Toucan
07-07-2008, 12:53 PM
By Jim DiVita (Zeta-Mu, Michigan State '04)
TALLAHASSEE, FL - On Saturday, March 1, 2008 Eta-Epsilon Chapter of Sigma Pi Fraternity was officially re-installed with over 50 men initiated at the Florida State University. Originally chartered on November 19, 1988 the chapter was later closed in 2001 due to improper membership reporting and repeated risk management violations of the fraternity. In the fall of 2006, Seminole Alumni Foundation President (Eta-Epsilon Alumni Club) Spencer Klein (Eta-Epsilon, Florida State ’94) initiated and collaborated in a joint effort with Director of Expansion/Recruitment Jim DiVita (Zeta-Mu, Michigan State ’04) and the FSU Office of Greek Life to bring Sigma Pi back. In no time, Sigma Pi was voted back onto campus. Sigma Pi Expansion/Recruitment Consultants Matt Besselman (Theta, Penn State ’06) and Peter Bolac (Alpha-Nu, Wake Forest ’06) then executed a month long values based recruitment drive colonizing a group of 26 men on February 9, 2007.
Throughout the past year the men of Eta-Epsilon Colony would exemplify the fraternity’s creed and values through their actions. In the fall of 2007 the men hosted a Sam Spady event for the entire Greek community’s new members. With over 1,000 students in attendance, the event took place over two days, bringing both Sigma Pi Executive Director Mark Briscoe and Mrs. Patty Spady to Tallahassee. In the same semester, the colony embarked on a ground breaking ACE Project in which the colony and other campus organizations cleaned up the Rez. With few resources and manpower, the Rez is maintained by FSU’s Recreational Department. Located on Lake Bradford, this 73-acre facility was cleaned and upgraded by Sigma Pi members. Also established was an ACE Project endowment fund setup by the colony to benefit the Rez for year’s to come.
Eta-Epsilon’s chartering banquet took place inside Doak Campbell Stadium’s coveted University Center Club located in the heart of FSU. Special in attendance was Brother Allan Webster (Phi, Illinois ’47) who spoke of his Sigma Pi days at the University of Illinois. Awards and honors were handed out to many brothers by local alumni. To top the night off, Randall “Big Daddy” Webster (Beta-Nu, Southern Illinois - Carbondale '82) and his band performed in celebration of the newly initiated chapter’s accomplishments.
The men of Eta-Epsilon gathered over twenty letters of recommendation in their run to charter and have record involvement in campus/community organizations such as: School of Theatre Productions, World Affairs Program, FSUnited, Student Athletic Training Association, Honors Program, Student Judicial Board, Swim Club, Men Advocating Responsible Conduct, Victim Advocate Peer Education, the President of the Japanese Student Association, Literary Society, Student Senate, Treasurer of the Association of Financial Management Association, Alpha Kappa Psi business fraternity, the Founder and Treasurer of TORCH, Garnet and Gold Key Leadership Honorary fraternity, the Insight Political Party, Florida Restaurant Association, Florida Lodging Association, Sailing Club, Triathlon Club, United States Army, First Year Experience Peer Campus Educator, ROTC, Medical School SP, the President of Chabad, Trustee of the Jewish Student Union, Club Ice Hockey Team, American Party, FSView Student Newspaper, the Wesley Foundation, the President of the Underclassmen Council, the Deputy Internal Director of the Executive Cabinet, Lambda Alpha Epsilon Criminology fraternity, NSCS, Leadershape, College of Democrats, Latin Student Union, Order of Omega, Student Leadership Council – College of Business, America Reads Mentor, Phi Eta Sigma Honors fraternity, Hillel, Charles Shusterman International Leaders Assembly, Relay for Life, University Lutheran Association, FSU Vote Coalition, Lead-Ins, Fund for American Studies, Boys and Girls Club, Slavic Student Association, Cawthon Hall Education Living-Learning Center, Florida Army National Guard, the Treasurer of Seminoles Supporting Our Troops, Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization and Phi Alpha Delta pre-law fraternity.
Eta-Epsilon Chapter stands among eight other Sigma Pi chapters/colonies in the ACC. Special thanks to all faculty, especially Courtney Barry and all of the Greek Life Staff, all parents and dates in attendance, area alumni and the brothers from both Zeta-Zeta Chapter at the University of Florida and Theta-Omega Chapter at Middle Tennessee State University for helping out in the initiation ceremony. In commemoration of Eta-Epsilon Chapter, a scholarship fund has been established through the Sigma Pi Educational Foundation. The foundation is taking contributions in the name of the Eta-Epsilon Fund. If you are interested in donating to support the educational ambitions of Eta-Epsilon brothers, you may contact the Richard Robinson at the Sigma Pi Executive Office at: (800) FEB-1897. All contributions are tax deductible.
Letters of congratulations can be sent to Sage Dan Dawson at: etaepsilon@sigmapi.org (etaepsilon@sigmapi.org). If you are interested in joining the alumni advisory board or area alumni association, please contact Chapter Director Alfredo Cruz at: etaepsilonCD@sigmapi.org (etaepsilonCD@sigmapi.org) or at: (305) 978-0020 for more information on joining.
Chartering Team
Grand Sage: Larry Rovira (Epsilon-Nu, Cal State – Fullerton ‘85)
Grand Second Counselor: Dean Houser (Epsilon, Ohio ’72)
Grand Third Counselor: Spencer Klein (Eta-Epsilon, Florida State ’94)
Grand Fourth Counselor: Alfredo Cruz (Delta-Pi, Troy ’92)
Grand First Counselor: Randall Webster (Beta-Nu, Southern Illinois – Carbondale ’82)
Grand Herald: Jonathan Frost (Delta-Zeta, Missouri – St. Louis ‘02)
Currently, Sigma Pi has 124 chapters and 11 colonies throughout North America.
TALLAHASSEE, FL - On Saturday, March 1, 2008 Eta-Epsilon Chapter of Sigma Pi Fraternity was officially re-installed with over 50 men initiated at the Florida State University. Originally chartered on November 19, 1988 the chapter was later closed in 2001 due to improper membership reporting and repeated risk management violations of the fraternity. In the fall of 2006, Seminole Alumni Foundation President (Eta-Epsilon Alumni Club) Spencer Klein (Eta-Epsilon, Florida State ’94) initiated and collaborated in a joint effort with Director of Expansion/Recruitment Jim DiVita (Zeta-Mu, Michigan State ’04) and the FSU Office of Greek Life to bring Sigma Pi back. In no time, Sigma Pi was voted back onto campus. Sigma Pi Expansion/Recruitment Consultants Matt Besselman (Theta, Penn State ’06) and Peter Bolac (Alpha-Nu, Wake Forest ’06) then executed a month long values based recruitment drive colonizing a group of 26 men on February 9, 2007.
Throughout the past year the men of Eta-Epsilon Colony would exemplify the fraternity’s creed and values through their actions. In the fall of 2007 the men hosted a Sam Spady event for the entire Greek community’s new members. With over 1,000 students in attendance, the event took place over two days, bringing both Sigma Pi Executive Director Mark Briscoe and Mrs. Patty Spady to Tallahassee. In the same semester, the colony embarked on a ground breaking ACE Project in which the colony and other campus organizations cleaned up the Rez. With few resources and manpower, the Rez is maintained by FSU’s Recreational Department. Located on Lake Bradford, this 73-acre facility was cleaned and upgraded by Sigma Pi members. Also established was an ACE Project endowment fund setup by the colony to benefit the Rez for year’s to come.
Eta-Epsilon’s chartering banquet took place inside Doak Campbell Stadium’s coveted University Center Club located in the heart of FSU. Special in attendance was Brother Allan Webster (Phi, Illinois ’47) who spoke of his Sigma Pi days at the University of Illinois. Awards and honors were handed out to many brothers by local alumni. To top the night off, Randall “Big Daddy” Webster (Beta-Nu, Southern Illinois - Carbondale '82) and his band performed in celebration of the newly initiated chapter’s accomplishments.
The men of Eta-Epsilon gathered over twenty letters of recommendation in their run to charter and have record involvement in campus/community organizations such as: School of Theatre Productions, World Affairs Program, FSUnited, Student Athletic Training Association, Honors Program, Student Judicial Board, Swim Club, Men Advocating Responsible Conduct, Victim Advocate Peer Education, the President of the Japanese Student Association, Literary Society, Student Senate, Treasurer of the Association of Financial Management Association, Alpha Kappa Psi business fraternity, the Founder and Treasurer of TORCH, Garnet and Gold Key Leadership Honorary fraternity, the Insight Political Party, Florida Restaurant Association, Florida Lodging Association, Sailing Club, Triathlon Club, United States Army, First Year Experience Peer Campus Educator, ROTC, Medical School SP, the President of Chabad, Trustee of the Jewish Student Union, Club Ice Hockey Team, American Party, FSView Student Newspaper, the Wesley Foundation, the President of the Underclassmen Council, the Deputy Internal Director of the Executive Cabinet, Lambda Alpha Epsilon Criminology fraternity, NSCS, Leadershape, College of Democrats, Latin Student Union, Order of Omega, Student Leadership Council – College of Business, America Reads Mentor, Phi Eta Sigma Honors fraternity, Hillel, Charles Shusterman International Leaders Assembly, Relay for Life, University Lutheran Association, FSU Vote Coalition, Lead-Ins, Fund for American Studies, Boys and Girls Club, Slavic Student Association, Cawthon Hall Education Living-Learning Center, Florida Army National Guard, the Treasurer of Seminoles Supporting Our Troops, Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization and Phi Alpha Delta pre-law fraternity.
Eta-Epsilon Chapter stands among eight other Sigma Pi chapters/colonies in the ACC. Special thanks to all faculty, especially Courtney Barry and all of the Greek Life Staff, all parents and dates in attendance, area alumni and the brothers from both Zeta-Zeta Chapter at the University of Florida and Theta-Omega Chapter at Middle Tennessee State University for helping out in the initiation ceremony. In commemoration of Eta-Epsilon Chapter, a scholarship fund has been established through the Sigma Pi Educational Foundation. The foundation is taking contributions in the name of the Eta-Epsilon Fund. If you are interested in donating to support the educational ambitions of Eta-Epsilon brothers, you may contact the Richard Robinson at the Sigma Pi Executive Office at: (800) FEB-1897. All contributions are tax deductible.
Letters of congratulations can be sent to Sage Dan Dawson at: etaepsilon@sigmapi.org (etaepsilon@sigmapi.org). If you are interested in joining the alumni advisory board or area alumni association, please contact Chapter Director Alfredo Cruz at: etaepsilonCD@sigmapi.org (etaepsilonCD@sigmapi.org) or at: (305) 978-0020 for more information on joining.
Chartering Team
Grand Sage: Larry Rovira (Epsilon-Nu, Cal State – Fullerton ‘85)
Grand Second Counselor: Dean Houser (Epsilon, Ohio ’72)
Grand Third Counselor: Spencer Klein (Eta-Epsilon, Florida State ’94)
Grand Fourth Counselor: Alfredo Cruz (Delta-Pi, Troy ’92)
Grand First Counselor: Randall Webster (Beta-Nu, Southern Illinois – Carbondale ’82)
Grand Herald: Jonathan Frost (Delta-Zeta, Missouri – St. Louis ‘02)
Currently, Sigma Pi has 124 chapters and 11 colonies throughout North America.