From the Grand Sage

From the Grand Sage A Message from Grand Sage Joe Palazzolo

Brothers,

GRAND SAGE Joe Palazzolo (Monmouth '00) grandsage@sigmapi.org This issue hits mailboxes shortly after another successful Mid-Year Leadership Conference (MYLC). This year’s MYLC was fueled by undergraduate feedback from the last several years. Curriculum Task Force Chairman Matt Smith (Valparaiso ‘01) did yeoman’s work in organizing this feedback, assembling a skilled team to facilitate the conference, and designing the MYLC to promote chapter and individual-level progress. Over the next few months more details will be released regarding the Fraternity’s new five-year strategic plan. The process behind the plan actively sought feedback from more than 100 brothers through focus group discussions and one-on-one conversations. In addition, hundreds more men had their voices heard through survey responses. Among other priorities, the feedback clearly indicated a desire to see the undergraduate membership experience reinforced, for the Fraternity to engage in calculated growth, and to strengthen our intellectual, financial, and physical assets. This member-driven strategic plan was designed to provide these outcomes while also fostering organizational resiliency against the coming shifts in higher education.

On the topic of resiliency, our undergraduates are leading the way by tackling big problems head on. In 2019 at FDU-Florham, Gabe Pimental (’18) and Luc Roberts (’18) became the Sage and Third Counselor, and inherited nearly $10,000 in debt. Instead of running from the problem, they led the way by fundraising and budgeting to repay the debt in full. Similarly, at the beginning of his term as Sage, Sam McTaggart (Michigan State ’17) inherited nearly $45,000 in debt. Undeterred, Sam and his leadership team led the way for Zeta-Mu Chapter to repay every penny before his term ended.

The story was the same at Ole Miss, where former Sage Michael Whiteside (Ole Miss ’16) guided Beta-Mu Chapter to repaying approximately $55,000 in debt. Mike and his leadership team did not create this debt, but they did not shirk their leadership responsibilities. Instead, they led the way and repaid their debt in full, opening up a brighter future for the next generation of BetaMu Chapter. And I am proud of our young men at Iota-Iota Chapter at Montclair State where former Sage Lee Tamburello (’17) and former Third Counselor Sean McGourty (’18) discovered inconsistencies in the Chapter’s checking account statements. Through their diligence, they found that thousands of dollars were potentially embezzled from the Chapter. They did not run from this discovery, instead they led the way by filing an insurance claim that paid off their debt and ignited an investigation in collaboration with local authorities. Courageous leadership is what led the way for Lee and Sean at Montclair, for Mike at Ole Miss, Sam at Michigan State, and Gabe and Luc at FDU-Florham. And these young men have provided examples of what it means to lead the way for the Fraternity’s future.

These are the stories that we need to celebrate more often and this summer’s Convocation in New Orleans is the right place to do it! At Convocation, we plan to shine a spotlight on the outstanding accomplishments of our brothers, chapters, and alumni clubs and their hard work over the last two years. Stay tuned for information on registering to attend Convocation! As always, I encourage you to make Sigma Pi stronger tomorrow than it is today. What can you do today to help? Learn about ways you can volunteer (page 50) or consider supporting the vital work of the Educational Foundation (page 20). If your chapter does not have an alumni club, then start one. If your chapter does not have a Chapter Educational Fund, then build one. Our Fraternity becomes stronger when our brothers take ownership of its future at the local and regional levels!

Fraternally,

GS Joe Palazzolo (Monmouth '00) Grand Sage #47 of Sigma Pi Fraternity