34th
General Convention
Sigma Phi
Delta Fraternity
Tri-State
University, Angola, Indiana
July 19-21,
2001
Kappa Chapter Hosts
Minutes of 1st
Session
July 19, 2001
1. CALL TO ORDER
The First Business Session of the Thirty-Fourth General Convention of the Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity was Called to Order at 1:15 p.m. on Thursday, July 19, 2001 at Tri-State University, Angola, Indiana, by Grand President Paul A. LINDNER.
2. PRECONVENTION
INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS
GP LINDNER recognized the guests in attendance. They were: Three representatives from the Colony at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), Richmond, Virginia; and three representatives from a local engineering sorority Zeta Phi Sigma, being established at VCU.
The guests were excused.
3. OPEN IN FORM
GP LINDNER appointed Temporary Officers of the General Convention, and the meeting was opened in FORM.
4. ADMINISTRATIVE
COMMENTS AND INTRODUCTIONS
After the guests returned, GP LINDNER made several administrative comments. These included: review of agenda, fluidness of the Convention events schedule, transportation arrangements, and the procedure for submitting motions.
GP LINDNER reviewed the rules for delegate voting, stating
that only official delegates of active and alumni chapters and Supreme Council
members are permitted to vote. Chapters
whose dues are in arrears are precluded from voting, until dues are current.
The Chair asked each member present to introduce himself, tell his function at the Convention and his background. Those present are listed on the Attendance List, Exhbit 1 in the Appendix.
GP LINDNER explained that the Fraternity is attempting to establish a merchandise program via a new on-line store. Toward that end he requested that attendee write down a list of fraternity-branded items they would like to see made available. He further stated that the Fraternity would attempt to get these items at a discount. The listing is provided as Exhibit 2 in the Appendix.
5. ELECTION OF CONVENTION
OFFICERS AND APPOINTMENT OF CONVENTION COMMITTEES
Executive Director (ED) FEATHERINGHAM moved, and Brother Edmund GIN seconded, that the Temporary Officers appointed by the Chair be the Permanent Officers of the 34th General Convention and that the Committee Assignments made by the Chair, as read, be approved. The Temporary Officers are:
Chairman Grand President (GP) Paul LINDNER
Vice Chairman Grand Vice President (GVP) Keith HILEMAN
Secretary Executive Director (ED) Robert FEATHERINGHAM
Chaplain Theta Chapter member Adam NIIRANEN
Guide Eta Chapter member Paul WESTRUP
Historian Communications Director (CD) Burt WAGNER
Parliamentarian Communications Director Burt WAGNER
Procedures Committee: ED FEATHERINGHAM (chairman), Eastern Province Councillor (EPC) Mike VOTAW (member)
Nominating Committee: EPC VOTAW (chairman), Central Province Councillor (CPC) Mike STELZNER, and Western Province Councillor (WPC) Kevin OLDKNOW (Members)
THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. The above-named are Permanent Officers of the Convention and Convention Committees.
ED FEATHERINGHAM reported that a quorum of delegates was present: seven (7) members of the Supreme Council; Delegates from nine (9) active chapters; and Delegates from four (4) alumni chapters. Delta Chapter was found to be Not in Good Standing for being arrears in dues and therefore unable to vote.
6. CONVENTION
SCHEDULE AND ORDER OF BUSINESS
GP LINDNER announced that technical problems with the video equipment required deviating from the published Schedule and order of Business. The baseline schedule is provided as Exhibit 3 in the Appendix.
7. DISCUSSION ON
CHAPTER REPORTS
(Editor’s Note: The
Chapter and Officers reports are currently contained in a single Portable
Document File [.pdf] file. It is the
intent at some later date to index these reports to allow them to be
individually accessed. In anticipation, the reports carry unique Exhibit
Numbers.)
A. Alpha Active: This report is Exhibit 4 in the Appendix. Brother Andrew SCHOMBS reviewed the highlights of the Chapter's report.
B. Los Angeles Alumni: This report is Exhibit 13 in the Appendix. Brother Adam LYNCH reviewed the highlights.
C. Delta Active: This report is Exhibit 5 in the Appendix. Brother Ian SANTARINELLA reviewed the highlights of the Chapter's report.
D. Delta Alumni: This report is Exhibit 14 in the Appendix. Brother Joshua DYER reviewed the highlights of the Chapter's report.
E. Epsilon Active: This report is Exhibit 6 in the Appendix. Brother Matthew ROBINSON reviewed the highlights of the Chapter's report.
F. Fargo Alumni: This report is Exhibit 16 in the Appendix. Delegate was not present.
G. Eta Active: This report is Exhibit 7 in the Appendix. Brother Dan HUBER reviewed the highlights of the Chapter's report.
H. Theta Active: This report is Exhibit 8 in the Appendix. Brother Adam NIIRANEN reviewed the highlights of the Chapter's report.
I. Vancouver Alumni: This report is Exhibit 15 in the Appendix. Brother Ed GIN reviewed the highlights of the Chapter's report.
J. Kappa Active: This report is Exhibit 9 in the Appendix. Brother Aaron MEEK reviewed the highlights of the Chapter's report.
K. Kappa Alumni: This report is Exhibit 17 in the Appendix. Brother Andrew HOSHOCK reviewed the highlights of the Chapter's report.
L. Phi Active: This report is Exhibit 10 in the Appendix. Brother Bergervoet reviewed the highlights of the Chapter's report.
M. Chi Active: No report submitted; no delegate attended
N. Psi Active: This report is Exhibit 11 in the Appendix. Brother Knipe
reviewed the highlights of the Chapter's report
O. Omega Active: This report is Exhibit 12 in the Appendix. Brother Jonah BLAKE reviewed the highlights of the Chapter's report.
P. Iota Alumni: This chapter is current in National and Province dues, however no report was submitted. Delegate was not present.
8. OFFICER REPORTS
In order to conserve time Officer report highlights were not given; the Chair noted that the reports were in the record, and he opened the floor for any questions of the officers. There were none.
A. Grand President: This report is Exhibit 18 in the Appendix.
B. Grand Vice President: This report is Exhibit 19 in the Appendix.
C. Executive Secretary: This report is Exhibit 20 in the Appendix.
D. Communications Director: This report is Exhibit 21 in the Appendix.
E. Western Province Councilor: This report is Exhibit 22 in the Appendix.
F. Central Province Councilor: This report is Exhibit 23 in the Appendix.
F. Eastern Province Councilor: This report is Exhibit 24 in the Appendix.
G. Treasurer. This report is Exhibit 25 in the Appendix.
Break at 2:19
Reconvene at 2:40
9. CHAPTER HEALTH
PRESENTATION
ED FEATHERINGHAM provided a briefing on Measuring Chapter Health developed by former Executive Secretary Derek TROY. The briefing is Exhibit 25 in the Appendix. The purpose of the briefing is to put forward for review by the General Convention an approach to measure and report chapter health, similar to what is used in business. The intent would be to adopt this in the 2001 year as a formal fraternity policy, probably located on the protected portion of the web site.
10. BREAKOUT SESSION
The active chapters broke out into work groups by Province (the Colony at VCU worked with the Eastern Province, and the Zeta Phi Sigma women worked with the Western). The purpose of the work groups was to make a mock assessment, of their Chapters, applying their knowledge about Chapter operations against the factors and measuring performance against the criteria of the Chapter Health Briefing.
At the completion of the break out session, GP LINDNER reiterated that the intent, when fully implemented, is to provide a benchmark to tell Chapters themselves how they are doing against a set of common factors. Furthermore, he stated that the ratings would allow the alumni understand how the chapter is doing so that they can provide assistance when and if needed, and it will allow the National Officers apply its scarce resources in a targeted way to a situation in need of help.
The results of the mock assessment were as follows:
|
Eastern |
Kappa |
Omega |
Psi |
VCU Colony |
|
Assessment |
Green |
Yellow |
Red |
Yellow |
|
Central |
Delta |
Eta |
Epsilon |
Phi |
|
Assessment |
Red |
Yellow |
Yellow |
Yellow |
|
Western |
Alpha |
Theta |
ZPS |
|
|
Assessment |
Yellow |
Yellow |
Green |
|
The chapters provided feedback about the evaluation, which will be used in the next iteration to perfect it for actual use in measuring chapters’ health.
11. GRAND PRESIDENT’S
FUTURE OF THE FRATERNITY ASSESSMENT
The Grand President laid out a nine-point strategy to reach the greatness we portend. The transcript is Exhibit 27 in the Appendix.
He then asked each attendee to submit names of good people who can serve in National Offices or help run National Programs, or be a Chapter Councillor. This is intended to be the initial cut of a listing of Fraternity members with high potential to serve as officers and project chairmen. When completed this will be known as the HI POT List. Those nominated for the HI POT List is Exhibit 28 in the Appendix.
There being no further business the Convention recessed at 5:00 PM, until Friday.
12. BROTHERHOOD
SESSION
That night there was a pig roast at the Kappa Chapter house where brothers and guests enjoyed an evening of merriment..
Thirty-Fourth General Convention
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