Sigma Phi Epsilon - Drake University

drake.sigep.org Fall • 2020 The NewsleTTer for AlumNi ANd frieNds of iowA delTA ChApTer of sigmA phi epsiloN AT drAke uNiversiTy - fAll 2020 Since the start of the pandemic, the Iowa Delta Alumni Board has been partnering with the Chapter's undergraduate leadership, Drake University, and SigEp Headquarters to put together a plan for the safest and most appropriate ways to navigate COVID-19 as an organization. e undergraduate executive board, led by Chapter President Josh Hession '21 and VP Finance Zachary Hildebrand '20, were two months into their terms when they had to make the tough decision to close the Chapter House when Drake moved to online learning in March. Since then, they have been helping lead the task force to navigate the plan to safely move members back into the Chapter House and onto campus. eir plan limits one member to a room, limits the number of people in common spaces, and expands the cleaning and sanitizing of the house. In addition to putting together a plan to keep the members living in the Chapter House safe, the executive board navigated a plan for recruitment this fall. ey virtually brought in several alumni speakers via Zoom throughout Work Week, including Tony Lorino '03 and several SigEp Ruck Institute leaders, to help with topics like crafting their SigEp pitch, structuring effective Zoom meetings for recruitment, and emphasizing the importance of following up with potential new members. With so many of the chapter meetings being conducted over Zoom this semester, there's an opportunity for you to get back in touch with your Chapter, even if you're not in Des Moines. Please let me know if you're interested in being a guest speaker or virtually attending a Chapter meeting. Fraternally, Mark Reiter '15 Chapter Counselor markdonaldreiter@gmail.com Planning to Prevail Through the Pandemic Keeping Our Brothers Safe Is Priority Number One While thinking about so many of you going back to campus, I was excited and scared at the same time. I was excited because you get to be around each other after COVID-19 kept you all apart for so long. I was and am still scared because I know that in our excitement to be around each other, brothers could drop their guard just enough that some may get sick. I urge undergraduates and alumni alike to think about what SigEp stands for as we work together through the fall semester to flatten the COVID-19 curve. Virtue is doing the right thing, even when no one else is looking. Please make sure you are following university guidelines and policies when it comes to events, social distancing, masks, etc. Not just to be compliant, but to protect yourselves and others. It is the virtuous thing to do. Diligence is working as hard as you can at all times. We need to be diligent when it comes to protecting ourselves and others from COVID-19. We also need to be diligent when it comes to taking on the real challenges our brothers and chapters are facing this year. Brotherly Love has never been more important. If we want to continue to be able to be around each other and enjoy the love of our brotherhood this semester, we need to be smart and careful when we are together. I know this will be difficult—we are social beings, we are family, and we miss each other. But no one wants to see their brother get sick, and all of us want to be able to be together again without interruption. Please, practice Brotherly Love in its fullest sense this semester. Brothers, stay safe and healthy, and remember, VDBL is at the core of all that we do. And please let us know if there is anything we can do to help you. Fraternally, Tom Jelke, Florida International '90 Grand President Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity For those of us looking at SigEp from afar, let's remember these cardinal principles in our daily lives. In business, in our communities, in our families, in everything, COVID-19 has so many unanswered questions for so many of us. What remains steadfast, however, is if we hold true to these principles of Virtue, Diligence, and Brotherly Love, we will all come through the pandemic with a sense of pride that we've done what was right, worked hard on it, and watched out for our fellow men and women. As you reflect on all that has happened since March—whether it be in prayer, meditation, or just in a moment to yourself—I encourage you to think and wish well to our undergraduate brothers. Like us re-founders in the early 2000s, they are in uncharted territory keeping Valuing SigEp's Founding Principles Tom Jelke and Tony Lorino Encourage Brothers to Live by Virtue, Diligence, and Brotherly Love as Fall Semester Begins (Continued on page 3)

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