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Epsilon Rho Receives Awards And Recognition At 2009 National Convention
Our Active Chapter and Chapter President received prestigious award at the biannual National Convention held in St. Louis, Missouri, July 22-25, 2009. These awards are due to a decade of undergraduate work at the Chapter with guidance from dedicated alumni leaders and support by hundreds of involved alumni-at-large.
Our Active Chapter received the Pyramid of Excellence Award and our Chapter President the Order of Sphinx Award.
Pyramid of Excellence
The Pyramid Of Excellence Award is only earned by the top Chapters in the Fraternity. We can all be extremely proud of the accomplishments of our Active Chapter and its men. Along with Epsilon Rho, the following Chapters earned this most prestigious of Chapter awards from Delta Sigma Phi.:
Alpha Alpha - University of Illinois
Alpha Lambda - Millikin University
Beta Mu - Transylvania University
Epsilon Tau - Grand Valley State University
Theta Mu - University of Kentucky
Kappa Delta - Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Theta Chi - University of Georgia
The Pyramid of Excellence Award is presented annually to undergraduate Chapters which have demonstrated excellence in all areas of fraternity operations during an academic year. This competition seeks Chapters which most exemplify the true spirit of our founders, by personifying the Fraternity’s mission of building better men and excellence in their collective contributions to the Fraternity and their host campuses.
To be eligible, chapters must be in good standing and are required to annually complete the Fraternity’s Accreditation Application. Evaluation criteria include: chapter academic performance, recruitment and retention of members, campus and community involvement, alumni support and involvement, financial strength, and adherence to the official Ritual of Delta Sigma Phi Fraternity. Our ACB deserves high praise for guiding our Chapter.
Order of Sphinx
The Order of Sphinx Award is given biennially to some of those undergraduate Brothers, nominated by their Chapter or a national officer, for outstanding contributions to their campus, their Chapter, and the Fraternity. Each Chapter may submit one nominee for every 25 members in their Chapter. Not all nominees meet the standards of this individual award. Epsilon Rho’s current Active Chapter President, Ian “Shooter” LeMay, F’05, was one of the undergraduate nominees who received this important individual award.
You can congratulate our Chapter President for his accomplishment, and the Chapter for their outstanding work, by sending Ian an email at ilemay@calpoly.edu. It’s certainly deserved!
The Program
Chapter President's Report, February 2010
Active Chapter President’s Message: “Unique Changes At Our Chapter”
By Andre E. Huaman, “Tdmang”, F’07
Delta Sigma Phi Epsilon Rho, a house of 93 actives, has been going through unique changes in a short amount of time. With the support of our ACB, the six suites at the chapter house and the chapter room have received brand new hardwood floors. The staircases and railings were completely torn out during Christmas break, being replaced by newly fabricated stairs and railings. The house’s interior and exterior have received new paint jobs, while our driveway and parking lot have been entirely repaved and repainted.
Our campus was recently struck by a new bylaw that prohibits freshman from joining any fraternity on campus during fall quarter, which essentially eliminates the recruitment period that has constantly been our most important. This decision was made by top campus officials, without consulting any of the fraternity presidents or members of the Interfraternity Council. Due to the fact that a large majority of our house comes from Fall classes, our new rush chair, Eric “Euro” Jaso, and his recruitment team are already brainstorming new, innovative methods for recruitment so that we can grab large freshman based pledge classes in the spring. We are projecting a pinning of 25-35 new members.
Rush chair Eric “Euro” Jaso and I both attended the summit at Indianapolis. We were praised by all chapters and national officials for our strong ACB and alumni support, status on campus, and organization as a chapter. We were identified as a chapter that can be used as a model for all Delta Sigs nationwide, thus proving that we were worthy of our Pyramid of Excellence award received this past summer. The weekend of February 7, we sent 9 active members, most of who are on our executive board, to the San Francisco Bay Area for the Regional Leadership Academy hosted by our National Fraternity. There, they learned new methods to continue our success as a chapter and growth as a brotherhood. Topics such as community involvement, financial management, and academic success will be covered.
Our house is the best represented fraternity on campus. The last two years, our campus has seen Delta Sigs on the Interfraternal Executive Board, ASI Board of Directors, University Union Advisory Board, S.A.F.E.R. Board, club soccer team, and Cal Poly football team. We also were able to have over 10% of our house last year become W.O.W. leaders. We are the defending fraternity champions in soccer, football, softball, and billiards. We also are defending our title as Greek Week champions.
Our executive board this year is focusing on making sure our active members are receiving what they deserve; an optimal and fulfilling experience. Campus recognizes our executive board as a successful one and uses its structure to aid other houses on campus.
We appreciate all support from alumni and welcome any questions or concerns. I invite you all to attend our open house and Carnation Ball, taking place on the evening of April 17, 2010.
ACB President’s Message
February 8, 2009
On December 2, 2008, a member of SAE fraternity in San Luis Obispo died due to acute alcohol poisoning. As you might suspect, the Greek system in SLO is again under intense scrutiny. Our Epsilon Rho Chapter is being held up as a gleaming example of leadership and what the support of an active alumni base can do for a chapter in providing leadership and guidance to young men. Your ACB members have been in close contact with the Active Chapter and the University to ensure our chapter continues to provide leadership opportunities for young men, and to guide the University Policymakers through this challenging time.
In November our chapter was rocked with unsupported allegations of the use of "date rape" drugs on unsuspecting co-eds. The chapter executive board was called before the school and over 50 members attended this ad-hoc meeting called by the Greek Affairs leader Stephan Lamb. The concern of our members and the quick reaction of alumni as a unit showed the University that Epsilon Rho was willing to examine itself to ensure it was not putting any student in danger. The chapter and the ACB immediately executed a membership review by an independent outside consultant in concert with the National Organization. I am pleased to report that we found without a question that these accusations were not related to members of the fraternity. ACB soon followed up with the University with our findings and corrective action plans to ensure that students are not put at risk. The National organization has seen our quick reaction as an excellent example of what an involved alumni base can do to guide young men into becoming responsible leaders.
Your ACB continues to work tirelessly to ensure the undergraduates at Cal Poly SLO have a top notch house and are leaders on campus and in the community. Our chapter continues to grow, change, and evolve in an era of higher academic requirements. Please take the time to volunteer for one of many positions to support the chapter and guide young men into tomorrow's leadership.
Our chapter members remain an example of leadership on campus with involvement in government, IFC sports, academic clubs, and in the community with philanthropy. The Chapter and ACB finances remain solid as we build a chapter replacement fund.
Jonathan S. Monfort, ”Peabody”, F’81
Epsilon Rho ACB President
The Chapter House
Recently Completed Projects:
During summer of 2004 construction was completed on the kitchen remodel and renovation of two suites: Butcher and Deadwood. New kitchen equipment installed included stainless steel work-tops and sinks and a commercial dishwasher.
As our 2005 Newsletter reported, this work used scarce capital at that time and was helped by alumni donations:
“Since many alumni were not comfortable taking on new debt, ACB has phased the Renovation in segments to follow cash flow. This has caused us to deplete our normal cash reserves to unusually low balances, but we now have a small line-of-credit as an emergency back up.
Our alumni donations vary from $25 to $2,500 (to ACB for capital projects) but please know that every donation counts and we document each donation and project it funded, or will fund. If you ever have a question concerning your donation, please feel free to contact me (Rick “Bozo” Rengel) at rick@rengelarch.com or 805-541-7115.”
Note: you can make a donation with the help of information in the “Alumni Association” section of this web site.
ACB voted to use $50,000 to renovate the four remaining suites in the summer of 2005. The four suites renovated were Zoo, Zone, Midnight, and Come Inn.
Each suite received major component replacements. A heavy duty, commercial grade, fiberglass door was installed, along with Milgard vinyl double pane windows, new carpets and pads, and new wall switches and electrical outlets. Wall and ceiling drywall was patched, retextured, and repainted. Ceiling fan-lights were added to suite living rooms.
Many alumni made a capital contribution to our building and renovation fund during this period of great need and scarce resources. Thanks to each of you, and especially to Ric “Ranger” Heinzen, S’69, and Noel “Bull” Shutt, F’69, for your outstanding gifts. They made a difference.
