Things to consider re: Founders Day....

(Brother Alex Heideman, 5.31.2016)


Brothers,

I hope all is well. I have a number of thoughts on Joaquin’s email, as well as the notes taken by Brother Tockman. If you’d humor me, please see below.

Firstly, before there are any votes on anything, or perhaps even any further emails, I should hope that all former Grand Masters are included. Just off the top of my head, we’re missing my two predecessors, Ian Fried and Andres Rivero, and my two successors, James Gullo and Jacob Parsons.

I’d like to say that I am grateful for the interest in the Chapter that Founders’ seemed to ignite. I think that this is an opportune moment to reevaluate our involvement as an alumni body so that we can better serve not only our interests, but also the interests of the undergraduate members of the Chapter.

With regard to the Founders' Banquet Feedback:

a. Assign Tables

I completely agree. I think that a lot of undergraduates are either intimidated or apathetic when it comes to meeting alumni. Unfortunately, I think it is incumbent upon us as alumni to go out of our way to engage with the undergraduates. If that means that we must force them to sit with us at Founders', then so be it.

This speaks really to a greater problem that I think was noticed at Founders’ when so many undergraduates either stood at the bar or left during the speeches of WGM Marchman and DGM Terry: there is a disconnect between the undergraduate members and the alumni members. I think the only way to solve this is to have greater alumni involvement. I’ll touch on that point below.

b. Slideshow

I completely agree. If you remember, I put out multiple calls for photographs for a slideshow. I received notes from only three alumni. Furthermore, the undergraduates were not helpful in this production or in simple tasks that would have allowed the slideshow that I had created to be shown at the Banquet.

All of this is to say, if this is important to the alumni, then one alumnus will have to be dedicated to its production.

c. More Organized Programming

i. BearFest

We have had BearFest sign-ups posted online in advance in the past. In 2015, only one team of alumni signed up. This year, there was a sign-up sheet posted the week of the event. No alumni signed up.

Further, rules at Emory seem to be ever-changing, and I’m not sure it is beneficial or safe to have the event at the Chapter house any longer. Perhaps this needs to be moved to an off-campus location. Maybe then more alumni would show and participate.

ii. TopGolf

Brother Powell organized golf the Saturday morning of the Banquet. Notice was sent out in advance. Around 6 alumni showed interest. Those who went definitely had a great time. I’m not sure, however, that attempting to organize the event on a larger scale would be beneficial.

iii. Other

From my understanding, there may have been other events that were held during Founders’ Weekend that were either poorly advertised or purposefully did not include everyone. I should hope that we are able to move beyond small differences as an alumni community and avoid such divisive practices, even if just for one weekend.

d. Moving to Homecoming

Over the past four years, the Chapter has hosted a Homecoming event for each Homecoming Weekend. These events have not only been advertised during the summers before, but have also included components that alumni should be excited to be a part of: blues bands, BBQ, parades, Atkins Park Tavern (where more food was provided), etc. For example, this past Homecoming, I organized a celebration of Delta-Theta’s 90th Anniversary: maybe 8 alumni showed.

I could not possibly understand the benefit of moving our Founders’ to Homecoming when Homecoming attendance is already so dismal. The date of Founders’ corresponds to our historical founding. Would we celebrate our 20th Anniversary not on April 26, 2026, but on September 26, 2026?


With regard to Alpha Board of Directors:

I drafted the bylaws to the Board of Directors during my term as Grand Master. That was two years ago. Participation of all alumni was requested, and there was little interest expressed. If that has changed, then wonderful.

I’ve attached the bylaws that Savan had me revise this past fall. If someone else would like to take the lead on this, please feel free.


With regard to alumni involvement in general:

The Chapter is undoubtedly in need of more and healthier alumni involvement. Without alumni guidance, the Chapter loses vision of Kappa Sigma’s purpose on Emory’s campus.

Frankly, we need advisors who are willing to be on the ground and at the Chapter house. From my understanding, DGM Terry reached out to a number of Alpha alumni in the Atlanta area to see if they were willing to serve as AAs. No one was interested.

Beyond on-site advisors, I firmly believe that there is a place for everyone to be involved. Please, do not rely solely on our Alpha alumni community. Our alumni most assuredly must be more involved in the Emory community as a whole. This too benefits the chapter. If you want to find ways to be involved in the Emory alumni activities, reach out to Sarah Cook, Vice President for Alumni Affairs (sccook@emory.edu); if you want to be involved with the Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life, reach out to Marlon Gibson, Director of Sorority & Fraternity Life (m.gibson@emory.edu); if you want to be involved in fraternity housing, reach out to current GM Ubieta (alek.daniel.ubieta@emory.edu).

The most important thing is that we garner attendance from more alumni.

I’m happy that so many showed up this year, but am concerned that our 11th Anniversary in 2017 will once again return to low numbers and a lack of responsibility.

Again, thank you to all who showed up and made the event such a success. I look forward to working with everyone in the future to ensure that all Alpha events continue to be successful.

AEKDB

Alexander M. Heideman
aheidem@alumni.emory.edu
Emory University '15C