We have a special treat today. Our highly placed source in Richmond has passed on a copy of the Minutes of the January meeting of the National Board of Directors. Rather than subject you to the whole document we have excerpted highlights we think you will find interesting. This is still a long post.
For those interested, directions to access the entire document are at the bottom of this post.
If you want to get on the HQ list and have the NBD Minutes sent to you, instructions are here.
II. Grand President's Report
North-American Interfraternity Conference Standards
Grand President Robeson called on Past Grand President and current NIC Delegate Edward H. Hammond to report on NIC Standards implementation.
Dr. Hammond noted that [...], Sigma Phi Epsilon is clearly the tops in grades with a 2.98 national GPA according to NIC reports. Dr. Hammond also noted that NIC reports indicate SigEp leading campus IFCs with 62 IFC presidents, 52 of whom are members of Balanced Man Program chapters.
Insurance Renewal
Grand President Robeson reported[...]. We renewed with the same carriers at the same premium rates as last year, but [...] realized a $70,000 premium reduction.
Grand Chapter Legislation
The Grand President reported consideration of five issues of potential legislation for the upcoming 49th session of the Grand Chapter. The five identified matters are:
- Membership fee increase.
- Elimination of the two-tiered membership fee
- Making Crime Insurance coverage mandatory for all chapters/AVCs.
- Increasing the individual membership GPA requirement from 2.2 to 2.5.
- Increasing the chapter GPA requirement from 2.5 to 2.7.
The Board discussed ways to improve the Nominations Committee process of the Grand Chapter[...]. The Board directed the staff to publicize advance nomination of candidates, and [...] formalize orientation for Nomination Committee members[...].
III. Grand Treasurer’s Report
Director Harris reported that the National Housing Corporation Board of Trustees, [...] requested the National Board of Directors reconsider its decision [...] to assess a charge of 0.75% on the Fraternity’s pooled investment fund, which includes the Chapter Investment Funds, for a fund management fee. The NHC Trustees objected to the charge because of its long-term impact on availability of funds for housing. The Grand Treasurer reported that he [...] understood the NHC’s position, but restated his position that it is customary for such charges to fund operations of the management agency[...].
Motion by Harris: To repeal the 0.75% management fee charge to the Fraternity’s pooled investment fund.
Seconded by VanHoozer
Failed on a 4:6 vote
IV. Executive Director’s Report
Executive Director Templeton reviewed performance on achieving the Headquarters staff’s goals for the year. Brother Templeton reported [...] the staff had been disappointed with efforts to launch a SigEp Volunteer College program, and that Chris (Interim Director of Volunteers Christopher T. Minnis) was leading a rethinking of the role and execution of volunteer training. [...] Regional Director Richard C. Proud [will] assume the role of Director of Volunteers at the end of the school year in May with primary responsibility to recruit and train volunteers for new chapters[...].
V. Strategic Plan & Committee Reports
Member Development Committee
[...]Brother Stephen B. Shanklin,[...], Chairman of the Balanced Man Development Committee; Brother Joseph P. Vance, [...]; and Director of the Balanced Man Initiatives David J. Graziano to present discussion on the implementation of the Balanced Man Program by chapters.
Seventy-three percent (73%) of Sigma Phi Epsilon chapters utilize the Balanced Man Program at various degrees of proficiency. It is the intent of the committee to raise the proficiency level at those chapters. It will continue to implement the program at the chapters utilizing a pledging model.
Motion by Harris: To change the name of the Balanced Man Development Committee to the Member Development Committee to more accurately reflect the intent and scope of the committee’s work.
Seconded by VanHoozer
Passed by unanimous voice vote
Technology Committee
Web Site - The Technology Committee has been in the process of designing an entirely new web site for the Fraternity, and Brother Chang reported the production nearing completion with approximately 90 hours of development and programming remaining. The new web site is set for launch by April 1, 2005.
National Housing Corporation Web Site - The NHC web site has been enhanced to receive on-line contributions and chapter-hosted web sites for participants in the Alumni Communications and Housing Fund-raising programs.
II. Grand President’s Report (revisited)
Board members observed that the present fees were established in 1997, and reviewed and discussed changes in revenues and expenses since that time affecting the Fraternity’s annual operating situation
Motion by Bittman: To direct the staff to update survey research and work with the Grand Treasurer to propose a fee increase at the 49th Session of the Grand Chapter to $75 for new members and $220 for brothers.
Seconded by Yeatts
Passed by unanimous voice vote
How to find the full copies of the NBD minutes.
The minutes are nominally public documents, but we have chosen to use up some of our slim stock of discression and not put the whole document on the web for the world to see. (Besides, It is way too long to put here.) Instead we have collected the last several years' worth of minutes and put them under password access in the website of one of our contributors. You can request a password from Silence Dogoode. Access will be freely granted to anyone who asks and provides their initiation number, chapter, and year of graduation so "membership in good standing" can be verified before sending.
