My College of Chapters Journal (Alabama)
College of Chapters
Editor's Note - Over the duration of the 2019 College of Chapters, we enlisted several attendees to journal their four-day experience through Sigma Nu's premier leadership training program. Participants chose from several prompts provided and answered their selections at the end of each day.
This journal comes from Theta Chapter (Alabama) Commander, Sam Lawson.
Day 1 - Arrival
What was your journey like to Roanoke for College of Chapters?
My journey to College of Chapters was pretty rough. I flew from Stockholm, Sweden to Roanoke, Va. on January 3, 2019. Let’s just say I was exhausted on Thursday night. With that being said, I was unable to attend any of the sessions on Thursday due to the time my flight landed in the states.
Coming into College of Chapters, what are some of the challenges that your chapter faces? What do you want to improve on this semester?
The Theta Chapter received our first Rock Chapter at the Grand Chapter in Washington D.C this past summer, so my biggest fear for the chapter is complacency. I do not want members to think we have made it and there is no room for more improvement. Our chapter is also facing one of the most competitive recruitment seasons of any college campus. With that being said we are constantly trying to find new ways to expand our chapter with quality potential new members that have the core values of Love, Honor, and Truth.
What was your first chapter meeting like at College of Chapters? What chapters were represented in your chapter group? Who were your chapter facilitators?
My first meeting I attended was on Friday morning. I was pleased to find out I was placed with other SEC chapters that had the same visions and challenges the Theta Chapter faces. The Howard group consisted of Alabama, Auburn, Ole Miss, LSU, South Carolina, Arkansas, and Georgia. Our facilitators were Scott Smith and Joel Stern.
Day 2 - Curriculum
What were your chapter meetings like today? What was the focus of the chapter meetings? What did you work on? What were your “Ah Ha’s?”
Today our chapter meetings were devoted to creating our vision as a chapter and to starting to create strategies to achieve our vision. I created a vision of what I would like to see our chapter strive for the year of 2019. My vision is to better each other, the house, and the community through brotherhood, accountability, and respect for tradition. During these meetings it clicked for me on how to develop my vision into an action plan.
What ideas have you picked up from other Commanders at College of Chapters?
The biggest idea I have picked up from other commanders is how to delegate work effectively instead of micro-managing everything in our chapter.
What do you want to see your chapter become? How did the session on Vision help you create a compelling vision for the chapter?
I would like to see an overall attitude change in our chapter, that focuses on more student involvement and academics. The session on vision helped me create the main goals in where I would like to see our fraternity, and create an elevator pitch for other members in our chapter to buy into.
Day 3 - Pilgrimage to Lexington, Va.
What was it like to visit Sigma Nu Headquarters? What stood out to you from the visit and tours of HQ and VMI? What did you learn about Sigma Nu?
This was my third visit to the Sigma Nu Headquarters, and I always enjoy my time there. Respecting tradition stood out to me the most. Sigma Nu has a long line of history and so does the Theta chapter. It was nice to see that the general fraternity honor the past, as does the Theta Chapter. I learned that core values of Sigma Nu go much deeper than just Love, Honor, and Truth.
What is one thing that you didn't know coming into College of Chapters that you feel will make an impact on the success of the chapter in the upcoming semester?
I have always understood the importance of creating goals, but coming into College of Chapters, I was not exactly sure how to develop an action plan to achieve my vision/ goals.
What was your breakout sessions today? What were your takeaways from them?
The most beneficial break out session for me was the Q&A with Bill Courtney. Bill taught the importance of being a leader, and showed us real life examples of how to achieve your goals. It is easy to write down goals, but it is hard to work towards achieving them on an everyday basis. He explained the importance of surrounding yourself with other leaders to keep you on the path to success, he referred to this as your compass. The Q&A session also allowed me to grasp a better understanding of the bigger picture in life as helping others.
Day 4 - Departure
What have you realized about your role as Commander from your time at College of Chapters? What have you learned about yourself?
I have realized that not only am I the face of our chapter, but I am a leader. I have an opportunity to make a lasting impact on 144 members for the rest of their lives. I have learned my strengths and weakness as a leader, and how to surround myself with an executive board that is strong in areas where I am weak.
What kind of network did you build from attending College of Chapters?
I was lucky to have surrounded myself with other commanders with the same goals as me. We have developed relationships to hold each and every one of us accountable in achieving our vision. It was also nice to develop these relationships for the Fall when our respective schools play one another in football. We now all have a place to stay and an open invitation for our chapters to experience the way other Sigma Nu chapter are operated.
How do you view Sigma Nu Headquarters staff after coming to College of Chapters?
I view the staff as a resource instead of an enemy now. Other fraternities on campus complain about their nationals, so I thought they were my enemy and only bad things came from them. I now understand that they care about each chapter and will go to battle to help us become the best chapter we can be.