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!
Phi Sigma Pi Southern Appalachian Alumni Chapter 