| Delta
Sigma Phi launched its first Brotherhood
Retreat last month on the campus of Indiana
University in Bloomington, Indiana. Chapters
and colonies in the Midwest were asked to
invite their most outstanding new initiates
to attend. Nine chapters/colonies sent a
total of 24 new initiates. The retreat,
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Welcome to the Brotherhood Retreat! |
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which
was funded in part by the Delta Sigma Phi Foundation,
was an opportunity for new initiates to extend
their fraternal experience beyond their own chapter/colony.
Four upperclassmen who are graduates of the Delta
Sigma Phi Leadership Institute served as mentors.
Participants also interacted with staff, alumni
and national volunteers who facilitated the retreat
sessions.
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The
weekend curriculum gave these young men
the unique opportunity to be focused exclusively
on Delta Sigma Phi, our ritual and the concept
of brotherhood: what it is, what it means
to us, what we can do to promote and sustain
it, and what can threaten it if not attended
to. Interactive discussions, exercises and
personal reflection were important teaching
tools and allowed the opportunity for participants
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to
expand their network of brothers. The ultimate
goal of the retreat was to deepen the participants'
understanding of brotherhood so that they could
return to their chapters/colonies as better brothers
themselves and more capable of building better
men among their peers.
A
favorite event among many participants was the
Fireside Chats held on the last night of the retreat.
Each of four small group sessions had one alumnus
who shared stories from his fraternity experience
about leadership, values, friendship, the impact
of Delta Sig on his life and his perspective on
the future of the fraternity. Participants were
encouraged to ask questions, seek insight and
share their own stories. Some comments that resulted
from this experience included many who stated
that this was the best part of the retreat. One
participant stated, "The fireside speakers
were great! To hear the stories of things they
did to change their chapter gave me a lot of hope
for the future of DSP."
Lance
Lucas Kentucky '03 served as an
undergraduate mentor for the retreat. He
shares his perspective on the weekend: "The
retreat touched on several aspects of brotherhood
that are sometimes omitted from chapter
pledge programs. The meaning of our ritual,
the importance of being your brother's keeper,
a deeper look into our history, and an insight
into the
values that
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we live and breathe were all covered in detail.
Every new initiate should have the opportunity
to attend the Brotherhood Retreat and learn these
important aspects of membership."
Participant evaluations showed 100% agreement
that Delta Sigma Phi should continue to offer
the Brotherhood Retreat and all of the participants
said they would recommend it to their chapter
brothers. Future Brotherhood Retreats will be
held 2-3 times each year in various regions of
the country.
Additional comments about the Brotherhood Retreat
are included below:
"I enjoyed the brotherhood retreat, because
it has given me the tools to become a leader and
to work towards the betterment of my chapter and
its men."
"I learned how the Delta Sigma Phi experience
carries on past college life."
"Chris Northern and the other speakers
changed my perspective on the Fraternity and the
value of brotherhood."
"This is a great program for new initiates.
There was so much I learned that I can take back
to my chapter."
"This was my first experience with the
national Delta Sigma Phi Fraternity and after
going through this I can assure you it will not
be the last."
