Sigma Pi - Missouri University of Science & Technology

Fall 2020 Newsletter

Alpha Iota Chapter of Sigma Pi at the University of Missouri Science & Technology

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fall 2020 THE CROSSING A. I. SP The CROSSING A s we near the end of 2020, it's worthwhile to take a moment to reflect on some of the challenges Alpha Iota has faced this year. With the COVID-19 pandemic, the chapter was forced to accept an early end to spring semester classes, prepare and adhere to a safe plan to return to the house, and develop a new approach to recruitment in a virtual environment. There is certainly no playbook on how to operate in this new environment, and the chapter, with the help of campus and alumni, has successfully navigated this unusual year. The chapter implemented rigid health protocols, and the members have conducted themselves in a safe, responsible manner this semester. Despite these challenges, there are many things to celebrate. At our Homecoming Building Association meeting, the chapter voted to expand the size of AIBA's board in anticipation of more alumni involvement as directors at-large. AIEF unveiled an ambitious scholarship program intended to challenge the chapter members and reward the results. AIBA, through the efforts of Alumni Director Jeff Mockaitis '96, has many ambitious plans to increase alumni involvement, as well as improve our communications and influence with the executive office. From a financial standpoint, we stabilized our long-term debt structure and our annual operational costs in the new house. The original financial assumptions have held and resulted in a house bill that is still competitive with other new housing on campus. If you would like to support the communication efforts of the AIBA and help offset other rising costs at the chapter due to COVID, please use the enclosed envelope to send your gift today. We have now set our sights on fall 2021 recruitment. Working with the chapter, we plan to develop a modern, innovative approach. We are committed to giving the chapter members the tools they need to fill the house and remain the best fraternity option at MS&T! Fraternally, Kurt W. Steinmann '97, AIBA President Alumni and Active Brothers Work Together to Navigate New Normal at MS&T O ne year ago, I joined the Board of the Alpha Iota Building Association as alumni director, and what a pleasure it has been serving in this position. Alumni director is a new role for the AIBA, and I have been talking to several brothers about how best to support the Building Association, the undergraduate members, and the alumni. My strategic vision for the alumni director includes the following: • Facilitate a sustained outreach program, including events and communications to connect brothers (undergraduate and alumnus) to one another and to foster a stronger connection with the Alpha Iota Chapter; • Assist undergraduate members and alumni in recruiting and networking for jobs and business opportunities; • Develop long-term strategies for fundraising to support the house, working in conjunction with AIEF; and • Recruit volunteers to work with AIBA on the board, as committee heads and on short-term projects. Below are some specific initiatives that I am spearheading: 1. Contact Information Gathering—yes, I need your help on this one. Our alumni database improved during the capital campaign, but it is already starting to deteriorate, especially the email addresses. Included with this newsletter is an envelope and response card; please update your contact information (especially your email address), and send it back. We are using email and the Facebook Group, Alpha Iota of Sigma Pi Alumni Group, to communicate in between newsletters. Your updated email address will make communications so much easier. Thank you! 2. Alumni Events—Cardinals away game, Cubs/Cardinals game, alumni bar nights. These are activities that all Alpha Iota brothers are invited to, and we hope to grow attendance at all of these. Upcoming events are in flux due to COVID-19, but we will market these events more aggressively going forward. We are also planning a large alumni reunion for Homecoming 2021. 3. Volunteers—Alumni volunteers are the strongest connection to the undergraduate chapter. They provide institutional knowledge and guidance to the undergraduate members, oversight of chapter activities, and individual mentorship. As we work to strengthen Alpha Iota, AIBA needs more alumni volunteers. AIBA has expanded its board to seven members, and we are looking for three alumni brothers to step forward. The current AIBA board were all undergraduates during the mid-1990s. We are looking for alumni from different eras UPDATE FROM ALPHA IOTA BUILDING ASSOCIATION NEW ALUMNI DIRECTOR Alumni Volunteer Opportunities to Strengthen Brotherhood Await (Continued on page 2)

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