Alpha Sigma Phi - University of Washington

3 B y the time you read this column, Mu Chapter will have just initiated another 27 exceptional men into the Mystic Circle of Alpha Sigma Phi. Our current roster number, bestowed upon Gabe Wilson from Issaquah High School, is 2,263! Ini- tiation is now taking place in the late Fall rather than during Winter Quarter. This change is aimed at having a greater emphasis on successfully managing the extraordinarily demanding academic schedules of the new members, along with the benefit of integrating the pledge class into the Brotherhood sooner. It also allows the chapter to actively recruit a Spring Quarter class of new members sooner. Continued growth is key to any successful chapter or orga- nization, and you can be proud that the undergrad leadership has fully teamed up with the rush chairmen to drive record-breaking membership numbers. Over the past 18 months, Mu Chapter has initiated a total of 67 new members, and it is not just the numbers that are impressive, it is the outstanding character, unique personal life stories, backgrounds, goals, and academic prowess of these new Brothers that is highly remarkable. All-told the Mu mem- bership on campus is over 100 men. And the chapter maintains the enviable position of consistently being in the top-ten houses for grades each quarter, among a highly competitive field of 33 houses. Also of note over the past several months has been the gatherings and reunions of alumni members from many eras. Mu Chapter has a group of dedicated alumni who have gathered each summer for a three-day weekend consisting of golf, great food, good company, and grand camaraderie. This group of alumni members primarily from the mid-to-late 70's has assembled for the "Joe Plierhands" golf tournament for the past quarter of a century! And in late September, Brother Blake Hoefer organized a 40 th Anniversary reunion attended by 100 Brothers and their wives. The epic and memorable event took place at the same location as the pledge dance 40 years earlier – Inglewood Golf Club! What started as an idea to assemble the pledges from 1977 soon became a much larger and exciting event spanning several pledge classes. HSP Sean Kron and new member Grant Bringham served as greeters and their presence made a unique connection with the alumni. The renewal of our fraternal bonds is important and meaningful beyond words. Finally, I want to thank the alumni who have so far this year appeared as guests at Monday Night Dinner and whose wisdom continues to make the speakers series at the chapter one of the best on campus. Charlie Conner, Jonathan Fleming, Greg Hanson, Mark Kroese, and Jeff Roe have all made appearances at the head table. They have all presented invaluable ideas to the undergrads aimed at making their current venture at the UW — and their future ventures in the larger community and in life — meaningful and successful. Jeff Roe's exceptional presentation included the important reminder of maintaining goals across all areas of your life. And with that in mind I will share with you two of my goals for Mu Chapter. If you dig deep enough in the HSP's desk proudly reposing in an undisclosed location in the Mu Chapter House, you will find a notecard that I wrote on a couple of decades ago. It stated that Mu Chapter will have a one-million dollar scholarship endowment, and a one-million dollar building endowment. Through the generous contributions of alumni, we have almost achieved the first of those two lofty, but extraordinarily vital, goals. And the second goal, the million dollar building endowment trust fund, is about 20% complete. Thank you for your constant support and devotion to this remarkable family that we call Mu Chapter. She is the important, vital, stable, and strong college home to so many unique and talented undergrads, and she is the historic and uniting body that holds us all together as alumni Brothers. Causa:Latet:Vis:Est:Notissima Spectacular Growth, combined with Renewal! BOB STRECKER '78 Grand Chapter Advisor Photo by Will Wilson

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