![[SPD crest]](colorcrest.jpg)
Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity
Vancouver Alumni Chapter
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Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity Vancouver Alumni Chapter |
Present: Kevin Deane-Freeman (President), Brent Dozzi (Treasurer), Edmund Gin (Secretary), Kevin Oldknow (Western Province Councillor), Don Nash (Deputy Western Province Councillor for Expansion), Chris Baker.
Guest: Paul Lindner (Grand President)
Late: Heiko Epkens (Social Coordinator), Darren Farnworth, Brad Hawthorn, Jan Erik Laursen, Dean Olund.
Apologies: Martin Froehling (House Liaison)
As a quorum was achieved, the meeting was called to order at 7:35pm.
KDF suggested that due to the fact that we're basically losing money every year at the Christmas Social, we might want to re-examine the fee structure for it. Potential prices were suggested. However, owing to the fact that it's still early in the year, we don't need to give it immediate attention, and that it can be looked at during future meetings.
Tabled until later to allow for examination of applications by attendees.
KO congratulated DN on his appointment to the position of Deputy Western Province Councillor for Expansion. Both KO and DN deferred the National Report to PL. PL talked about the future of the Fraternity. He brought up creation of the position of Executive Director, the fact that there is currently a good set of officers, and that expansion was on track. He indicated that the Fraternity as a whole was on a high point in the growth of the Fraternity.
He also indicated that he was not running for National Officer this year, and was happy that there were two Theta Alumni who are currently National and Provincial Officers. He pointed out that there is a direct correlation between the support level of the Alumni Chapter for the Active Chapter, and the resulting strength of the Active Chapter, and was pleased to see that Vancouver Alumni was strongly supportive of Theta. BH indicated that it wasn't always this way, and that prior to 8 or so years ago, the Alumni presence was non-existent. PL encouraged the Alumni Chapter to stay strong for the benefit of Theta. He also encouraged (generally) that as members of the Fraternity, we should not accept mediocrity, and to expect the best from the membership.
PL concluded his report, commending KO and Ben Prins for their hard work.
KDF outlined the history of the Christmas Social and how it was suggested that a summer event be put together. He pointed out that since inception, the turnout at the "summer event" has been poor, although he missed last year's event, and asked how it was. HE thought that last year's event (North Shore pub crawl) had a decent turnout, and suggested an expansion of the annual camping trip in April as the summer event. KDF indicated that it might be hard to get the older alumni out for it.
BH mentioned that from his experience in the past as President that there was always negative feedback from certain members with regards to the Christmas Social (ie. that it was hard to come out because of the fact that it was around the Christmas season), but it was the very same people that were hard to please no matter what was done. During his term as President, BH (along with BP) decided to "cut their losses" and reduce the number of mailouts. He indicated that he hated to say that, but that costs were not justified for the turnout, and eventually mailouts were restricted to those who showed up and to those who contributed in the previous 3 years.
KDF mentioned that newsletter was late in being produced, although there were invites that were mailed out. He estimated that only a small percentage of the attendees at the Christmas Social were recipients of the mailed out invites, and that the vast majority had received the invites via e-mail.
PL provided an anecdote of a former Delta Alumni Treasurer who had sent out an "invoice-style" letter, and got a lot of donations as a result of it (although there were a few complaints from members). General concensus of attendees was that such a tactic might not work here, especially with police advisories about scams. PL pointed out that if we make it easy for the membership to donate (ie. through layout of our documentation), then people were more inclined to do so, rather than by just simply asking them to support the Chapter, especially if the documentation looked official.
KDF polled interest in converting camping trip to summer event. HE suggested making the Saturday the "family day" of the camping trip. General concensus was that this was a good idea.
EG noted that next year was Theta Chapter's 70th Anniversary since joining Sigma Phi Delta. He had talked to the Actives, and said there was interest in celebrating the event, possibly in a "ballroom" setting, similar to that of the Annual Engineers' Ball held by the Engineering Undergraduate Society. The preferred method would be by holding it as next year's Fraternity Formal. HE suggested that Alumni be given advance notice of this via the newsletter. HE and Active VP to sit down and work out the details.
KDF suggested that the newsletter go out on an interim basis via e-mail only, in a formatted manner. He indicated that since the last newsletter, some news had come in (ie. Roger Pettersson getting married, Geoff and Karie-Ann Lester expecting a child). A call was made by him for contributions by those in attendance at the meeting. BD noted in passing that an AGM was necessary for the Societies Act. KDF mentioned that it'd be nice if we got together in the near future to work out the newsletter, possibly meeting around mid-April.
After much discussion, Theta Active Chad Brown was chosen as the recipient of the Chief's Bursary. Congratulations to Brother Chad Brown.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:15pm.
Edmund Gin
Secretary