Guidelines and Requirements for Establishing
an Alumni Chapter or Association
(Updated: 7/18/97)
Active Alumni Chapters
Inactive Alumni Chapters
These guidelines are set forth by Sigma Chi International Headquarters. For
further information, contact Bruce Tria or Lois Hunter at Sigma Chi
Headquarters:
Guidelines and Requirements
- GETTING STARTED. Contact at least ten brothers in the area who
are interested in establishing an alumni chapter; these Brothers are likely to
know others in the area. Alumni chapter membership is open to brothers from any
Sigma Chi chapter. Active Undergraduate and
Alumni Chapters listed by provinces are at this site.)
- NEW ALUMNI CHAPTERS. If no alumni chapter previously existed in
your area, a letter petitioning the establishment of the chapter must be sent
to the Executive Committee.
- Choose a geographical name which is sufficiently specific to avoid
confusion with other groups.
- Send a letter to the alumni department at Headquarters, with
a copy to your Grand Praetor. The Executive
Committee will act on the request at its next quarterly meeting.
- A new group exists for one year (called an "association") before
becoming an alumni chapter with voting rights.
- REACTIVATING AN ALUMNI CHAPTER. Alumni chapters which have not been
active can be reactivated by ten Brothers and, upon confirmation of membership,
immediately become alumni chapters and do not have to wait one year for
recognition. Check the list of inactive chapters
here; if one exists in your area and you are interested in revitalizing
the chapter, contact Headquarters.
- OFFICIAL RECOGNITION. To be officially recognized, the group needs
at least ten chapter members
who are Life Loyal Sigs or annual dues payers of the General Fraternity;
a roster is needed to maintain an active group. Also, it generally takes the
diligent efforts of two or three Brothers to serve as interim officers for
six months to one year to get a chapter going with sufficient momentum and
continuity.
(Become a Life Loyal Sig.)
- HEADQUARTERS HELP IN IDENTIFYING SIGMA CHIS IN YOUR AREA.
To aid in establishing membership, the alumni division at Headquarters
will furnish, upon request, (1) a copy of the official report form which must
be filed annually listing officer names and contact information, and details
of regular meetings schedule, (2) a copy of an alumni leaders' manual, and
(3) member address information. (Addresses and
phone numbers of brothers in your area in the form of a printout, labels,
or diskette are available from Headquarters. Identifying specific zip
code areas desired is essential for these resource materials.)
- ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING. Plan a time and place for an organizational
gathering of all interested Brothers and promote it at least three to four
weeks ahead of time. Involve your Grand Praetor and the officers of any
undergraduate chapters in the area in your plans.
- MEETINGS AND EVENTS. Plan a roster of events to occur at least
every six to eight weeks, monthly if possible. Include a balance of social,
business, and fraternal events.
Alumni chapters must meet at least six times each year, and are expected to
assist nearby undergraduate chapters, especially in rushing, initiations, and
honoring graduating seniors. Some alumni chapters conduct community service
projects. Ideas for activities can be obtained from Headquarters.
- FINALIZING PLANS. Finalize your officers, terms of office, meeting
time and place, and amount of dues. Establish a regular newsletter and include
the alumni division at Headquarters and your Grand Praetor on your mailing
list for every issue. (Grand Praetors, their
addresses and provinces are listed at this site.)
If you have any questions or seek other ideas, contact
Bruce Tria,
Director of Alumni Services, at Headquarters. Phone numbers are given
above.
List of active Alumni Chapters
by state and Canadian province
List of active Undergraduate Chapters
by Provinces
List of Grand Praetors
List of Grand Trustees
Link to active Undergraduate and Alumni
Chapter by State or Canadian Province