AGS Alumni,

I am providing a brief recap from the Founders' Day meeting that was held on March 21. The biggest news was the announcement that the current chapter house, located on 407 Burnam Ave., will be scheduled for demolition shortly after the conclusion of the spring semester, the week of May 18. This decision was made considering the fact that a new sprinkler system will be required by 2016 to meet city code and the fact the house is in need of extensive remodeling. Rather than sink a substantial amount of money into the current structure, the alumni in attendance voted to raze the current building and build a new one.

Klingner and Associates, of Quincy, Ill., is the architectural firm that is leading the project for the new house. Construction of the new house is anticipated to be completed by September 2016. The project is being led by John Neyens '03, mechanical engineer with Klingner and Associates. The following is a summary of John's presentation:

“The proposed Alpha Gamma Sigma Chapter House will consist of approximately 20,000 square feet distributed between four floors. Living spaces for 48 men will be provided on the top two levels of the building with an ADA accessible living space for two men provided on the main floor. Living space for an additional six men will be provided in the lower level for a total occupancy of 56 men. Additional features on the main floor include a kitchen and dining area, house mother apartment, and an alumni room. The basement will include a recreation room, laundry room, and a study room.”

A Facebook page has been created to post updates on the new house project as we move along. Below is a link to the page.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Alpha-Gamma-Sigma-Project-Developments/455790164573357

In addition to his presentation, John had a displayed of computer-generated images of the inside layout of the new house, as well as floor plans for all four floors. Among the highlights of the new first floor will be a dining room big enough to seat 88 people (between double and triple the size of the current dining room), closed quarters for the house mom, and an alumni room/conference room. Those images can be seen at this link below.

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0BzTcIx-X-uQRejY0WUZpeHlIbnc&usp=sharing

During the evening session of Founders Day, Cheston Easter '98 presented a list of AGS alumni who have invested in Sigma Development Corporation. A full list of investors is posted on the link below.

http://www.agsig.org/alumni/sigmadevinvestlist.htm

Founders Day 2015 Recap - Report from active chapter

Speaking on behalf of the active chapter was President Brett Johnson. His first order of business was to address the chapter's charge of hazing from the fall semester. Members of the house, as well as alumni, met during November and December to work with the University of Missouri to address sanctions for the active chapter. Those sanctions are:

·         Report to Greek Life one a month and discuss progress that has been made to ensure future incidents of hazing do not occur.

·         No freshmen will live in the house for the 2015-16 school year. They will be required to live in university housing, but the active chapter is working to find a way to have them live in the same residential hall, perhaps even on the same floor and in a dorm located near the AGS property.

·         No participation in Greek Week during the 2015 spring semester, nor in Homecoming for the 2015 fall semester.

·         No house social functions during the 2015 calendar year.

Brett acknowledged that progress has run smoothly so far with Greek Life and members of the house have been cooperative during this probation period. Steps have also been taken to move forward and put possible scenarios of hazing in the past.

·         Points system: creating an “equal structure” system, where freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors are treated the same. Points are awarded for participation in house activities.

·         New member program: The focus will be on the 13 principles. One example of philanthropy is when the active chapter participated in a RAMS event in Jefferson City (emphasizing the principle of sacrifice).

The active chapter voted for its new executive board in December for the 2015 calendar. Those officers are:

·         President: Brett Johnson (Mound City)

·         Vice President-External: Joey Helper (Green City)

·         Vice President-Internals: MJ Linville (Richmond) and Jay Edgington (Kennett)

·         Treasurer: Patrick Brigman (Lee's Summit)

·         Secretary: Marcus Shipley (Milan)

·         Rush Chairmen: Matt Bodenhamer (Waverly) and Robert Mareth III (Butler)

·         Scholarship Chairman: Ben Glenn (Tarkio)

The active chapter also touched on its philanthropy for the spring semester. The Red, White and Blue BBQ will be held on Saturday, May 2, and it will be co-hosted with Delta Tau Delta. All proceeds from the benefit will go toward the Wounded Warrior Project. We will post more information about the event later this month for alumni who will have a chance to stop by for the BBQ.

The active chapter reported that it signed eight members for the spring semester and activated 11 freshmen from the fall semester in February. The alumni present at the meeting talked with Clements about ideas to make recruitment for Alpha Gamma Sigma more successful. The following ideas were discussed:

·         Rush selling points: connections, property, culture/brotherhood, structure

·         What are we looking for? What are we selling/promoting?

·         What do we believe in?

·         Hold ourselves to higher standards

·         Use advisory board to help implement AGS 4-year program, using alumni action (prepare men to take internships by end of sophomore year, ready to take job following graduation)

Although it was not discussed in great detail at Founders Day, Marcus emailed a letter that detailed a review of the fall 2014 semester. In Homecoming 2014, the AGS house pairing did not finish in the top 5, but the float did win first place. A picture of the float can be seen below. The house finished the fall semester with a cumulative GPA of 2.7, with the senior class posting the best class GPA with a 3.2. During Dad’s Weekend, with the help of house cook Justin Jackson, we roasted two hogs, which fed all members, their fathers, other family members, and alumni. In philanthropy, the house finished in third place in Zeta Tau Alpha Mud Run, and also finished in first place in the Kappa Classic, an annual golf tournament put on by Kappa Kappa Gamma.