Sigma Tau Gamma

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Sigma Tau Gamma Fraternity ΣΤΓ
Nicknames: Sig Tau
Image:SigTauCrest.gif The Coat of Arms
Founded:	June 28, 1920 at Central Missouri State University, (Warrensburg, MO)
Founders:	Allen R. Nieman Leland T. Hoback Emmett Ellis Edward G. Grannert Edward H. McCune Buell W. McDaniel W. Glenn Parsons Frank H. Gorman Carl N. Chapman G. Eugene Hartrick A. Barney Cott C. Edward Hoffman Rodney E. Herndon William E. Billings C. Willard Salter Alpheus O. Fisher Daniel F. Fisher The Honorary Dr. Wilson C. Morris
Members:	60,000 Alumni
Official Philanthropy:	BACCHUS/GAMMA and Books for Kids
Official Colors:	Azure Blue and White
Member Badge:	Image:SigTauBadge.gif
Official Flower:	White Rose
Sigma Tau Gamma Website

Sigma Tau Gamma Fraternity (also known as "Sig Tau" or <math>\Sigma\ \Tau\ \Gamma\ \,</math>) is a U.S. all-male college social fraternity founded at an "unusual hour in the morning" on June 28, 1920 at Central Missouri State University (formerly known as Central Missouri State Teachers College) and set up their first house at 101 Ming and Holden Street. The fraternity was born out of the desires and aspirations of seventeen men in the belief that all men are social creatures and that friendships of college men are lasting ones. It rose as a result of friendships made while in the service of their country during World War I in France. By dedicating themselves to the highest ideals of manhood, brotherhood and citizenship, they would inspire thousands of men from all parts of the country who would follow in their footsteps.

In accordance with the founding of Sigma Tau Gamma Fratenity at Central Missouri State Teachers College, the fraternity created new chapters on the campuses surrounding teachers colleges (at the time also called "normal schools"). Since the fraternity's beginnings in 1920, they have since spread to more than 140 university campuses across the United States.

Sigma Tau Gamma Fraternity is an active member of the North-American Interfraternity Conference.

1 Traditions
2 Leadership
3 Creed
4 Principles
5 Philanthropy
6 Recognition and honors
7 Notable Alumni
8 Foundation
9 Chapters
10 External links

[edit] Traditions

Fraternity Colors

The Fraternity Colors are Azure Blue and White. The Fraternity also has secondary Colors of Yellow and Red.^[1] (Pantone colors: 116 Yellow ; 185 Red ; 292 : Blue ; 429 : Silver)

Badge

The badge is the most prominent symbol of membership. Adopted in 1927, it consists of a shield with four points, which may have a gold or pearl border and may be further embellished with sapphires or rubies.

The associate pin, which is worn by associate members of the fraternity until initiation, is a silver and blue shield.

White Rose

The fraternity's flower is the white rose.

Each chapter traditionally holds an annual White Rose banquet and dance. The chapter's sweetheart, known as the White Rose Sweetheart, is crowned at the dance and serves as the chapter's official hostess throughout the year.

Society of the Seventeen

An order of distinguished service to Sigma Tau Gamma Fraternity, the Society of Seventeen was established in 1980 at the 60th Anniversary Grand Chapter in Kansas City. The Society of Seventeen commemorates the number of founders by limiting the membership to 17 living persons. It recognizes continuous and distinguished service and leadership to Sigma Tau Gamma.

The Saga

The official magazine of the fraternity, The Saga of Sigma Tau Gamma, is published quarterly by the fraternity. Members are entitled to a lifetime subscription which provides an important membership link for alumni of the fraternity.

Founders Day

Each chapter and alumni organization is expected to observe Founders Day on or near the June 28 anniversary of the fraternity's founding.

Fellowship Day

Each chapter and alumni are expected to hold a philanthropy or community service event on February 26, the birthday of William C. Morris. A brotherhood dinner is traditionally held after the event.

[edit] Leadership

Board of Directors

President - Chris Mauer
President-elect - Jeff Russo
Director - Richard Harguindeguy
Director - Doug Haman
Director - Justin Kirk
Director - Greg Rumpf
Past President - D.W. Cole
Past President - John Heiman
CEO - William P. Bernier, CAE

Regional Vice Presidents

Atlantic Coast - Joe Lizza
Three Rivers - Bill Wilson
Great Lakes - Jonathan Proehl
Great Plains - Ryan Raven
Southern - Jason Gomez

[edit] Creed

"I believe that the true spirit of Fraternalism is a personal devotion to one's ideals. It has its roots in definite, tangible things. It springs out of a love of God and worth of one's fellow man. It grows into qualities of mind and soul. It is not the attitude toward a few selected ends, but rather the abiding spirit in which all things are done, all difficulties met, all successes received, all obstacles overcome.

"I believe that the true spirit of Fraternalism is a breath that breathes itself into the life and being of those who live it, becoming an unconscious part of them, ruling and molding their thoughts and acts. We may call it the right attitude towards life, towards the world, towards right and wrong, towards the beautiful and good, towards duty and faith in God.

"I believe that the true spirit of Fraternalism is a thing that grows. It is first associated almost exclusively with a narrow circle of fellow students, but it broadens with a widening understanding until it takes in all the important relationships of life. It enters the domain of private life as thoroughly as in public life. It teaches the fulfillment of obligations to school, state and church.

"I believe that Sigma Tau Gamma endeavors to bind men together in a fraternal brotherhood based upon these eternal and immutable truths, which are set forth in the Principles and in the Code of Conduct of our Fraternity.

"In this belief, I will endeavor to make my college and my own chapter of Sigma Tau Gamma more honored and respected by all men, and will endeavor to conduct myself so that I will ever bring credit and honor to our Fraternity."

Edward H. McCune
Founder and Past President

[edit] Principles

Value

To enhance the worth of belonging

Learning

To afford the environment for learning

Leadership

To develop good leaders for America

Excellence

To strive for superior performance

Benefit

To serve Fraternity, college, country

Integrity

To perfect a structure of honor

[edit] Philanthropy

BACCHUS

In 1986, delegates to the Michael J. Steinbeck Grand Chapter in St. Louis, Missouri adopted BACCHUS (Boosting Alcohol Consciousness Concerning the Health of University Students) as Sigma Tau Gamma Fraternity's official philanthropy.

BACCHUS is an international student-based movement for the prevention of alcohol abuse by college students. BACCHUS is not an abolitionist movement. Rather, its goal is to teach and promote the responsible use of beverage alcohol by those who choose to use it. GAMMA (Greeks Advocating Mature Management of Alcohol) is a program of BACCHUS which meets fraternity and sorority alcohol awareness needs, while promoting high standards of risk management and the general good health of brothers and sisters.

Dr. Gerardo M. Gonzalez, President and Founder of BACCHUS, was initiated as an honorary member of Alpha Chapter (Central Missouri State University) in 1982. He is an Honorary Sigma Tau Gamma Foundation Trustee.

Kenley R. Hoover, IMF, Pi '57 (Indiana University of Pennsylvania) past Sigma Tau Gamma Foundation President and North-American Interfraternity Conference Director, has served on the BACCHUS Board for fifteen years, ten of which were on the Executive Committee and Secretary for the last five years.

Books For Kids

In 1994, under the leadership of past Foundation President, Ken Hoover, Books For Kids is a charitable project created by the Sigma Tau Gamma Foundation that was created as a project that would tie the fraternity back to its educational heritage.

After two successful years, the Board of Directors decided that due to the tremendous success of the Books For Kids project, they would make it the national philanthropy of Sigma Tau Gamma Fraternity.

As of 2004, Books For Kids has donated over 28,000 books and $30,000 to the public libraries and school districts of the region selected to host the fraternity's annual National Convention.

[edit] Recognition and honors

Besides the Society of the Seventeen, the Sig Taus have a variety of other recognition awards and honors. The Edward H. McCune Distinguished Chapter Award for chapters which exemplify the Principles of the Fraternity. It is awarded to the Sigma Tau Gamma Fraternity chapter that achieve high marks in recruitment, campus leadership posts, community service, and brotherhood. Eligible chapters communicate their programs, activities, and achievements for the past academic year. In 2006, the Delta chapter ^[2] at Emporia State University won the award.^[3]

Other awards include:

Ellsworth C. Dent "Man of the Year" Award for outstanding undergraduate leaders.
Earl A. Webb Most Improved Chapter Award for the chapters with the greatest improvement.
Emmett Ellis Scholarship Award for chapters with high scholarship index.
Thomas M. Hutsell Chapter Efficiency Award for the chapter efficiency.
Robert Nagel Jones Charitable Projects Award for chapters outstanding service to others.
E. Kennedy Whitesitt Newsletter Award for chapters with an outstanding alumni newsletter program.
W.T. Hembree Philanthropy Award for the chapter outstanding fundraising event.
Ronald Roskens Scholastic Achievement Award for high grade point average undergraduate members.
Winebrenner Medal for extraordinary service and leadership to the Fraternity.
Millsap Medal for extraordinary service and leadership to the Foundation.
"Prof." Grubbs Distinguished Advisor Award for chapter advisor with longstanding and effective service.
Michael J. Steinbeck Graduate Fellowship for alumni pursuing a graduate or professional degree.
Stan Musial Sportsmanship

Major donors are recognized with the Wilson C. Morris Fellow designation. Wilson C. Morris was the first sponsor of Sigma Tau Gamma. The Sigma Tau Gamma Distinguished Achievement Award and the Young Alumnus Distinguished Achievement Award are for those that have achieved distinction in their profession.

[edit] Notable Alumni

Stan Musial Pro Baseball Hall of Fame
Gil Morgan Pro Golf Hall of Fame
M.A. Wright Chairman of the Board, Exxon Oil & Refining Co., Past chairman of U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Ellsworth Dent Pioneer in audio-visual education
Dr. Lawrence Walkup President of Northern Arizona University
Dr. Ronald W. Roskins President of University of Nebraska
Arthur Hughes President of University of San Diego
Dr. Bill Stacy President of Southeast Missouri State University, President of California State University - San Marcos
Paul R. Carter Senior Vice President & Director of Wal-Mart Stores Incorporated
Mel Hancock U.S. Congressman, State of Missouri
John Ashcroft U.S. Senator, Former Attorney General
Matan Siman-Tov Israel Professional Basketball Player Team Maccabi Tel Aviv

[edit] Foundation

The Sigma Tau Gamma Foundation was created December 10, 1966 and was established as a 501(c) tax-exempt organization.

Forward-looking leaders of Sigma Tau Gamma Fraternity foresaw that the fraternity could not effectively meet the needs of its college members without the charitable support of its alumni and friends. In this vision, Sigma Tau Gamma was not unique among the American College Fraternities. In fact, virtually all fraternities would eventually establish a foundation of their own to organize tax-exempt donations to their respective collegiate fraternity chapters.