Toucan
07-07-2008, 01:00 PM
By Nick Frees (Theta-Beta, Saginaw Valley State ’07)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - On Saturday, April 12, 2008, in Minneapolis, MN, the 217thchapter of Sigma Pi Fraternity was installed at the University of Minnesota making it the first chapter ever established in the state of Minnesota.
Sigma Pi officially got its start when Expansion/Recruitment Consultants Jeremy Boyd (Theta-Lambda, Radford ’04) and Douglas Finnan (Alpha, Vincennes ’01) colonized a group of men on April 2, 2006 as a result of yet another “cold start” expansion effort. Several alumni stepped up to help the colony right away. Alumni Dave Roeser (Epsilon-Zeta, Western Illinois ’78) and Jason Shores (Delta-Psi, Troy ’94) both served on the alumni advisory board throughout the colony’s tenure. Also, helping out along the way were alumni Jay Wiederholt (Sigma, Iowa State ’03) who would take over as Colony Director and Iowa/Minnesota Province Archon Steve Lawler (Xi, Iowa ’82). In addition, Greek advisor Chad Ellsworth also helped play a vital role as the colony continued to develop in to a full-fledged chapter. Serving as the first Colony President, Richard Orr ’06 would lead the men to becoming active in intramurals, homecoming, and Greek week.
In the fall of 2007, the colony would raise the bar for all organizations on campus. Sigma Pi Fraternity’s Altruistic Campus Experience (ACE) Project was showcased through the colony’s “Unsung Hero’s Dinner” that the men conducted. The project was the first of its kind at the University and within the land of Sigma Pi. It was such an innovative idea and great success with over 300 custodial staff members honored, that the colony was awarded the “Top ACE Project Award” at Sigma Pi University for the 2007 academic year in Tier I (20+ fraternities on campus). This however was not the first time the men had been recognized for breaking Greek stereotypes on campus. During the fall 2006 semester the colony hosted an alcohol-free foam party at their house that had over 800 students attend. The party was recognized by the Minnesota Daily for being the first of its kind on campus. Because of projects like these, the Minnesota Colony was able to rise to the top of the Greek community.
For more on the impact of the colony’s ACE Project: “Unsung Hero’s Dinner” check out: http://www.mndaily.com/articles/2007/04/16/71567 (http://www.mndaily.com/articles/2007/04/16/71567).
Sigma Pi chartered the Iota-Zeta Chapter with 37 undergraduate men and three alumni initiates. The Iota-Zeta Chapter house secured through the help of Dave Roeser is located in a prime location on campus and will assist them in continuing to be a leader on campus and in the Greek community. During the chartering banquet, the formal room at the Iota-Zeta house was officially dedicated as the “Dave and DJ Roeser Formal Room”in recognition of all their support since the beginning of Sigma Pi’s start on campus. Iota-Zeta Chapter at the University of Minnesota joins the roll of Sigma Pi groups in the Big Ten Conference which currently has eight chapters and two colonies.
A special thanks to all family and friends that traveled long distances to attend the chartering weekend. We would also like to recognize all the alumni who attended the day’s events along with the brothers from Sigma Chapter at Iowa State University: Paul Thomas ’09, Alex Kaehler ’10, Richard Ruder ’10, and Justin Nielsen ’08 as they assisted with the initiation ceremony.
Letter of congratulations can be sent to: C/O Sage Will Wojcik, Sigma Pi Fraternity, 1829 University Ave. SE, Minneapolis, MN. 55414. If you are at all interested in joining the alumni advisory board, contact Chapter Director Jay Wiederholt at: jayw2124@gmail.com (jayw2124@gmail.com) for more information.
Chartering Team
Grand Sage: Larry Rovira (Epsilon-Nu, Cal State – Fullerton ‘85)
Grand Second Counselor: PGS Mark Metz (Epsilon-Zeta, Western Illinois ’76)
Grand Third Counselor: Dave Roeser (Epsilon-Zeta, Western Illinois ’78)
Grand Fourth Counselor: Steve Lawler (Xi, Iowa ’82)
Grand First Counselor: Jason Shores (Delta-Psi, Troy ’94)
Grand Herald: Paul Bazzetta (Epsilon-Zeta, Western Illinois ‘77)
Currently, Sigma Pi has 124 chapters and 11 colonies throughout North America.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - On Saturday, April 12, 2008, in Minneapolis, MN, the 217thchapter of Sigma Pi Fraternity was installed at the University of Minnesota making it the first chapter ever established in the state of Minnesota.
Sigma Pi officially got its start when Expansion/Recruitment Consultants Jeremy Boyd (Theta-Lambda, Radford ’04) and Douglas Finnan (Alpha, Vincennes ’01) colonized a group of men on April 2, 2006 as a result of yet another “cold start” expansion effort. Several alumni stepped up to help the colony right away. Alumni Dave Roeser (Epsilon-Zeta, Western Illinois ’78) and Jason Shores (Delta-Psi, Troy ’94) both served on the alumni advisory board throughout the colony’s tenure. Also, helping out along the way were alumni Jay Wiederholt (Sigma, Iowa State ’03) who would take over as Colony Director and Iowa/Minnesota Province Archon Steve Lawler (Xi, Iowa ’82). In addition, Greek advisor Chad Ellsworth also helped play a vital role as the colony continued to develop in to a full-fledged chapter. Serving as the first Colony President, Richard Orr ’06 would lead the men to becoming active in intramurals, homecoming, and Greek week.
In the fall of 2007, the colony would raise the bar for all organizations on campus. Sigma Pi Fraternity’s Altruistic Campus Experience (ACE) Project was showcased through the colony’s “Unsung Hero’s Dinner” that the men conducted. The project was the first of its kind at the University and within the land of Sigma Pi. It was such an innovative idea and great success with over 300 custodial staff members honored, that the colony was awarded the “Top ACE Project Award” at Sigma Pi University for the 2007 academic year in Tier I (20+ fraternities on campus). This however was not the first time the men had been recognized for breaking Greek stereotypes on campus. During the fall 2006 semester the colony hosted an alcohol-free foam party at their house that had over 800 students attend. The party was recognized by the Minnesota Daily for being the first of its kind on campus. Because of projects like these, the Minnesota Colony was able to rise to the top of the Greek community.
For more on the impact of the colony’s ACE Project: “Unsung Hero’s Dinner” check out: http://www.mndaily.com/articles/2007/04/16/71567 (http://www.mndaily.com/articles/2007/04/16/71567).
Sigma Pi chartered the Iota-Zeta Chapter with 37 undergraduate men and three alumni initiates. The Iota-Zeta Chapter house secured through the help of Dave Roeser is located in a prime location on campus and will assist them in continuing to be a leader on campus and in the Greek community. During the chartering banquet, the formal room at the Iota-Zeta house was officially dedicated as the “Dave and DJ Roeser Formal Room”in recognition of all their support since the beginning of Sigma Pi’s start on campus. Iota-Zeta Chapter at the University of Minnesota joins the roll of Sigma Pi groups in the Big Ten Conference which currently has eight chapters and two colonies.
A special thanks to all family and friends that traveled long distances to attend the chartering weekend. We would also like to recognize all the alumni who attended the day’s events along with the brothers from Sigma Chapter at Iowa State University: Paul Thomas ’09, Alex Kaehler ’10, Richard Ruder ’10, and Justin Nielsen ’08 as they assisted with the initiation ceremony.
Letter of congratulations can be sent to: C/O Sage Will Wojcik, Sigma Pi Fraternity, 1829 University Ave. SE, Minneapolis, MN. 55414. If you are at all interested in joining the alumni advisory board, contact Chapter Director Jay Wiederholt at: jayw2124@gmail.com (jayw2124@gmail.com) for more information.
Chartering Team
Grand Sage: Larry Rovira (Epsilon-Nu, Cal State – Fullerton ‘85)
Grand Second Counselor: PGS Mark Metz (Epsilon-Zeta, Western Illinois ’76)
Grand Third Counselor: Dave Roeser (Epsilon-Zeta, Western Illinois ’78)
Grand Fourth Counselor: Steve Lawler (Xi, Iowa ’82)
Grand First Counselor: Jason Shores (Delta-Psi, Troy ’94)
Grand Herald: Paul Bazzetta (Epsilon-Zeta, Western Illinois ‘77)
Currently, Sigma Pi has 124 chapters and 11 colonies throughout North America.