECOGNITION: The Chair will "recognize the Member" by saying "Brother Speaking without such<br />
recognition is to be avoided since it destroys the order of the meeting. The Chair must ensure that everyone has the<br />
opportunity to speak and this can be accomplished by requiring that any member "have the floor" before he is<br />
permitted to speak.<br />
MOTION, MAIN OR ORIGINAL: Before any business should be discussed, a motion to effect the<br />
business should be brought to the floor. A motion is a formal proposal to the meeting that the organization take<br />
certain action or actions. It is often in the form: Chairman, I move that the Chapter hold a dance next Saturday<br />
night".<br />
SECOND: Almost every motion must be seconded before further action can be taken, or it dies. The<br />
"seconding" indicates that there is at least one additional member who is willing to support the motion. He<br />
addresses the Chair, is recognized, and says "I second the motion".<br />
STATEMENT: Before any debate takes place on the subject, the Chair reads or "states" the motion in the<br />
form in which it will be discussed. If the motion is complicated or unusually long, the Chair may direct the<br />
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Secretary to read the motion as he has recorded it. Any necessary changes in wording can be made, at this time, by<br />
the initiator and seconder of the motion to cause it to say what they wanted to be discussed.<br />
QUESTION: As soon as the motion has been stated by the Chairman (or read by the Secretary), it becomes a<br />
"Question" and the Chair calls for "Remarks" or "Discussion".<br />
SECONDARY MOTIONS OR AMENDMENTS : During the discussion, any member desiring to modify<br />
the Main Motion may indicate his wish by saying "I moved to amend the Main Motion to add: 'The dance will be<br />
held in the Chapter Room from 9 p.m. to midnight"'. This secondary motion, or amendment, must be seconded as<br />
was the Main Motion. The amendment cannot be contrary to the content of the Main Motion, but may modify or<br />
limit it, if this appears necessary or desirable. The Chair proceeds with the discussion of the Amendment as with the<br />
Main Motion. All desiring to participate in the discussion must first be recognized by the chair. Obviously, only one<br />
Member can have the floor at any one time.<br />
DISCUSSION: When the Chair assigns a Member the floor, he cannot be interrupted by either the Chairman<br />
or any Member except in the case of "Objection to Consideration", "Point of Order", a call for "Orders of the Day"<br />
or "Question of Privilege", or in case of a Motion to "Reconsider".<br />
A call for "Orders of the Day" is a Motion demanding that the present discussion be dropped and that the<br />
Chair announce the next matter to be taken up in accordance with the organizations established business routine. A<br />
"Question of Privilege" refers to the privileges or rights of the Meeting in matters of physical comfort, such as the<br />
inability to hear, heating or ventilating the room, or ineligibility or misconduct of the Member, and the complainant<br />
may interrupt the speaker to address the Chairman. "Objection to Consideration" may be called when a topic<br />
offensive to the Members present is brought up. "Point of Order" may be raised when the speaker violates decorum,<br />
makes obviously false or misleading statements or engages in slander.<br />
PUTTING THE QUESTION: After it is obvious that discussion is over, the Chair will state the original<br />
motion in its final amended form prior to voting. If amendments have been made and were duly seconded, they<br />
must be voted upon in the inverse order in which they were made, that is, the last amendment will be voted on first.<br />
Once all amendments pertaining to the Main Motion are adopted (or rejected), the amended Motion is voted upon.<br />
Sometimes, members feel that sufficient discussion has been held on a Motion and will say "Question". This<br />
merely means that that individual is ready to vote. Discussion does not have to be limited or to end unless there is a<br />
formal motion to "Move the Previous Question". The alert Chairman must note the difference and not stifle debate.<br />
VOTE: There are a great variety of methods for casting Votes. Voting may be done by voice - 'aye (I)' or<br />
'no'; by a show of hands; by rising; by written ballot; or by Roll Call. In most matters, a clear majority is necessary<br />
to carry the question. In some matters pertaining to the Laws of the organization, a larger majority, perhaps 2/3 or<br />
3/4 affirmative is required.<br />
GENERAL CONSENT: Meetings are frequently expedited by passing Questions by "General Consent".<br />
The Chair may ask, "Are there any objections to _______?" If no one objects, the matter passes. But if even one<br />
objection is made, a vote must be taken. The rights of the members and the power of the Chair come from a desire<br />
to promote a democratic atmosphere in the meeting and yet to maintain an orderly conduct. Nothing is more useless<br />
than a meeting in which nonsense and frivolity have the upper hand.<br />
RIGHTS OF MEMBERS IN MEETINGS : Normally, a member may speak any number of times on any<br />
Question unless the majority has limited the debate for democratic reasons. It is a general rule that every Member<br />
who is in a meeting room at the time the Question is stated has not only the right but the duty to vote.<br />
POWER OF THE CHAIR: The Chair has the power, and the responsibility, to enforce order; to decide in<br />
what order speakers shall be recognized; to refuse to recognize speakers who, in his opinion, intend to obstruct<br />
business by nonsense; and to appoint committees. If the Chairman is a Member of the organization, he may vote on<br />
every motion, although it is not mandatory that he do so. Since the only instances in which his vote will change the<br />
result is a tie vote, the Chairman frequently votes only in case of a tie vote or where his vote will create a tie vote;<br />
where the outcome of the vote cannot be known until the ballots are counted (such as a written, secret, ballot), the<br />
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Chair will also vote. Blank ballots are generally considered as favoring the prevailing side of the voting, essentially<br />
reducing the majority needed to carry a vote.<br />
The president, or chief engineer, of the Fraternity Chapter must be acquainted with the National Fraternity<br />
Constitution and Statutory Code, with the Statutes of the University or College, with the Province By-Laws, and<br />
with the local Chapter By-Laws. A knowledge of these Laws prevents many mistakes. it should be pointed out that<br />
only the Supreme Council is authorized to interpret the Laws of the National Fraternity.<br />
QUORUM: To ensure that a representative assembly is present at a Meeting, most organizations state in<br />
their By-Laws the number of Members who must be present for business to be legally conducted. This may be<br />
expressed either as a number or as a percentage. In the General Convention of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity, it is<br />
stated "two-thirds of the Members representing the Active Chapters and two members of the Supreme Council.<br />
Often, it is a majority of the Chapter membership, plus one or more elected officers of the Chapter.<br />
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE: Parliamentary procedure is the best way to get things done efficiently<br />
at meetings, but it only works if you use it right! To do this, OBTAIN THE FLOOR properly; MAKE MOTIONS<br />
that are in order; SPEAK, clearly and concisely; and OBEY the rules of debate. Most of all, be courteous. It is<br />
possible to use parliamentary procedure to obstruct the progress of a meeting. The careful Chairman will ensure that<br />
this does not happen.<br />
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A HISTORY OF SIGMA PHI DELTA FRATERNITY<br />
The founding of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity on the campus of the University of California at Los Angeles<br />
was the outgrowth of a third attempt to establish a professional engineering fraternity on that campus. Two previous<br />
attempts had been made to organize an engineering fraternity at the University but both groups thus formed had<br />
terminated into general, or social, fraternities.<br />
1923 - 1931<br />
In the Fall of 1923, a group of engineering students at the University of Southern California considered the<br />
idea of forming an engineering fraternity. The idea was considered and temporarily discarded due to the<br />
unsuccessful previous attempts. In the Spring of 1924, however, the group met to formulate their ideas into action.<br />
The first meeting of this group was held at the University YMCA, commonly called "The Red Barn" or "The Barn".<br />
For many years there has been confusion as to the exact date of the first meeting. From a recently discovered<br />
"Minute Book", the date of this first meeting was found to be on April 2, 1924. This Minute Book, a student<br />
composition pad, consists of the record of the activities of this student group for the first year of its life.<br />
The Minutes of this first meeting are here recorded exactly as written for the interest they may have:<br />
"April 2, 1924<br />
"Meeting called to order by C. J. Robinson, acting president. The object of forming a<br />
national professional engineering fraternity was discussed. It was decided that there would be no<br />
necessity for having a house.<br />
"Plans were discussed for forming a local fraternity. Committees were formed to draw up<br />
the constitution and bylaw. Those named were: Payne, Black, Collins, Severence, Kahlert,<br />
Robinson and Wells.<br />
"The next subject in order was that of pins, a committee was chosen composed of Young,<br />
Foster, Clare, Black, these working in conjunction with the officers. This committee was also to<br />
work on the name of the fraternity.<br />
"The meeting was ajorned (sic) until Friday April 11, at 12:00 sharp.''<br />
Charles Kahlert acted as Secretary at this meeting at which C. J. Robinson presided as president. Albert B.<br />
Collins was chairman of the constitution and by-laws committee. As near as can be determined, the men present at<br />
this meeting were C. J. Robinson, Earl C. Payne, Archie Black, Albert B. Collins, W. Severns, Charles G. Kahlert,<br />
Addison E. Wells, C. J. Young, H. B. Foster, Monte Clare , George Shindler, H. B. Wilcox and Charles Fuller.<br />
April 11, 1924, is considered to be the founding date of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity. At the meeting on<br />
this date, the discussion centered on the name for this new fraternity. First considered was Psi Delta Sigma, but this<br />
was rejected because of conflict with the name of another fraternity. Discussion on the name was then deferred until<br />
the meeting of April 21, 1924. The group adopted a constitution and by-laws and voted to increase the number of<br />
the charter membership to twenty. Actually, the eighteen men listed in this history are considered as the Charter<br />
Members of the Fraternity. Added to the list at this time were M. B. Pritchard, Harry H. Lembke, Ross Stoker and<br />
LeRoy Henzie.<br />
The name "Sigma Delta Phi" was suggested at the meeting on April 21. At this time, the pin committee was<br />
given the added responsibility of choosing colors for the organization. A committee was chosen to draw up a formal<br />
petition to the Faculty Committee of the University of Southern California for recognition. Named to the<br />
Committee were Kahlert, Payne and Black. At the meeting on April 25, 1924, the name of this new fraternity was<br />
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changed to "Sigma Phi Delta". Although a meeting was held on May 2, the Minutes record no progress on any<br />
pending issue.<br />
The group adopted the colors Red and Black on May 9, 1924. The pin design established by the Committee<br />
was: "The badge shall consist of a triangle having concave corners on which are superimposed three smaller<br />
triangles having concave sides and having their vertices at the center of the badge in which is placed a ruby. The<br />
smaller triangles, which contain the letters Sigma, Phi and Delta are black, the background between them being<br />
white. The border is set with pearls, six on each side". At this meeting, the group elected to Faculty Membership<br />
Professors Robert M. Fox, Hugh C. Willett, Philip S. Biegler, Charles W. Lawrence, Clarence E. Guse and Allen E.<br />
Sedwick.<br />
The election of officers was held at a special meeting on May 15, 1924. Elected were: Ross Stoker,<br />
president; Charles Fuller, first vice president; Archie Black, second vice-president; Charles Young, secretary; and<br />
Addison E. Wells, treasurer. The Charter Members were presented their badges by President C. J. Robinson on May<br />
26, 1924. Gus Tapley was admitted as a regular and Charter Member at this meeting.<br />
At a supper meeting on June 3, at the Delta Phi Delta chapter house, three pledges were given their oaths.<br />
Included were Walter Scott, Gilbert H. Dunstan and Burdette Ives. The newly elected officers were installed. The<br />
group considered the possibility of becoming a national fraternity in 1925. The secretary was instructed to write to a<br />
number of colleges requesting information concerning the existence of professional engineering fraternities on the<br />
campuses. It was decided that Sigma Phi Delta should not take part in campus politics.<br />
The first meeting of the fall term was held on September 23, 1924. The group discussed whether they should<br />
form a national fraternity of their own or merge with an existing fraternity. At a meeting an October 6, a Committee<br />
was appointed to write a Ritual. The first indication of a social program was the acceptance of an offer from<br />
Addison E. Wells to hold an informal reception at his father's home on December 19, 1924. To be invited were<br />
active members, faculty members, alumni and pledges.<br />
The Pledge Pin, consisting of "the Castle on a triangle background", was adopted on October 16, 1924. This<br />
was suggested by a Committee composed of Kahlert, Lembke, and Young. At this same meeting, a Ritual for<br />
Initiation was adopted.<br />
The first formal initiation, using the new Ritual, was held on Wednesday evening, November 12, 1924, at<br />
6:15 p.m. Initiated in this first pledge class were Gilbert H. Dunstan, Walter Scott and Burdett Ives (a 100% pledge<br />
class!). It was on this date that future Grand President Robert J. Beals celebrated his first birthday - without a single<br />
thought of Sigma Phi Delta. A rushing smoker was held on Tuesday, January 13, 1925, to include "members,<br />
pledges and prospective pledges".<br />
Officers for the spring semester were elected on January 19, 1925. These were M. B. Pritchard, president;<br />
Harry H. Lembke, first vice-president; Walter Scott, second vice-president; H. B. Faster, secretary; G. Sawyer,<br />
treasurer; and Albert B. Collins, national secretary. One of the outstanding items of business at the January 26<br />
meeting was: It was moved and seconded that we advance enough money to the National Secretary to enable him to<br />
trade in his typewriter and purchase a new one. The money to be returned in installments. The motion carried. The<br />
spring semester officers were installed on February 4, 1925, and a pledge class of six men was initiated.<br />
The motto For the good of the profession was adopted on March 6, 1925. The design for a Fraternity Crest<br />
was considered. Addison E. Wells was appointed a Committee of One to design the Crest. The death of Professor<br />
Lawrence on March 1, 1925, saddened the new Fraternity. On March 9, the idea of a cabin in the mountains was<br />
considered and committees were appointed to look into the availability of lumber and supplies.<br />
The Crest of the Fraternity was adopted an March 16, 1925. This Crest was "a small shield, divided into four<br />
parts, horizontally and vertically. In the upper left quadrant is a circle, or target, also divided into quadrants,<br />
alternately colored white and black. This whole is on a white field. In the upper right corner, colored black, is a<br />
white bolt of lightning. In the lower left (black) quadrant is displayed a masoned castle. In the lower right (white)<br />
quadrant is displayed a condensing apparatus, or retort. Surmounting the shield is a small lion supporting the name<br />
of the Fraternity. The Motto Pro Bono Professionis is placed in scarfing around the bottom of the shield".<br />
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A membership certificate, to be presented to each member at the time of initiation was adopted on April 21,<br />
1925. There was some discussion on presenting a pennant instead of a certificate, but this motion was tabled<br />
(apparently permanently). On May 26, the election of officers for the fall semester was held. Elected were Gilbert<br />
H. Dunstan, president; William Rose, first vice-president; H. Audermeulen, second vice-president; Darrell Diamond,<br />
secretary; Brother Kelly, treasurer; Charles G. Kahlert, national secretary; and Walter B. Baisch, business manager<br />
of the newly established engineering newspaper. These officers were installed on June 3, 1925, at an end-of term<br />
banquet. The newspaper was to be sold to students in the Engineering College at USC.<br />
The following fall, with the organization on a firm footing, the nationalization secretary, Walter Baisch,<br />
began a determined effort to secure contacts that would nationalize Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity. This effort was<br />
rewarded with the receipt of a telegram on Sunday, April 11, 1926, from Delta Pi Sigma, founded at the University<br />
of South Dakota on April 29, 1922. This telegram announced their acceptance of the tentative plans to form Sigma<br />
Phi Delta into a national fraternity. The details were quickly worked out, a slight badge change was made, and the<br />
new National Constitution was approved on May 3, 1926. The Alpha Chapter of Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity was to<br />
be at the University of Southern California and the Beta Chapter at the University of South Dakota. Though May 3,<br />
1926, is considered the Charter Date for Beta Chapter, the formal initiation of its Charter Members was held on May<br />
8, 1926.<br />
The government of the new Fraternity was vested in a Supreme Council of five members, with General<br />
Conventions to be held every two years. The first Supreme Council was composed of Gilbert H. Dunstan (Alpha),<br />
Grand President; H. R. Rosenow (Beta), Grand Vice-President; Frank E. Ridley (Alpha), Grand Secretary Treasurer;<br />
and Members Nathan E. Way (Beta) and M. B. Pritchard (Alpha). Ralph M. Sherick (Alpha) was appointed<br />
Assistant Grand Secretary soon thereafter, inasmuch as Brother Ridley went east and it was desired to keep the<br />
National office in Los Angeles for the time being. Gilbert H. Dunstan was president of Alpha Active Chapter and<br />
Grand President of the National Fraternity coincidentally for the short period until he graduated. No other man has<br />
held such dual office in this Fraternity and no other undergraduate has been Grand President.<br />
The assignment of Fraternity General Numbers is of interest. The original Supreme Council were accorded<br />
the honor of the first five numbers: Dunstan, No. 1; Rosenow, No. 2; Ridley, No. 3; Pritchard, No. 4; and Way, No.<br />
5. In recognition of his early presidency, Clarence J. Robinson (always known as C. J.) was assigned General<br />
Number 6. Earl C. Payne (Alpha) was given No. 7; G. S. Tapley (Alpha), No. 8; Charles G. Kahlert, No. 9; and<br />
Addison E. Wells, No. 10.<br />
The Charter President of Beta Chapter appears to have been Maurice Nelles; the Charter Secretary Albert<br />
Muchow. There were either fifteen or sixteen men initiated into Beta Chapter on May 8, 1926, but the records are<br />
not completely clear.<br />
The Constitution provided for the issuance of a quarterly magazine, and the first issue appeared late in June<br />
1926, in mimeographed form. The Grand President was the Editor of the publication. Eight mimeographed<br />
numbers were issued. Beginning with Volume III, the CASTLE became a printed publication.<br />
The following year, on Friday and Saturday, April 15 and 16, 1927, the First General Convention was held in<br />
Los Angeles, with Alpha Active Chapter acting as Host, assisted by the Los Angeles Alumni Chapter, which had<br />
been chartered the previous summer. It is reported that the Convention was quite successful in spite of the fact that<br />
Alfred Gerber, representing Beta Chapter, was the only member at the Convention not from the Alpha Chapter. In<br />
order to promote the Chapter Expansion campaign, the Convention recommended that the two Members of the<br />
Supreme Council be given this work, with the title of Field Representative. The Code of Ethics was adopted at this<br />
time. General Numbers (as listed above) were set up for the Fraternity. Maurice Nelles, Charter President of Beta<br />
Chapter, was elected the second Grand President of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity.<br />
Gilbert H. Dunstan, first Grand President of Sigma Phi Delta, first pledge, in the first class initiated, first<br />
CASTLE Editor, first General Manager, with General Number No. 1, was born near Santa Ana, California, on<br />
February 20, 1903. According to Fraternity records, he received the degree in Civil Engineering in 1926 and in<br />
Electrical Engineering (both from USC) in 1927. He died in Long Beach, California, on October 25, 1969. He had<br />
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been a member of the Fraternity for almost 45 years. He devoted his life to engineering education, serving on the<br />
Faculty of several West Coast and Southern United States universities.<br />
Maurice Nelles, second Grand President, was born on October 19, 1906, in Madison, South Dakota. He<br />
graduated from the University of South Dakota with a degree in Chemical Engineering in 1927.<br />
On the Monday following the adjournment of the First General Convention, petitions from the University of<br />
Texas (Austin, Texas) arrived, being the result of work done there by R. J. McMahon, a member of Alpha Chapter<br />
who was then attending the University of Texas. The group was granted a Charter as Gamma Chapter of the Sigma<br />
Phi Delta Fraternity, which was formally installed on May 11, 1927, by Gilbert H. Dunstan. Twenty-three members<br />
were initiated at this time. John E. Hoff was Charter President and W. N. Patterson was Charter Secretary.<br />
During the Fall, Albert A. Wells, brother of Addison E. Wells, a Charter Member of Alpha Chapter, was<br />
organizing a group of engineering students at the University of Illinois in Urbana, Illinois. J. K. Milligan, of Alpha<br />
Chapter, who was then attending the University of Illinois, assisted in the formation of this group. Petitions were<br />
sent out around the end of the year and this group of men, seventeen in number, were installed as Delta Chapter of<br />
Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity on January 25, 1928, by Gilbert H. Dunstan, then Field Representative, and J. K.<br />
Milligan. Albert A. Wells was Charter Chapter President and Gordon W. Brown was Charter Chapter Secretary.<br />
Brother Dunstan had been working on a revision of the Constitution, which was adopted early in April 1928.<br />
Probably the most important change from the previous Laws was the creation of the Office of General Manager, an<br />
appointive position. With the adoption of this new Constitution, Brother Dunstan was appointed First General<br />
Manager of the Fraternity.<br />
During the Spring Semester of 1928, the General Manager had correspondence with the Delta Pi Fraternity,<br />
organized at the North Dakota Agricultural College in Fargo, North Dakota, on May 13, 1913. This Fraternity had<br />
established a house in 1919, after reorganizing at the conclusion of World War I and had made rapid progress since<br />
that time. They petitioned for Charter as a Chapter of Sigma Phi Delta and Maurice Nelles, Grand President,<br />
installed them as Epsilon Chapter on May 21, 1928, with thirty-two initiates. Charter Chapter President was<br />
William A. Rundquist; Chapter Secretary was Walter E. Nelson. The Fraternity, which was four years old, had five<br />
active chapters, an Alumni Chapter in Los Angeles, and an informal club in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, composed<br />
of Members who were working for the Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company, this latter group having<br />
been organized in 1927.<br />
Sometime in 1928, the Fraternity adopted a new publication, The STAR, which was to be an esoteric<br />
publication, meant to cover policy and to provide information of interest to and for members only. At this time, a<br />
separate Office of Grand Editor of the CASTLE was created. Naturally, Gilbert H. Dunstan was the first man to<br />
hold this Office.<br />
On February 18, 1929, Gilbert H. Dunstan had spoken with J. E. Rogan and R. G. Werner concerning the<br />
formation of a Chapter of Sigma Phi Delta at Tulane University, where he was then teaching. These students were<br />
interested and immediately began contacting others. On April 26 and 27, 1929, the Zeta Chapter of Sigma Phi Delta<br />
was installed at Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, by Brother Dunstan. The Chapter Officers were<br />
initiated on the first day and the remainder of the Chapter on the following afternoon. Seventeen men were included<br />
as Charter Members, led by Charter President Robert G. Werner and Chapter Secretary Alfred J. Roth, Jr.<br />
The Second General Convention was held in Austin, Texas, with Gamma Chapter as Host, on September 3<br />
and 4, 1929. National dues were increased from $2 to $10 per year. The fees for Life Membership were abolished<br />
and the Endowment Funds were established. It was decided to reduce the number of pearls on the active badge from<br />
fifteen (changed from the original eighteen when Beta was installed) to twelve (with four on each side). The use of<br />
stones other than pearls was allowed by this Convention. The American Beauty Rose was adopted as the Official<br />
Flower of the Fraternity. The recognition button, a gold or silver CASTLE, to be worn on the lapel, was adopted at<br />
this time.<br />
At this Second General Convention, the organization of the Fraternity was changed so that the General<br />
Convention became continuous and the sovereign body of the Fraternity. Prior to this time, any Convention action<br />
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had to be referred back to the Active Chapters for approval. Two Provinces were established. The Supreme Council<br />
was changed to include the Grand President, Grand Vice-President, Province Directors, and one Member-at-Large.<br />
The Council held legislative and judicial powers. The Executive Powers of the Fraternity were vested in the Grand<br />
President and his Cabinet, composed of several members, each of whom would supervise some phase of Fraternity<br />
activity. Prior to this Convention, the Active Chapters elected such members to Honorary Membership as they<br />
deemed eligible, with the approval of the Supreme Council. The Honorary Members were members of the Active<br />
Chapter into which they were initiated. After the Convention, Honorary Members were Members-at Large, being<br />
elected by the Supreme Council. Dual membership, which had been permitted up to this time, was henceforth<br />
prohibited. From that date, only members of engineering curricula who were not members of any other fraternity,<br />
general or professional, were eligible for membership in Sigma Phi Delta.<br />
The Second General Convention also established a Supreme Court, consisting of three members, each<br />
member being elected for a six-year term. So far as the Fraternity records show, the only men to hold these offices<br />
were Wilfred O. Morganthal (Epsilon), Chief Justice; Simeon V. Kemper (Alpha) and Albert Muchow (Beta).<br />
There is no record of their having functioned in any capacity. At the same time, the Convention established a Board<br />
of Trustees to administer the monies of the newly-created Endowment Funds. The Board became functional for the<br />
first time in 1952, however, when the Fraternity was incorporated in the State of California. The salary of the<br />
General Manager was increased to twenty-five dollars per month, at which figure it remained until this Office was<br />
abolished in 1957. Classes of Membership were changed to eliminate Associate Members and to create Faculty<br />
Members. All Associate Members were Faculty Members, so this change seemed to be a good idea.<br />
1931 - 1939<br />
Sigma Phi had its inception in 1919, when a group of students in the College of Applied Science and<br />
Engineering at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, decided to discuss the organization of an<br />
engineering fraternity. The group adopted a badge, a Ritual and all other organization necessary for operation. In<br />
the Fall of 1927, to avoid conflict with Sigma Phi, a general fraternity, the group changed its name to Omega Sigma<br />
Phi. Grand President Maurice Nelles installed this group as Eta Chapter of Sigma Phi Delta on May 23, 1931.<br />
Fifty-four members (39 active, 11 alumni and 4 faculty members) were initiated at this ceremony. William J. Urban<br />
was Charter Chief Engineer; John J. Dunphy was Chapter Secretary.<br />
Epsilon Chapter acted as Host to the Third General Convention in Fargo, North Dakota, on September 1 and<br />
2, 1931. This Convention attempted to give the Province Councilors more power in the Fraternity. To enhance the<br />
position of an Honorary Member, it was decided that Honorary membership would be conferred by the General<br />
Convention. The Editor of the CASTLE replaced the Member-at-Large as a member of the Supreme Council. The<br />
Constitution and the Statutory Code were revised. The Statutory Code had been established by order of the Second<br />
General Convention. It is interesting to note that no further changes were made in the Laws of the Fraternity until<br />
the overall revision of the Fraternity in 1948. Elected as third Grand President of the Fraternity was Epsilon<br />
Chapter's Charter Chief Engineer, William A. Rundquist.<br />
Early in 1929, Jack Cummings and Frank Gordon discussed the Possibility of forming a local social<br />
engineering fraternity on the campus of the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia. They<br />
interested several others and the first meeting of Tau Lambda Fraternity was held on February 21, 1929. An official<br />
badge was adopted and the fraternity completely organized. Through the efforts of A. Dacre Scott, Alpha alumnus,<br />
this fraternity contacted Sigma Phi Delta and petitioned for Charter. On April 24, 1932, twenty-four active and one<br />
Honorary Member were installed as Theta Chapter of Sigma Phi Delta by Walter E. Nelson (Epsilon), General<br />
Manager of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity, and A. Dacre Scott. Arthur J. Saunders, as Charter chapter President,<br />
and William L. Cunningham, as Chapter Secretary, lead the Chapter that made the Sigma Phi Delta international in<br />
scope.<br />
Gamma Chapter experienced financial and pledging difficulties and on January 1, 1932, was granted<br />
permission by the Supreme Council to become inactive. A New York Alumni Chapter was established late in 1930<br />
or early in 1931. Delta Alumni Chapter was organized in Chicago, Illinois, and was chartered on May 16, 1930.<br />
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In 1932, the Fraternity adopted an Efficiency Contest, modeled along the lines of the Contests of other<br />
fraternities. Provided were sections for a professional program; for fraternity, professional, or civic research; for<br />
service to the school of Engineering; for chapter scholarship; for individual scholarship; and for chapter history.<br />
This contest was adopted and remained in effect, without change, until 1953. A large bronze plaque was awarded to<br />
the Chapter winning the annual contest. If awarded to one chapter three times, the plaque became the permanent<br />
possession of that Chapter. Alpha and Epsilon Chapters were so honored. Plans were set up for a Manual of<br />
Procedure and a Pledge Manual to assist the Chapters in their operation. The first Manual of Procedure for the<br />
Fraternity had been edited in 1927 by Gilbert H. Dunstan, as was the second edition.<br />
In an apparent economy move, the Engineering College of the University of South Dakota at Vermillion was<br />
continued with the consolidation of the Engineering Schools of South Dakota and the School of Mines and State<br />
College, Brookings. With the consolidation, the Charter of Beta Chapter of Sigma Phi Delta was recalled by the<br />
Fraternity late in 1934 and Beta Chapter became in-active. The new school did not permit fraternities.<br />
The Fourth General Convention, meeting in Urbana, Illinois, in 1933, with Delta Chapter as Host, made few<br />
changes in the organization of the Fraternity. The two Provinces, Northern and Southern, were expanded to three:<br />
Northern, Southern and Western, adding one more Province Councilor to the Supreme Council. Probably the most<br />
outstanding and far-reaching decision was made in the revision of the Fraternity Crest, or coat-of-arms. The<br />
business portion of this Convention was held in Urbana, Illinois. The Convention recessed to Chicago, Illinois, on<br />
Saturday for attendance at the World's Fair and for the Convention Dinner Dance. This appears to be the only<br />
General Convention held in two different cities.<br />
The question of a Crest revision had been brought up at almost every Convention. The Crest adopted in the<br />
very early days of the Fraternity did not conform to the Laws of Heraldry. The design, which had been submitted to<br />
the Third General Convention, was considered to be too dead and lifeless, as well as too complicated. A Committee,<br />
composed of E. Fuhrmann (Zeta) and Murvan M. Maxwell (Zeta) drew up a revised Crest in April 1934. The<br />
Fourth General Convention ruled that the undergraduate members must wear the official badge, which was at that<br />
time reduced in size somewhat from the previous badge. Its size has not changed since this Convention. There was<br />
considerable opposition to allowing only the chased border badge since it was felt that the pearls were there to<br />
represent the original charter Members of the Fraternity. This action (of only the official badge) was reversed by a<br />
later Convention due to the continued violation, which this Law experienced. The Convention attempted to provide<br />
a Nominating Committee for National Officers, but there was too much opposition to this idea.<br />
The Fourth General Convention elected to a second term of office as Grand President the Brother who had<br />
been Epsilon Chapter's Charter Chief Engineer, William A. Rundquist. Bill was born on January 3, 1906, in<br />
Billings, Montana. He graduated from North Dakota State College (then North Dakota Agricultural College) in<br />
1929 as a Mechanical Engineer.<br />
In 1909, a group of young men wished to bind themselves together not by the bond of casual friendship but<br />
with the ties of good fellowship and brotherly love, and so organized the first fraternity at the Chicago Technical<br />
College, Chicago, Illinois, to be known as Sigma Beta Epsilon. Through the efforts of A. A. Wells (Delta) and<br />
Russell C. Smith (Delta), General Manager of the Fraternity, a petition for Charter was submitted to the General<br />
Convention in December 1934. Because of its college location, there was some difficulty in interpretation of the<br />
Constitution and Statutory Code. It was finally decided that the prospective Chapter fulfilled the requirements of<br />
being at a "technical school of recognized standing, offering at least a four year course leading to a degree in one or<br />
more recognized branches of engineering". On October 1, 1935, nine undergraduate and two faculty members were<br />
initiated as Iota Chapter of Sigma Phi Delta. Installing officers were Cornelius E. Hogeboom, Northern Province<br />
Councilor; A. A. Wells, Grand Vice President; Russell C. Smith, General Manager; and Brothers E. Horning, G. W.<br />
Brown, R. L. Gougler and D. R. Groff, Delta alumni. Charter Chief Engineer was Peter M . Roumeliotis; Chapter<br />
Secretary was Russell H. Hanson. An interesting sidelight is the fact that when Russell C. Smith was appointed<br />
General Manager of the Fraternity in 1934 to succeed Walter E. Nelson, the entire National Office treasury consisted<br />
of around thirty-eight dollars.<br />
Almost at the same time that the Fraternity gained Iota Chapter, it lost Zeta Chapter. In October 1935, due to<br />
financial and pledging difficulties, Zeta Chapter requested permission to go inactive. Due to poor chapter<br />
management and the Great Depression, Delta Chapter became inactive in 1934. This was to be the first Chapter to<br />
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become inactive and to regain continued active status. On February 26, 1939, ten alumni and one Faculty Member<br />
of the former active chapter initiated six undergraduate members to reactivate Delta Chapter on the University of<br />
Illinois campus in Urbana, Illinois.<br />
The Fifth General Convention, meeting in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1936 with Eta Chapter as Host, adopted<br />
the Crest, which had been designed by Brothers Maxwell and Fuhrmann. The Ritual was revised to conform to the<br />
new Crest. D. J. McLaurin (Theta) drew up the revision in the Ritual. The Convention removed the Office of Editor<br />
of the CASTLE from membership on the Supreme Council and reinstated the Member-at-Large as a Council<br />
member. The Class of membership of Associate Member was reinstated. The Editor of the CASTLE was made an<br />
appointive office, handled similar to that of the General Manager. The Convention made plans for a song book and<br />
instructed that it be ready for the following Convention. Elected to a precedent-setting third term was Grand<br />
President William A. Rundquist.<br />
1939 - 1952<br />
The Sixth General Convention met in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1939, with Epsilon Active and<br />
Minneapolis Alumni Chapters as Hosts. The Usual problems, problems that come up before every Convention,<br />
were discussed. The Ritual was reviewed and slight changes were made to conform more closely to the new Crest.<br />
The Chapters were presented with charter Certificates, signed by the Grand President and General Manager. The<br />
long-awaited song book was distributed at this time and the members introduced to the songs. In electing two<br />
members to the Board of Trustees, the Convention violated the Constitution by electing Brothers Strong and<br />
Ingbretson, both former Epsilon members (as was the Grand President) and none were resident in California where<br />
the Fraternity was supposedly chartered. (Not more than two members of the Board can be alumni of the same<br />
undergraduate chapter and two must be resident in California.) It is interesting to note, in reading the Minutes of the<br />
Sixth General Convention, that a colony had been organized on the University of California Campus at Berkeley,<br />
and "is only waiting sufficient numerical strength before petitioning us to for permission to affiliate with Sigma Phi<br />
Delta". This was to be the last General Convention of the Fraternity until after the troubled years of World War II.<br />
The years of World War II saw most of the members inducted into the armed forces, the chapter houses<br />
vacant or rented to private sources or to the armed forces for use as dormitories, and the National officers occupied<br />
by other matters to the exclusion of the Fraternity. The Grand President, Brother Rundquist, was on active duty in<br />
the U. S. Army. The only National Officer who functioned during all of these trying years was the General<br />
Manager, Russell C. Smith. His interest in the welfare of the organization probably did more to keep the Fraternity<br />
in operation than any other single factor. Russ, as all of his friends called him, had been appointed General Manager<br />
in late 1933 or early 1934. There were indications of "money trouble" in the Fraternity, as alluded to earlier in this<br />
history. Russ was born on November 21, 1905, in Madison, Illinois. He was initiated in to Delta Chapter on April<br />
19, 1929. He graduated in Mechanical Engineering in 1929 from the University of Illinois.<br />
Once the members were released from military service following the War, chapter houses were reclaimed<br />
and a drive undertaken to build up the small memberships. When the call for expansion came from the National<br />
Office, Brother LeRoy Horpedahl (Epsilon), then serving on the faculty at Tri-State college, Angola, Indiana, saw<br />
the need for an engineering fraternity on that campus and proposed the establishment of a Sigma Phi Delta chapter.<br />
On February 5, 1947, his ideas were presented to a small group of students. Each student resolved to bring a friend<br />
to the next meeting. By February 19, 1947, the group had grown to thirty-five members. On May 25, 1947, thirtynine<br />
undergraduates were installed as Kappa Chapter of Sigma Phi Delta, our first post-War Chapter. The<br />
installation team included General Manager Smith and Brother Horpedahl. Charter Chief Engineer of Kappa<br />
Chapter was Lyle D. Oleson; Chapter Secretary was Arthur J. Hanna.<br />
This new Chapter sparked the Seventh General Convention as it met during the first four days of January,<br />
1948, in Chicago, Illinois. After a lapse of eight years, the National organization needed considerable attention.<br />
Sweeping changes were made in the Constitution and Statutory Code of the Fraternity. The neverused Supreme<br />
Court was abolished and the judicial powers given to the General Convention, the Supreme Council and the<br />
individual active chapters. The Editor of the CASTLE was once again made an elective office and the Editor was<br />
returned to a position on the Supreme Council. Funds for the publication of the CASTLE and the STAR were<br />
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reviewed. The STAR was returned to the editorship of the Grand President. Initiation fees were raised from $16.00<br />
to $25.00 for an undergraduate member. The Class of membership of Associate Member was once again deleted.<br />
The position of Chapter Councilor was created to provide more continuity to the chapter. It was also hoped that this<br />
Office would take some of the burden off the National Officers. The Chapter Councilor was made Deputy Province<br />
Councilor and was given the right to approve initiation requests. He was made a member of the Province<br />
Convention of the Active Chapter he represented.<br />
The Provinces were reorganized along north-south boundaries into the Western, Central and Eastern<br />
Provinces, dividing the United States and Canada roughly into thirds. Kappa Chapter was the lone Chapter in the<br />
Eastern Province. Vancouver Alumni Chapter petitioned for Charter. Work was continued on a Fraternity flag, the<br />
original design for which had been submitted by the Fourth General Convention. The Convention Minutes do not<br />
specify the design for this flag.<br />
A Fraternity grateful for the work in chartering the first post-War Chapter elected as Grand President LeRoy<br />
C. Horpedahl (Epsilon). LeRoy was born in Glyndon, Minnesota, on April 13, 1924. He was initiated by Epsilon<br />
Chapter on March 28, 1943. He graduated from North Dakota State University (then North Dakota Agricultural<br />
College) in 1946 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He was later to serve a term as Grand Vice-President of<br />
the Fraternity. The extensive changes made in the Constitution and Statutory Code by this Convention were<br />
submitted to the individual Chapters for consideration, review and approval. The new Laws of the Fraternity were<br />
approved by the Chapters on November 1, 1948, and went into affect at that time.<br />
The elimination of the racial and religious restrictive clause from our constitution was the most far-reaching<br />
change in the Fraternity Laws made during the Eighth General Convention in Los Angeles, California, in September<br />
1949. Prior to this time, membership in Sigma Phi Delta had been restricted to Christian Caucasians and North<br />
American Indians. It was brought to the attention of the Convention that there were other organizations bearing the<br />
name Sigma Phi Delta and that our Fraternity had no legal claim to the name or the insignia. Only the badge design<br />
had been copyrighted. The banner, 61 x 61, of black felt, with the Fraternity Crest, the name "Sigma Phi Delta" and<br />
the Chapter designation, was adopted. Every Chapter was required to purchase this banner, with the National Office<br />
paying half the cost of the banner. Plans for a Pledge Manual, a Manual of Procedure, a Song Book and a Fraternity<br />
Flag were again discussed. It was brought out that the Fraternity was not incorporated in the State of California, or<br />
anywhere else, as had long been reported. "Temporarily", Province boundaries between the Central and Eastern<br />
Provinces, which went along the Illinois-Indiana borders, were "looped" so that Delta Active Chapter in Urbana,<br />
Illinois, was included in the Eastern Province to strengthen that organization. They were to remain this way until<br />
1990.<br />
This General Convention helped Brother Russell C. Smith to realize his highest Fraternity ambition when it<br />
elected him to be fifth Grand President of the Fraternity. He had served since 1934 as General Manager under two<br />
Grand Presidents. Coming into National prominence at this time also were John Gray (Iota) and John G. Ellis<br />
(Alpha), both of whom gave many years of dedication to the Fraternity.<br />
On June 1, 1950, the idea of the formation of a new fraternity was presented by Vernon J. Basore to a group<br />
of students at Indiana Technical College in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The work started was halted, however, when<br />
Basore and his co-workers, Roger Fitzgerald and Richard Fischer were recalled to active duty in the armed forces of<br />
the United States. When, in the Fall of 1950, Basore returned to that campus, a local group calling themselves the<br />
Indiana Technical College Engineering Fraternity, was established. On March 11, 1951, a representative from<br />
Sigma Phi Delta, Central Province Councilor John Gray, met with the group and a petition for Charter as Lambda<br />
Chapter was submitted to the General Convention on March 18, 1951. Thirty-two members, including one Faculty<br />
Member, were installed by Grand President Russell C. Smith, Central Province Councilor John Gray, and Eastern<br />
Province Councilor Robert J. Beals (Delta) on May 11, 1951. Charter Chief Engineer Vernon J. Basore and Chapter<br />
Secretary Donald L. Grise led the new Chapter.<br />
On the opposite side of the country, plans were being made for another Chapter. Ken Jonas and Richard<br />
Frankian of the University of California at Los Angeles, Santa Monica, California, were contacted by Bill Fowler<br />
and Ray Ericksen of Alpha Chapter. The organization was continued and a group of twelve men were initiated into<br />
the local organization at the Alpha Chapter house on the USC campus on April 6, 1951. This local group petitioned<br />
for Charter as Mu Chapter of Sigma Phi Delta, and was installed in the Alpha Chapter house on the USC campus on<br />
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July 14, 1951, by Grand President Smith and Western Province Councilor John G. Ellis, now on the faculty of the<br />
California Maritime Academy near Vallejo, California. Twenty men were initiated, led by Charter Chief Engineer<br />
Kenneth L. Jonas and Chapter Secretary Alvin B. Smee.<br />
Although the Constitution had long provided for Province Conventions and for other Province activities,<br />
there had been no effort to provide any such activities within the Fraternity. Central Province Councilor John Gray<br />
and Eastern Province Councilor Robert J. Beals organized their respective Provinces and held the first Province<br />
Conventions on September 9 and 10, 1950, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and on December 2 and 3, 1950, in Urbana,<br />
Illinois, respectively. The first Western Province Convention was not held until two years later.<br />
1952 - 1960<br />
Sweeping changes were made in the functioning of the Fraternity's National Office when new officers took<br />
over in 1952. The Ninth General Convention, meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia, with Theta Active Chapter<br />
and Vancouver Alumni Chapter as Hosts, elected former-Eastern Province Councilor Robert J. Beals to be the sixth<br />
Grand President of the Fraternity. Former-Central Province Councilor John Gray as appointed to the office of<br />
General Manager. Steps were immediately taken to incorporate the Fraternity and on September 29, 1952, the<br />
Fraternity was at last incorporated under the Laws of the State of California. The incumbent Trustees, who had<br />
never functioned in their offices, were asked to resign and men interested in the Offices were appointed. For the<br />
first time in the Fraternity's history, the monies of the General and CASTLE Endowment Funds were turned over to<br />
the Board of Trustees by the General Manager, whose office had controlled the Funds since their establishment.<br />
The first known meeting of the Board of Trustees was held in June 1952 in Los Angeles.<br />
Trademarks on the Fraternity insignia, which had been discussed for many years, were petitioned in the<br />
United States and in Canada. The original trademark on the letters on the badge had been granted on December 8,<br />
1930, and was renewed on April 24, 1951. Additional trademarks on the Sigma Phi Delta CASTLE (No. 572,392)<br />
were granted on March 24, 1953, and on the Sigma Phi Delta Crest (No. 580,750) were granted on October 6, 1953.<br />
In Canada, slightly different trademarks were granted. The name "Sigma Phi Delta" was covered by Trade Mark<br />
No. 44033 on August 6, 1952; the Crest was covered by Trade Mark No. 44034 on the same date; and the CASTLE<br />
was protected under Trade Mark No. 43852 on October 16, 1952. The National officers, including the members of<br />
the Supreme Council, General Manager and the Board of Trustees, were bonded under a blanket bond of $10,000.<br />
The annual, permanently awarded, Efficiency Contest plaque was made up to replace the formerly used rotating<br />
trophy, and was awarded to those chapters winning the Contest since its reinstitution. By-Laws from the Active and<br />
Alumni Chapters were forthcoming and the Alumni Chapters, most of whom had been operating for years without<br />
Charter, were made official Chapters of the Fraternity.<br />
In the Fall of 1951, six seniors from Mu Chapter (UCLA) transferred to the campus of the University of<br />
California at Berkeley. Carrying with them the ideals of Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity, they went about forming the<br />
nucleus of a Chapter on that campus. The men, Mal Walden, Dick Frankian, Roger Schaefer, Bob Spracklen, Dan<br />
Vrooman and Dick Harris, were assisted by Western Province Councilor John G. Ellis and Professor Harold B.<br />
Gotaas, an alumnus of Beta Chapter, then on the Faculty of the University of California at Berkeley. Twelve charter<br />
members were initiated as Nu Chapter of Sigma Phi Delta on December 6, 1952, by Grand President Robert J.<br />
Beals , Western Province Councilor John G. Ellis, and Professor David M. Wilson of the University of Southern<br />
California. Charter Chief Engineer of Nu Chapter was William R. Nichol and Chapter Secretary was Richard L.<br />
Burnell.<br />
John G. Ellis, staunch advocate of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity on the West Coast, was initiated as a<br />
member of Alpha Chapter on February 14, 1930. He graduated in 1931 with a degree in Electrical Engineering. He<br />
was born in El Dorado, Kansas, on October 24, 1906, and died at his home in Vallejo, California, on January 11,<br />
1977. He served the Fraternity officially as Western Province Councilor, Grand Vice-President and Member of the<br />
Board of Trustees. He served unofficially as mentor and example for generation of undergraduate members at<br />
Alpha, Theta, Mu and Nu Chapters.<br />
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Interest in the formation of a Chapter of Sigma Phi Delta at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg was<br />
created by a letter from Grand Vice-President Albert G. Shore (Theta) to the Dean of Engineering at the University<br />
of Manitoba. The matter was turned over to the Student Council who took no action. However, two of the Council<br />
members were engineers and they were sufficiently interested to write to Brother Shore for more information.<br />
These men were Barry F. Murphy and Barry J. Ferries, who were to be the Charter Chief Engineer and Chapter<br />
Secretary, respectively, when, with the assistance of Epsilon Chapter, fifteen men became sufficiently interested to<br />
be installed as Xi Chapter of Sigma Phi Delta by Grand President Robert J. Beals and Central Province Councilor<br />
Orville J. Banasik (Epsilon) on May 2, 1953.<br />
The first Western Province Convention had been held in Los Angeles, California, on September 20 and 21,<br />
1952. At this time, the Fraternity initiated as an Honorary Member A. Burton Metzger, who was born in New York,<br />
New York, on June 10, 1896. He graduated in Electrical Engineering from Pratt Institute in 1915. At the time of his<br />
initiation, he was Safety Engineer for the Sandia Corporation, Albuquerque, New Mexico, and was assigned General<br />
Number 2600. He was the first Honorary Member to be initiated since the War.<br />
The Tenth General Convention met at Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, in September 1953. The design for the<br />
Grand President's Key, representing the Fraternity symbol, the Castle, was adopted and the key was later struck and<br />
presented to each of the Chief Executives of the Fraternity. The Convention officially conferred upon Russell C.<br />
Smith the title and the honor of "Grand Old Man of Sigma Phi Delta", which title he wore proudly and with honor<br />
until his death on November 23, 1975, in Florida. The Manual of Procedure, the Pledge Manual and the Song Book<br />
were taken from the hands of the individual chapters and assigned to National officers for completion. As a result,<br />
the Pledge Manual, which had been discussed for many years, was ready for distribution by November 1, 1953,<br />
having been edited by Central Province Councilor Orville J. Banasik (Epsilon). The Manual of Procedure, assigned<br />
to General Manager John Gray, was distributed on April 1, 1954. Slight changes were made in the Pledging Ritual.<br />
The Efficiency Contest was altered from its long-standing format to provide better representation to the individual<br />
chapters. For the first time, individual National Officers, as well as the undergraduate chapters, filled out certain<br />
portions of Contest.<br />
A Nominating Committee for National Officers, composed of the Province Councilors, was established by<br />
the Eleventh General Convention when it met in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in September 1955, with Eta Chapter as<br />
Host. One of the outstanding features of this Convention was the initiation of two Honorary Members during the<br />
proceedings. The National Officers acted as the Ritual team to initiate Harold John Holmquest, who had a son as an<br />
undergraduate member of Delta Chapter at the time, and Robert G. Johnson. John Cody Holmquest, the son, had<br />
been initiated by Delta Chapter on February 27, 1955. This family became one of the first Third Generation<br />
Families of Sigma Phi Delta when John Cody Holmquest, Jr., was initiated by Delta Chapter on January 29, 1978.<br />
There were no further initiations of Honorary Members into the Fraternity until 1977.<br />
During the Twelfth General Convention at Hamilton Lake, Indiana, in September 1957, with Kappa Active<br />
and Alumni Chapters as Hosts, the form of Fraternity government was changed. The Office of General Manager<br />
was abolished and the Office of Executive Secretary was created. The method of selection of the Executive<br />
Secretary was the same as that for the General Manager, appointed by the Grand President with Supreme Council<br />
approval. However, the Executive Secretary became an ex-officio member of the Supreme Council and of Board of<br />
Trustees. His salary was left to the discretion of the Supreme Council, who set it at $500 per year, payable quarterly.<br />
John Gray, in serving as the last General Manager, was surpassed in length of service only by Russell C. Smith. He<br />
was born in Glasgow, Scotland, on December 22, 1918. He graduated from Chicago Technical College in 1948<br />
with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. For a brief period in 1948, John was both Chief Engineer of Iota Chapter<br />
and Central Province Councilor. Joseph F. Bowers, the incumbent Eastern Province Councilor, was appointed as<br />
the first Executive Secretary of the Fraternity. He had been initiated by Lambda Chapter on October 6, 1955, and<br />
graduated from Indiana Technical College in 1956 with a degree in Radio Electronics. He was born on March 15,<br />
1924, in Boynton, Pennsylvania. The Convention elected incumbent Grand President Robert J. Beals to a third term<br />
of Office.<br />
Most extensive changes were made in the Constitution and Statutory Code at this Convention. Where<br />
previous Conventions had made alterations and word changes, this Convention took apart the Fraternity Laws and<br />
rearranged, edited, and deleted to give a completely new look to these Laws. Only minor changes have been made<br />
in the Laws since that time. A Ritual for the Installation of Chapter Officers was adopted. The Office of Chapter<br />
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Councilor was removed as Deputy Province Councilor, though the Chapter Councilor remained as a member of the<br />
Province Convention.<br />
On April 20, 1957, the first organizational meeting of the Sigma Phi Engineering Group was held at the<br />
home of Lyle D. Oleson (Charter Chief Engineer of Kappa Chapter), now Editor of the CASTLE, in East Lansing,<br />
Michigan, where he was a graduate student and a member of the engineering faculty. Seven undergraduates<br />
attended this first meeting. By the Fall of 1957, this group had grown to twenty-five members and petitioned for<br />
acceptance by the Michigan State University. The University decided to postpone approval of any further social<br />
fraternities on the campus. However, professional fraternities without a house were permitted. Accordingly, the<br />
group petitioned as a professional fraternity and were accepted by the University. This cleared the way for them to<br />
petition for Charter as a Chapter of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity. They were installed as Omicron Chapter by<br />
Grand President Beals on May 3, 1958, with twenty undergraduate and one Faculty Member. Probably more<br />
National Officers were present for this installation than at any other Chapter installation. Grand President Robert J.<br />
Beals, Executive Secretary Joseph F. Bowers, Editor of the CASTLE Lyle D. Oleson, Eastern Province Councilor<br />
Marion B. Stults (Lambda) and Central Province Councilor William M. Jermain, Jr., (Eta) acted as the installation<br />
Ritual team. Schuyler D. Rogers was Charter Chief Engineer and Gerald W. Trabbic was Chapter Secretary.<br />
The Twelfth General Convention felt the need for a commemorative plaque on the campus of the University<br />
of Southern California. On April 11, 1959, on the Thirty-Fifth Anniversary of the Founding of the Fraternity, Grand<br />
President Beals dedicated a brass plaque, which was mounted at ground level in concrete, on the USC campus. This<br />
plaque is at the corner near the site of the founding of the Fraternity. Present for the dedication was C. J. Robinson,<br />
first president of the Fraternity, as well as several members from Alpha and Nu Chapters. This plaque states,<br />
simply: "SIGMA PHI DELTA, An International Social Fraternity of Engineers, was founded on this site, April 11,<br />
1924".<br />
The Thirteenth General Convention was held at the Alumni House on the campus of the University of<br />
California at Berkeley, California, on September 3 - 5, 1959, with Nu Chapter as Host. The Supreme Council<br />
reported on the establishment of the Grand President's Trophy, to be awarded to any Chapter that has made a<br />
significant contribution toward establishing a new Undergraduate Chapter. The design of the Trophy is a wooden<br />
arch, 15 inches high, mounted on a wooden base which supports a male figure, Grecian, holding bolts of electricity.<br />
On the arch is a brass plate with the wording:<br />
SIGMA PHI DELTA FRATERNITY<br />
Grand President's Award for Expansion<br />
Presented to<br />
ACTIVE CHAPTER<br />
YEAR<br />
This Convention honored Brothers Joseph Bowers, John Ellis, John Gray and C. J. Robinson for their<br />
contributions to the Fraternity. The Grand President had made suitable certificates for presentation to the<br />
individuals. The Fraternity had long considered designs for the Fraternity flag. The Convention adopted the design<br />
shown elsewhere in this Manual, to be the Official flag of the Fraternity. The flag was designed by Grand President<br />
Beals. A Chapter jewelry display, in the form of a color photograph of the official jewelry, was supplied to each<br />
active chapter to assist them in their rushing. The Fraternity voted to invest a large portion of its monies so that they<br />
could be profit-making. This Convention made no changes in the Constitution and Statutory Code, which had been<br />
printed after the extensive revision by the previous Convention. One of the saddening features of this Convention<br />
was the news that Mu Chapter had become inactive due to a lack of membership. A Ritual for the Installation of<br />
Officers, which had been adopted by the Twelfth General Convention, was reaffirmed by the Thirteenth.<br />
In being elected to a fifth consecutive term of office as Grand President, Robert J. Beals became the first<br />
Chief Executive to be elected to more than four terms, a record then held by William A. Rundquist, who served as<br />
Grand President for a total of sixteen years. Robert J. Beals was born in Decatur, Illinois, on November 12, 1923,<br />
and was initiated by Delta Chapter on February 14, 1943, in Urbana, Illinois. He graduated from the University of<br />
Illinois in 1947 with the baccalaureate degree in Chemical Engineering. Later, in 1950, he received the Master of<br />
Science Degree in Ceramic Engineering and, in 1955, the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Ceramic Engineering,<br />
both from the University of Illinois.<br />
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Early in the summer of 1960, correspondence between Larry Rowley, representing a group of students at the<br />
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Institute in Miami, Florida, and the Grand President, was begun. On September 10,<br />
1960, Grand President Beals and Executive Secretary William M. Jermain, Jr., installed Pi Chapter at that School.<br />
The well-laid installation plans were blown awry by the fury of Hurricane Donna, but fifteen charter members were<br />
initiated. A group of five officers, including charter Chief Engineer Larry C. Rowley and Chapter Secretary Robert<br />
J. Liddiard, had been initiated on the previous evening so that they could participate in the installation of the<br />
remainder of the Chapter or could conduct the final initiations if the National Officers could not stay because of the<br />
hurricane. Seldom has a Chapter had its beginnings under such stormy conditions.<br />
1960 - 1968<br />
The long-awaited Song Book, edited by Lyle D. Oleson, was made available to the membership in April<br />
1960. This book combined Fraternity, school, religious, party and patriotic songs into one volume. The book is<br />
now out of print, but inasmuch as Fraternity singing seems to have gone out of style, it has not been reprinted.<br />
The Fourteenth General Convention met on August 31 and September 1 and 2, 1961, at the Oak Park Arms<br />
Hotel, Oak Park, Illinois, with Delta Active and Delta Alumni Chapters as Hosts. This body extended to Brothers<br />
W. Robert McIlvenna and Lyle D. Oleson the gratitude of the Brotherhood for their efforts on its behalf. Suitably<br />
engrossed certificates were presented to these Brothers. Minor changes were made in the Statutory Code. The<br />
Office of Business Manager of the CASTLE was eliminated since, by recent practice, the Executive Secretary had<br />
been carrying out the functions of that office. The publication dates of the STAR were changed to the first of<br />
February, April and October. It was decided that Faculty and Honorary Members could be given any badge or key,<br />
reversing an earlier Law that only the key or pearl Bet badge could be used. A minor change was made in the Ritual<br />
for Formal Initiation, the first change since its adoption in 1940. Merger with the Theta Tau Fraternity, also a<br />
fraternity of engineers and a member of the Professional Interfraternity Conference, was considered by the<br />
Convention but was considered unwise.<br />
As had the General Convention in Vancouver in 1951, the Fourteenth General Convention discussed, at<br />
length, the question of length of tenure of National Officers. It was the overwhelming consensus that no limit<br />
should be placed on the number of terms an officer could serve. The best man for the office, without regard to his<br />
length of service, should be elected to the office. At the same time, the Fraternity realized that, with the increased<br />
size of the organization and with the high degree of organization the Brotherhood enjoys, the more difficult it is for<br />
someone not familiar with the office to assume the responsibilities of a National Officer. Considerable thought was<br />
given to the establishment of a National officer Training Program. In post-Convention discussions and surveys, the<br />
consensus was that the best training for a National Office position is obtained while functioning as a Province<br />
Councilor. In this Office, the problems concerning the members are first faced and the awareness of the functions of<br />
National Office leadership is gained. The Convention elected the incumbent Grand President, Dr. Robert J. Beals,<br />
to a sixth term of office.<br />
A first for the Fraternity occurred on March 2 and 3, 1963, when the entire Supreme Council met in a special<br />
session at the home of Grand President Beals in Naperville, Illinois. The Council considered expansion, alumni<br />
participation, forms and records, and other matters of concern to the Fraternity. A meeting was held with the<br />
National Officers of Triangle Fraternity with discussions centering on a possible merger between the two<br />
fraternities. The Seventh Edition of the Manual of Procedure was issued in early Fall of 1963. The Third Edition of<br />
the Pledge Manual was issued early in 1962.<br />
Pi Chapter acquired a house at 503 NE 27th Street in Miami, Florida, on April 1, 1963. Delta Chapter moved<br />
from its long-time address (since 1946) in Urbana, Illinois, to a new chapter house in Champaign, Illinois, in July<br />
1963.<br />
The National Officer Training Program, adopted by the Fourteenth General Convention, was put into effect.<br />
Under this program, nominees for National and Province Offices receive copies of all correspondence to and from<br />
the incumbent and have a meeting or meetings with the incumbent, if this is geographically possible.<br />
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The Fifteenth General Convention was held in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in late August 1963, with Lambda<br />
Chapter as Host. At this Convention, the Supreme Council raised the salary of the Executive Secretary from $500 to<br />
$700 per annum, payable quarterly. The Convention adopted a resolution honoring Brother William M. Jermain, Jr.<br />
The Grand President had a suitably engrossed certificate prepared for presentation. The point scores of the Chapter<br />
Efficiency Contest were revised and the entire Contest was continued on a percentile rating. A Professional<br />
Achievement Award, to be presented to alumni of the Fraternity who have made an outstanding achievement or<br />
contribution to the field of engineering, was established.<br />
The Fraternity celebrated its Fortieth Anniversary in 1964. Grand President Beals visited each of the<br />
Chapters of the Fraternity during the biennium. For the first time, a member of Sigma Phi Delta held an office on<br />
the Board of Directors of the Professional Interfraternity Conference when Robert J. Beals was elected to the Board<br />
of Directors at the Atlanta, Georgia, meeting in 1964. A second meeting of the Supreme Council was held in<br />
Naperville, Illinois, on April 3 and 4, 1965, to evaluate the Fraternity progress, to lay the groundwork for better<br />
expansion effort and to provide for the more efficient operation of the Fraternity.<br />
In April 1965, the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Institute moved its campus from Miami to Daytona Beach,<br />
Florida. Pi Chapter moved with the School, making this the first Chapter to change geographical locations.<br />
The General Convention recalled incumbent Province Councilor W. Robert McIlvenna for failure to carry<br />
out the functions and duties of his office on September 1, 1965. Brother McIlvenna was succeeded by John G. Ellis<br />
(Alpha) in the first known recall of a member of the Supreme Council.<br />
The Sixteenth General Convention of the Fraternity was held in Winnipeg, Manitoba, in early September<br />
1965, with Xi Chapter as Host. Two new Alumni Chapters, Winnipeg Alumni and Twin City Alumni (Minneapolis<br />
and St. Paul, Minnesota) were present at this Convention. Interest rates on loans from the Endowment Funds of the<br />
Fraternity to housing corporations associated with undergraduate chapters of the Fraternity were increased from the<br />
1929 level of 3% to a rate of 4 1/2%. The Office of Historian of the Convention was added and the Editor of the<br />
CASTLE was given this office if he is in attendance at the Convention. The Convention made official a procedure<br />
for the granting of gifts or bequests from friends of the Fraternity to be used for furthering the objects of the<br />
Fraternity. A few, minor, changes were made in the Statutory Code, the first changes made in four years. The Laws<br />
of the Fraternity were changed to provide for an Official Directory, published in the CASTLE, every five years,<br />
beginning in December 1965. Elected to a seventh consecutive term was Grand President Robert J. Beals.<br />
Early in 1965, James Ransom, Delta Active, approached the faculty at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois,<br />
about the formation of a chapter of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity. On May 3, 1965, an interested group of fourteen<br />
students met with James Ransom, Ronald Davis and William Cocagne, all of Delta Chapter, for the purpose of<br />
establishing a Chapter. At a May 7 meeting, Eastern Province Councilor Robert D. Malinowski (Delta) met with 19<br />
students and outlined the petitioning procedure. The group, on May 11, 1965, organized as Sigma Rho, a local<br />
engineering fraternity, for the purpose of petitioning the Bradley University for a Charter. Grand President Beals<br />
met with the group on May 24. Because of a delay in the granting of a Charter on the campus, the group was not<br />
able to petition for Charter as a Chapter of Sigma Phi Delta until late in 1965. On December 18, 1965, Grand<br />
President Beals, assisted by Executive Secretary Charles Peterson (Kappa) and Eastern Province Councilor Robert<br />
D. Malinowski, together with representatives of Delta, Kappa and Iota Chapters, installed Rho Chapter of Sigma Phi<br />
Delta on the Bradley Campus. Ten undergraduate and one Faculty Member were in the Charter Chapter. Charter<br />
Chief Engineer was Theodore W. Olsen and Chapter Secretary was Gerald A. Kraatz.<br />
The chartering of Rho Chapter provided the first opportunity for the awarding of the Grand President's<br />
Trophy for Expansion. It was presented to Delta Chapter at the Seventeenth General Convention banquet in Los<br />
Angeles, California, on September 1, 1967.<br />
Undergraduate member dues were raised by mail ballot vote of the General Convention in November 1966,<br />
from fifteen to twenty dollars per year. The increase became effective on April 1, 1967. At the same time, alumni<br />
chapter dues were increased from thirty to fifty dollars per year. This increase became effective on January 1, 1967.<br />
These represented the first National dues increases since 1953 although Province dues had been instituted in the<br />
interim.<br />
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Trademarks, in Canada, on the CASTLE (NS 43852), the Coat of Arms (NS 44034) and the name SIGMA<br />
PHI DELTA (NS 44033) as used on jewelry and similar items were renewed for a second fifteen-year period in<br />
August 1967.<br />
The Seventeenth General Convention of the Fraternity met on August 30 and 31 and September 1, 1967, in<br />
Los Angeles, California, with Alpha Active and Los Angeles Alumni Chapters as Hosts. The Convention added a<br />
fifth section to the Chapter Efficiency Contest. This Section is the responsibility of the Editor of the CASTLE and<br />
recognizes the importance of the publications of our Fraternity. The Convention also affirmed that, effective<br />
January 1, 1968, the business managers and treasurers of all undergraduate and alumni chapters would be required to<br />
be bonded. A certificate recognizing his continued interest in and his contributions to the Fraternity was presented<br />
to former Executive Secretary and Eastern Province Councilor Charles E. Peterson (Kappa). All forms and records<br />
of the Fraternity were reviewed. In the next edition of the Manual of Procedure, specimen forms would be<br />
completely filled in to illustrate the proper method of submission. Grand President Beals had completed sixteen<br />
years in the Office, having been elected eight times.<br />
1968 - 1974<br />
Grand President Beals became President of the Professional Interfraternity Conference in Chicago, Illinois, in<br />
Mach 1968, for a two-year term of Office. This is the first time that Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity had provided a<br />
President for the P.I.C.<br />
Efforts of Grand Vice-President Michael J. Deuel (Eta) and Gene Irvin, expansion chairman of Alpha Active<br />
Chapter, were rewarded when a student group at California State College at Long Beach submitted a petition for<br />
charter as Sigma Chapter of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity. This Chapter was installed in ceremonies at the Alpha<br />
Chapter House on February 1, 1969, by Grand President Beals, Grand Vice-President Deuel and Western Province<br />
Councilor Kenneth Gielow (Nu), assisted by undergraduate and alumni members of Alpha and Nu Chapters.<br />
Twenty-four undergraduates and two Faculty Members, led by Charter Chief Engineer Dennis Lambert and Chapter<br />
Secretary Mike Maronta, were in the Charter Chapter. This was the second Chapter to be installed in the Alpha<br />
Chapter house, the first being Mu Chapter in 1951.<br />
The Eighteenth General Convention of the Fraternity was held in Chicago, Illinois, in late August 1969, with<br />
Iota Active and Iota Alumni Chapters as Hosts. The second Grand President's Trophy for Expansion was presented<br />
to Alpha Active Chapter at the Convention banquet on August 30, 1969, for the chartering of Sigma Active Chapter.<br />
Gene Irvin, so much responsible for the chartering of the Chapter, accepted the Award. A certificate of appreciation<br />
was presented to Brother Orville J. Banasik upon his retirement as Editor of the CASTLE. Brother Banasik, who<br />
was born on November 17, 1919, in Wales, North Dakota; initiated by Epsilon Chapter on January 19, 1947;<br />
graduated in Cereal Chemistry from North Dakota Agricultural College (later North Dakota State University);<br />
served the Fraternity as Central Province Councilor, Grand Vice-President and Editor of the CASTLE. He edited<br />
the First Edition of the Pledge Manual.<br />
A standardized format for Chapter By-Laws was adopted by the Convention. The Executive Secretary's<br />
salary was raised from $700 per year (where it had been since January 1, 1964) to $1,000 per annum, payable<br />
quarterly, and to be effective an January 1, 1970. The Executive Secretary took over keeping a current mailing list<br />
of Members and the responsibility for the distribution of the CASTLE and the STAR, thereby eliminating the<br />
necessity for a Circulation Manager of the CASTLE. Dr. Beals was elected to a tenth consecutive term as Grand<br />
President of the Fraternity.<br />
During February 1969, a group of sophomore students became interested in forming a fraternity for engineers<br />
at Loyola University of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California. One of the students, Yim-Hei (Joe) Yeung, contacted<br />
various national fraternities in the hope of establishing a Chapter on that campus. Dr. Beals was contacted by Mr.<br />
Yeung and arranged, through Grand Vice-President Michael J. Deuel (Eta), for a meeting between Sigma Phi Delta<br />
and the Loyola group. May 11 saw the official formation of a Committee for Tau Chapter. By-Laws were drawn up<br />
and plans for a Petition for Charter were made. The submission of the petition was delayed because the<br />
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Interfraternity conference and Student Affairs Committee had no guidelines for the chartering of a new fraternity.<br />
Continued support was received from Gene Irvin, Alpha active, and Mike Deuel. On February 25, 1970, petitions<br />
were submitted to the General Convention of Sigma Phi Delta for Charter as Tau Chapter. Twenty-five actives and<br />
two Faculty Members were installed as Tau Chapter at the Alpha Chapter House on April 11, 1970, with Grand<br />
President Beals , assisted by former Grand Vice-President Michael J. Deuel, Trustee Robert D. Malinowski, newly<br />
appointed Western Province Councilor Charles A. Freberg (Alpha) and actives from Alpha and Sigma Chapters.<br />
This was the third chapter to be installed in the quarters at 817 West Thirtieth Street in Los Angeles, the Alpha<br />
Chapter house. James L. Wolcott was Charter Chief Engineer and Patrick D. Garvey was Chapter Secretary.<br />
The fraternity situation on the Berkeley campus worsened as the fifty fraternities on the campus in the early<br />
1960's decreased to twenty-three fraternities in 1970. Nu Chapter's membership continued to decline and, when the<br />
Tenth Western Province Convention was held in Berkeley in September 1970, only two active members remained in<br />
that Chapter. To all extents and purposes, Nu Chapter became inactive at that time and continued inactive until May<br />
14, 1977, when five actives reactivated the Chapter. The San Francisco Bay Area Alumni Chapter requested<br />
permission, on May 1, 1971, to resume Alumni Association status.<br />
The Nineteenth General Convention of the Fraternity was held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in early September<br />
1971, with Eta Active Chapter as Host. The third Grand President's Trophy for Expansion was presented to Alpha<br />
Chapter for the chartering of Tau Active Chapter, the second such award for Alpha Chapter. By action of this<br />
Convention, this Trophy will henceforth be known as the GILBERT H. DUNSTAN TROPHY FOR EXPANSION.<br />
Primary subjects for discussion at the Convention included low membership in the Chapters, low finances in the<br />
treasuries, and ways of improving both. The Fraternity Ritual was revised somewhat and was reprinted for the first<br />
time since its adoption and printing in July 1940. The new Ritual was distributed in October 1971. Merger with<br />
Theta Tau Fraternity was again considered, but the Delegates were not favorable to being absorbed by the larger<br />
organization. The Delegates presented a Certificate of Appreciation, signed by all the Delegates, to Dr. Beals for<br />
twenty years of service as Grand President of the Fraternity and also elected him to an eleventh term as Grand<br />
President.<br />
Grand President Robert J. Beals called the Twentieth General Convention of the Fraternity to order in<br />
Moorhead, Minnesota, on August 30, 1973, where Epsilon Active and Fargo Alumni Chapters were Hosts. This<br />
was to be the last Convention at which he would preside as Chairman in that he declined to accept further<br />
nomination to the Office of Grand President. In recognition of this long service, the Delegates voted to have a<br />
wood-mounted brass plaque engraved for presentation. The plaque reads:<br />
"The Twentieth General Convention of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity on this date,<br />
the thirty-first of August, Nineteen Hundred and Seventy-Three, unanimously extends its<br />
gratitude and appreciation to DR. ROBERT J. BEALS for his twenty-two consecutive<br />
years of dedicated and unfailing service performed in the Office of Grand President, and<br />
his continued efforts in the advancement of the Engineering Profession and the goals of<br />
the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity."<br />
Efforts were extended for the establishment of a Little Sister Program for the Fraternity, though no definitive<br />
action was taken to make the program a National program at this time. Membership requirements were changed in<br />
that, upon petition, a Chapter could initiate as Member a student enrolled in an accredited Engineering Technology<br />
program. It was also decided that the Chapter Chief Engineer did not have to be enrolled in an engineering program<br />
during his tenure, which had been a requirement for untold years. However, the Convention Delegate must be an<br />
engineering student during his incumbency. Recognizing the trends in finance, the Convention increased the<br />
allowable limit for interest on loans to undergraduate chapter associated housing corporations from 4 1/2% to 6%.<br />
A greatly revised Chapter Efficiency Contest was advocated. Because of opposition to format, the matter was<br />
referred to a later action by the Supreme Council. The revised Contest was used, together with the established<br />
format, for 1974. Plans were formulated for the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Fraternity's Founding on April 11, 1974.<br />
Gerald A. Kraatz (Rho), who was Charter Secretary of Rho Chapter and who had served as Grand Vice-President,<br />
was elected as the seventh Grand President of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity. Gerry was born on May 14, 1946, in<br />
Evanston, Illinois. He was initiated as a Charter Member of Rho Chapter on December 18, 1965. He graduated<br />
from Bradley University in Mechanical Engineering in 1968.<br />
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It had been anticipated by the Twentieth General Convention that incumbent Executive Secretary William M.<br />
Jermain, Jr. would accept appointment to a third term as Executive Secretary, the Office he had held, on two<br />
separate occasions, for a total of nine years. In addition to this Office, be had served the Fraternity as Grand Vice-<br />
President and Central Province Councilor. Bill had been initiated by Eta Chapter on February 10, 1952, in the first<br />
formal initiation attended by the newly-installed Grand President Beals. Beals' General Number is 1248 (the only<br />
four-numbered geometric progression); Jermain's is 2496, exactly twice that of Beals. He graduated from Marquette<br />
University in June 1952 with a degree in Civil Engineering. Bill was born on February 21, 1928, in Milwaukee,<br />
Wisconsin. When Jermain declined to accept appointment as Executive Secretary, the newly-elected Grand<br />
President Kraatz prevailed and former Grand President Robert J. Beals was appointed to the office of Executive<br />
Secretary, effective on January 1, 1974.<br />
1974 - 1984<br />
Recognizing the impact of inflation and the increase cost of all forms of service, the General Convention, by<br />
mail ballot on December 1, 1974, approved the increase in undergraduate initiation fees and National dues, to be<br />
effective on January 1, 1975. The initiation fee was increased to $30; the National dues were increased to $30 per<br />
annum payable in two installments on April 1 and November 1 of each year. Dues had last been increased in 1967.<br />
The General Convention recalled Philip G. Robinson (Alpha) from the Office of Western Province<br />
Councilor, effective on June 1, 1975. This was the second known instance of removal of a member of the Supreme<br />
Council for failure to carry out the functions of his office. Interestingly, both incumbents had been Western<br />
Province Councilors.<br />
The Twenty-First General Convention was to have been co-Hosted by Alpha, Sigma and Tau Active<br />
Chapters. However, in the period between the Twentieth and Twenty-First General Conventions, Sigma Chapter<br />
had drifted into inactive status. No exact date can be fixed in that the Chapter stopped reporting; stopped<br />
communicating; and stopped functioning. A new Alumni Chapter was represented at this Convention, however,<br />
when the alumni associated with the Rho Active Chapter formed the Central Illinois Alumni (CIA) Chapter, which<br />
was chartered in Peoria, Illinois, on September 28, 1974.<br />
The Twenty-First General Convention convened in Los Angeles, California, in late August 1975, with Alpha<br />
Chapter as Host. In light of the increased activity of females in the engineering profession, the possibility of<br />
enlarging our Fraternity membership to include women was considered. It was pointed out that Sigma Phi Delta<br />
Fraternity had always been a social-professional fraternity of engineers and that the inclusion of women would not<br />
be in keeping with the social character of the Fraternity. It was noted that Tri-State College had become Tri-State<br />
University and that one or more engineering curricula had been accredited by the Engineers Council for Professional<br />
Development (E.C.P.D.). The Chapter Efficiency Contest, submitted for consideration in 1973 was approved for use<br />
by the Fraternity, effective on January 1, 1976. This was a vastly revised Contest with increased emphasis on<br />
chapter participation in preparation of the Report. Anticipating that the alumni of the Fraternity would want to help<br />
out in the current financial crunch, the Convention adopted the principle of an annual Alumni Solicitation for funds<br />
for specific purposes, for example, expansion, scholarship, publication of the CASTLE, help in student housing, or<br />
other general uses of the Fraternity. Later, retiring Grand President Kraatz was appointed the first Alumni<br />
Solicitation Coordinator. The Convention elected as the eight Grand President of the Fraternity Benjamin L.<br />
McCash (Delta). Ben was born on July 28, 1947, in Casey, Illinois. He was initiated by Delta Chapter on February<br />
19, 1967, with General Number 4900. He graduated from the University of Illinois in 1959 with a degree in<br />
Agricultural Engineering.<br />
In December 1976, the National Little Sister Program as adopted by the Fraternity. A Convention of Little<br />
Sisters had been held in Angola, Indiana, on September 25, 1976, at the time of the Fourteenth Eastern Province<br />
Convention. This has been the only such Convention of Little Sisters held to date.<br />
Early in 1977, a group of undergraduate students at the University of California at Berkeley expressed<br />
interest in the reactivation of Nu Chapter on that campus. Grand President McCash and Grand Vice-President<br />
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Richard N. Ziegler (Kappa) initiated five men into Nu Chapter on May 14, 1977, thereby reactivating the Chapter<br />
and ending the period of six years during which the Chapter was inactive.<br />
The Twenty-Second General Convention of the Fraternity was convened in Peoria, Illinois, in early<br />
September 1977, with Rho Active Chapter and Central Illinois Alumni Chapter as Hosts. Finances, as usual, played<br />
a large role in the discussions. Alumni Chapter annual dues were raised from $50 to $75 per annum, effective<br />
January 1, 1978. Active member (undergraduate) annual National dues were raised to $40 per annum, payable on<br />
April 2 and November 1at $20 per member. The Alumni Solicitation program was continued. The Convention<br />
expressed ts appreciation to Editor of the CASTLE Dale Hachtel (Rho) for his dedication and service to the<br />
Fraternity as Editor for the past six years. The Convention elected incumbent Grand President Benjamin L. McCash<br />
to a second term in that Office.<br />
One of the highlights of the Convention was the initiation as an Honorary member of the Fraternity Dr.<br />
Martin G. Abegg, President of Bradley University, on September 3, 1977. National Officers were the Ritual Team<br />
for the initiation. In recognition of his years of service to the Fraternity, the Convention named Dr. Robert J. Beals<br />
to succeed to the title long held by Grand Old Man Russell C. Smith, in the following resolution:<br />
"We, the members of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity, as represented in General<br />
Convention assembled, do resolve that BROTHER ROBERT J. BEALS has<br />
contributed for three decades to Sigma Phi Delta and as his contributions have been all<br />
but unique and are equivalent to those of BROTHER RUSSELL C. SMITH,<br />
Therefore, it be further resolved that from this Convention onward, BROTHER<br />
ROBERT J. BEALS will bear the title formerly held by BROTHER RUSSELL C.<br />
SMITH and be known as "THE GRAND OLD MAN OF THE SIGMA PHI DELTA<br />
FRATERNITY."<br />
Following the Convention, color photographs of the Fraternity jewelry were distributed to all undergraduate<br />
Chapters of the Fraternity. The Ninth Edition of the Manual of Procedure was distributed. The brochure "Pro Bono<br />
Professionis" and the booklet "What Fraternity?" were revised and reprinted.<br />
In October 1977, the Professional Interfraternity Conference and the Professional Panhellenic Association<br />
merged into the Professional Fraternity Association. Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity continued to be a member of the<br />
new Association.<br />
To implement the programs under consideration and to begin the planning program for the biennium 1978-<br />
1979, the Supreme Council met at the home of Grand President Benjamin L. McCash in Burr Ridge, Illinois, on<br />
October 29 and 30, 1977. This was the third such meeting in the Fraternity's history, all having been held in<br />
Chicago suburbs. Former Editor Dale Hachtel was appointed Alumni Solicitations chairman for the biennium. The<br />
CASTLE was changed in format and method of printing. The Fraternity purchased an offset printing press and tried<br />
to print its own publications, the first issue of which appeared in the Winter 1977 CASTLE. Unfortunately, the<br />
press was limited in scope and ability, and this experiment was cancelled after about two issues. Plans were<br />
formulated for seminars to be held at the Fall 1978 Province Conventions on RUSH and CHAPTER FINANCIAL<br />
OPERATIONS.<br />
Even as the Fraternity rejoiced in the return of Nu Chapter from inactive to active status, Iota Active Chapter<br />
was having extreme difficulty in gaining members. The Chicago Technical College had concentrated its efforts on<br />
special and short courses rather than on degree-granting engineering programs. The College had never been granted<br />
E.C.P.D. recognition for any program. Accordingly, on March 15, 1976, the Supreme Council approved inactive<br />
status for Iota Chapter. The Iota Alumni Chapter continued to be active. The Iota Chapter house was sold on<br />
December 21, 1976.<br />
The fourth special meeting of the Supreme Council was held at the home of Grand President McCash in Burr<br />
Ridge, Illinois, on March 17 and 18, 1979. Plans for the Twenty-Third General Convention were formulated. The<br />
executive Secretary reported that, for the first time in Fraternity history, the National Office had opened a bank<br />
account in Canada, using the Assiniboine Credit Union, Ltd., in Winnipeg, Manitoba, as a repository for Canadian<br />
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funds paid to the National Office. Travel reimbursement for National Officer travel had been seven cents per mile<br />
for many years. Effective at once, the reimbursement was raised to ten cents per mile. Interest on loans from the<br />
Board of Trustees to housing corporations of the Fraternity was increased from 6% to 10%. The Circulation<br />
Manager of the CASTLE's salary was increased from $50 to $200 per year, payable in four quarterly payments.<br />
The Twenty-Third General Convention of the Fraternity convened on August 30, 1979, at the Potowatomi<br />
Inn, Pokagon State Park, Angola, Indiana, with Kappa Active and Kappa Alumni Chapters as Hosts. During the<br />
meeting, the Supreme Council reviewed the salary of the Executive Secretary and raised the annual stipend from its<br />
1969 level of $1,000 to $1,200 per year, payable in quarterly payments, and to be effective on January 1, 1980.<br />
There were strong indications that during the biennium between the Twenty-Second and Twenty-Third General<br />
Conventions, Nu Chapter had ceased to function. Failure to answer correspondence, a lack of formal initiations, the<br />
moving from the rented Chapter quarters all contributed to the inactivity of that Chapter. The Convention returned<br />
incumbent Grand President Benjamin L. McCash to a third term of office.<br />
The Supreme Council held a fifth special meeting on April 3 and 4, 1981, in Burr Ridge, Illinois. Plans for<br />
the Twenty-Fourth General Convention were approved. Plans for a Disney World professional visit were discussed,<br />
with hopes that the behind-the-scenes working of that Park would be viewed. The format for the Nominations for<br />
the Professional Achievement Award was approved. To better understand the effect of cost increases over the years,<br />
the following table summarizes the sales price for the Code #113, #1 crown pearl, ruby points and center Fraternity<br />
badges from 1965 to date:<br />
Year Beginning September 1 Badge Charge Chapter Sales Price<br />
1965 – 1971 (gold) $15.64 $19.80<br />
1972 – 1973 (gold) 20.00 25.00<br />
1974 (Balclad) 23.75 30.00<br />
1975 – 1976 (Balclad) 31.00 34.00<br />
1977 – 1978 (Balclad) 34.10 37.50<br />
1979 (Balclad) 38.20 42.00<br />
1980 (Balclad) 51.55 57.00<br />
1981 – 1983 61.90 68.00<br />
1984 – 1990 64.95 71.50<br />
1991 – 1995 71.43 75.00<br />
1996 – 1997 75.60 83.00<br />
1998 – 2001 78.80 86.75<br />
The change was made from the gold badge to the Balclad, which was a gold plated badge, at the time of rapid<br />
increases in the price of gold. The rapid increase in 1980 was due to the large increase in the price of pearls and<br />
synthetic rubies.<br />
The Twenty-Fourth General Convention of the Fraternity convened in Daytona Beach, Florida, on September<br />
3, 1981, with Pi Active Chapter as Host. Interestingly, Pi Chapter was, at that time, in delinquent status for failure<br />
to pays its National and Province Dues and was unable to be represented at the Convention it had planned.<br />
Recognizing the impact of inflation and the increased costs of operating the Fraternity, the Convention increased<br />
undergraduate member dues from $40 per year to $60 per year; increased undergraduate initiation fees from $30 to<br />
$40; and increased alumni chapter dues from $75 to $100 per year. During past Conventions, the Fraternity Law<br />
had been changed with regard to the interest allowable on loans to housing corporations associated with the<br />
undergraduate chapters. To permit maximum flexibility and still control the interest rates, the Convention<br />
established the allowable interest rate to be "not higher than 2% below the U.S. Federal Discount Rate". The<br />
category of "Inactive Member", long suspected (but not proven) of being a haven for those who wanted to retain<br />
Fraternity membership but who did not wish to fulfill their fraternal obligations otherwise, was eliminated. This<br />
would preclude a student temporarily in financial or academic difficulties from lightening his loan and would<br />
require that undergraduate students remain totally committed or else resign from Fraternity membership.<br />
The Engineers Council for Professional Development (E.C.P.D.), which had been established in the early<br />
1930's, was reorganized as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). E.C.P.D. was<br />
responsible for the accreditation of engineering programs at colleges and universities in the United States. ABET<br />
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took over these functions after the reorganization. Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity, in an effort to assure itself and others<br />
that its member chapters and students were "Professional" had adopted the criteria that at least one program at a<br />
school or college must be E.C.P.D. (or ABET) accredited before a Chapter could be established at that school. Iota<br />
Chapter at Chicago Technical College and Lambda Chapter at Indiana Institute of Technology were the two chapters<br />
established on campuses, which lacked this recognition. Both were chartered before the criteria were established.<br />
The Convention elected as the ninth Grand President of the Fraternity another Delta alumnus, William J.<br />
Reinert. Bill was born on June 1, 1934, in Chicago, Illinois. He was initiated by Delta Chapter on November 19,<br />
1955, with General Number 3178, and graduated from the University of Illinois in 1957 with a degree in General<br />
Engineering. He had a son, William T. Reinert, who was a member of Delta Chapter at this time. As had his two<br />
predecessors, Grand President Reinert appointed Dr. Robert J. Beals to be his Executive Secretary. With this<br />
appointment, Beals surpassed William M. Jermain, Jr., in total length of service in this Office.<br />
Following tradition, the Supreme Council held a special meeting on November 19 and 20, 1982, at the Grand<br />
President's home in Mt. Prospect, Illinois, to review the operations of the Fraternity and to plan for its future. The<br />
low level of membership in the undergraduate chapters and the apparent lack of results in pledging were of concern<br />
to the Council. Tau Chapter had become inactive. Effort had been made to contact the last-known officers and<br />
some of the Ritual paraphernalia and Chapter records were recovered. The last known contact with Tau Chapter<br />
members had been made by the Western Province Councilor in early 1982.<br />
At the Supreme Council meeting on August 31, 1983, immediately before the Twenty-Fifth General<br />
Convention, the Supreme Council established the salary of the Executive Secretary and the Circulation Manager of<br />
the CASTLE to be $1.00 per year, but that the Executive Secretary be allowed up to $300 per quarter for nonitemized<br />
expenses while the Circulation Manager would be allowed up to $50 per quarter for non-itemized<br />
expenses. The Supreme Council considered, for the third time in the Fraternity's history, a possible merger with the<br />
Theta Tau Fraternity. No decision was made as the matter was taken under investigation. The Fraternity entered the<br />
computer age when it authorized the Executive Secretary to purchase a word processor to assist in the operation of<br />
his Office. The CASTLE and the STAR had been on a computerized mailing list operated by one of the alumni,<br />
operating on his business computer, for several years.<br />
The Twenty-fifth General Convention was Hosted by Delta Active Chapter on September 1 - 3, 1983, in<br />
Urbana, Illinois. The continued low undergraduate chapter membership, the diminished number of Faculty<br />
Members, and the lack of productive expansion effort since the chartering of Tau Chapter in 1970, were major items<br />
of concern at this Convention. The chapters had initiated less than one hundred members per year for the past<br />
decade. Executive Secretary Beals served as President of the American Ceramic Society, the professional<br />
organization of over 11,000 ceramic engineers and scientists in the United States (and around the world) during<br />
1982 - 1983. The convention elected incumbent Grand President William J. Reinert to a second term of Office. The<br />
four (out of nine) Grand Presidents who are alumni of Delta Chapter have led the Fraternity all but two years since<br />
1950! The Supreme Council approved the reappointment of Executive Secretary Beals to a sixth two-year term.<br />
Though this Office had been intended to be more permanent than the elective Offices in the Fraternity, no other<br />
Executive Secretary had held the Office, since its inception in 1958, for more than two consecutive terms.<br />
Early in 1984, the Fraternity adopted a definitive statement on hazing. This definition is included in the<br />
Section "STATUS OF A <strong>PLEDGE</strong>" earlier in this Manual. With the increased number of women in programs in<br />
engineering, it was inevitable that the subject of women members in the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity should arise<br />
once again. There had been general consensus that the social nature of the Fraternity precluded women members.<br />
There has been increased participation by women, both engineers and non-engineers, as Little Sisters in the<br />
Fraternity.<br />
Planning for the 1984 Province Conventions was accomplished at the now annual Supreme Council meeting<br />
in Mt. Prospect, Illinois, on March 30 and 31, 1984. The Board of Trustees of the Fraternity, in its January 14,<br />
1984, meeting, had expressed interest in having some of its interest monies used as a Scholarship Fund for<br />
undergraduate members of the Fraternity. The Supreme Council decided that these scholarships should be around<br />
$500 per year per Chapter, with the purpose of the Fund being "to recognize outstanding 'active' members<br />
scholarship, fraternal, university and civic involvement". The evaluation would be babes: 60% on grade point<br />
average, 15% on fraternal involvement, 15% on university involvement, and 10% on civic involvement. The first<br />
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scholarships were scheduled to be awarded on November 15, 1984, based on statistics from the 1983 - 1984<br />
academic year.<br />
In an effort to make news from the Chapters and individual members more timely, the Supreme Council<br />
decided to experiment with the idea of eliminating, at least temporarily, the publication of the STAR and to change<br />
the format of the CASTLE from a 16 to 24 page, twice a year, publication to a quarterly six to eight page, timely,<br />
publication. The first of the new CASTLES was to be printed in the fall of 1984. The location of the Province<br />
boundaries, established in 1948, was reconsidered but there was no consensus for changing their location at this<br />
time.<br />
A bright spot on the horizon for the Fraternity, in this time of high costs and high interest, was the building<br />
by Kappa Active and Kappa Alumni Chapters of a new chapter house on the Tri-State University campus at Angola,<br />
Indiana. This was the first new chapter house in the Fraternity in several decades and the first completely new house<br />
known. The Chapter House was dedicated on October 13, 1984. In addition to the many actives and alumni of<br />
Kappa Chapter, Grand President Reinert and Executive Secretary Beals participated in the ceremonies. While the<br />
Fraternity was rejoicing with Kappa Chapter over its new house, the Lambda Chapter house forty miles away in Fort<br />
Wayne, Indiana, suffered heavy fire damage and the house was condemned by the City. The Chapter was in<br />
temporary living quarters and considerable concern was expressed about its viability. The Indiana Institute of<br />
Technology was not ABET-accredited and engineering enrollment was decreasing.<br />
The Sixth Edition of the Sigma Phi Delta Pledge Manual was distributed in the Fall of 1984. The third<br />
printing of the formal Ritual for Initiation was made in late 1986 and distributed at that time. There were a few<br />
minor changes, but the Ritual has remained essentially unchanged since its adoption in 1940. The Constitution and<br />
Statutory Code of the Fraternity were reprinted and redistributed. Changes were minor in nature.<br />
1985 - 1989<br />
The Supreme Council met in Chicago, Illinois, on March 22 and 23, 1985, to review the status of the<br />
Fraternity and to prepare for the Twenty-Sixth General Convention. Of concern was the virtual inactive status of<br />
Rho Chapter. Members of the Supreme Council met in Naperville, Illinois, with the two remaining Rho Chapter<br />
members and with Rho alumni on March 23, 1985. The attitude and the reputation of the Chapter on the Bradley<br />
campus were not conducive to rushing and pledging. The Western Province asked, and received, permission to raise<br />
its dues to $20.00 per year. Pi Chapter had retired the mortgages on its two houses in Daytona Beach, Florida, and<br />
scheduled a mortgage burning for early May 1985.<br />
The Supreme Council met before the Twenty-Sixth General Convention on August 28, 1985. The Executive<br />
Secretary was authorized to add a hard disk to his computer equipment. The Fraternity purchased the computer<br />
equipment being used by Editor Vosecky to publish the CASTLE. The Executive Secretary's compensation was<br />
reviewed. It was decided that his salary would remain at one dollar ($1.00) per year but that he would be allowed<br />
$1600 per year, payable quarterly, for non-itemized expenses. The Supreme Council, concerned over the increasing<br />
use of alcohol at rushing functions, mandated a Dry Rush for Fall 1985 and following years. This was not well<br />
received by some of the Chapters who were substituting alcohol for effort in rushing.<br />
Held in Vancouver, British Columbia, on August 29, 30 and 31, 1985, the Twenty-Sixth General Convention<br />
was the first in Vancouver since 1951. The Fraternity was faced with continuing low enrollments and problems the<br />
Chapters need to solve to remain viable. To assist the Chapters in their rushing functions, the Grand Vice-President<br />
assembled all the available chapter literature into a book, which was distributed to the undergraduate chapters for<br />
new ideas and proven solutions. This had been done in an earlier year by Eastern Province Councilor Don Nelson.<br />
The concept of Joint Province Conventions, to provide more inter-chapter contact, was explored, but nothing<br />
developed from the idea. Yielding to inflation and the demand for increased activity from the National Office,<br />
undergraduate dues were increased from sixty to eighty dollars per year and undergraduate initiation fees were<br />
increased from forty to sixty dollars per year. Incumbent Grand President William J. Reinert was elected to a third<br />
term of office; Executive Secretary Beals was appointed to a seventh consecutive term of Office.<br />
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The Supreme Council met in Mt. Prospect, Illinois, on April 5 and 6, 1986. The percentage scoring of the<br />
Scholarship Award was changed to 50% for grade point average; 30% for Fraternal involvement; and 20% for<br />
University and civic involvement. It was hoped that this would be an incentive to increased participation in fraternal<br />
activities. There were indications that Lambda Chapter was staging a comeback and plans were made to hold the<br />
Nineteenth Eastern Province Convention in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The Board of Trustees voted to provide new light<br />
boxes to the undergraduate Chapters to replace the boxes, which had been in use, in some Chapters, since 1939. In<br />
most instances, the plastic of the Coat of Arms was cracking and the cost of preparation of the individually painted<br />
transparencies was prohibitive. The Executive Secretary contracted with the supplier of the original transparencies<br />
to prepare a screen-printed Coat of Arms.<br />
Shortly after the Nineteenth Eastern Province Convention, Lambda Chapter decided that the engineering<br />
enrollment at the Indiana Institute of Technology was too small and too disinterested in fraternities to continue to<br />
operate. Lambda Chapter went inactive, officially, on February 1, 1986. Their last formal initiation had been the<br />
initiation of four members on December 7, 1985. Rho Chapter, which had gone inactive in 1985, requested<br />
reactivation and initiated four new members on November 22, 1986. Since that time the chapter has grown in size<br />
and activity.<br />
The Supreme Council meeting on March 13 and 14, 1987, was one of the most active in recent years. Held<br />
in Elk Grove Village, Illinois, it signaled the beginning of a new era in Fraternity operations. At the same time, the<br />
Council became increasingly aware of the pitfalls and risks of being an officer of a volunteer organization. The use<br />
of chemical substances, particularly alcohol, in the Chapter Houses and at Chapter functions; the possibilities of<br />
activities approaching hazing in some of the Chapters; chapter house safety and hazards; new tax laws affecting notfor-profit<br />
organizations; the tendency for people to sue for little or no reason; etc., increased the legal and financial<br />
responsibilities of being an officer. The question of permitting inactive status in an undergraduate chapter was again<br />
raised. Should married undergraduates be exempted from fraternal obligations? Over the past several years, the<br />
Federal Discount Rate had sunk to a low five percent. Recognizing that loans to housing corporations under existing<br />
laws could be made only at extremely low returns, the Council accepted the recommendation of the Board of<br />
Trustees to set a lower limit of five percent (5%) on any housing loan to a corporation associated with a Fraternity<br />
undergraduate chapter.<br />
Shortly before the Twenty-Seventh General Convention, the Winnipeg Alumni Chapter reported that it had<br />
sold the Xi Chapter House at 77 Spence Street in Winnipeg. The house was unsuitable for more than two or three<br />
persons to live in and was in need of considerable repairs. Concern was immediate over the continued viability of<br />
Xi Active Chapter without a house in which to meet.<br />
The pre-Convention meeting of the Supreme Council on September 2, 1987, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin,<br />
continued the activity begun in March. Minor changes were made in the Chapter Efficiency Contest to give more<br />
credit for expansion and special activities in the Chapter. The United States Internal Revenue Service had ruled that<br />
interest income from investments of the Board of Trustees and of the National Office was not business-related but<br />
were taxable. It was discovered that the Fraternity Scholarship Program had not been approved by the IRS and the<br />
interest income used for still taxable. There was, however, a legal "out". If the monies for the Scholarships were<br />
"set aside" in a separate account, which could be used for no other purpose, such monies were not taxable. Of<br />
course, the Trustees and the Supreme Council set up such a set aside Fund for 1987 and subsequent years.<br />
Triangle Fraternity had approached the Executive Secretary during the summer concerning the possibility of<br />
a consolidation of national offices, and other functions, of the two fraternities. Triangle National President James<br />
Marshall and Executive Director Jack Sargent met with the Supreme Council to explore the possibilities. Triangle<br />
Fraternity had thirty-two undergraduate chapters and three colonies at the time of this meeting. It was the consensus<br />
of both groups that a committee be formed to consider the feasibility of such action. This would not constitute a<br />
merger but a consolidation of activities, with both fraternities retaining their names, Rituals, etc. Immediately prior<br />
to the Convention, a letter was received from the Theta Tau Fraternity suggesting a merger. It was decided that a<br />
merger was out of the question and the Theta Tau offer was summarily rejected.<br />
As is required at the time of every General Convention, the Supreme Council reviewed the compensation of<br />
the Executive Secretary and the Circulation Manager of the CASTLE. The one-dollar ($1.00) annual salary was<br />
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retained but the non-itemized expense allowance for the Executive Secretary was increased to $2000 per year and<br />
for the Circulation Manager to $800 per year, effective January 1, 1988.<br />
The Supreme Council adopted a "Risk Reduction Policy" (printed elsewhere in this Manual) to provide<br />
guidance to the Chapters and officers in those areas were liabilities and risks were prevalent. The General<br />
Convention later adopted the Policy as well. More stringent regulations on the use of controlled substances,<br />
especially alcohol, were proposed and adopted by the Twenty-Seventh General Convention. The Executive<br />
Secretary indicated that he and the Secretary-Treasurer of the Board of Trustees were covered under a financial<br />
bond.<br />
The Twenty-Seventh General Convention met in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on September 3, 4 and 5, 1987,<br />
with Eta Active Chapter as Host. Members of the Milwaukee Alumni Chapter had petitioned for re-charter and<br />
were represented at the Convention for the first time in over twenty years. The format of this Convention reflected<br />
the new ideas surfacing in the Fraternity. Seminars were held on Legal Liabilities, Career Networking, Expansion<br />
opportunities and Procedures, and Rush Activities. The possibility of a Resume Book and a Fraternity program to<br />
provide resume access to the members was broached. Plans were made for the continued growth and expansion in<br />
each of the areas in an effort to reverse the low membership, low number of chapters, and limited Fraternity<br />
recognition.<br />
Since its inception, the Fraternity had required that active chapters pay undergraduate dues after the sixmonth<br />
period in which they were incurred and then on a prorated basis. The Convention adopted a totally different<br />
approach in that undergraduate dues, effective March 1, 1988, would be due in advance and there would be no<br />
prorating of dues. Undergraduate member dues were retained at eighty dollars per year, but the due dates were<br />
changed from November 1 and April 1 to October 1 and March 1 of each year. Undergraduate and alumni initiation<br />
fees were increased from sixty to eighty dollars plus the cost of a badge. The Convention again considered the<br />
inclusion of women in the Fraternity membership, noting that inasmuch as we are social as well as professional, we<br />
are exempt from the Federal requirement that we admit women. The Convention decided to retain our all-male<br />
membership. The possibility of expanding our membership to include computer science majors was considered.<br />
Inasmuch as it might be considered as changing our engineering identity, no decision was made.<br />
The 27th General Convention elected George J. Flanders, Rho alumnus, to be the tenth Grand President of<br />
the Fraternity for the biennium 1988 - 1989. Brother Flanders was born in Bunker Hill, Indiana, on June 3, 1960.<br />
He was initiated by Rho Chapter on February 11, 1979, with General Number 6122. He graduated in 1980 with a<br />
degree in Mechanical Engineering from Bradley University. He later obtained an MBA from Bradley. George is<br />
the second Rho alumnus to be Grand President. As the elections ended, for the first time since 1950 there was not<br />
an elected member as a National Officer from Delta Chapter. The Supreme Council approved the appointment of<br />
Dr. Robert J. Beals to an eighth term as Executive Secretary.<br />
The first Supreme Council meeting outside the greater Chicago area was held on February 10 and 11, 1989,<br />
at the home of Grand President Flanders in Aurora, Colorado. All members of the Supreme Council attended the<br />
meeting. A business plan for the Fraternity was adopted, but was never fully implemented during Grand President<br />
Flanders' tenure. It was announced that Xi Chapter now had quarters at 71 Mapleridge Avenue, Winnipeg,<br />
Manitoba. They had purchased a frame construction bungalow in a residential area. Details of continuing a Career<br />
Network position within the Fraternity were discussed, with Scott Morrison, Delta alumnus, as the principal contact<br />
for this job-search office. In light of the pending installation of Upsilon chapter in the Central Province, the Council<br />
recommended to the 28th General Convention a consideration of changing Province boundaries. If changed, this<br />
would be the first change since 1948.<br />
The resignation of Eastern Province Councilor James C. Kwock on September 15, 1989, preceded the<br />
appointment of G. Mark Shaw, Delta alumnus, as Eastern Province Councilor.<br />
In the spring of 1987, James P. Schleck, then Central Province Councilor, and Dan Neal, Eta Chapter's<br />
Expansion Chairman, visited the University of Wisconsin-Madison with the intent of starting a student group toward<br />
charter as a chapter of Sigma Phi Delta. In the fall of 1987, Andrew Cotter, brother-in-law to James Schleck,<br />
enrolled in engineering at Wisconsin-Madison. During its formative months, Eta Chapter nurtured the new colony.<br />
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On April 8, 1989, Grand President George J. Flanders installed Upsilon Chapter of Sigma Phi Delta on the<br />
University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. Assisting with installation were Grand Vice-President James P. Schleck,<br />
former Grand President William J. Reinert, Central Province Councilor Donald J. Nelson, Executive Secretary Dr.<br />
Robert J. Beals, and members from Eta and Kappa Active Chapters. Ten men made up the charter membership of<br />
Upsilon Chapter. They were Andrew A. Burns, Andrew B. Cotter, Daniel M. Prommelt, James A. Martinson,<br />
Robert C. Mutchler, David J. Uselmann, Jeffrey D. Wolfe, Thomas E. Wuttke, Arthur R. Ziesemer and Daniel R.<br />
Zinky. Arthur R. Ziesemer was Charter Chief Engineer and Andrew A. Burns was Chapter Secretary.<br />
Executive Secretary Beals drafted amendments to the Constitution and Statutory Code of the Fraternity,<br />
which would provide for colony status for groups interested in becoming chapters of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity.<br />
This more formal status of colony would provide better organizational structure, better recognition on the campus,<br />
and would provide a focus of activities on the campus. The General Convention, by mail ballot, approved the<br />
provisions on June 20, 1988, and they went into effect at that time. Members of a colony are not initiated members<br />
of Sigma Phi Delta but have the status of pledges of an undergraduate chapter.<br />
The Twenty-Eighth General Convention was held in Winnipeg, Manitoba, with Xi Active Chapter as Host,<br />
on August 31 and September 1 and 2, 1989. In a "first", the Convention elected former Grand President William J.<br />
Reinert, ninth president of the Fraternity, to be the eleventh Grand President for the biennium 1990 - 1991. The<br />
Convention planned for a Rush Seminar, at which all chapter rush chairmen would be expected to be present. This<br />
Seminar was planned by Central Province Councilor Donald J. Nelson and was held in Chicago, Illinois, on January<br />
13 and 14, 1990. Realizing that the preponderance of Fraternity activities are financed in U.S. funds and that the<br />
Canadian member, while paying the same "face amount", was actually contributing about 80% to 85% support<br />
because of exchange rate, the Convention established that all dues, fees, jewelry items, supplies, etc. would be paid<br />
in U.S. currency or its equivalent. Jewelry and supplies had already been purchased under this provision. In another<br />
financial move, the Convention directed that a $50.00 registration fee be imposed on all chapter delegates to the<br />
Twenty-Ninth General Convention.<br />
1990 - 1995<br />
The Province boundaries were changed in January 1, 1990, to balance the number of chapters in each of the<br />
Provinces, insofar as possible. The Eastern Province - Central Province boundary, unchanged since 1948, would<br />
separate the Canadian Provinces of Quebec and Ontario, descend through Lake Michigan, follow the Wisconsin -<br />
Illinois border, then down the Mississippi River to its termination. This change moved Rho Active Chapter from the<br />
Central to the Eastern Province. Inasmuch as it has been policy that the principal alumni chapter associated with an<br />
undergraduate chapter be in the same Province, Central Illinois Alumni Chapter also moved to the Eastern Province.<br />
At the same time, Chicago, Illinois, and its immediate suburbs, was declared an "open city", enabling residents of<br />
the area to serve as officers in either Province.<br />
For purposes of clarification, though no change was made at this Convention, the Central Province - Western<br />
Province boundaries separate the Canadian Provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan, travel along the North<br />
Dakota-Montana-South Dakota borders, the South Dakota-Wyoming border, the Nebraska-Wyoming, Colorado-<br />
Kansas borders, the Oklahoma-New Mexico-Texas borders into Mexico.<br />
Shortly after the 28th General Convention, Executive Secretary Beals began conversations with students at<br />
South Dakota State University in Brookings, South Dakota, about the formation of a colony. In 1934, the<br />
consolidation of the South Dakota state engineering programs at Brookings had forced Beta Chapter to go inactive.<br />
Former Grand Vice President Schleck and Epsilon Active Chapter continued the contacts. On April 20, 1990,<br />
Grand President Reinert established the group as Phi Colony of Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity. SDSU rules require the<br />
colony to exist for one year prior to petition for charter as Phi Chapter of Sigma Phi Delta.<br />
The Supreme Council met in the Chicago-land area for its annual meeting on February 16 and 17, 1990. All<br />
members of the Supreme Council, except for the Executive Secretary, were present. This was the first-ever<br />
Supreme Council meeting he had missed. On February 13, 1990, he had had a pacemaker installed and was just<br />
leaving the hospital. Plans were made for a Joint Province Convention in Fall 1990. A joint meeting would permit<br />
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tutorials and information interchange unparalleled in separate conventions. However, insufficient interest was<br />
evidenced and the joint convention was cancelled.<br />
The Supreme Council increased the mileage allowance for Fraternity travel from a long held $0.17 per mile<br />
to $0.20 per mile. The Grand President was authorized to purchase a computer for that office.<br />
The Supreme Council met in the Chicago area for a March 1 and 2, 1991, meeting. The Council<br />
recommended that Dr. Richard Kenyon, the new President of Tri-State University, be initiated as an Honorary<br />
Member of the Fraternity at the 29th General Convention. Dr. Kenyon was elected an Honorary Member by the<br />
General Convention.<br />
At different times, the criticism has been heard that the Supreme Council is made up of "older" alumni and<br />
out of touch with the undergraduate viewpoint. None of the incumbent Province Councilors stood for re-election at<br />
the 1990 Province Conventions. All three new Province Councilors were initiated into the Fraternity in 1986,<br />
graduated in May or June of 1990, and assumed office as Councilors on January 1, 1991.<br />
Having fulfilled all of the requirements, the Colony at the South Dakota State University petitioned for<br />
Charter as Phi Chapter of the Fraternity. On May 4, 1991, Grand President William J. Reinert, Executive Secretary<br />
Robert J. Beals, Central Province Councilor Michael Fox and members of Epsilon Chapter formally installed Phi<br />
Chapter of Sigma Phi Delta in Brookings, South Dakota. Charter members included Marten H. Christensen, Chad<br />
D. Fletcher, Charles J. Hauck, Gary H. Kessler, William K. McGreevy, Jr., Gregory W. McLaughlin, John P. Meier,<br />
Jon A. Rokeh, Paul D. Scheier and Michael J. Teeman. Michael J. Teeman was Charter Chief Engineer and Chad<br />
Fletcher was Charter Chapter Secretary.<br />
The Twenty-Ninth General Convention of the Fraternity was held on August 29, 30 and 31, 1991, in Angola,<br />
Indiana, with Kappa Chapter as Host Chapter. The Fraternity was in probably the worst crisis in its history.<br />
Incumbent Grand President William J. Reinert declined nomination for a fourth term and there were no candidates<br />
for this office or that of Grand Vice President. The Grand President and the Executive Secretary set up a meeting<br />
with the Theta Tau Fraternity to once again consider a merger of the two fraternities. A special issue of the STAR<br />
was sent to all members pleading for support of the Fraternity.<br />
In response to the solicitation, there were three candidates for Grand President and three for Grand Vice<br />
President, two of whom were also candidates for Grand President. Paul A. Lindner, Delta alumnus, was elected to<br />
the office of Grand President for the biennium 1992 - 1993 and Keith Colombo, Pi alumnus, was elected to be<br />
Grand Vice President. Neither had held National or Province office prior to their election. David E. Vosecky,<br />
former Editor of the CASTLE, was elected to that office. However, David died of a massive heart attack on his<br />
forty-fourth birthday - September 17, 1995 - just two weeks after the close of the Convention.<br />
The Convention raised the non-itemized expenses for the Executive Secretary to $2,500 per year plus a $1.00<br />
annual salary. Similarly, the non-itemized expenses for the Circulation Manager of the CASTLE were raised to<br />
$1,000 per year plus a $1.00 annual salary. The Executive Secretary traded in a five-year old computer for a new<br />
modern one. The Sigma Phi Delta Housing Group, associated with Pi Active Chapter, reported that Pi Chapter was<br />
defaulting in payments and the housing group, as well as the Chapter, were in serious financial constraints.<br />
In 1976, the Fraternity had tried to establish a Little Sister Program. Several of the Chapters had informal<br />
organizations for this purpose. At this Convention, the Fraternity decided to drop all references to Little Sister status<br />
throughout the Fraternity.<br />
Executive Secretary Beals had been working on the establishment of the Sigma Phi Delta Foundation, a notfor-profit,<br />
501(c)(3), organization, which could accept gifts for educational purposes. Contributions, in the United<br />
States, to this Foundation are tax deductible. Elected as the first Board of Directors were William J. Reinert, Delta<br />
alumnus; Gary L. Ray, Kappa alumnus; and Robert J. Beals, Delta alumnus. The Charter for this Ohio-based<br />
corporation was granted on November 5, 1991. The Board of Directors was elected by the General Convention,<br />
with two-, four- and six-year terms for the above listed Directors. William J. Reinert was elected by the Board to be<br />
the first President of the Foundation, Gary L. Ray was elected Vice President and Robert J. Beals was elected<br />
Secretary-Treasurer.<br />
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A joint meeting of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity, represented by Grand President Paul A. Lindner, Past<br />
Grand President William J. Reinert, Past Grand President George Flanders, and Executive Secretary Robert J. Beals ,<br />
and the Theta Tau Fraternity, represented by Grand Regent Dean W. Bettinger, former Grand Regent Randall J.<br />
Scheetz, Student Member of the Executive Council Michael T. Abraham, and Executive Director Robert E. Pope,<br />
was held at the Theta Tau Fraternity National Office in St. Louis, Missouri, on January 11, 1992. The purpose of<br />
the meeting was to explore the merger of the two engineering fraternities. Theta Tau had 28 undergraduate chapters,<br />
admitted women to those chapters desiring dual-gender status, and had a permanent National Office. There<br />
appeared to be a common interest in the merger until the matter of the name for the new organization was debated.<br />
Neither side was willing to compromise on the new name.<br />
The challenge to the new Supreme Council of Sigma Phi Delta was great after the termination of the<br />
negotiations. Either we make a go of the Fraternity or we might have to accept Theta Tau’s conditions to save our<br />
chapters. Plans were formulated for the first Joint Tutorial and Province Conventions, to be held in the Fall of 1992<br />
in Chicago, Illinois.<br />
To assist the new Supreme Council to hit the ground running, the normally late winter Supreme Council<br />
meeting was held on November 9, 1991. With the death of the elected Editor, the Grand President appointed an<br />
Editor of the CASTLE, Edward A. Hurst, Alpha alumnus. Several years ago, the unrelated business income from<br />
the Board of Trustees' investments was set aside for scholarships. Each chapter was eligible for a $500 scholarship.<br />
If a chapter failed to provide a nominee, that amount went to another chapter who then had two scholarships. Plans<br />
were formulated for the First Joint Tutorial and Province Conventions. Specific goals for the biennium were<br />
established, based on the Object of the Fraternity.<br />
A colony had been established earlier at the University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta. The colony had<br />
petitioned for Charter as Chi Chapter of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity but failed to maintain the required ten<br />
members up to formal installation. They continued their colony for a few more years. A representative had attended<br />
the 29th General Convention and the First Joint Province Conventions without official status. By 1997, the lack of<br />
support by the Dean of the College of Engineering, coupled with the death of one of the Colony members,<br />
contributed to a lack of will on the part of the colonists to create a chapter, and the effort there was shelved.<br />
The First Tutorial and Joint Province Convention was held in Elk Grove Village, Illinois, on September 4, 5<br />
and 6, 1992. Eight hours were devoted to tutorials on Fraternities and the Law, Financial Record Keeping, Rush,<br />
Pledge Program, Expansion, Housing Corporation Concerns, Electronic Bulletin Board. The Foundation held its<br />
first formal meeting after incorporation. Goals on Objectives for the Fraternity were expanded and formalized.<br />
National Dues for undergraduate members were raised from $80 to $90 per year. Eastern and Western Province<br />
dues were raised from $30 to $40 a year while the dues for the Central Province remained at $30 per year. Province<br />
Conventions met for several hours during the overall session.<br />
Continuing a long-standing practice, the Supreme Council held a winter meeting on February 19 and 20,<br />
1993, in Des Plaines, Illinois. Plans were formulated for the Thirtieth General Convention. Efforts were made to<br />
once again publish issues of the STAR.<br />
The Thirtieth General Convention was held in Los Angeles, California, on September 2, 3 and 4, 1993. Pi<br />
Chapter members had moved en masse from their Chapter houses in Daytona Beach, Florida, leaving the housing<br />
board with almost $130,000 in renovations with no chapter to support them. A summons was issued for the Chapter<br />
to appear at a hearing during the 30th General Convention. After the hearing, the General Convention found the<br />
Chapter guilty on the charges of conduct prejudicial to good order, delinquency in accounts and violation of the<br />
Oath of Initiation. The Chapter was officially reprimanded, as provided for in the Statutory Code. They were<br />
instructed to provide 200 man-hours of labor to repair the trashing of the chapter houses. Failure to comply could<br />
result in a change of penalty to suspension.<br />
Of considerable concern to the Delegates was the subject of a dual-gender organization. To remain strictly<br />
professional would require opening our membership to women engineers. The consensus was that we should be a<br />
social fraternity of engineers, which would permit us to retain our single-gender membership.<br />
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Tutorials were held during this Convention on Rush, Pledging and Membership, Chapter Operations,<br />
Budgeting and Financial operations, Alumni Relations, Housing and Risk Reduction. The consensus was that we<br />
had packed too much in too little time. Grand President Paul Lindner was elected to a second term in that Office.<br />
The Convention was unable to elect a Grand Vice President or Editor of the CASTLE. Both officers were appointed<br />
later by the Grand President. Former Central Province Councilor and Grand Vice President Dennis E. Kroll,<br />
returned as Grand Vice President. Executive Secretary Beals was reappointed to an eleventh two-year term of<br />
office, thereby equaling his twenty-two years as Grand President.<br />
The Supreme Council met on February 18 and 19, 1994, in Des Plaines, Illinois. Fraternity Goals and<br />
Objectives were reviewed. Plans were formulated for the Second Tutorial and Joint Province Convention. They<br />
were revised to more closely parallel the Object of the Fraternity.<br />
The Second Tutorial and Joint Province Convention was held in Rosemont, Illinois, on September 2, 3 and 4,<br />
1994. Pi Chapter failed to respond to the reprimand and the call for service to the chapter, as directed by the<br />
Thirtieth General Convention. The Supreme Council called for the revocation of the Pi Active Chapter Charter<br />
unless the members responded by October 1, 1994. There was no response from the members of Pi Chapter and its<br />
Charter was revoked on October 1, 1994.<br />
The subjects for this second tutorial included Budgeting, Pledging, National Office Concerns, Financial<br />
Record Keeping, Expansion, Rush, Alumni Chapter Concerns, Risk Reduction and Active Chapter Management.<br />
Incumbent Province Councilors were returned to office. As usual, it was not possible to find candidates to serve as<br />
Province Secretaries. National Officer recruitment was a continued concern.<br />
A Pledge Fee of $10.00 was established. For this fee, the individual Pledge receives a copy, of the Pledge<br />
Manual, Manual of Procedure, Constitution and Statutory Code and Code of Ethics. The fee is submitted at the time<br />
of notification of pledging by the Chapter.<br />
The long-delayed meeting of the Supreme Council was held on April 21 and 22, 1995, in Arlington Heights,<br />
Illinois. The major emphasis of this meeting was National Officer recruitment. The Eastern and Central Province<br />
Councilors resigned on this date. Replacements were not found until the Thirty-First General Convention. An<br />
individual letter was sent to each alumnus; a special issue of the STAR was distributed. Once again, the Fraternity<br />
lacked candidates going into a General Convention. It was the consensus that the Delegates had been worked quite<br />
hard at the two Tutorials and the intervening General Convention. A more liberal schedule, including a plant trip<br />
and some social functions, were scheduled for the Thirty-First General Convention.<br />
Responses from the chapters towards the Fraternity Scholarship were lagging. To promote interest, the<br />
Contest was changed. Where, previously, the contest was based solely on grade point average, fraternal<br />
involvement and civic and university involvement, the new Scholarship was based on a white paper plus the abovelisted<br />
items. The first topic assigned was "The Role of Social Engineering Fraternities in the Next Decade". The<br />
$500 stipend was raised to a $1000 stipend, with $200 of the award going to the undergraduate chapter. Two such<br />
scholarships were to be awarded Fraternity-wide.<br />
As a result of the extensive search for candidates, there were candidates for all National Offices when the<br />
Thirty-First General Convention met in Fargo, North Dakota, on August 31, September 1 and 2, 1995. Alpha<br />
Omega Epsilon Sorority is a four-chapter sorority, founded in 1988, with chapters at Marquette University,<br />
University of North Carolina at Raleigh, South Dakota School of Mines and Milwaukee School of Engineering.<br />
Julie Heinrich, their National Executive Board President, attended the 31st General Convention. It is the intent of<br />
both engineering organizations to work together an expansion. A Memorandum of Understanding was drawn up<br />
between the two organizations.<br />
Tutorials were held on Rush, Pledging, National Officer Recruitment and Expansion. The agenda was more<br />
relaxed than at previous conventions. One session was dedicated to professional development through two plant<br />
tours. Another session was set aside for a paint ball "war" among the delegates.<br />
Since the reorganization of the Fraternity after World War II, in 1948, one Epsilon alumnus and two Rho<br />
alumni each held two-year terms as Grand President. During the remaining forty-two years, the Grand President<br />
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was a Delta alumnus. This Convention elected Scott Everett, an Epsilon alumnus, to lead the Fraternity during the<br />
following biennium. Former Grand President Paul A. Lindner accepted the office of Grand Vice President to<br />
concentrate on expansion of the Fraternity. Executive Secretary Beals accepted appointment to a twelfth<br />
consecutive term in that office.<br />
Following the precedent of four years earlier, the Supreme Council met on November 17 & 18, 1995, in Des<br />
Plaines, Illinois, to permit the new Council to have its plans in motion by January 1, 1996. In addition to reviewing<br />
the goals for the biennium, the Supreme Council established the new national offices of Deputy Province Councilor<br />
for Expansion, to assist the Grand Vice-President in expansion at the Province level. Upon reviewing the duties of<br />
all National Officers and noting the added duties of Circulation Manager as maintainer of the Fraternity’s newly<br />
established World Wide Web site and on-line directory system, the Supreme Council voted to increase the nonitemized<br />
expenses for the Circulation Manager to $1,500 per year.<br />
The growth of the Internet in the 1990’s spawned dramatic improvements in communications at all levels<br />
within the Fraternity. By 1995, over half the National Officers and active Chapters had their own e-mail addresses<br />
and use of this medium was increasing rapidly. Sigma Phi Delta’s World Wide Web site offered general<br />
information about the Fraternity to the world, and offered members a searchable, up-to-date online directory of<br />
home addresses, e-mail addresses and “home pages” of Sigma Phi Delta Brothers. The Web site and online<br />
directory system had its origins as an electronic bulletin board system, developed in 1992 by then Editor of the<br />
CASTLE, Edward A. Hurst.<br />
1996 - 2001<br />
By 1996, there were several other indications of the major improvements in communications and<br />
participation at the National level. One was the coordinating of monthly Supreme Council conference calls by<br />
Grand President Scott Everett. Another indicator was the convening of an unprecedented second Supreme Council<br />
meeting this winter in the Chicago area, to plan and budget the Third Joint Province Convention. 100% of the<br />
Supreme Council was in attendance at both meetings. And thirdly, was the long-awaited publication of the first<br />
CASTLE in over two years.<br />
At its meeting in Elk Grove Village on March 30, 1996, the Supreme Council voted to transfer $2,000 in<br />
funds from the General and Convention Funds to the Expansion Fund, to aid in the expansion campaign headed by<br />
Grand Vice-President Paul A. Lindner.<br />
The Third Joint Province Convention was held on August 30, 31 and September 1, 1996, in Champaign-<br />
Urbana, Illinois with Delta Chapter as Host chapter. This was the first Joint Province Convention to have a chapter<br />
as host. Tutorial topics included Rush, Budgeting and Finances, Sigma Phi Delta Values, Chapter Operations,<br />
Expansion, and Communications. Events accompanying the Convention included a campus tour, a demonstration of<br />
the Virtual Reality Cave in the Beckman Institute Building, a cookout at Delta Chapter, the formal initiation of five<br />
new Delta Chapter members, and a formal dinner.<br />
Of concern to the Fraternity was the fact that Rho chapter, which had re-activated in 1986, was not<br />
represented at the last two Conventions. No one was living in Rho’s chapter house, which had been condemned by<br />
the City of Peoria, and the Central Illinois Alumni chapter decided not to invest in restoring the house. The<br />
members of Rho chapter failed to return to the house in the Fall of 1996, and the chapter was decidedly rendered<br />
inactive at that time.<br />
A Supreme Council Meeting was held in Elk Grove Village, Illinois, on February 22, 1997. At this meeting,<br />
Grand President Everett reviewed the progress made towards meeting the Fraternity’s goals set last year. Motions<br />
included increasing the number of awarded undergraduate scholarships to three, $1000 “Undergraduate<br />
Achievement Awards”, with $250 going to the recipient’s chapter. To improve the effectiveness of chapter<br />
visitations by National Officers, it was requested that the visiting officer submit a chapter visitation report to the<br />
Supreme Council before any travel expenses will be paid. A motion was passed to vacate the office of Editor of the<br />
Castle. Editor Joseph Welinski, who was too busy to carry out his duties and only able to produce one issue of the<br />
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CASTLE in his 14 months holding that office, effectively resigned. A draft copy of a new Expansion and Rush<br />
brochure, which was developed by Deputy Province Councilor for Expansion, Tom Walker, was distributed to the<br />
Supreme Council for comment. The Council felt that 100 gratis copies should be distributed to the undergraduate<br />
chapters, and that additional copies can be sold as needed.<br />
A historic Thirty Second General Convention of Sigma Phi Delta was held on August 28-30, 1997, in<br />
Brookings, South Dakota, with Phi Chapter as host. Executive Secretary Beals had a new pacemaker installed the<br />
day before the Convention and could not attend. This was the first Convention missed by Brother Beals in forty-six<br />
years. Following his absence from Convention, “Grand Old Man” Robert J. Beals announced that he would be<br />
retiring from the office of Executive Secretary after this term and asked Grand President Lindner to appoint his<br />
successor. The brotherhood was re-awakened to the significance of his role as Executive Secretary of the Fraternity.<br />
At the Supreme Council meetings, paralleling the General Convention, there was much discussion of the duties of<br />
the office of Executive Secretary as well as the roles and responsibilities of the Grand President, Editor of the Castle<br />
and Circulation Manager. One outcome of this assessment was the renaming of the office of Editor of the Castle to<br />
Communications Director and the creation of the separate appointed office of Information Systems Manager. The<br />
Communications Director would take on all duties related to publishing, marketing, and maintaining a consistent<br />
image for the Fraternity. The Information Systems Manager, reporting to the Communications Director, would be<br />
responsible for the Fraternity’s image in electronic form, including its World Wide Web site and e-mail identities.<br />
To that effect, changes to the Constitution and Statutory Code were drafted and approved by mail vote of General<br />
Convention. It was also the consensus that some of the duties of the Executive Secretary could be appointed to new<br />
assistant positions or assigned to other existing National Officers.<br />
During the business sessions of the Convention, open discussion was held on the topics of Goal Setting, Risk<br />
Reduction and Alcohol Policy, and whether Sigma Phi Delta should become a dual-gender Fraternity. On the latter<br />
topic, one group suggested that a “separate but equal” organization is needed, whereby the Fraternity would have<br />
both all-male and/or all-female Chapters at any given university, but that co-ed houses would not work. The overall<br />
consensus though was, once again, that the Fraternity should try and succeed as a single-gender Fraternity. A<br />
convention proposal to change the title and responsibilities of the Editor of the Castle to Communications Director<br />
(CD) was passed unamiosly by mail ballot. The CD not only is responsible for the publishing of the Castle, but also<br />
he will supervise the Circulation and Web Managers.<br />
In other business, the General Convention approved for Honorary membership, Steven Foor, the father of<br />
Kappa Chapter active Mason Michael Foor, who died in the Spring at age 19. Active chapter National dues were<br />
increased by $10 to $110 per annum, and 5% of these dues are now to go into an Expansion Fund, with the General<br />
Fund apportionment changing to 33%. Delta Alumnus Burt A. Wagner III, was elected to immediately fill the<br />
vacant office of Editor of the Castle, and assume the added responsibilities of the new Communications Director<br />
office for the 1998-1999 biennium. Eric P. Messerschmidt resigned as Eastern Province Councilor to devote his<br />
efforts to a special Sigma Phi Delta expansion/marketing project, and strongly recommended Kappa Alumnus<br />
Michael L. Votaw to be his replacement. Brother Votaw was unanimously voted into the position. The General<br />
Convention also elected as Board of Trustees member, Delta Alumnus William J. Trader. Unfortunately, Brother<br />
Trader passed away in the following year, before his term as Trustee was to have started. Robert J. Beals was<br />
elected to a second and final term of the Sigma Phi Delta Foundation Board of Directors.<br />
A Supreme Council meeting was held in the Chicago area on November 8, 1997 to plan for the biennium<br />
1998-1999. The Supreme Council met again on March 7-8 1998 in Vancouver, BC for further biennium planning<br />
and for establishing the details for the Fourth Joint Province Convention. Theta Chapter hosted the Fourth Joint<br />
Province Convention and Tutorial, July 30 - August 1, 1998. Events included a barbecue at the Theta house, a plant<br />
tour of CREO products, initiation of an honorary member, Richard Hancock, a visit to a salmon hatchery, and a<br />
banquet at the botanical gardens.<br />
A new toll-free number was established, 1-877 SIG PHIS (877-744-7447) which is directed to the Executive<br />
Secretary’s office. A Chat Room page was opened on the Internet Relay Chat (IRC), allowing brothers and officers<br />
to chat about any topic. This capability allowed for monthly online Supreme Council meetings. The Fraternity's<br />
financial books and jewelry inventory were automated using Quickbooks 6.0.<br />
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On December 12, 1998 a colony was established at the University of Delaware. Under the leadership of<br />
Brother Keith Hileman and Kappa Chapter actives, visits were made to the University of Cincinnati where a number<br />
of engineering students expressed interest in joining Sigma Phi Delta.<br />
In order to reduce the amount of paper work and cost of printing, Fraternity forms, Meeting Minutes, and<br />
Constitution and Statutory Code were posted to the World Wide Web site. These documents will no longer be<br />
supplied in printed form but should be downloaded and printed at the local level.<br />
On the 75 th Anniversary of the Fraternity's founding, two chapters were installed, the first, Chi Chapter at the<br />
University of Cincinnati on April 10, 1999 and the second was Psi Chapter at the University of Delaware. The<br />
charter members of Chi Chapter were: Jeffrey S. Ackerman, Joshua E. Bare, Keith E. Daegele, Shaun M. Limber,<br />
Brandon A. Lynne, Andrew E. Pierson, Dale W. Schaefer, Michael J. Starr, Rob C. Sweet, Adam W. Swejk, Robert<br />
Charles Thomas, and Charter Chief Engineer Zachary Khang D. Vuong. The charter members of Psi Chapter were:<br />
Gregory A. Aluise, Michael D. Day II, Eric A. Fine, Charter Chief Engineer Leonard J. French Jr., Donald J.<br />
Hancock, Aaron S. Knipe, Jeffrey J. Robinson, Brian K. Scramlin, William E. Sedutto, John W. Soisson, Matthew<br />
S. Underhill, Mike P. Vansant, and Erich C. Weigert .<br />
Also in the Spring of 1999, Grand Vice President Scott Everett resigned his position to be succeeded by<br />
Brother Keith Hileman. Brother Adam Lynch was appointed to the newly created position of Director for<br />
International Expansion. Brother Jimmy Jones of Delta Chapter was awared the $3000 eight-month internship to<br />
provide assistance to the National Office.<br />
Sigma Phi Delta's Silver Anniversary was celebrated in style at the 34 th General Convention, hosted by Alpha<br />
Chapter. It was held at the Regal Biltmore hotel in Los Angeles, California, on July 15-17, 1999. The professional<br />
program included a visit NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena. The Supreme Council made a monetary<br />
award to Kappa Chapter for its extraordinary efforts in bringing Psi Chapter to reality. The Fraternity expressed its<br />
appreciation to Brother Robert J. Beals, for attending the Convention to receive the Fraternity's Professional<br />
Achievement Award, and for his dedication to the Fraternity during nearly 50 of its 75-year history and his<br />
continued service on the Sigma Phi Delta Foundation Board of Directors. The General Convention heard an address<br />
by Alpha Omega Epsilon’s National Executive Board Vice President, on joint efforts to expand the two<br />
organizations. The General Convention directed a committee to approach Phi Beta Epsilon engineering Fraternity<br />
(in the Philippines) to seek an agreement on their joining Sigma Phi Delta. The Supreme Council decided to break<br />
up the duties of the office of the Executive Secretary. Brother Hurst was appointed to the new position of Treasurer,<br />
responsible for the Fraternity’s finances, and Brother Derek Troy was appointed to the position of Executive<br />
Secretary, responsible for administrative duties, minutes, and forms. A third position was Merchandising Chair, to<br />
be responsible for all merchandise and jewelry orders of the Fraternity, and Brother Hurst was appointed to that<br />
position on an interim basis. A fourth position, Information Systems Manager, was also being filled on an interim<br />
basis by Brother Hurst.<br />
Later in 1999, an effort to establish a Chapter at Rutgers University for both Sigma Phi Delta and Alpha<br />
Omega Epsilon had slowed. However, it was noted that AOE's expansion efforts were more successful recently<br />
than Sigma Phi Delta's.<br />
Brother Mike Golden of Delta Chapter was awarded a $3000 internship to be served through June 2000.<br />
Starting February 1, 2000, two additional internships were awarded to Tom Mercer (Epsilon) and Alix Minden<br />
(Kappa). Brothers Mercer and Minden assisted the National Office through October 1, 2000.<br />
On April 5, 2000 the Supreme Council voted unanimously to recognize a Colony at Rutgers University, New<br />
Brunswick, NJ. Omega Chapter was then chartered on May 13, 2000. This historic day accomplished the<br />
milestone of completing all single Greek Letter chapter designations for Sigma Phi Delta. The charter members of<br />
Omega Chapter were : Jonah Charles Blake, Golam M. Bokhtier, Jeffery K. Chang, Endrit Gjona, William S. Irvine<br />
Jr., Jeremy Nacer, Ankoor Naik, Michael J. Torntore, Charter Chief Engineer Steven A. Weiss, and Jonathan<br />
Werner.<br />
The Fifth Joint Province Convention was held between June 29 and July 2, 2000, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin,<br />
with Eta Chapter hosting. Key pieces of business emanating from the Convention were: (1) that Delta Chapter<br />
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would be realigned to the Central Province; (2) the Petition of the Colony at Rutgers to become Omega Chapter was<br />
accepted unanimously; and (3) the National Director position, that would sweep together the offices of Executive<br />
Secretary and Circulation Manager, was approved. In addition Grand President Lindner reported a strengthening of<br />
the partnership with AOE. However, this has helped AOE the most; SPD helped them start at least four chapters at<br />
schools in the US and Canada. Grand President Lindner also reported that the Fraternity had an incident where an<br />
active chapter did not follow the Risk Reduction Policy. The chapter and individual members found themselves with<br />
serious challenges from the university and local law enforcement. He reminded all that Sigma Phi Delta set up the<br />
Risk Reduction policies to educate the members of the risks they face and give them a framework to minimize their<br />
liability. The professional program was a tour of both Harley Davidson Engine plant and Miller Brewing Company.<br />
In order to reduce damage when items are “stolen” by a visiting Chapter, the Supreme Council directed that<br />
each chapter build a Rip-off Trophy that would be the only item that allowed to be taken from chapters by a visiting<br />
chapter. The trophy shall be obvious and shall be able to be taken without damage. As partial repayment for<br />
damage caused to the Delta house, Kappa Chapter was directed to construct a Master Rip Off Trophy.<br />
At its Chicago area meeting of April 6-8, 2001, the Supreme Council interviewed several qualified candidates<br />
for the newly created Executive Director position, and on June 1, 2001 Brother Robert R. Featheringham, an<br />
alumnus of Lambda Chapter, inaugurated the position of Executive Director of Sigma Phi Delta. This is the<br />
Fraternity’s first full-time paid position to handle the fraternity affairs. This position was set up for a two year trial<br />
period, after which the Executive Director's effectiveness will be evaluated and a decision about the future of the<br />
position will be made at that time.<br />
The 34 th General Convention was hosted by Kappa Chapter at Tri-State University in Angola, Indiana, on<br />
July 19-21, 2001. Attending this convention were a group of representatives from the Sigma Phi Delta Colony at<br />
Virginia Commonwealth University, as well as three representatives from Zeta Phi Sigma, an engineering sorority at<br />
VCU. At this convention a Chapter health system was instituted to provide a consistent basis to determine how well<br />
chapters are meeting the ideals of Sigma Phi Delta. The professional event was a tour of the Cooper-Standard plan<br />
in Auburn, Indiana. Tutorials were presented on Risk Reduction, Chapter Financial Management, Rush and<br />
Recruiting, and the Fraternity’s initiative, Engineers United, seeking to work together with Women in Engineering<br />
organizations for the benefit of the Engineering profession. The General Convention voted: 1) to assist the<br />
formation of Zeta Phi Sigma at VCU; 2) to initiate a general fundraising initiative of all members. Elected to<br />
succeed Paul Lindner as Grand President, was Derek R. Troy, the first Alpha Chapter alumnus to serve as Grand<br />
President since founding member Gilbert H. Dunstan.<br />
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<strong>PLEDGE</strong> LESSONS<br />
To assist the Pledge Trainer in the proper training of the future members of Sigma Phi Delta, it is<br />
recommended that the study of the Pledge Manual be divided into twelve lessons. The following questions may be<br />
used as a guide in preparing the presentation of the material or the examination.<br />
Lesson One<br />
Our Fraternity<br />
1. Give the Object of the Fraternity (verbatim).<br />
Code of Ethics<br />
1. Of what significance is our Code of Ethics?<br />
2. On what is the Code of Ethics founded?<br />
3. Do you know of other organizations with a Code of Ethics?<br />
What is a Fraternity?<br />
1. What benefits can be derived from fraternity membership?<br />
2. What is a fraternity?<br />
Status of a Pledge<br />
1. What is a pledge?<br />
2. What may a pledge expect from the active members of the Chapter?<br />
3. What should the Chapter be able to expect from a pledge?<br />
4. What are the requirements to be a pledge in the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity?<br />
5. What is meant by the term "hazing"?<br />
Lesson Two<br />
Responsibilities of Membership<br />
1. What responsibilities does an undergraduate member have toward the Fraternity?<br />
2. What responsibilities does an alumnus have toward the Fraternity?<br />
3. Who is responsible for the expansion effort of the Fraternity?<br />
4. Is it "fraternal" to insist that a member or pledge meet his financial commitments? His fraternity<br />
commitments?<br />
The Development of Fraternities<br />
1. Why did fraternities develop?<br />
2. Name the oldest college fraternity and state where and when it was founded.<br />
3. Name the oldest existing fraternity and state where and when it was founded.<br />
4. When did schools and faculties realize the value of the fraternity system?<br />
5. Where was the first fraternity house established? When?<br />
6. What are the classes of fraternities that exist today?<br />
7. What does each of the classes of fraternities offer its members?<br />
8. To what interfraternity conference does Sigma Phi Delta belong?<br />
Lesson Three<br />
The Greek Alphabet<br />
1. Be able to write the Greek alphabet, both upper and lower case.<br />
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Parliamentary Procedure<br />
1. List, in order, the items for the General order of Business in Most organizations.<br />
2. Who is responsible for preserving order in a meeting?<br />
3. What are Minutes of a meeting?<br />
4. What is meant by having the floor?<br />
5. What is the significance of accepting a report? Of receiving a report? Of adopting a provision?<br />
6. Who is entitled to vote in most meetings?<br />
7. What is a quorum? What constitute a quorum in your undergraduate Chapter?<br />
8. What methods of voting are available? What are the advantages of each? When may the Chair vote?<br />
9. What is meant by a Question of Privilege? Identify them and explain when they may be used. What are<br />
Robert’s Rules of Order?<br />
Lesson Four<br />
Active Chapters of Sigma Phi Delta<br />
1. List the present active Chapters of Sigma Phi Delta and their locations.<br />
2. In what Province is each of the active chapters located?<br />
3. What chapters are inactive and where were they located?<br />
4. What chapters have been inactive and returned to full active status?<br />
5. Who was the Charter Chief Engineer and Chapter Secretary of your active chapter?<br />
Alumni Chapters of Sigma Phi Delta<br />
1. Identify the alumni chapters associated with an active chapter, naming each.<br />
2. Why are some alumni chapters given Greek names and others geographical identifications?<br />
3. What are the principal functions of alumni chapters?<br />
Lesson Five<br />
Blazon and Coat of Arms<br />
1. Sketch the Fraternity Coat of Arms.<br />
2. Describe the various features present on the Coat of Arms.<br />
3. When was this Coat of Arms adopted by the Fraternity?<br />
4. How does this present Coat of Arms differ from its predecessor?<br />
Insignia of Sigma Phi Delta<br />
1. Identify all of the insignia of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity.<br />
2. What is the symbol of the Fraternity?<br />
3. What is the flower of the Fraternity?<br />
4. What is the motto of the Fraternity? When was it adopted?<br />
5. What insignia are presented to the member upon initiation?<br />
6. Sketch the pledge button and the active badge, with labels indicating the colors used on each portion.<br />
7. Describe the pledge button.<br />
8. Describe the active badge. What is the significance of the jewels?<br />
9. Sketch the design of the Fraternity flag.<br />
Lesson Six<br />
Fraternity Publications<br />
1. What is the difference between an exoteric and an esoteric publication?<br />
2. What are the publications of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity?<br />
3. Who is the editor of each publication?<br />
4. Name the staff of the CASTLE. How are they paid?<br />
5. Write the words of at least one Fraternity song.<br />
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Sigma Phi Delta Efficiency Contest<br />
1. What is the purpose of the Sigma Phi Delta Chapter Efficiency Contest?<br />
2. What Chapters have won permanent possession of trophies?<br />
3. How many times has your chapter won the Efficiency Contest?<br />
4. What chapter has won the Contest the most times since 1951?<br />
Risk Reduction Policy of Sigma Phi Delta<br />
1. What is the purpose of the Risk Reduction Policy?<br />
2. What criteria govern the use of alcohol or controlled substances?<br />
3. What is hazing and when is it permissible?<br />
4. What is an "open party"? When is it permissible?<br />
5. What is "Dry Rush"?<br />
Lesson Seven<br />
The National Organization of Sigma Phi Delta<br />
Legislative, Judicial and Executive Powers<br />
1. What is the membership of the General Convention of Sigma Phi Delta?<br />
2. When are regular sessions of the General Convention held?<br />
3. May special sessions be held? How? What is their authority?<br />
4. Who has floor privileges at a General Convention?<br />
5. Who are the Officers of the General Convention?<br />
6. What constitutes a quorum at a General Convention?<br />
7. What power does the Supreme Council have?<br />
8. Where is the supreme judicial power of the Fraternity? Was it always in this body?<br />
9. Name the members of the current Supreme Council (by office and by name).<br />
10. In whom are the executive powers of the Fraternity vested?<br />
11. What are the responsibilities of each member of the Supreme Council?<br />
12. What are the offenses cognizable by the Fraternity?<br />
13. What are the penalties if found guilty of an offense against the Fraternity?<br />
14. Who may try a member for an offense against the Fraternity?<br />
Lesson Eight<br />
The National Organization of Sigma Phi Delta<br />
Board of Trustees, Endowment Funds, Finances, Fraternity Laws, Provinces<br />
1. Who are the current members of the Sigma Phi Delta Board of Trustees? Are they elected or appointed?<br />
2. Do all members of the Board have the right to vote?<br />
3. What is the principle function of the Board of Trustees?<br />
4. What residence requirements, if any, are there for the Board of Trustees?<br />
5. What constitutes a quorum for a Board of Trustees' meeting?<br />
6. What funds do the Board of Trustees administer?<br />
7. For what purposes are these Funds collected and maintained?<br />
8. Who collects these Funds and how are they disbursed?<br />
9. From what sources are these Funds collected?<br />
10. In the order of importance, what are the Fraternity's Laws?<br />
11. Who is responsible for the interpretation of the Constitution and Statutory Code of the Fraternity?<br />
12. What are the Provinces of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity? What are their names and roughly what<br />
geography do they embrace?<br />
13. In what is the government of the Province vested?<br />
14. When are Province Conventions held?<br />
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15. What are the National Dues for an active member? For an alumni Member? Of an alumni chapter? What<br />
initiation fees does an undergraduate pay? An alumni member? A faculty member? An Honorary<br />
member?<br />
16. From where are the funds for the Province administration obtained?<br />
17. What Province dues does an undergraduate member pay? An alumni member? An Alumni Chapter? How<br />
does the calculation of Province Dues differ, if any, from the calculation of National Dues for an<br />
undergraduate member?<br />
Lesson Nine<br />
The National Organization of Sigma Phi Delta<br />
Active and Alumni Chapters, Membership, Pledgeship, Special Days<br />
1. What are the requirements for the establishment of an active chapter?<br />
2. What are the requirements for the establishment of an alumni chapter?<br />
3. What is an alumni association? How does it differ from an alumni chapter?<br />
4. Describe the composition of an active chapter.<br />
5. What are the classes of membership in the Fraternity? Who may propose each class for membership?<br />
6. What are the requirements concerning dual membership?<br />
7. What are the requirements for initiation into the Fraternity?<br />
8. What are the requirements for pledgeship in the Fraternity?<br />
9. What are the required officers of an active chapter?<br />
10. What chapter advisors does the active chapter have? Name the advisors of your chapter and their offices.<br />
11. What is each of the chapter advisor's functions?<br />
12. How are the advisors selected and installed?<br />
13. What is the significance of April 11 in the Fraternity?<br />
14. What sort of program is held on April 11? Who specifies the program?<br />
15. Why is CASTLE Day held? Who specifies the program?<br />
The Supreme Council of Sigma Phi Delta<br />
General Managers and Executive Secretaries<br />
Board of Trustees of Sigma Phi Delta<br />
Board of Directors of the Sigma Phi Delta Foundation<br />
Lesson Ten<br />
General Conventions and Province Conventions<br />
1. Who were the members of the first Supreme Council, what office did they hold and from what chapters<br />
were they?<br />
2. Who was the only man to be both Grand President and Chapter President at the same time?<br />
3. Who are the members of the current Supreme Council, what office do they hold and from what active<br />
chapter are they?<br />
4. Who was the first Editor of the CASTLE?<br />
5. Who was the first General Manager of the Fraternity? Who held this office for the longest period of time?<br />
6. Who was the first Executive Secretary of the Fraternity? Who held this office for the longest period of<br />
time?<br />
7. When was the Fraternity incorporated? Where? Why there?<br />
8. When did the Board of Trustees become a functioning body? Who are the current members of the Sigma<br />
Phi Delta Board of Trustees?<br />
9. Where and when was the first General Convention held?<br />
10. How many General Conventions have been held? Where will the next one be held?<br />
11. When was the first Province Convention held? Where? Who was the presiding officer?<br />
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12. Name all of the Grand Presidents of Sigma Phi Delta and give their undergraduate chapter.<br />
13. What man held the Office of Grand President for the longest period of time? Who was second in tenure?<br />
Who was elected to the Office on two separate occasions?<br />
14. Why was the Sigma Phi Delta Foundation established? When? Who are the current members of the Board<br />
of Directors of the Sigma Phi Delta Foundation?<br />
Lesson Eleven<br />
A History of Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity<br />
1. Where and when was Sigma Phi Delta founded?<br />
2. Who was the first president of Sigma Phi Delta?<br />
3. When was the first formal initiation held?<br />
4. Who designed the badge of Sigma Phi Delta?<br />
5. Why was Sigma Phi Delta organized?<br />
6. What were some of the problems encountered by the founders?<br />
7. Name the two men who held the title "Grand Old Man of Sigma Phi Delta".<br />
8. Name the Honorary Members of Sigma Phi Delta.<br />
9. Who held office for the Most terms as Grand President?<br />
Lesson Twelve<br />
Active and Alumni Chapter officers<br />
1. List the principal officers of your chapter, both by name and by position.<br />
2. Who are the officers of the alumni chapter associated with your undergraduate chapter (if any)?<br />
3. Who is your Chapter Councilor? What are his duties?<br />
4. Who is your Alumnus Adviser? What are his duties?<br />
5. Who is your Faculty Advisor? What are his duties?<br />
6. What are the names of the members of your pledge class?<br />
7. Name the hometowns of the members of your pledge class.<br />
8. Name the engineering majors of the members of your pledge class.<br />
9. When was your undergraduate chapter founded? Who were its officers?<br />
The Undergraduate Chapter shall add such other questions as it may wish pertaining to the History of the<br />
Individual Chapter, the House and Pledge Rules of the Chapter, or the History and Traditions of the campus where<br />
the Chapter is located.<br />
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