So last Saturday I deprived myself of sleep to drive from NW Indiana to Macomb, IL for a reunion. From Friday morning at 5:30am until Monday morning at 5:30am I had a total of something like six hours of sleep. Why put myself, at my age (57), through this? Let’s find out.
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So what you see in the cover photo is the Pin from the Sigma Chi Fraternity. In the mid 80s, as part of my 15 year plan for graduation (maybe I should tell that story too), I enrolled in Western Illinois University in Macomb, IL. My brother had just pledged Sigma Chi the year before and he regaled us with stories of fraternity life. I was like “Cool. Sounds like a fun time”. So I investigated, and found that there was a petitioning chapter at WIU. What’s a petitioning chapter? I’ll tell the story of our chapter:
In the fall of 1985 Joe Ortiz came to WIU as a freshman. He went through the formal rush process, but couldn't find a fraternity that suited his needs and standards.
Joe's older brother was an initiated member of the Nu Nu chapter of Sigma Chi on the campus of Columbia University in New York. Joe had visited his brother at school several times and realized that the principals and ideals of that duly chartered chapter were that which he sought in a fraternity which he would join.
Joe came to the conclusion that the only way to get those principals and ideals would be to start a Sigma Chi chapter at the college which he attended. After successfully recruiting men off his residence hall floor, he decided to petition the general fraternity for recognition and received the honor of becoming a local chapter of The Sigma Chi Fraternity.
The following fall (1986) that local chapter of Sigma Chi was recognized by the Interfraternity Council here at WIU. Those men originally associated with the establishment of Nu Sigma Chi are known as the founders. They established a local ritual and initiated six pledge classes worth of men from all walks of life. They worked undauntedly to achieve the criteria needed to become an active and fully recognized chapter of Sigma Chi. These are the men who laid much of the framework of the fraternity today. After much perseverance and determination, on October 28, 1989, all the hopes and wishes of these men culminated when the International Headquarters installed the Iota Omicron Chapter of The Sigma Chi Fraternity and made us the 238th chapter to be installed.
I was part of the very first pledge class that group of men recruited during regular rush. We had to meet very stringent requirements to be fully a part of the national fraternity. We were first characterized as an interest group. When we met requirements of grades and membership, we were granted the title of “petitioning local chapter”. I left WIU after the spring of 1989 because of various location factors, having to move to Arkansas with the folks. That spring we were formally granted the honor of becoming a full chapter of Sigma Chi, with Initiation taking place in the fall. I was invited back to take part in those activities, and my name is on the charter of the Iota Omicron Chapter of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. Not too many people have the honor of being on a fraternity’s Charter, but there it is.
Which brings me to last weekend. Last weekend was the 35th anniversary of our installation as a chapter of the fraternity. Originally, I had not planned to go as I thought I was going to be performing in The Addams Family at the theater guild I belong to. I tanked the audition, and then the coordinator of the reunion paid for my registration. I HAD to go.
Which brings me to the Lack Of Sleep Weekend that was last week.
Friday morning, I woke up at my usual 5:15am to go to school. Then, I attended opening night of the show, because many of my theater family were in the cast. I retuned home at around 11:30pm and had a “rest”. Meaning my eyes were closed, and MAYBE I dozed off for around 45 minutes. Then at 2:30 on Saturday morning, I left to drive to Macomb. I had to leave that early because in the morning there was going to be a full Ritual Chapter Meeting with all the alums who had partied the night before with the current active students. I was able to do some napping between events, so I wasn’t fully tired. Yet.
It was a good day. I got to see and talk to brothers I hadn’t seen in 35 years. The events were well done and well organized. I left early from the evening event—dinner and a party—because I did want SOME sleep Saturday night before chore day on Sunday—plus volunteering as an usher on the closing matinee of Addams Family.
All in all, I’m glad I went. I hit a wall on Sunday that affected me on Monday AND Tuesday, but it was worth it. A couple more pictures. First, the whole actives and alumni after the Ritual Chapter Meeting. I’m seated on the far right, as a member of the founders in the above quote.
Finally, here I am with Joe Ortiz, the OG Founder, a good friend, and the Saturday Night DJ of the bar we most frequented during our years there.
In conclusion, people say a lot of stuff about college fraternities, and they’re mostly right, but if you do it properly, the bonds of friendship and brotherhood are forever, no matter what.
Final note: We are now entering Peak Performance Season for musicians like me, starting with a concert tomorrow. I’ll keep updating as I have time, but November and December are the money making months for musicians.
And now, on to Tops!
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From sottovoce:
In today's column "Stop using the utterly discredited 538 polling aggregates!"
By Laurence Lewis, Mind Matter talks about the goals and methods of the billionaires who are moving to take control of everything. Perfectly stated. --SV
https://www.dailykos.com/...
From userexists:
In LaFeminista's excellent diary, The real danger to democracy: Income Inequality, they quote The Guardian's article: Can democracy survive now the world’s richest man has it in his sights? To which question Carmeninvermont posts a perfectly-tuned and very punny answer.
https://www.dailykos.com/...
From belinda ridgewood:
In today's Abbreviated Pundit Roundup by Greg Dworkin, MargaretPOA made the kind of comment that I, for one, really really needed to read.
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