web analytics

JerseySmarts.com

Going to California

Posted on by

This Tuesday I’m heading out to California for the first time ever. The core purpose of the visit is to attend Sigma Pi Fraternity’s 49th Biennial Convocation (our national convention). It’s exciting – I get to see my fraternal colleagues as well as help advocate on behalf of my New Jersey guys. It’s really fun stuff if you’re as heavily involved as I am!

I’m also looking forward to seeing the great Eddie T – the webmaster of TBLWrestling.com. Eddie and I have formed a great friendship while he’s operated my wrestling website, but I’ve never had the opportunity to actually meet him. I’m looking forward to getting a beer with him on Tuesday.

One of my former New Jersey guys also moved out to California so I’m happy that I get to see him, too!

And, of course, let’s not forget that I’m going to be in Long Beach, California. I’m looking forward to getting some quality beach time and looking at the lovely ladies that I hear so much about!

Anyway, I’ll be back in New Jersey and back blogging again starting the following Tuesday, August 5th. Until then, go back and read some of the archives!

Sigma Pi Fraternity Press Release

Posted on by

Since local outlets RARELY cover any positive fraternity news, here is a press release written by Brett Stevens of Monmouth University’s chapter of Sigma Pi Fraternity:

DELTA-BETA CHAPTER OF SIGMA PI FRATERNITY AT MONMOUTH UNIVERSITY NAMED BEST CHAPTER IN THE NATION!

Fraternity brothers from Monmouth University’s chapter of Sigma Pi Fraternity, International returned home from their 2006 national convention with their arms full of awards. The Delta Beta chapter closed in the mid-1970s, but reopened in 1991, though the chapter has endured many highs and lows on their way to their current accomplishments. Over the last half decade the chapter underwent a fraternal rebirth by dedicating themselves to first being the best Sigma Pi brothers that they could be –shattering stereotypes in the process. Shedding petty, campus-based inter-fraternal fighting, rearranging alumni advisors, establishing an alumni organization, and working with the international Executive Office were all key components of Delta Beta’s turn-around.

Their efforts, though sometimes misunderstood by their host institution, paid off in dividends at Sigma Pi Fraternity, International’s 48th Biennial Convocation. At this conference, awards were given out for everything from operational performance to educational excellence to community and campus service and more. Delta Beta chapter came home with the top award in almost every category.

Sigma Pi Fraternity’s Delta Beta Chapter, currently the largest fraternity at Monmouth University, was awarded with the 2004 – 2006 Grand Sage’s Cup, an award given to the number one chapter of Sigma Pi Fraternity, International for the last two years. There are currently 118 chapters of Sigma Pi Fraternity, so this award is certainly a mark of distinction for the chapter. Along with the Grand Sage’s Cup, the chapter won the Grand Chapter Award for their top 25 performance and the Grand Council Award for their top 12 performance.

Delta Beta was also one of only two chapters in the entire fraternity to win the Beyer-Fryburg Award for scoring perfectly on the fraternity’s efficiency self-evaluation reports. In addition, the chapter won 11 All-Sigma Pi Collegiate Honors out of a total of 30 given out. These awards recognize brothers who carry at least a 3.25 GPA and are involved in myriad extracurricular activities.

Monmouth University and Sigma Pi Fraternity alumnus Joe Palazzolo, Delta Beta’s Chapter Director since 2003, was awarded with his second consecutive Most Outstanding Chapter Director award. These awards follow Monmouth University’s S.O.A.R. Awards where Dr. Joseph Mosca, the Delta Beta’s Faculty Advisor, was awarded Faculty Advisor of the Year Award. These awards show that while the chapter functions at an extremely high level, the alumni foundation around these young men is arguably the best it nation (Sigma Pi’s Regional Director for New Jersey was also awarded the “Best in the Nation” award).

Back in April 2006, the Delta Beta chapter hosted a Sam Spady/Alcohol Awareness Week as their annual ACE Project. For their efforts, the chapter was awarded the 2006 ACE Project of the Year Award.

The ACE Project and Recruitment Chairman Brett Stevens was awarded with the Frank E. Gray Scholarship for aiding Sigma Pi Fraternity in expansion. Delta Beta Chapter was also flattered at Convocation to have two members serve on the prestigious International Philanthropy and International Nominating Committees, respectively. Finally, the chapter was awarded with certificates of excellence for exceeding pledge goals and exceeding initiate goals; Delta Beta increased their membership by over 100% in the last year alone and has maintained 100% retention of pledges over the last two years.

Sigma Pi Fraternity invites anyone who has any questions about or wants to comment on the above information to contact Joe Palazzolo, Delta Beta Chapter’s Chapter Director and the new Regional Director of Sigma Pi Fraternity for New Jersey. More information is also available by calling Sigma Pi Fraternity’s Executive Office in Brentwood, Tennessee at (800) 332-1897.

Sigma Pi Fraternity was founded in 1897 at the Vincennes University, in Vincennes, Indiana and is headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee. The Fraternity is one of the fastest expanding men’s college organizations in North America, with 118 active chapters and 14 colonies in the United States and Canada, and over 85,000 alumni. The Fraternity teaches its core standards and values of scholarship, leadership, and service through educational programming, and is the only Greek organization with an international philanthropic program, The ACE Project, specifically designed to give back to our host institutions.

# # #

The Absolute Best Chapter of Sigma Pi in the World!

Posted on by

During the fraternity convention in New Orleans, my chapter at Delta Beta garnered some amazing accolades. You may not understand the meaning of some of these awards if you’re not a member of Sigma Pi Fraternity.

  • 11 of only 30 All-Sigma Pi Collegiate Honors were handed to Delta Beta brothers
  • I was asked to serve on the prestigious Nominating Committee to help select the new Grand Council for Sigma Pi Fraternity
  • Delta Beta was awarded the Best ACE Project in the nation (will be featured in a separate spread in the Emerald)
  • Delta Beta met and far exceeded their pledge and initiate goals for the last biennium, receiving awards for each
  • Paul Salvesen served on the Philanthropy Committee and helped change Sigma Pi’s international philanthropy
  • The Gold Standard submitted in May garnered one of the highest scores in the nation at 96%
  • Brother Brett Stevens was awarded the Frank E. Gray Scholarship for helping grow and develop Sigma Pi chapters
  • Delta Beta was 1 of only 2 chapters in the nation that received the Beyer-Fryburg Perfect Efficiency Award
  • Our Province Archon received the Most Outstanding Province Archon Award
  • I was humbled to win the Most Outstanding Chapter Director Award again and to be named the new Province Archon for New Jersey (will receive a separate spread in a future Emerald)
  • Our brothers received the Grand Chapter Award for being a Top 25 Chapter nationwide
  • Our brothers received the Grand Council Award for being a Top 12 Chapter nationwide
  • And at the Grand Banquet, Delta Beta received the Grand Sage’s Cup for being the #1 chapter in the nation

This night was a night many, many years in the making. So many of us worked so hard for so long to achieve the accolades listed above that it literally breaks me up every time I even think about it.

In the face of ridicule from the general public for being a fraternity, disrespect from Monmouth University (remember, a 4-person sorority was named their chapter of the year), mocking from older members of this chapter who were and still are aggravated that we took away their drinking club and made it into our fraternity, and general disbelief in success by undergrads who were are are constantly concerned about a superficial image – we did it. We succeeded.

To all of those on the outside who said it couldn’t be done, I say we win. To all of those on the inside who actively fought against success, I pity you but will not return the same ridicule back to you. This is the culmination of a dream that a small group of men in this chapter had many years ago. And now, that dream has come true.

Thank you to everyone who worked towards it and congratulations to all of them who received these honors.