As the first three months of 2017 have already sped by, SAAC has been a busy Chapter! We hold one event per month on a rotation of Scholarship, Service, and Social events that align with the ideals that comprise Phi Sigma Pi National Honor Fraternity’s Tripod: Scholarship, Leadership, and Fellowship.  Every three months, then, we have revisited each leg of the Tripod and found a practical way to either apply it to our own lives, use it to strengthen our Brotherhood, or benefit the surrounding community.  Now that this first quarter is over, let’s reflect on how our Chapter celebrated our Tripod.

In January 2017, we gathered in Knoxville for a dinner downtown in Market Square and an Ice Bears Hockey game.  Though our Chapter is officially centered geographically in the TriCities area of northeast Tennessee, our Knoxville presence is growing and we find ourselves holding more events there.  This month was a designated Social event, and we made the most of it, inviting friends, fellow Alumni, and former SAAC members to join in on the fun.  We filled a long table down the center of Cocoa Moon’s dining space, catching up and introducing each other to our guests.  Watching the Knoxville Ice Bears game was just as fun, even if the team did lose to the Fayetteville Fire Antz.  The crowd’s boisterous energy was easily contagious.  Some of us had never attended a hockey game before!

February’s Scholarship event was small but productive.  Tina Bouthillier taught us how to sew baby booties that would be included in care packages for infants undergoing surgery at Bethesda Naval Hospital.  Each pair takes a surprising amount of time and patience, and Tina taught us how to use templates to cut patterns from the fabric.  She also brought along her sewing machine and was so encouraging and patient while we tried to learn to use it! It seems like sewing is a skill that not many people in our generation have picked up, but it really is a basic and necessary life skill.  We assembled three pairs of booties that evening and are sure they will be of good use on some tiny toes soon.  SAAC relishes the opportunities when our Brothers can share their skills among the group.  We grow so much when we can support and teach each other.

March was a Service month, and SAAC branched out to help an organization they hadn’t before: Disabled American Veterans.  We reached out to the local Johnson City DAV Chapter and asked what needs their members had.  They were kind enough to connect us to Mr. Robert Myers, Jr. who needed assistance clearing brush out of his yard.  A team of us assembled one Sunday afternoon with rakes, tarps, thick gloves, and a Sawzall to tear away vines that were choking out his trees, trim unruly bushes, and rake out mounds of fallen leaves.  Because of Mr. Myers’ back and breathing problems, it was hard for him to gather all of they yard waste, carry it down the hill to the curb for collection, and then make the steep walk back up.  He exclaimed, “This would have taken me three months!” when he surveyed the progress we made in just a couple hours.  By the end of the afternoon, the SAAC members who attended were covered in dirt and sweat, but we got to marvel at the wall of brush almost seven feet high that we collected from this deserving veterans yard.

When we each graduated and transitioned into Alumni roles of this Fraternity, we pledged to uphold its values throughout our lives.  We professed that we would continue to be leaders in our community and strive for lifelong learning.  These monthly events help us achieve that, holding us accountable to our mission to prioritize Scholarship, Leadership, and Fellowship in our day-to-day functions.  The first quarter of 2017 was a great success, and we’re excited to see what the next few months have in store!

Tasha with her husband, Brandon

Tasha Ferrell

Bio:

Joined Epsilon Xi Chapter in April 2012
Graduated in December 2013 with Bachelor of Science in Allied Health -Nutrition and Foods

Currently, Tasha is a fitness instructor and wellness supervisor at the Kingsport YMCA.

In an interview, Tasha was asked about her involvement in Phi Sigma Pi and what she hopes for the upcoming year.

Why did you join Phi Sigma Pi?
“I joined to be a part of something more than just class. When I first came to ETSU as a transfer student, I simply felt like a number. I looked into sororities, but they didn’t fit my personality. I found out about PSP via email and knew one Brother through the honors college. As soon as I walked into the room, I felt it was exactly where I needed to be. Everyone was so welcoming. Even more than that, I loved that it was such a diverse group of people with a unified sense of success in school as well as after. This was my group and I’m proud to be a small part! ”

What is your favorite SAAC memory?
“My favorite memory in SAAC so far was attending National Convention in D.C. This gave me a whole new perspective on the sense of community in this group–a family really. I haven’t been a part of PSP or SAAC that long, but for the people that have, it was as if not a day went by. I look forward to continuing to build relationships in SAAC and PSP as well as other chapters. I enjoy the sense of family!”

What do you hope to accomplish during your term on SAAC’s Executive Board?
“I hope to be more active and constantly to work to improve in my position. As secretary, it’s important to relay all the important details to Brothers unable to attend a meeting. Because we get it, life happens. As they read over the agenda, I hope it’s as if they didn’t miss a beat! ”

What are you looking forward to this year in SAAC?
“Simply spending more time together! I think 2016 was a busy year for most, so I look forward to attending more events and seeing everyone more–not just at events but just hanging out!”

Chris Dean

Bio:

Joined Epsilon Xi Chapter as an Honorary Member in December 2009
Graduated in 2010 with Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting, later receiving his Master’s in Accounting in 2011

Currently, Chris works at H&R Block as a manager over three retail offices.

In an interview, Chris was asked about her involvement in Phi Sigma Pi and what she hopes for the upcoming year.

Why did you join Phi Sigma Pi?
“I joined Phi Sigma Pi to make new friends for life.”

What is your favorite SAAC memory?
“I don’t have a favorite moment from my time in SAAC. I look back and I enjoy all the times that we have spent together. I cherish that I am one of the Founding Members of SAAC and have been there from our very first event of cooking food from the Hunger Games cookbook and watching the Hunger Games to our last event at the distillery. ”

What do you hope to accomplish during your term on SAAC’s Executive Board?
“I would like to see more activity from our Members. I would also like to see SAAC be more financially stable and use or money on more things than National Convention.”

What are you looking forward to this year in SAAC?
“I am looking forward to our Founder’s Day Trip this year. Some of my favorite memories come from our road trips or our retreats when we all get to spend more than just a few hours together.”

Rebecca Howard

Bio:

Joined Epsilon Xi Chapter in December 2011
Graduated in May 2015 with Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences – Microbiology

Currently, Rebecca is a laboratory assistant doing biomedical research at ETSU’s Quillen College of Medicine. She plans to go back to school in the fall to earn a medical degree

In an interview, Rebecca was asked about her involvement in Phi Sigma Pi and what she hopes for the upcoming year.

Why did you join Phi Sigma Pi?
“I quickly learned that it was going to be difficult making friends in large lecture halls and sought out like-minded people who also liked to do community service, which is a particular passion of mine.  Phi Sigma Pi was a perfect fit, and I was an active member until graduation in May 2015.  I immediately joined SAAC after graduating, too.  As an adult, it is hard to find volunteer work and opportunities to try and learn new things, and being in an Alumni Chapter is a fantastic way to have access to these things and do them with your best friends!”

What is your favorite SAAC memory?
“So far, my favorite SAAC memory is a recent service event.  We collaborated to plan a full meal for the families at Ronald McDonald House. Nearly all of our members either contributed funds for the meal or visited the House to prepare the food.  It was fun to work together and create something yummy for deserving families.”

What do you hope to accomplish during your term on SAAC’s Executive Board and what are you looking forward to this year in SAAC?
“I’m looking forward to a year of growth ahead in SAAC.  We already have exciting events in the works, and as the new Vice President, I hope to play a strong role getting everyone involved. I want each Brother to feel the sense of personal pride and responsibility in helping plan events.  In addition to growth and strength within our current Chapter, I hope to see it expand this year.  As Recruitment Coordinator, I hope to build on the connections previous RCs have made and welcome new members from throughout the Appalachian region this year.”

Ryan Alexander

Bio:

Joined Epsilon Xi Chapter in December 2008
Graduated in May 2010 with Bachelor of Science in Biology and History
Previous Vice President of Alumni Development (2013-2015)

Currently, Ryan is the Chemical Hygiene Officer and Stockroom Manager in the Department of Chemistry at East Tennessee State University.  He is also pursuing his Master’s degree in Environmental Health.

In an interview, Ryan was asked about his involvement in Phi Sigma Pi and what he hopes for the upcoming year.

Why did you join Phi Sigma Pi?
“I enjoyed the company of like minded individuals that were so different from myself.  The people I have come to know from Phi Sigma Pi are some of my best friends that I would not have met otherwise.  Above all, it is the people that make up this organization that are the reason I joined and continue to stay involved today.”

What is your favorite SAAC memory?
“It is a tie between signing the petition to charter the Chapter and walking on the stage to receive the charter at National Convention.”

What do you hope to accomplish during your term on SAAC’s Executive Board?
“I hope to continue to help the Chapter grow and realize its full potential.  The group we have is fantastic, and I want to see it continue in the tradition of growing and giving back to the communities of which we are all a part.”

What are you looking forward to this year in SAAC?
“I am looking forward to being with my Brothers as often as possible and to remaining true to our ideals of scholarship, leadership, and fellowship.”

By: Jillian Quirante ΕΞ ‘10

August is a very busy month for many of the Members in SAAC.  Work (many at universities or local schools) and graduate school seem to gear up during this month.  Because of the hectic schedule, SAAC decided to met for a nice dinner at Cheddar’s and we each brought items to be donated to Bucky’s Pantry, our alma mater’s food pantry (Shout out to Tina for organizing the event!).  Everyday that I go to work at ETSU, there is a Bucky’s Pantry collection box that I have to pass to get to my office, so I knew that getting the food and donating would be a fairly easy process.

I was actually overwhelmed by the amount of supplies that SAAC had collected.  There was no way that I was going to be able to 1) carry all of the supplies to work by myself and 2) be able to fit all of the supplies in the small box at work.  So I decided to take one grocery bag each day that I went to work and put it in the collection box.  This spread out over the course of about ten days.  Little did I know how SAAC’s donations would allow me to embody leadership through service.  Over the course of the next two weeks after I dropped off my last bag, I noticed that the box had at least one new bag of donations in it!  Apparently, when I dropped off SAAC’s donations in the morning, people in my office noticed and started bringing donations themselves!  It was such a rewarding feeling knowing that even though this was a small service event, SAAC was able to make a bigger impact than just what we collected.  I encourage all of our Brothers and Chapters to know that even a small act of kindness/service can and will make a huge impact!  No service event is too small!

By: Josh Moore, ΕΞ ‘12

The most breathtaking week of my summer is always the week I get to escape to a distant city, and hang out with hundreds of my Brothers from across the country. The feeling is unparalleled; to meet a stranger, and know that you both love something in common. It really is a rush. Over the past four years, I have slowly moved my way up from a partial registration in Orlando and Philadelphia, to an alternate in Atlanta. This year, though, I was honored to serve as the delegate for SAAC, and to experience the marvel of knowing that the vote you are casting is helping to shape the future of the fraternity as a whole. If you’ve never been to convention, I can’t strongly recommend you remedy that situation for our Centennial Convention in Kansas City, MO in the summer of 2016.

This year’s convention started with a half day of business on Wednesday evening, allowing us to get through approximately half of the amendments voted on during the first session. In addition to voting on Amendments to the National Constitution, the delegates from the Collegiate and Alumni Chapters got to have a great conversation about the national philanthropy. Hats off to Dr. Patrick Herron, VP of Philanthropy Development, and his ad-hoc committee for an insane amount of thoughtful and quality work over the course of the year. As a Grand Chapter, we voted on a new philanthropic partnership with Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY), and I was proud to hear from Brothers who were alum of that program and had great things to say about it. I’m sure I speak for a lot of people in saying that I’m excited to see where the new partnership will go!

Leading up to our Centennial, we were able to focus on the ceremonial aspects of our Brotherhood too. In addition to a demonstration of the Ritual, the Grand Chapter also adopted a new Founders’ Ceremony and a Brother’s Creed. Hearing the assembly recite the Brother’s Creed for the first time was definitely a chill-bump inducing experience. But, National Convention isn’t just business meetings; on Saturday, attendees got to take part in two new Leadership in Action modules, and those who wanted to were able to become certified facilitators. Saturday evening brought the annual Awards Banquet. Personally, I had the distinct pleasure of serving on the Awards, Scholarships, and Emblems Committee for the year, so it was great to see the Brothers from the outstanding awards nominations get to be recognized nationally for the amazing things they did for our Brotherhood. And, congratulations to Beta Rho from James Madison University for their shiny new Torchia Award. Following dinner and awards, we got a chance to let our hair down at the late-night dance party, and simply to enjoy being in the company of Brothers from around the country.

National Convention is a treat each year, and it seems like each year surpasses the previous in the sheer awesomeness that happens. I’m already counting down the days to going home to Alpha Chapter – well, Kansas City, which is a short hour from Warrensburg. I know I speak for SAAC when I say we hope to see you there!

By: Becca Howard, ΕΞ ’15

All throughout my undergraduate involvement with Phi Sigma Pi, I’ve heard repeatedly that one of the great things about the organization is how involved Alumni can choose to be. The bonds of Brotherhood can last far beyond college graduation day. Naturally, as my own graduation day came, I looked forward to discovering these Alumni opportunities for myself. I quickly accepted Southern Appalachian Alumni Chapter’s invitation for membership, and my first SAAC event came shortly after: the Founder’s Day Retreat.

On July 9th, our young Chapter celebrated our 3rd Founders’ Day. We planned a relaxing retreat in Franklin, North Carolina that weekend for the occasion. We stayed in a cabin, complete with wide deck and a beautiful mountain view, nestled into a private community. The steep, winding hills that led us to our weekend home were charming to some of us, fun for others (who had a brand new truck to break in), and downright nerve-wracking to a few. Still, all nine of us arrived safely to the cabin by Friday night.

We ate a late dinner together while catching up. Thanks to Chris Dean, we ate incredibly well all weekend. Friday night was all about unwinding and having too much fun. We played the ever-popular Cards Against Humanity (really, why do we even bother bringing the other board and card games?) into the early morning hours. I ended up laughing harder than I have in a long time.

Saturday revealed to me how an Alumni Chapter retreat differs from a Collegiate Chapter retreat. There were no extravagant day plans designed to keep everyone busy and buzzed on stimulating, vacay fun. We were there simply to spend time together. After sleeping in, we all piled up on the large couch in our sweats watching a Pit Bulls and Parolees marathon on TV because we were too lazy so busy enjoying each other’s company that we didn’t bother to change the channel.

Six of the nine of us ventured into town for a little outing while the rest stayed behind to recuperate from Friday’s late night fun. Downtown Franklin offered a small strip of shops and a charming little patch of green space. We browsed the small shops and their eclectic odd and ends and re-purposed “antiques” before hunting down a Dairy Queen for ice cream.

Back at the cabin, the group assumed our positions on the couch again. We stayed fixed there and spent much-needed time just catching up on everyone’s busy lives. Our conversation even drifted to retirement savings—definitely something that wouldn’t happen at an undergrad retreat! As evening approached, we witnessed a gorgeous sunset framed by the mountains, made cookies, and watched Netflix.

Sunday morning brought waffles (thanks, Momma J!) and the end of our time in the cabin. We took our time getting back home; most of us stopped in Asheville to browse the art festival and grab burgers. It was so nice to have an opportunity to bond with my Brothers over more than just dinner-and-a-meeting. We got to let loose, relax, and have a fantastic weekend where the only real thing on the agenda was enjoying time with each other. I’m excited to see SAAC grow and celebrate more Founders’ Days. I’m sure that the retreat was a good reminder to the group why creating our Chapter was important; we need to take time out of our regular routines, hectic work lives, and the other stressors of adult life in order to nurture bonds with our Brothers. This year’s retreat was a wonderful introduction to SAAC membership, and I am looking forward to jumping in with both feet!