Octagonian Introduction

Sigma Alpha Mu provides a lifetime subscription to The Octagonian to all fratres by providing it online and emailing each member with an email address on file when a new issue is published. If you would like to ensure that you receive a notification each time a new issue is released please update your contact information. There will not be a printed version of the magazine for the Fall-Winter 2020-21 issue. Thank you in advance for your understanding.

The Octagonian covers topical issues relating to Sigma Alpha Mu, active and alumni members, alumni clubs, and the interfraternal community.

In this fall-winter issue, find the following stories:

Supreme Prior Message
The Supreme Prior discusses the difficultly of this fall semester, our response, and his new sense of invigoration.

Around the Chapters Updates

Chapters have shared video updates and stories about how they were able to transition and adapt to virtual operations in Fall 2020.

Expansion at Oklahoma

Learn about our most recent expansion effort back at the University of Oklahoma from our new Founding Fathers of the Sigma Alpha Provisional Chapter.

Beta Psi Wins the Founders Cup

The Beta Psi Chapter at the University of Virginia shares the story of how they became Founders Cup winners, and what they are doing to bring back the trophy in 2021.

Have You Heard

Read about our alumnus accomplishments, awards, or news. 

SAM 2030
With the impending decline in enrollment, learn why the fraternity is transforming its mission, vision, and strategy to attract young men of good moral character. 

Chapter Eternal

Foundation Updates

Dividends and Mergers

Sires and Sons

Supreme Prior Message

Written by Jerry Conrey (Cal State-Fullerton, ’84)

Was this the first column I had envisioned sharing with you as your new Supreme Prior?  Hardly!  For that matter, is this the Octagonian that you are used to receiving?  This is not the fall term that our chapters were expecting either.  We are together undergoing unprecedented, uncertain, and unusual times. While we ALL may be over COVID-19, the pandemic isn’t over us quite yet. 

The Octagon knew hard decisions needed to be made, in preparation of various membership scenarios for this academic year. We brought our volunteers and staff together to evaluate data, and to project financial constraints, and made adjustments. As a result, we paused the printing of the Octagonian this year. The Fraternity has strategically focused its limited resources, to help chapters grow and operate in a virtual format. We had to rethink how we do fraternity. 

Change can be frustrating, stressful, and slow.  Seeing the dedication and transformation is reinvigorating, soul-stirring and makes me prideful.  We were forced to re-think ritual; with the help of staff, we evolved our initiation ceremony into a virtual experience.  Just as prescribed in the Black Book though, our newest initiates began their lifelong journey in Sigma Alpha Mu having been initiated by the Octagon via video conferences. I have had the honor of initiating nearly 300 undergraduate fratres through these ceremonies this fall, also unprecedented.

As you read and experience this digital issue of the Octagonian, there is no limit to the ingenuity and creativity of our members in perpetuating Sigma Alpha Mu. I hope you enjoy seeing and hearing directly from our undergraduate fratres in this issue’s “Around the Chapters” feature. We should all be proud of the undergraduates and advisors, who have absolutely gone above and beyond this year in delivering a fraternity experience despite the limitations forced upon them.

The fraternity continues to play the role of a constant.  We accomplish this through our values, our relationships, and our perseverance. We are fortunate to have passionate members, like yourself, in our ranks. If you have connected with a frater from your chapter, volunteered, donated, bought a Sammy mask, or are simply reading this now – thank you. If you’re ready to do more, please let me know.

In closing, I wish you good health and an even better year ahead.

Fast and firm,

Jerry L. Conrey
Supreme Prior

Expansion at Oklahoma

Written by Alex Hart, Director of Growth

When does life-long brotherhood begin? Graduation, initiation, before you even sign your bid? Recruitment is the lifeblood of Sigma Alpha Mu, the driver of our join culture, and the beginning of brotherhood. Brotherhood doesn’t just happen by putting on the same t-shirt as your friends. It starts simply during recruitment as men begin to build relationships with men.

As the men of Sigma Alpha Mu, we must focus on fostering meaningful connections during recruitment. As the recruitment process is the beginning of relationships that will last a lifetime – the true value of fraternity. 

The fraternity has adapted to the pandemic on our collegiate campuses. While social distancing and programming virtually, how have we strategically fostered these connections? This fall, the Founding Fathers at the University of Oklahoma started a new chapter and have realized the value in relationships.

“The relationships I’ve formed were the most important –  what I’ve been trying to form the whole time”. Jackson Golden came to OU wanting to join a fraternity, and when we connected with his fellow Founding Fathers he knew Sammy was the right fit. “The guys here that we have are good guys. We all hung out together and just clicked.”

The methods by which we recruit and connect have changed. Large in-person gatherings are no more. Small activities are harder to coordinate with schedules and appropriate social distancing. In-person meetings go without handshakes and include face coverings. 

For someone like Brennan Prue, who wasn’t interested in joining a fraternity, that changed when he learned about Sigma Alpha Mu. “This fraternity stuck out as different,” Brennan said. “Everything that’s happened this year, it was a different experience than I expected..” I’m getting to know these guys that I probably would not have met on campus otherwise.” He values these relationships and can already see the benefit. “We’re all from different backgrounds, but we’re able to come together and work as one.”

Though adapting can be challenging, this new normal led us back to generating ways to connect and show care for others.  We are intentional in learning about people: When we met someone, where they come from, what opportunities they are looking for, and where they want to end up. With this, we can better communicate the value of joining Sammy. 

“I wanted to be involved on campus and make a difference. This is a powerful way to do that. All of us can change the dynamic on campus for interfraternity and sorority relationships,” said Jaxon Cervantes.

Over the course of 8-weeks, 16 men joined at Oklahoma. They restarted the newest iteration of their chapter founded exactly 100 years prior. As Sigma Alpha Mu has grown from the simple relationships of 8 men at the City College of New York, our shared vision endeavors. During a pandemic and time of crisis, these men look to be leaders in the fraternal community on their Norman campus.

Adian Suddler recognized the value in the early stages of his fraternity experience. “We are all ambitious while also capable of just hanging out together.,. I honestly think that’s the perfect combination to have for an organization like this. What’s great, is that I think we all look up to each other and we work as each other’s mentors in addition to being friends.” The value of lifelong brotherhood is established during recruitment when we show care for one another, and it has been reaffirmed here in Norman.

Have You Heard

Tell us about your individual accomplishment, award, or news by contacting the Director of Alumni Engagement at kelby@sam.org. 

Bob Zaltsberg (Miami OH, ‘75) will be inducted into the Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame in October 2020

Zaltsberg retired last year after 33 years as editor of the Bloomington Herald-Times. He led the newspaper through the transition from afternoon to morning circulation, through the addition of a Sunday edition, into the digital age and, along the way, collected two Blue Ribbon Newspaper honors. He was involved in the Bloomington community as well as state and national journalism organizations. He was involved in the Bloomington community as well as state and national journalism organizations. Colleagues say, “his respectful, steady hand allowed him to run the newspaper the way a top-notch conductor runs a symphony.”

Sigma Delta at Rutgers Alumni Event Fall 2021

The Centennial Reunion for the Sigma Delta Chapter of Rutgers University will take place on Saturday, October 2, 2021, at The Heldrich Hotel, New Brunswick, NJ Cost from 6-10 PM EDT. Registration for this event costs $150 per attendee. To find more information, go to www.rusammyalumni.com. If you have questions, please email, David “BB” Brooks, (Rutgers, ’87) at mrmath92@yahoo.com.

SAM 2030

We look forward to delivering more of the ΣAM 2030 Plan in Spring 2021 to help the international fraternity, local chapters, and our constituents rally together to achieve the success that we know is critical to sustaining the fraternity for years to come. 

A 2-page overview of the plan is now available. Click the PDF Images to view and download.

The committee continues to engage stakeholders in this process to develop a successful strategy and vision. It is their goal to honor our past while transforming our future. 

Strategic Planning Committee Members

Chm. Ira Rubenstein (UCSD, ’86) 

Evan Remer (Texas, ‘02) 

Jerry Conrey (CSU-Fullerton, ‘84) 

Dean Lambert (Nebraska, ‘82) 

Mike Taylor (UCSD, ‘86) 

Ken Schneider (Chapman, ’10) 

Jerry Goldberg (Pittsburgh, ’85) 

Brad Unger (Lehigh, ‘94) 

Andy Huston (Minnesota, ‘01) 

Sigma Alpha Mu Foundation

Meet Bob Weiss: 2020-2021 ΣAM Foundation President

As a successful owner of several businesses, including three restaurants, and also a community leader, Bob Weiss (Oklahoma, ‘75) knows a lot about juggling plates. Bob served as Supreme Exchequer on the Octagon (‘97-’98), Foundation Director ( ‘08 -present), and Foundation Vice President (‘18-20).  

When deciding to start with the Foundation, Fra Weiss shared, “Bill Schwartz (Oklahoma, ‘50) asked me to join the board. Our special relationship formed as we are both from Oklahoma City and alumni of the Sigma Alpha Chapter.”

“In 1974, I was at the University of Oklahoma and working as a house boy at the Sigma Delta Tau sorority which was struggling on our campus. During a house meeting, they called for me and said, “ Bob, Jewish sororities are not doing well and we were wondering if you had any ideas.” I responded, “Yes, you need a Jewish fraternity and I can start it! ” The next day I spoke for the first time with Bill Schwartz at the Sigma Alpha Mu Headquarters.  He said, “I’ll be down there in two days.”   When he arrived, we connected immediately as we knew a lot of the same people, and successfully restarted the chapter. 

It only happens to people a few times when someone walks into your life and changes it forever.  Sitting in my dorm room when the phone rang and the voice at the other end said, Hello I am Bill Schwartz. While I just met him, it was like we were friends for years. He asked me if I would help reactivate Sigma Alpha Chapter at the University of Oklahoma. From the first time I spoke with Bill to the last day he had on this earth, I never said no to him. If Bill Schwartz asked, it was something important that will help someone else. I never met a person that was more motivated to help others. The Sigma Alpha Mu Foundation is set for that purpose. My involvement with the SAM Foundation continues to be an honor and memory of a person who taught me the real meaning of Brotherhood.

Bob and his wife, Tammy live in Edmond, OK. They have two daughters, Nancy and Jennifer. Bob also serves as the Board President of the Jewish Federation of Greater Oklahoma City. 

A letter from the Foundation President, Bob

Change is not uncommon and if you are not moving forward, you are moving backward because change is constant.  There comes a time in every organization when a shift of its professional staff or volunteers is more than the usual.  In 2020, the Sigma Alpha Mu Foundation made that kind of change.  

Fra Hanno Mott (Cincinnati, ‘52) completed his service as Foundation President (2008-2020).   He will stay on as a Foundation Director, which he has served since 1994, to ensure a smooth transition to the new officers taking over the reins of the Foundation. The Foundation also transferred the role of Foundation Treasurer from Fra Ron Katch (Illinois, ‘51), who served since 2008, to Fra Aaron Girson (Western Michigan, ‘92), most recently Assistant Treasurer. Ron offered the role a level of professionalism, dedication, and fraternal love. We cannot thank both of these gentlemen enough for their years of service! As a Foundation Director, Ron will also remain on the Foundation Board.

I would also like to recognize two other directors that recently left the board after many years. Harv Weisblat (Texas, ‘64) and Nathan Margolis (North Texas, ‘73) both served on the Foundation for many years. Both gentlemen were very active on committees.  Both Harv and Nathan were the first to donate their time and money to every sponsored Foundation project. While stepping down from the board, both fratres have both pledged to support the Foundation moving forward. Thank you both.

This year our professional staff changed as well. Our Annual Appeal Director, Kathy Garland, retired this past year. Kathy will be missed, and we wish her and her husband much happiness as they transition to their new retirement life.   We welcomed Kristi Tucker to the position of Annual Appeal Coordinator. Kristi comes to us with all the right qualifications and has already hit the ground running. 

Our other Foundation staff member, Nancy Dietmeyer, has moved from part-time to a full-time position as Director of Programs & Administration where she continues to work to expand and strengthen our scholarship and grant programs.

As everyone knows, we lost one of our Fraternity/Foundation pillars of Sigma Alpha Mu, Sidney Guller. Words cannot nor will not ever describe the love this man had for SAM. Not only did he never say no to a request, more times than not, but it was also his idea on how to help today’s undergraduate. The Guller Young Scholars Program that bears his name will forever be a reminder of what a great legacy and role model for all of us to follow.

With two directors stepping down and the vacant seats from the passing of Fra Guller, the Foundation will be adding a few directors. The first new Director of the Foundation is Nate Locklin. We know that his knowledge will be an asset to our board.

We welcome the new staff and board members to join with the current group to help steer the ever-changing Sigma Alpha Mu Foundation towards the strategic plan of SAM 2030. This partnership with Sigma Alpha Mu Fraternity will lay the groundwork to ensure more scholarships and educational programming for the future.  It is the responsibility of Sigma Alpha Mu Foundation to raise, invest, and distribute money that will provide educational funding for our new members to help them reach their potential. If you would like to help with this endeavor by making a contribution to the Foundation, please contact Kristi Tucker at kristit@sam-fdn.org or calling her at 317-536-8953. Please help us achieve our goals. It’s all about Sigma Alpha Mu of yesterday, today, and tomorrow. 

Meet the New Director, Nate Locklin (Psi, ’98)

The Foundation welcomes Nate Locklin as our newest Director. Nate (Pittsburgh, ‘98) is an advisor for the Psi Chapter and is the Secretary and Treasurer of the Psi Chapter House Corporation. He also serves as the President of the Board of Directors for North Hills Community Outreach, an interfaith community organization that operates several food pantries and provides financial assistance and counseling through a wide variety of programs for people experiencing poverty and hardship in the Pittsburgh area. In his new role, Nate stated that he would like, “to do everything I can to help ensure that there is never a financial reason for someone to miss out on the fraternal experience. I encourage undergraduate fraters to support the Foundation through the Golden Bronze Society to help provide mutual moral aid and support for their fellow fraters and to support the educational programming of the fraternity.”

Lawrence D. Schaffer Endowed Scholarship Program – 2021 Applications Are Now Open!

The 2021 application will open online in late November with more than 120 scholarships available for undergraduate and graduate members, as well as some scholarships for non-members. More information here: https://www.sam-fdn.org/lawrence-d-schaffer-endowed-scholarship-program

The Ira Lind Society for Planned Giving

Established in 2003, The Ira Linda Society is for alumni and friends who include the ΣAM Foundation in their estate planning. Are you interested in making a planned gift? See our website for more information: http://sam-fdn.celect.org/planned-giving

Contributions to the Sigma Alpha Mu Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, are tax-deductible. For more information and to make a gift, go to https://www.sam-fdn.org/donate

2021 Foundation Day of Giving is April 28!

Honor and Memorial Contributions May 2020 to December 2020

SAM National Properties

To learn more, go to sam.org/housing.

Chapter Eternal

Forever remembering these men and the love they had for Sigma Alpha Mu and their fratres. Notices of their passing were reported between Mid-May to early December. To report a death, please email samhq@sam.org. Memorial donations in memory of Chapter Eternal members may be directed to the Sigma Alpha Mu Foundation. To donate online, go to SAM.ORG/DONATE.

Dividends and Mergers

Know a Sammy who had a child, engaged, or married in 2020? Let us know at sam.org/family and we will share in the upcoming Octagonian.

Dividends

Fra Andy Huston (Minnesota, ‘01) and wife Amber, welcome a boy, Bergen Bangs.

Fra Daniel Klausner (Indiana, ‘83) and wife Julie, welcome a boy, Elliot Warner Schub.

Fra Benjamin Shear (Hofstra, ‘12) and wife Danielle, welcome a boy, Lincoln.

Fra Sean Quinn (Temple, ‘98) welcomes a boy, Aiden John.

Fra Michael Neiman, and wife Dr. Dana, welcome a daughter, Chloe Noa.

Mergers 

Fra Ryan Jones (Texas A&M, ‘08) and Courtney Rochvarg Ross

Fra David Perlman (Indiana, ‘08) and Stephanie Gorin

Fra Jeremy Burke (Indiana, ‘08) and Alex Elias

Sires and Sons

Jeremy Leffel (Beta Iota, ‘20) son of Jonathan Leffel (Binghamton, ’94)

Andrew Zimmerman (Sigma Zeta, ‘20) grandson of Michael Less (Missouri, ‘66)

Daniel Pike (Gamma Phi, ‘20) grandson of Barry Arbus (Toronto, ‘59)

Zach Gould (Beta Gamma, ‘20) son of Eric Gould (Indiana, ‘87)

Andre Wax (Beta Gamma, ‘20) grandson of Barry Bloom (Texas, ‘66)