Elevating Sigma Pi

Left: a refreshed, updated website features a clean navigation, streamlined news outlet with The Emerald Online, and an updated resources section. Right: Izzy the Islander, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi's mascot, models the Sigma Pi founding father t-shirt on campus

the ability to grow alongside great men. If I didn’t make the decision to join Sigma Pi, I honestly don’t know where I’d be today,” from Mustafa Abdullah Jr. (SIU-Carbondale ‘13) showcase the importance of brotherhood. Outside of this national campaign, the Communications Department rolled out a new website. In early September, sigmapi.org officially switched over to the new site that includes a one stop shop for all the needs of undergraduates, alumni, and family. Through the assistance of Stream9 digital design team, the Executive Office was able to create one public site that encompasses all the resources important to the Fraternity. The new site not only allows for a more intuitive user interface by separating by user-type: undergraduate, alumni, family member, or other; it also separates content categorically by topic: fraternity, foundation, news and stories, and events. These clearly defined menus will allow users to navigate at ease and find what they are looking for promptly. Aside from the improved navigation and visual appeal, the new site will continue to grow as a living entity for our members with fresh content and resources readily available. With improved accessibility, the site highlights our membership in a more engaging light. Recently added was a knowledge base of resources that allows easy navigation and accessibility, giving members quick access to the tools and knowledge needed in various situations. Internally, Assistant Director of Public Relations Summer Clarkson attended the ICM Crisis Communication Management Certification Course in early November. Through this intensive hands-on training, Clarkson became certified in Crisis Communication Management. Along with Director of Communications Chris Carter (Middle Tennessee ’08) who received this certification in 2018, this ensures that our staff is prepared to be proactive and well equipped in the case of a crisis. Looking ahead into 2020, the Communications Department plans to continue providing our members with engagement opportunities, while also being proactive in showcasing the positive and beneficial aspects of the Sigma Pi brotherhood. Strategic Growth With over 40 potential expansions and six colonies in the works, the Strategic Growth Department is aiming high for the growth of the Fraternity. The Strategic Growth team works with universities to create a pipeline for

further market penetration, while also having a small portfolio of current chapters who need growth assistance, as well as managing the process for alumnifunded chapter expansion efforts. Currently, the Strategic Growth team is in discussions with over 40 universities across North America. With these conversations of expansion in the works, the pipeline for future expansion is constantly evolving and growing.

The purpose of the expansion work is to diligently research opportunities in order to establish and cultivate colonies to become a chapter that makes real the ideals of Sigma Pi. The goal is to acquire premier institutions for expansion through values based recruitment of campus leaders, scholars, athletes, and gentlemen. As for the colonies, the Strategic Growth team finished a successful expansion at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi with the reestablishment of the DeltaTheta Colony in October 2019. With 25 men, this colony represents 35+ organizations on campus, in addition to outperforming other fraternities on campus with a colony GPA of 3.5 cumulative.

With the other six colonies in the works, the Strategic Growth team guides them through the process of becoming a fraternity and educating them on Sigma Pi values and operations. The Strategic Growth team has also developed a Colony Development Guide to streamline the colony process and make them an award winning chapter. In addition to this new guide, the Strategic Growth team has finalized the Charlotte N. Mallotte Collaborated Growth Program to help prepare alumni and volunteers for the expectations of starting an Interest Group of Sigma Pi.

sigmapi.org To ensure that our colonies are the best groups on their respective campuses, the Fraternity’s colony development program includes requirements for interest groups petitioning to colonize. The interest group requirements will drive the group’s growth and become the foundation of future success. The Fraternity’s Director of Strategic Growth oversees the Interest Group process, working with the group and its leaders through the pre-colonization phase. Chapter Management

The Chapter Management Department has been on the move, quite literally and figuratively this year. This team works to service and support the needs of undergraduate chapters and their volunteers, while also developing and executing strategies for improvement. During the course of a semester (or quarter system for some) the Chapter Management team will spend an adequate amount of time on the road visiting chapters, connecting with members, and helping in problem areas. With these visits, the Chapter Management team is able to work face to face with chapter members and their volunteers on areas of concern and how to improve.

With addressing areas of improvement, the Chapter Management team has worked on installing new resources into place that better aid chapters through their recruitment, reporting, and overall accountability. These resources include Chapter Builder, which is a tool that tracks recruitment, helping brother stay accountable through their recruiting process, while also providing updates to the Chapter Management team. The team can then consult and help where there are gaps for some chapters during this process. In addition to these tools, the Chapter Management team has begun using Google Hangouts, a communication tool that offers face to face video chat, for meetings that cannot be made in person but still give that unique interaction. Google Hangouts allows our team and chapter members to have a more personal conversation than just a regular phone call, which allows members to share problem areas in a confidential setting. This new year will continue to bring new tools and resources to the Chapter Management team in aiding chapters and volunteers across the country. Including fully transitioning over to OmegaFi’s Compass for all member, chapter, and financial management needs. With new efficiencies in the areas of member management, fundraising, and finances, this will allow the Chapter Management team to focus on other areas of need than chapter finances.

In addition to our departments' hard work, in early August the Executive Office as a whole moved offices from the previous headquarters in Lebanon to an office space within Nashville, closer to the airport as well as the downtown area. This transition has allotted more space in our fiscal planning for member resources, plus more engaging staff collaborations with all members in one office environment. We look forward to showcasing our new space soon. To say 2019 was a big year for the Executive Office is an understatement. Our staff has and will continue to work hard for the better of Sigma Pi Fraternity. We look forward to new projects and campaigns that will roll out for your benefit in 2020.

For additional information, please visit sigmapi.org.