Sigma Chi - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

DELTA PSI CHAPTER OF SIGMA CHI FRATERNITY AT RPI 58pinewoods@gmail.com WINTER 2020 O ur 2020 anniversary was recognized through a Zoom call hosted by Bob "Ruff " Hutnick '71, our reunion coordinator, on the December 2, 2020, anniversary date. More than 45 brothers attended. e 70 Years Reunion Celebration as Delta Psi of Sigma Chi (100 years of Phi Epsilon Phi) was delayed to 2021 because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Discussions are underway for the reunion to be held during fall Homecoming 2021. Ruff (bobhutnick@gmail.com) is looking for help and input on the planning and events schedule for 2021. Watch for email messages for future updates. 70 YEARS REUNION ZOOM CALL – REUNION DELAYED TO 2021 Actives Update L ed by Alumni Tribune Brandyn Sigouin '22, Consul Issac Favata '21, and other officers of Delta Psi, a Zoom call was held on November 18, 2020, attended by more than 30 brothers. Eighteen brothers are living at the Pomeroy Chapter House this semester, following COVID-19 safety protocols that exceed the school's requirements and have become a prototype for other Sig chapters in the area. Chef Mike is back preparing meals and is the only person allowed in the kitchen. All meals use disposable serving plates, glasses, and utensils. "We made it through the semester with zero positive COVID-19 cases," Favata said. "is demonstrates the success in the execution our chapter house reopening plan." All sophomores were required to participate remotely during the fall 2020 semester. In-person academic instruction for the fall semester ended Friday, November 20, 2020. The rest of the fall semester will be conducted remotely. The first day of spring 2021 semester will be January 19, 2021, and in-person academic instructions will begin February 1, 2021. All juniors are required to participate remotely during the spring 2021 semester. Community service has also been at the forefront for the chapter, with a successful neighborhood leaf rake and volunteering to assist the family of a popular local business called Moxie's. The chapter remains under a two- year suspension. "We, the Delta Psi actives, are thankful for the continuous support and communication from our alumni as we continue to navigate COVID-19 and our relationship with the university," Sigouin said. Look for more Zoom call invitations sent via the alumni email. D espite many past years of success, we feel it is important to be forthright about the challenges that Pinewoods Educational Foundation (PEF) faces in the years ahead. We have seen two extraordinary events come to pass in the last year: the two-year suspension of the active chapter and the COVID-19 pandemic. e impact has been immediate. As a result of the suspension, the size of the chapter has declined, resulting in fewer members applying to live at the Pomeroy Chapter House at 58 Pinewoods. The reduction of live-in brothers has been further compounded by COVID-19. Due to the risk of public transportation and the potential for an outbreak at RPI, several brothers opted to study remotely from their hometowns. As a result, only 17 brothers occupied the chapter house during the fall 2020 semester. We are grateful for their work to ensure the safety of the chapter. In collaboration with Phi Epsilon Phi, they created the strongest COVID-19 health guidelines in the province and have thus far avoided an outbreak. However, the house is holding less than half its normal occupancy of just over 42 men. Rental income for the fall was down more than 50% year-over-year. We expect the income shortfall to continue through the remainder of the suspension and the end of the pandemic. Only then can the numbers begin to improve. It could take years to fully recover. In light of present circumstances, PEF's top priority is to protect our ownership of 58 Pinewoods. Despite severely diminished income, we must continue to service our $1.4M mortgage and build the case for a $1.2M refinancing in 2023. We are working hard to develop a specific plan in the months ahead. Building back will be a difficult task, and yet, a worthy cause. We have all seen what a strong active-alumni partnership can achieve. It is time to muster that collective enthusiasm once again. Success will require renewed commitment from the active chapter and fresh volunteers from our alumni base. We will solicit your help and participation in the near future. In hoc, The Directors of the Pinewoods Educational Foundation Larry Mentz '68 Dan Hudson '70 Paul Cosgrave '72 Jim Manocchi '75 Ken Sobel '12 Pinewoods Educational Foundation Report PHI EPSILON PHI HOUSE CORPORATION UPDATE T he Phi Epsilon Phi House Corporation held elections this December. Candidates included John Pfaff '71, Tony Morelli '90, and Ken Sobel '12. ey will join present members om Kouletsis '76, Jim Rossetti '79, Dan Zuber '10, and Mike Greenberg '15. e results of the elections, and other important updates on the status of the Delta Psi Chapter, will be communicated through our chapter email list. The House Corporation is named for the local fraternity formed in the1920s before the chapter became Sigma Chi on December 2, 1950.

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