Page 1 - Gamma Mu News - Winter 2009-10

Gamma mu News

Gamma Mu Chapter of Sigma Nu Fraternity | University of Illinois | Winter 2010
Alumni Relations Office | P.O. Box 80828, Atlanta, Georgia 30366

Status of the Chapter from Alumni Spotlight:

In This Issue: the Alumni Advisory Board Steve Cox

by Steven R. Berry
Status of the Chapter ....... 1 ou might be wondering. “What teve Cox is Executive Vice President
Alumni Spotlight ............ 1 Yis the alumni strategy in working Sof Strategy and Business Affairs
Chapter News .................. 2 with the Chapter?” As you know, of Move Networks, a company that
New Members ................. 3 many alumni are actively working delivers live television over the internet
Scholarship Recipient ..... 3 together and partnering with the to any broadband-enabled device. Steve
Alumni News .................. 4 active members to help the chapter joined Move after a few years of “semi-
Upcoming Events ............ 4 renew itself. Since March 2007, retirement,” which he says is “really a
Pursuit of Excellence ...... 4 alumni under the leadership of Mike fancy way of saying I was ‘Mr. Mom’
Ritchie, David Von Nirschl, Adrian for the past several years.” He has three
Terrones, Rob Jantz, and Gregg children, ages 16, 12 and 9 and lives in
Rithmiller have been pulling together brothers and their Palos Verdes Estates, California, which is in the Los Angeles
Visit us on the web at: resources to transform the chapter from them “getting by” area.
www.sigmanuillinois.com and about to lose a neglected chapter house, to “flourishing” Steve came into Sigma Nu as a freshman in 1979, a
and living in a solid chapter house. Why? Because the time which, in hindsight, reminds him a lot of the current
alumni had a vision of passing along the life experiences they state of the fraternity. “We were a huge pledge class – 20
had cherished and treasured and of having been a brother in in total if I recall correctly – that was brought in at a time
a fraternity. This was a meaningful part of each of our lives. when the house’s numbers really needed to be replenished and
Those brothers wanted to create a lasting change, to sustain reinvigorated. Then, as in now, you really felt like you were
and pass their life experience to future generations of Sigma part of something new and exciting, and it was an empowering
Nu’s within Gamma Mu at the University of Illinois. environment to grow both the institution and the individuals
A challenge is …that having a vision, and even having who were part of it.” He added, “Looking back now, I really
resources, is never enough to create lasting change. There is a tip my hat to the guys living in the house who brought in our
‘Transformation Process’ that organizations must successfully pledge class, they really worked hard to breathe new life into
navigate to create lasting change in an organization. It the fraternity.”
involves 8 important steps, and all 8 are required. If the steps Steve graduated from Deerfield High School, which
aren’t used (usually because they are not known), or finished played a large role in that pledge class of 20 – a total of six
then the organization will struggle with creating the lasting Deerfield High grads from the class of 1979 pledged Sigma
change. Fortunately for Sigma Nu, we know the 8 steps and Nu. “I’m sure it would be a better story if I told you that
we are applying them: we were six life long friends who made the plunge together,
but the fact of the matter is that those friendship bonds really
Kotter’s Model of Change only formed because of our collective decision to pledge at
Sigma Nu. We certainly all knew each other, but we also came
1. Establish a sense of urgency. from fairly distinct ‘circles’ in high school. I think we were
2. Form a powerful guiding coalition. all probably equally surprised to learn that we would soon be
3. Create a vision. brothers!”
4. Communicate the vision. Steve lived in the Sigma Nu house all four years at
5. Empower others to act on the vision. Illinois and was active in a number of capacities, including
6. Plan for and create short-term wins. as Commander in 1982. After graduating from Illinois in
7. Consolidate improvements and produce
still more change. Spotlight, continued on page 4
8. Institutionalize new approaches.
Feasibility Study Begins
- from John P Kotter, 1995, Leading Change

Each of these steps were put in motion and remain alive. he Gamma Mu Alumni Corporation contracted
In 2007, Mike Ritchie established the sense of urgency Twith The Laurus Group, LLC a fundraising
(#1), gained the initial support and created the guiding consulting firm based in Atlanta to conduct a feasibility
coalition (#2) to purchase the chapter house by the alumni. study exploring the potential support among our alumni
He reinvigorated the alumni chapter and became the lead for a campaign to renovate and modernize the chapter
Chapter Advisor for Gamma Mu. By joining the cause, house. If you are contacted please take the time to
other alumni continued strengthening that coalition, and meet with the consultants or speak with them by phone.
garnered the support of Sigma Nu national to help educate Everyone will be receiving a survey mailing in the next
the Gamma Mu Chapter members in the LEAD (Leadership month or so. Please take the time to respond. Your
Ethics Acheivement Development) initiative. The first order input and guidance are important as we chart the course
of business by Jacob Welshans, national LEAD facilitator, for the future of Gamma Mu!

Alumni Advisor, continued on page 4