Sidney Guller Enters Chapter Eternal

Past Supreme Prior Sidney H. Guller (WashU, ’43) entered chapter eternal on the morning of Saturday, October 3rd at the age of 96. Please keep the entire Guller family in your prayers. They know how much Sigma Alpha Mu cared about Sidney and how much he cherished our beloved fraternity.

Sidney Guller (Washington University, ’43) has been a visionary within Sigma Alpha Mu. He served as the Fraternity’s Supreme Prior (1964-1967), Endowment Fund Trustee (1977-2012), Endowment Fund Chairman (1994-2011) and a Director of the Sigma Alpha Mu Foundation. He holds the record for most Conventions attended, having reached his 70th at our virtual Convention this August. He has endowed several scholarships, educational funds, and has supported more than 1,000 students through the Guller Young Scholars program which awards every new initiate with a 3.75+ GPA a $500 scholarship. Fra Guller received the Distinguished Service Award in 1974 and the Certificate of Merit in 2006.

He had a similar impact on the interfraternal stage having served as President of both the North-American Interfraternity Conference and National Interfraternity Foundation (NIF). He was a recipient of the NIC Gold Medal and NICF Philanthropist of the Year. Sigma Alpha Mu established its interfraternity award in Sidney’s name to recognize interfraternal peers who have significant contributions to the fraternal movement.

Sidney’s funeral service will take place on Tuesday, October 6th at 2 p.m. CDT. To join the live stream for the service, please go to https://boxcast.tv/view/funeral-for-sidney-guller-247886. The family has asked that donations in his memory be sent to the Sigma Alpha Mu Foundation’s Bobbi and Sidney Guller Leadership Development Fund. Gifts can be made at www.sam-fdn.org or Sigma Alpha Mu Foundation at 8701 Founders Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46268. 

Read Sidney Guller’s obituary at https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/olivette-mo/sidney-guller-9387625.

Sigma Alpha Mu Fraternity was founded in 1909 at the College of the City of New York. Sigma Alpha Mu’s Mission is to foster the development of collegiate men and our alumni by instilling strong fraternal values, offering social and service opportunities, encouraging academic excellence, and teaching leadership skills. We will continue to attract members of all beliefs who appreciate our great heritage as a fraternity of Jewish men. Sigma Alpha Mu currently has 47 chapters and colonies and more than 58,000 living alumni.

SAM Guidance on University Restrictions Related to COVID-19

We continue to track news and resources related to COVID-19 and the impact it is having within our university communities. While we ask that you take appropriate precautions to create a more safe and healthy environment on campus and within your community, we recognize that this pandemic is generating a rapidly evolving response by universities and municipalities that may be impacting all aspects of your life. Sigma Alpha Mu International Fraternity’s staff and volunteers are committed to supporting each of our members and chapters, especially during these uncertain times.

Chapter Operations Roadmap

• Roadmap for 2020-21 
• Breaking the Chain of Infections: Guidance for a Healthy Living Environment for Fraternity and Sorority Chapters

In the case that an individual within one of your housing facilities is feeling ill and/or is diagnosed with COVID-19, follow the recommendations made by your educational institution and James R. Favor & Company immediately for the next steps.

Additional Resources

• Favor and Company COVID-19 Resource Center
• COVID-19 Infection Reporting
• Interactive Campus COVID-19 Map
• Roadmap for 2020-21 
• Favor Facility Reopening and Maintenance SOP-1
• Favor Healthy Surveillance and Reporting SOP-2
• Favor Routine Housekeeping and Deep Cleaning SOP-3
• Favor Isolation and Quarantine Procedures SOP-4
• Favor Personal Protective Equipment SOP-5
• Favor Resident Involvement SOP-6
• Favor Selection and Proper Use of Disinfectants SOP-7
• AOR Visitor and Contractor NOTICE Template
• AOR Resident Template
• AOR Volunteer Template
• Breaking the Chain of Infections: Guidance for a Healthy Living Environment for Fraternity and Sorority Chapters
• Inside HigherEd: How Universities Can Reopen Safely
• Saving Your Health, One Mask at a Time
• JELF Loan Applications
• Interactive Map on a Corona Virus Resource Center Provided by John Hopkins University & Medicine
• Recommendations for Chapter Facilities during Host Institution Responses to COVID-19
• Protecting Fire Sprinkler System Pipes from Freezing in Chapter Facilities
• Protecting your Chapter Facility from Winter Storm Damage
• Learn more about the daily practice recommended by the CDC for everyday preventive actions on campus community. This includes frequently asked questions specific for college and university communities.
• Learn more from the U.S. Travel Association before traveling over Spring Break. This toolkit includes guidance for travelers, a guide for communicating healthy travel practices, and other resources.
• Learn more from the World Health Organization (WHO) on advice for the public.

Sigma Alpha Mu Fraternity Invests in Recruitment Resource, ChapterBuilder, from Phired Up and TechniPhi

Sigma Alpha Mu Fraternity is pleased to announce a partnership for 2020 with the Phired Up and TechniPhi team as a full-adoption partner of ChapterBuilder. ΣAM selected ChapterBuilder specifically for new chapter developments. Beginning this month, the tool will be available to all of our chapters throughout North America.

“Now, more than ever, it is important to invest in the technology and resources to support Sigma Alpha Mu’s chapters. ChapterBuilder and the Phired Up digital classroom are tangible benefits with a dual purpose,” said Executive Director Andy Huston. “Every member can use these tools to build transferable skills and experience sought by future employers. Chapters can implement proven technology and processes to cultivate more prospective members leading to a stronger brotherhood of men representing the highest precepts of true manhood, democracy, and humanity.”

“We have had the fortunate opportunity to work with Sigma Alpha Mu. They have a proven track record of supporting their undergraduate fratres, alumni, and higher education partners,” said Josh Orendi, co-Founder of Phired Up and TechniPhi. CRM technology has rapidly emerged in other industries to not only manage such challenges but serve as growth systems for organizations to flourish.

COVID-19 will generate many unknowns for the upcoming academic year. We are taking the appropriate precautions to create a more safe and healthy environment on campus. “In response, we are adapting to the climate to advance, prioritize recruitment this fall, and will inculcate the value of the fraternity experience,” stated Alex Hart, Director of Growth. “ChapterBuilder is going to transform Sigma Alpha Mu at all levels as we prioritize data-driven decision making and systematically approach growth,” stated Alex Hart, Director of Growth. “Our International Headquarters and volunteers will be equipped with real-time data and insight that will support transformative chapter coaching in a time of unknown.”

To support the implementation ChapterBuilder Phired Up and SAM Headquarters staff will be hosting training for all chapter members and advisors. Registration information will be emailed to chapter officers and advisors.

Undergraduates: Tuesday 8/11 – 4pm (EDT) & Thursday 8/13 – 6pm

Advisors: Monday 8/17 – 4pm & 8/25 – 8pm

Click here to learn more about ChapterBuilder

Sam Friday named Director of Operations

Sigma Alpha Mu Fraternity has promoted Samuel Friday (West Florida, ‘13) to Director of Operations. Sam joined the staff in 2017, where he served one year as an Educational Leadership Consultant and served the past two years as the Special Projects and Membership Services Coordinator. 

“Sam continues to demonstrate success in developing operational efficiencies,” stated Executive Director Andy Huston. “As the Director of Operations, Sam will continue to lead the migration of our database to ChapterSpot’s managed package of Salesforce, the implementation of greekbill, and other solutions that will empower the fraternity to make more data-driven decisions. Sam remains an integral part of our chapter coaching team, where he supports the educational programming and organizational accountability efforts that strengthen Sigma Alpha Mu.”

As the Special Projects and Membership Services Coordinator, Sam developed new educational resources for our chapters and managed initiation processing. In light of his new role, Sam shared, “we can now provide chapter members with predesigned websites, and newsletters sent directly to alumni from the new mySAM. With our database improvements, we can provide new technology and resources to meet the needs of all Sammy members.”

Sam graduated from the University of West Florida with a degree in Telecommunications and Film in 2017. He is currently pursuing his Master’s in Higher Education Administration from Indiana State University.

Sam also expressed, “in my master’s program studies, I am using components from my coursework in assessment, evaluation, and research to help the fraternity collect data so that we can be a data-driven organization and use this information to make a significant change in our areas of need.

Sigma Alpha Mu Fraternity was founded in 1909 at the College of the City of New York. Sigma Alpha Mu’s Mission is to foster the development of collegiate men and our alumni by instilling strong fraternal values, offering social and service opportunities, encouraging academic excellence, and teaching leadership skills. We will continue to attract members of all beliefs who appreciate our great heritage as a fraternity of Jewish men. Sigma Alpha Mu currently has 47 chapters and colonies and more than 58,000 living alumni.

SAM Property Management Hires Mike Weiner

• 

RELEASE

SAM Property Management, LLC

June 24, 2020

SAM Property Management is pleased to announce that Mike Weiner has joined our staff as Assistant Property Manager.  In his new role, Mike will assist Teresa Wright (VP, Property Management) in all of our operational activities, including leasing, maintenance, vendor relations, and other administrative duties.  He will also assist in implementing our new Buildium Property Management software platform.

Mike joins us from his former job as Associate Director of Student Recruitment at the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University.  He holds an MBA from Colorado State University-Pueblo.  Mike is also a former member of the professional staff at Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity, where he assisted in chapter services and expansion activities.

Mike began his work at Sigma Alpha Mu on June 1.  His contact info is below:

Address: 8701 Founders Rd., Indianapolis, IN 46268

Email:  mike@sam.org

Office Phone:  317-789-8613

Alex Hart Named Director of Growth

Sigma Alpha Mu Fraternity has named Alex Hart as its new Director of Growth.

In this role, Alex will lead efforts related to successful growth and expansion while supporting interest groups and developing recruitment resources. He has significant professional experience and insight which aligns with our strategic priority of fraternity growth.  

Alex attended the University of Nebraska-Kearney where he earned he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Sports Management and was a founding father of Sigma Tau Gamma Fraternity. As an undergraduate leader, he was named the University of Nebraska-Kearney Fraternity & Sorority Life Outstanding Chapter President and was inducted into the Sigma Tau National Undergraduate Hall of Fame. He has since served as Recruitment & Growth Coordinator and Collegiate Services Coordinator at Sigma Tau Gamma Headquarters in Indianapolis. 

Alex shared, “I am truly grateful for this opportunity. It is exciting to be able to apply my industry knowledge and expertise to advance the strategic growth of Sigma Alpha Mu. I look forward to adding my variety of experience, including recruitment support and expansion, to Sigma Alpha Mu’s already impressive headquarters staff.”

Executive Director Andy Huston added, “Alex has expressed how he is both energized by the mission of Sigma Alpha Mu and committed to furthering it. I am confident that our students, alumni, and volunteers will enjoy getting to know Alex and his passion for growing the fraternity experience. Sigma Alpha Mu is fortunate to add an industry professional of his caliber to our team.”

Alex will begin working full-time for the fraternity in Indianapolis on June 1st, 2020. The Sigma Alpha Mu Endowment Fund underwrites the funding of this position to advance the fraternity’s strategic priority of growth. Learn more about our growth initiatives at sam.org/expansion.

Sigma Alpha Mu Fraternity was founded in 1909 at the College of the City of New York. Sigma Alpha Mu’s Mission is to foster the development of collegiate men and our alumni by instilling strong fraternal values, offering social and service opportunities, encouraging academic excellence, and teaching leadership skills. We will continue to attract members of all beliefs who appreciate our great heritage as a fraternity of Jewish men. Sigma Alpha Mu currently has 47 chapters and colonies and more than 58,000 living alumni.

Sigma Alpha Mu Fraternity to Streamline Chapter Operations with ChapterSpot and Billhighway’s Greekbill Platform.

TROY, Mich., May 14, 2020: ChapterSpot and Billhighway | greekbill, are pleased to announce another new partnership for 2020 with Sigma Alpha Mu (SAM) Fraternity. SAM has selected ChapterSpot, a database built with the power of Salesforce, and Billhighway | greekbill, a financial services duo, to automate chapter workflow with a full service solution.

The turn-key solution will seamlessly integrate ChapterSpot’s foundational database technology and Billhighway’s greekbill financial management platform for an enhanced chapter operations experience. The collaborative integration leverages the world’s most powerful CRM, Salesforce, to streamline the fraternal community’s complex group structure into a unified workflow.

“ChapterSpot is honored to partner with Sigma Alpha Mu,” said ChapterSpot Co-Founder, Joe McMenemon. “We are looking forward to bringing together innovative solutions and industry leading technology to optimize chapter operational efficiency.”

“Billhighway is thrilled to have Sigma Alpha Mu joining our family of organizations,” said Billhighway President, Tom Bomberski. “We look forward to working with SAM and ChapterSpot to develop a best of breed solution that can support the unique needs of the organization now and into the future.”

“Partnering with industry leaders in chapter service solutions like ChapterSpot and Billhighway | greekbill is the clear choice for our chapters in response member feedback,” said Executive Director of Sigma Alpha Mu, Andy Huston. “The comprehensive solution will enable more efficient and data-driven operations that will help transform the delivery of our mission, chapter services, and the member experience.”

Together, ChapterSpot and Billhighway | greekbill, bring decades of experience in the fraternal community and are committed to solving the unique data and financial challenges of chapter leaders, volunteers and members.

For additional information, please contact: Charlotte Muylaert, Billhighway | greekbill Marketing Leader, cmuylaert@billhighway.com

For additional information, please contact: Charlotte Muylaert, Billhighway | greekbill Marketing Leader, cmuylaert@billhighway.com

ChapterSpot & Billhighway | greekbill

ChapterSpot, a database built with the power of Salesforce, and Billhighway | greekbill, a financial services duo, have come together to provide a comprehensive solution for fraternities and sororities. Together they have a shared vision of developing innovative solutions to support the unique needs of fraternal organizations. With Salesforce serving as a powerhouse relationship management platform, and ChapterSpot seamlessly integrating with the greekbill platform at the industry level, we’re committed to providing solutions tailored to the fraternal community that reflect the specific goals of each of our clients.

Sigma Alpha Mu Fraternity was founded in 1909 at the College of the City of New York. Sigma Alpha Mu’s Mission is to foster the development of collegiate men and our alumni by instilling strong fraternal values, offering social and service opportunities, encouraging academic excellence and teaching leadership skills. We will continue to attract members of all beliefs who appreciate our great heritage as a fraternity of Jewish men. Sigma Alpha Mu currently has 47 chapters and colonies and more than 58,000 living alumni.

Sigma Alpha Mu Fraternity Closes Hofstra University Chapter

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Andy Huston, Executive Director, samhq@sam.org

 

Sigma Alpha Mu International Fraternity’s board of directors has unanimously acted to suspend the charter of the Delta Alpha Chapter at Hofstra University due to violations of Fraternity policies, which will close the chapter for a period of at least four years.

 

After receiving an investigative report from university administrators that outlined health and safety concerns, the Fraternity immediately conducted an investigation and determined that the chapter failed to comply with Fraternity policies and values. It is our understanding that the conduct process is still underway at Hofstra and Sigma Alpha Mu encourages the university to hold individuals accountable for their actions.

 

“Our top priority is to create a healthy and safe environment for our members and to foster a culture of responsibility in our chapters,” said Executive Director Andy Huston. “We simply will not tolerate such violations of policies, expectations, and values.”

 

Huston said, “Sigma Alpha Mu has provided significant training to its members on our new health and safety initiatives that launched this summer to ensure that our chapters are providing a meaningful fraternal experience befitting our values and heritage as a fraternity of Jewish men.”

 

Sigma Alpha Mu was founded in 1909 at the College of the City of New York as a fraternity of Jewish men; the organization has been open to all men of good moral character since 1953. With its International Headquarters located in Indianapolis, IN, the fraternity currently has 46 collegiate chapters and colonies and over 55,000 living alumni.

Sigma Alpha Mu Chapter Closure at Penn State University

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Andy Huston, Executive Director, samhq@sam.org

 

Following an investigation by the Sigma Alpha Mu International Fraternity, the fraternity’s board of directors by a unanimous vote has suspended the charter of the Mu Lambda Chapter at Penn State University due to violations of Fraternity and University hazing policies.

 

The International Fraternity’s investigation determined that the chapter failed to comply with both University and Fraternity policies and values. The Sept. 5 decision follows careful consideration of the investigation findings and the chapter having lost recognition from the University two years ago.

 

“Our top priority is to create a healthy and safe environment for our members and to foster a culture of responsibility in our chapters,” said Executive Director Andy Huston. “We simply will not tolerate such violations of policies, expectations, and values.”

 

The new candidate education program which the International Fraternity launched this fall is another demonstration of Sigma Alpha Mu’s commitment to uphold its values, Huston said.

 

Sigma Alpha Mu was founded in 1909 at the College of the City of New York as a fraternity of Jewish men; the organization has been open to all men of good moral character since 1953. With its International Headquarters located in Indianapolis, IN, the fraternity currently has 56 collegiate chapters and colonies and over 55,000 living alumni throughout the United States and Canada.

Nobel Prize Recipient Barry Barish awarded 2019 ΣΑΜ Man of the Year

Indianapolis, IN  – Physicist Barry C. Barish (UC Berkeley, ‘55), recipient of the 2017 Nobel Prize in physics for the discovery of gravitational waves, was presented with Sigma Alpha Mu’s 2019 Achievement Award at the Convention Banquet. Barish’s wife, Samoan, and his Sigma Sigma chapter house roommate, Bruce “Lubo” Lubarsky (UC Berkeley, ‘56), joined him at the Banquet. 

 

“I fell in love with the ambition to learn something new and that has been my drive in life,” shared Fra Barish. “However, none of my success is possible without the human element. This is why I stand by my wife, and with Lubo, my college friend.” 

 

Before the banquet began, Executive Director Andy Huston showed Barry his original pledge biography and photograph that was submitted to headquarters in 1955. Andy noted, “It was great to see his eyes light up with this piece of nostalgia. Barish also showed a keen interest in the current state of fraternity life across the country as well as his alma mater. His life and work have exemplified the principles espoused in Sigma Alpha Mu’s Creed and, for that, he was selected as our 2019 Man of the Year.”

 

As a first-generation college student, Barry concluded his remarks stating, “One does not have to come from a privileged background, but if you have someone who guides you with the right principles, then your life will be a success.” 

 

Sigma Alpha Mu Fraternity was founded in 1909 at the College of the City of New York. Sigma Alpha Mu’s Mission is to foster the development of collegiate men and our alumni by instilling strong fraternal values, offering social and service opportunities, encouraging academic excellence and teaching leadership skills. We will continue to attract members of all beliefs who appreciate our great heritage as a fraternity of Jewish men. Sigma Alpha Mu currently has 50 chapters and colonies and more than 57,000 living alumni.

 

Please consider donating to the foundation in honor of Fra Barish by going to sam.org/donate. You can view photos of Fra Barish and all other 2019 award winners at sam.org/awards.