2017 College of Chapters - Day Two

Attendees board buses bright and early on day two for the much anticipated pilgrimage to Virginia Military Institute and the Headquarters Shrine in Lexington, Va.

Visitors arrive at the Headquarters Shrine, home of the offices of the Fraternity's staff team, archives, and museum.

Tours start with a description of the Headquarters property, the Rock, and the classic five-petaled, wild, white English Floribunda.

Inside the Founders' Room attendees are directed to the period authentic furniture, Founders plaque, and Founder Hopkins' (VMI) encyclopedia set from his time as a cadet at VMI.

The badge of the Legion of Honor, donated by an anonymous alumnus from Beta Chapter (Virgnia), adorns the ceiling of the main foyer.

In the Dick Fletcher Honor Memorial Library attendees get a chance to see the collected works of Sigma Nu authors, books documenting the history of other Greek organizations, past issues of The Delta, and transcripts from past Grand Chapters.

The Alpha Room holds a flag for every chartered chapter in the history of the Legion of Honor. It's tradition for visitors to take a photo with their chapter's flag and leave it pinned for future visitors to see who last visited.

The Fraternity's museum is filled with historic artifacts ranging from original paintings to a diorama of VMI during the Legion of Honor's founding.

A signature feature of the Headquarters Shrine is a piece of the original limestone outcropping upon which the Legion of Honor was founded.

At VMI attendees start their tours at the Sigma Nu Founding Marker, denoting the approximate location where Founders Hopkins, Riley, and Quarles met on a moonlit night to found the Legion of Honor.

Attendees walk across the parade grounds at VMI during their tours, backdropped by the VMI barracks.

At the VMI Museum visitors view one of the world's greatest firearms collection made up of over 800 historic pieces.

Regent Lee Perrett (Auburn) introduces the second keynote speaker inside historic Jackson Memorial Hall.

Executive Director of VMI Museum System Colonel Keith Gibson provides the second keynote address on honor and the founding history of the Legion of Honor at VMI, backdropped by the mural depicting the cadet charge at the Battle of New Market.

"You've made effort when you decided to become a Sigma Nu. You've made effort to then become a leader of your chapter. You've made effort to come to this College of Chapters and VMI. That effort speaks to who you are." - Colonel Keith Gibson

All 200+ attendees take a group picture in Jackson Memorial Hall following the second keynote address.

After a busy morning of touring VMI and the Headquarters Shrine, collegiate participants hit the ground running with the afternoon's curriculum.

The afternoon Core Sessions focus on Visionary Leadership and key Sigma Nu policies..

A portion of College of Chapters is made up of elective breakout sessions that focus on recruitment strategies, Pursuit of Excellence, and living the Ritual among others.

While collegiate attendees go through the day's curriculum the High Council and Sigma Nu Educational Foundation (SNEF) representives are busy interviewing collegians interested in the opportunity to become Collegiate Grand Councilmen and SNEF collegiate board members.

The evening is capped with the third keynote speech on honor and ethical decision making from Grand Chaplain James Doughty (Louisiana State). "If we forsake truth, then we forsake our Fraternity."