Winning a Buchanan Cup is tough. But winning at least five in a row is nothing short of remarkable … and it’s an accomplishment only a few chapters in SigEp’s history have ever achieved.
Some of the 2015 Gold Buc Cup winners shared their secrets to success, and their answers were pretty consistent.
Whether your chapter received hardware in Nashville or didn’t even apply for the award, these eight pieces of advice can drastically change the future of your chapter:
1. Recruit the best men on campus by utilizing the Balanced Man Scholarship.
“It is all about finding a group of individuals that have the same values and are looking for the same experiences as the chapter. A chapter must find people that are smart, driven and dedicated to make a difference where ever they go.” – Ryan Peebles, Illinois ’17 (President).
2. Make the Balanced Man Program the centerpiece of your membership experience.
“Proper execution of the BMP not only improves your chapter’s performance, it also improves the lives of your brothers. Implement the five philosophical tenets and watch the success it will bring.” – Don Stenta, Ohio State ’01 (Chapter Counselor, Ohio State).
3. Measure yourself against your potential, not your peers.
“You will fail if you care too much about what other fraternities think about your chapter. Embrace being different … because if you do it right, being different means being better. Keep focused on what it will take to be the best possible SigEp chapter and the rest will take care of itself.” – Nick Wagner, Cincinnati ’16 (President).
4. Embrace accountability and tough brotherly love.
“When we have members falter, we aren’t afraid to let the hammer fall. Whether it is poor grades, delinquent dues, or conduct violations, you must be willing to uphold your standards at any cost. Sometimes that means letting a brother you care for dearly go for the good of the whole. It’s never easy, but it is absolutely critical to continued success.” – Milton Santiago, Canisius ’97 (Chapter Counselor, Loyola Marymount).
5. Be innovative and don’t be afraid to fail.
“We encourage the undergrads to try new things out, sometimes they work, other times, not. But that’s how you find success. The key for the AVC is to help the undergrads through that process.” – Rey Medina, Cincinnati ’99 (AVC President, Cincinnati).
6. Learn from the Buchanan Cup process.
“Review the feedback from the review committee and the expectations in the application. This gives you a clear picture of what it takes to win the award. Base your chapter goals around this feedback and these expectations.” – John Vincent, Southeast Missouri State ’97 (Chapter Counselor, Southeast Missouri State).
7. Build a strong mentor committee of volunteers that provides weekly support to undergraduate leaders.
“You need strong leadership by example from volunteers advising members on where to set “the bar” in terms of conduct, leadership, membership, finances, etc. Make sure these volunteers have diverse expertise in areas such as property management, finance, sales/marketing and business experience.” – Steve Cook, Oregon State ’76 (AVC President, Oregon State).
8. Don’t forget to have fun.
“The chapter will operate more efficiently towards goals if everyone is having fun and excited to work hard.” – Luke Malone, Delaware ’17 (President).
Utilizing these pieces of advice will help your chapter get on stage in Orlando in 2017 … and ensure sustainable success for decades to come.
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