College of Chapters Builds Leaders

In June, more than 300 undergraduate members of Sigma Nu will make a pilgrimage to the birthplace of the Legion of Honor, Lexington, VA, to take part in the 2007 College of Chapters. All College of Chapters events will be held on the campuses of Washington and Lee University and Virginia Military Institute. The College of Chapters is Sigma Nu's biennial leadership development conference, funded by the Sigma Nu Educational Foundation. The intensive, interactive curriculum focuses on leadership,

teambuilding and the core principles of Sigma Nu. Our collegiate brothers will learn more about themselves, connect with brothers from chapters and colonies across North America, find solutions to their challenges, discover ideas that can help take their chapters to the next level and learn skills that can help them succeed both now and after graduation. The Fraternity's staff and volunteers are currently meeting to finalize the curriculum for the 2007 College of Chapters.

As with previous years, undergraduate brothers attending the program will renew their initiation vows on VMI's parade ground. This ceremony will take place on the very location where our three founders Hopkins, Quarles and Riley met on a moonlit night in October 1868. When they met, Brothers Hopkins, Quarles and Riley clasped their hands on the Bible and gave a solemn pledge to form a new brotherhood society they called the Legion of Honor. The vows taken this fateful evening bound them together to oppose hazing and encourage the application of the Principle of Honor in all their relationships.

Geoff Willeke (Drury) attended the 2005 College of Chapters while serving as Commander of his chapter. At the end of the week he said he came away with many new ideas and strategies. He says he grew as a leader in discovering that "the one way I do things is not necessarily the right way. You can accomplish more through synergy and the help of others than if you try to do it all on your own," he says. He also commented that being at College of Chapters with other brothers provided an environment in which

they could learn from one another and rely on each another. "It helped me to know that I need a support team if I really want to be the best that I can be."

Thanks to loyal support from our alumni, the Foundation can continue to sponsor important leadership training opportunities like College of Chapters. With many of our chapters electing younger members to key leadership roles, the training we provide today will certainly pay off in the future. Thank you for helping us make a difference in the lives of our collegiate brothers!