A Word About The Chapter

Alumni activities of Sigma Chi began on an ongoing basis with a boat ride down the Detroit River on an August day in 1898. Thirty two Sigs, mostly recent graduates of the University of Michigan, were in the party. It must have been quite a party because the participants never stopped talking about it for the rest of their lives.

A Detroit Alumni Association was formed that day according to the November 1898 issue of the Sigma Chi Quarterly; thirty two charter members with Orla B. Taylor (later Grand Consul) as President and Fred K. McEldowney, Secretary. The First Annual Banquet of the Association was held November twelfth of that year at the Cadillac Hotel with forty six Sigs attending. Honored Guests were two of the Fraternity’s immortals; Brother Charles Alling of Chicago and Brother Orville S. Brumback of Toledo.

In December 1902 the Grand Triumvirs in Chicago were persuaded to authorize an Alumni Chapter for Detroit, thirty Sigs signed the petition and after formalities were completed the Charter was finally signed in March 1904. In March 2004, the Chapter celebrated its Centennial with a banquet at the Atheneum Hotel in downtown Detroit.

Since those early days, the Sigma Chi spirit has burned long and bright in the hearts of many Detroit Alumni including Charles Delbridge, Gibby Jerome, Al Gross, Fred Perine, George Pierrot, Darryl Couey and Max Brown, to name just a few. Throughout the years brothers have been there to assist (more often unsung) in times of need.

Deemed by many as one of the strongest alumni chapters of the Greek letter fraternities, the Detroit Alumni Chapter finds itself in an enviable position of strength. Such strength has evolved from over 100 years of activity and is evidenced by the year-round attendance at our monthly dinner meetings as well as other annual parties.

We have dined at a plethora of meeting sites since that first beginning – The Old Wayne Club, Harmonie Club, Dakota Inn, Kingsley Inn, Machus Sly Fox, Schmidhaus, The University Club, Red Lobster, Bayview Yacht Club, Steak & Ale, the Old Woodward Grill, Champps, Woody’s Diner, Ginopolis’, and Joe Kool’s Bar & Grill.

The Chapter has a few formal bylaws fixing designations of officers and internal housekeeping – all strictly conventional. However, for many years we have relied for strength and growth on a set of informal understandings among those Sigs who move from time to time in and out of our circle of active participants. Some of these understandings are as follows:
• We currently meet for dinner on the first Thursday of each non-summer month at Joe Kool’s Bar & Grill at the corner of East Big Beaver & John R in Troy. Social hour begins at 6:00 p.m. and we usually order dinner at 7:00 p.m. During the months of June, July, and August, the Chapter will meet in downtown Royal Oak at Woody’s Dinner. In addition, golf tournaments, afterwork get togethers, and Tiger games are scheduled while schools are on recess.
• The Chapter has also holds its annual Ritual Dinner at the Ginopolis Restaurant at 12 Mile & Middlebelt in either August or February.
• We have an annual Spring Balfour banquet that is held in either April or May to which members of all active chapters in Michigan are invited. The East Michigan Province Balfour award winner is traditionally announced at this event.
• We have an annual Christmas stag party at the Bayview Yacht Club on the first Friday of December for alumni brothers only.
• ALL Sigs living or visiting in the Detroit area are welcome to participate in all our activities, whether they are currently dues paying members or not. An Alumni Chapter Directory and the “Detroit Sig” newsletter are published as funds are available to everyone on our active mailing list. Email notifications and/or postcards are sent more frequently to those alumni wishing to be reminded more frequently of events.
• Chapter dues are $20 per year and can be mailed to our Post Office box. Dues are solicited between November and April, however, our Treasurer is happy to receive payment at any time. Participate in our meetings whether currently paid up or not.

Many of us over the years have found in the Detroit Alumni Chapter a rich source of social and business relationships which have opened many doors to us. As the bond is reciprocal, we have now and then found opportunity to open doors for others. May the Detroit Sigs continue their part as an honor to the White Cross.
 

GENERAL ALUMNI CHAPTER HISTORY

Alumni chapter representation in Sigma Chi dates back to 1878 when the Grand Chapter was held in Indianapolis. The increasing number of alumni in Indianapolis and Indiana contributed to an unusually large attendance at the event. Sixteen of the 21 active chapters of the fraternity were represented. The first official representation of an alumni chapter, Alpha alumni of Springfield, Ohio, by Charles C. Davis occurred at this time.

The Springfield alumni chapter was officially chartered by the 10th Grand Chapter in 1874. The Indianapolis alumni chapter, with the name of "Alpha Alumni," was chartered by the Ninth Grand Chapter in 1872. However, the Indianapolis alumni, who were present at the Grand Chapter of 1878, seem to have relinquished their claim to the name and to representation by a delegate in the convention. The records of the 14th Grand Chapter contain evidence of the rechartering of the Indianapolis alumni in 1882 as the Iota alumni chapter.

Prior to 1898, only 10 alumni organizations had been established. Some of those were small groups and short-lived. During the five years following 1898, 14 additional alumni chapter were authorized. The increase thereafter was even more rapid and widespread. In more recent years the number of alumni chapters has at times equaled that of the undergraduate chapters. In 1995, there were approximately 130 active alumni chapters.

Alumni chapters were originally named after the letters of the Greek alphabet, but in irregular order. Subsequently, geographic designations were adopted.

(Extracted from The Norman Shield, Thirty-fifth Edition, 1995-97)