We just got word from Evanston that we now have an officially
recognized an “Interest Group” at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical
University in Prescott! Bill Scott has been working on this for a
while now and this is good news. There is a Sigma Chi Chapter at the
Embry-Riddle campus in Florida and their campus in Prescott has about
1600 students with 80% of them being male. I believe that there are
already two other Fraternities up there as well as a colony for a Sorority.

Most of the guys in the Interest group (I think it is about 20) are
in Air Force ROTC and are studying some type of Engineering or Global Security.

The process the group of guys at Embry-Riddle Prescott will now go
through is to assemble an Advisory team and to prepare a formal
application to become a Colony. Once that process is concluded
(around 18 months minimum) they will be voted on by the other Houses
in the Province and that recommendation forwarded to Headquarters.

So far we have a small group of Alum’s willing to help in the
Advisory role (mostly the “usual suspects”) and we are asking for any
others Alums, especially those in the Prescott area – either living
or with second homes – to lend a hand to ease the burden for
everyone. Plus it is not often that one gets to help with the
Founding of a new Chapter!

Additionally the Greek Advisor at Embry-Riddle is an Alpha Phi and
she would really like to see an Alpha Phi Chapter be started up
there. She has been a tremendous help in getting the University to go
along with our starting a Chapter up there so we would like to assist
her too. If anyone is married to an Alpha Phi or has a friend that
is an Alpha Phi that would be willing to help the Greek Advisor at
Embry-Riddle look into starting a Chapter please let us know.

Oh, and by the way the answer is yes the Riddle in Embry-Riddle is a
distant relation from the same side of the Family as the Samuel
Riddle that owned Glen Riddle Farms that produced Man-o-War and War
Admiral the horse beaten by Sea Biscuit as shown in the Movie. That
branch of the family is from North Carolina and my branch came out of
Virginia with both branches coming to America from Scotland.

THE HARLEM GLOBETROTTER’S MATTHEW SCHMITZ IS SIG SPEAKER FOR SEPTEMBER

Brother Matthew Schmitz, Assistant General Manager for the Harlem
Globetrotters International, Inc., will talk about the storied organization
and it’s players when the Phoenix Sigma Chi Alumni Chapter meets.

The September meeting is set for Wednesday, September 10 at the Phoenix City
Grill Restaurant located at 5816 N. 16th Street (Southwest corner of
Bethany Home Rd.) in Phoenix. Cocktails at 6:00pm, dinner at 6:30 and our
speaker at 7:00.

SIGS WILL LEARN ABOUT THE EFFECT OF THE “BROWN HAZE” OVER THE VALLEY,
THE CURRENT STATUS OF THE “TOBACCO” CONFLICT AND MUCH MORE AT THE
AUGUST ALUMNI MEETING

Bill Pfeifer, President and CEO of the American Lung Association of
Arizona and New Mexico will speak at the August meeting of the
Phoenix Sigma Chi Alumni Chapter.

The meeting will be held Wednesday, August 13th at the Phoenix City
Grill Restaurant, 5816 N. 16th Street (Southwest corner with Bethany
Home Rd.) in Phoenix. Cocktails at 6pm, followed by dinner at 6:30
and our speaker at 7:00.

SIGS WILL HEAR ABOUT LAST WEEK’S SIGMA CHI GRAND CHAPTER IN ORLANDO AT OUR
JULY CHAPTER MEETING
Our own, Former Grand Quaester Mike Dunn, will speak on
who the new national officers are, new legislation past and
fraternity rules that were changed during the biannual Grand Chapter
that just ended at the July meeting of the Phoenix Sigma Chi Alumni Chapter.

The meeting will be held Wednesday, July 9 at The Phoenix City Grill
Restaurant, 5816 N. 16th Street (Southwest corner with Bethany Home
Rd.) in Phoenix. Cocktails a1 6pm, followed by dinner at 6:30 and our
speaker at 7:00.

Greetings,

The Battles with ASU over our ability to remain on Alpha Drive look
to be coming to a long period of Truce. Bob Hobbs and Bruce Sedlak
lead our side in negotiating a settlement that should see the Houses
safe for another twenty years. We are just working on the final details now.

That said there is a very real risk that all of this effort will be
for naught if we do not get some Alumni Volunteers to step up. As
you know the Consul this last year at the House lead them into a
direction they had not gone since 1996. That was into a membership
review which has seen the House cut down in size from a 120 man
chapter to about 65 right now. They appear to have some good new
young leaders poised to put the House right along with some good
direction by a new Chapter Advisor and his group of assistants.

The problem lies in that the lender (Constantine Capital, Sigma Chi
run group tasked with making loans to Sigma Chi Chapters) we have the
loan from that allowed us to purchase the House has a policy of not
loaning money to chapters not in good standing. The House at ASU is
currently on probation and will not be back on good standing until next May.

We have gotten CCI to agree to extend the balance of the pledged loan
(the amount used to buy the building was $162,000 and the balance is
about $200,000) for needed and required renovations to the forty year
old building. They have placed a requirement in front of us that we
need to meet however. The original loan (the entire $362,000) was
original covered by a group of alums that agreed to act as loan
guarantors in the amount of $33,000.00. CCI is now going to require
that the entire loan amount be covered by loan guarantees. The
addition $329,000 in notes would be required only until the Chapter
returns to Good Standing at which point those guarantees will expire
and the original $33,000 will suffice. So far we have gotten a small
group to step up to the plate to assist in trying to meet this new
requirement but we are only about half way there. If you can help
please contact me directly. Here is you has stepped up to help so
far and the amount that we are short. If we cannot get this done in
the very near term we run the risk of losing the war since the House
would not be able to be occupied and/or ASU could condemn the House
since we would be in breach of the settlement agreement.

Guarantee Balance
$329,200.00
David W. Riddle $50,200.00 $279,000.00 ASU
Mike Dunn $50,000.00 $229,000.00 Utah State
Marshall Christy $25,000.00 $204,000.00 UofA
Bill Scott $25,000.00 $179,000.00 UofA
Bill Harris $ 5,000.00 $174,000.00 ASU
??? $50,000.00 $124,000.00
??? $50,000.00 $ 74,000.00
??? $50,000.00 $ 24,000.00
??? $24,000.00 $ –

If you can help with one of the recommended pledges above or any part
at all please let me know ASAP.

FYI, We have a letter from ASU indicating they are willing to buy
the House for the Apprised value (their appraisal while seriously
flawed in undervaluing the House by not being accurate as toward
construction etc..) of $580,000.00. So even in the worse case event
that the Chapter for some reason does not follow through on the items
they are working on to return to Good Status and result in the
Chapter being lost the value of the property as Established by ASU
more than covers the entire note so nothing is really at risk for the
loan guarantors. In fact the House Corp which holds the title to the
land and house will extend a lien in the amount of the loan
guarantees to offset the loan liability that your pledge would result
in for your own personal financial position.

If you have questions please call me at 480-610-8234

ASU’S FRATERNITY COORDINATOR WILL BE OUR SPEAKER FOR THE JUNE MEETING

Mike Najor, Greek Life Coordinator at Arizona State University, will speak on
the current condition of Fraternities on campus and the exciting plans the
University has for enhancing their presence at the June meeting of the Phoenix
Sigma Chi Alumni Chapter.

The meeting will be held Wednesday, June 11 at our regular location at the
Phoenix City Grill Restaurant, 5816 N. 16th Street (Southwest corner with
Bethany Home Rd.) in Phoenix. Cocktails at 6pm, followed by dinner at 6:30 and
our speaker at 7:00.

BROTHERS, DON’T FORGET THIS SATURDAY’S FOUNDER’S DAY GOLF TOURNAMENT

LOCATION – Starfire at Scottsdale Country Club (11500 N. Hayden Rd.)
TIME – This Saturday, June 7 at 7:30am
FORMAT – 4 man scramble
COST – $100 per golf entry, entry fee includes:
Golf, cart, lunch, a drink and a sleeve of Nike Super Soft golf balls with
Sigma Chi logo
HOLE-IN-ONE PRIZE: a set of new Nike Pro Combo Irons

All proceeds go to Sigma Chi National Charity – The Children’s Miracle
Network

Guest are welcome!

E-mail questions to sigmachigolf2003@cox.net

THE RITUAL MARKS THE MAY CHAPTER MEETING

Brotherhood will be celebrated Wednesday night, May 14th with the semi-annual
Ritualistic meeting when the Phoenix Alumni Chapter of Sigma Chi gathers.

The location will be at the Epsilon Upsilon Chapter House at ASU (606 E. Alpha
Drive) in Tempe. Directions are: Rural Rd. (Scottsdale Rd.) south from the 202
to 6th Street (second traffic light). West two blocks to Alpha Drive. The Sig
house is on the northeast corner across from the Basketball Arena. Park in
“large” lot across the street from the House as the parking is open that time
of day.

Dinner and a keg is being provided at no charge by Epsilon Upsilon Housing
Corp. Cocktails at 6pm, dinner at 6:30 and the meeting will start at 7:00. See
you there!

UP-COMING EVENTS:

The 3rd Annual Founders Day Golf Tournament is going to be played
Saturday June 7, 2003 at Starfire at Scottsdale Country Club. As
usual, all proceeds from the tournament will go to the Sigma Chi
charity, the Children’s Miracle Network! Our chairman, Mark Johnson,
has been able to get the hottest new clubs on the market: a brand NEW
SET of NIKE PRO COMBO IRONS (at least you can play the same clubs as
Tiger) that will be a hole-in-one prize, or if no one gets that hole
in one, we will have a silent auction to cover our cost ($500 minimum
bid) and create more money for the Children’s Miracle Network.

Join us on Saturday, June 7 at 7:30 AM for a fun day of golf and brotherhood!

The Details:
What: 3rd Annual Founders Day Golf Tournament
Where: Starfire at Scottsdale Country Club (11500 N. Hayden Rd.)
Why: For our charity, fun and brotherhood
When: Saturday, June 7th, at 7:30 AM Shotgun start
Who: Sigma Chi Fraternity members and friends
Format: 4 man scramble
How much: $100 entry fee includes: golf, cart, lunch, drink and a
sleeve of the new Nike Super Soft golf ball with Sigma Chi logo

You may invite non-Sigma Chi’s as you wish.

You may reserve your spot by just clicking on this email address and
letting us know your name, address, phone (day and evening please),
and how many folks you want to bring. (sigmachigolf2003@cox.net )

We need prizes (golf balls, shirts, gift certificates, business logo
items, etc) so if you can come up with some, please let Mark Johnson
(sigmachigolf2003@cox.net) or Doug Patterson (Doug@tracorp.com) know about it!

OTHER WAYS TO PARTICIPATE:

You can buy a hole to advertise your business or just show your
support: $100.00 includes a sign placed on tee box with business
logo, company name on all literature and correspondence, and a link
to your website if desired.

You can just send a donation for us to include in the money going to
the Charity.

You can donate prizes for the participants.

First lets address the status of the Housing update.

The tremendous leadership of Bob Hobbs and Bruce Sedlack as members
of the Blue Ribbon panel of ASU Greeks charged with meeting weekly
with ASU staff as accomplished some unbelievable goals. Bob’s
influence and Bruce’s drive were instrumental in the success that
appears to be around the corner.

ASU has know offered a proposal that will see us safely ensconced at
606 Alpha Drive for at least the next twenty years safe from eminent
domain proceedings by the University. There are some conditions of
course such as the external maintenance of he property having to be
up to the CC&R codes as will be enacted by the Alpha Drive
Association and that we each fund a maintenance account to ensure
that this work can be accomplished should a house default.

The University has torn down the old Theta Delt house that was
between our House and the PIKE house. Delta Sig will probably be
moving down the street to this lot and SAE may be moving down to the
Green land behind our house too. Their moving will allow ASU to
acquire their land along with the Solar House and the tennis courts
at that end of Alpha Drive will at least allow the University to
utilize some of the land on our parcel.

The University has also signaled that they will work with us to
establish some more equitable judicial processes re: fraternities at ASU.

Just a four short months ago this outcome would have been thought
impossible. The committee and the resources it brought to bear have
worked a miracle. Of course outright financial threats from some
“heavy hitter” alums from the various Alpha Drive houses backed up by
word from the ASU Foundation that 65% of its donations come from the
Greek community helped to put things in perspective too.

———-
Membership Review Update

As mentioned previously the Active Chapter crossed some lines at the
end of this last semester and the beginning of this one that coupled
with some other outstanding issues resulted in us being directed by
Headquarters in conducting a Membership review of the Active
Chapter. As of today the House population of 129 (Actives and
Pledges) has been trimmed to 23 invited to return to Active/Pledge
Status (21 Actives and 2 Pledges), 52 having filed appeals (43
Actives and 9 Pledges – I believe most of the appeals heard so far
have been approved with conditions and I believe those that have been
denied have been invited to address some issues that they may have
and file a second appeal), 17 Actives that choose not to appeal after
their interview and the application of the requirements as directed
by Headquarters (cumulative GPA has to be above the All Men’s Average
and they cannot owe any money to the Chapter) and another 37 Actives
that chose to not participate in the process. If all the Actives and
Pledges that went through the Interview and the Appeals process for
those that need to meet some additional requirements are granted we
should start the Fall 2003 semester with 64 Actives and 11 Pledges.
Obviously down significantly from the current 129 that we show on the
books but this heavy pruning the House should be prepared to move
forward and make us and themselves proud of their accomplishments

Last week we were also forced to not only remove the Consul from
office (under direction by the Grand Consul) but to take the very
unusual step of evicting him from the property too. This step was
forced by (among other things) his inattention to addressing his need
to meet with ASU re: the current discipline issues as well as his
apparent fomenting of “mutiny” against the process that we were
tasked with carrying out, sadly he still has the Consul Badge of the
House and has yet to return it despite repeated requests that he do
so. This is the Original Badge that was given to the House when it
was chartered and which has been worn by ALL the Epsilon Upsilon Consuls.

The new Consul for next year (elected in the normal course of
elections) is Matt Miksin. Matt was an Architecture Student who has
now switched to Civil and Urban Planning. He was Annotator this past
semester and carries an outstanding 3.5+ cumulative GPA! Matt has
been working with Austen Jensen (the Magister for next semester) to
design an outstanding Pledge Program that the Chapter can be proud of
and they have been assisted by Mike Dunn (Past Grand Queaster) and
George Gronbacher, the new Chapter Advisor along with Bill Scott the
outgoing Praetor. Austen should be returning to school in the fall
completely charged up and ready to lead a really good pledge program
as not only will he be attending the Balfour Leadership Workshop that
the Executive Chapter officers are supposed to attend but he also
applied for and was also selected to attend the new Horizons
Leadership Program (http://www.sigmachi.org/horizons/) that
Headquarters recently began.

Matt and Austen will be presenting to Dean Sullivan (Judicial Dean)
their complete program plan at the end of the month. Hopefully their
hard work will see the Chapter back into the good graces of our host
University and the General Fraternity.

Mark Your Calendars

The 3rd Annual Founders Day Golf Tournament is going to be played
Saturday June 7, 2003 at Starfire at Scottsdale Country Club. As
usual, all proceeds from the tournament will go to the Sigma Chi
charity, the Children’s Miracle Network! Our chairman, Mark Johnson,
has been able to get the hottest new clubs on the market: a brand NEW
SET of NIKE PRO COMBO IRONS (at least you can play the same clubs as
Tiger) that will be a hole-in-one prize, or if no one gets that hole
in one, we will have a silent auction to cover our cost ($500 minimum
bid) and create more money for the Children’s Miracle Network.

Join us on Saturday, June 7 at 7:30 AM for a fun day of golf and brotherhood!

The Details:
What: 3rd Annual Founders Day Golf Tournament
Where: Starfire at Scottsdale Country Club (11500 N. Hayden Rd.)
Why: For our charity, fun and brotherhood
When: Saturday, June 7th, at 7:30 AM Shotgun start
Who: Sigma Chi Fraternity members and friends
Format: 4 man scramble
How much: $100 entry fee includes: golf, cart, lunch, drink and a
sleeve of the new Nike Super Soft golf ball with Sigma Chi logo

You may invite non-Sigma Chi’s as you wish.

You may reserve your spot by just clicking on this email address and
letting us know your name, address, phone (day and evening please),
and how many folks you want to bring. (sigmachigolf2003@cox.net )

We need prizes (golf balls, shirts, gift certificates, business logo
items, etc) so if you can come up with some, please let Mark Johnson
(sigmachigolf2003@cox.net) or Doug Patterson (Doug@tracorp.com) know about it!

OTHER WAYS TO PARTICIPATE:

You can buy a hole to advertise your business or just show your
support: $100.00 includes a sign placed on tee box with business
logo, company name on all literature and correspondence, and a link
to your website if desired.

You can just send a donation for us to include in the money going to
the Charity.

You can donate prizes for the participants.

SIGMA CHI ALUMNI WILL SEE INTO THE FUTURE FOR THE CITY OF PHOENIX
NEXT WEEK AT OUR APRIL MEETING

Joy Mee, Assistant Planning Director for the City of Phoenix will
enlighten the brothers as she discusses the City of Phoenix General
Plan at the April meeting of the Phoenix Sigma Chi Alumni Chapter.

The meeting will be held Wednesday, April 9 at the Phoenix City
Grill, 5816 N. 16th Street (Southwest corner with Bethany Home Rd.)
in Phoenix. Cocktails at 6pm, followed by dinner at 6:30 and our
speaker at 7:00.