Ten years ago I rose to serve in the ranks of the Supreme Council in Sigma Alpha Epsilon. Since that summer convention in Orlando a decade ago, our world—and my world—is completely different. In my final words to the Realm via The Record, allow me to reflect on some of those changes and to share my experience with you.

In 2001, the Fraternity looked different. The Supreme Council had majority membership on the Foundation Board, a structure that would not change until the following convention. So being on the Council, our roles included serving as Foundation board members. There was no entity named the SAE Financial & Housing Corporation. It was termed SAE Services and was separate from the Fraternity. Also that year, our Leadership School took place at the University of Chicago in dorms, and it would be my last time as Director of the Leadership School. Our attendance consisted of 325 undergraduates. The world around us was about to change dramatically. When I was elected to the Supreme Council, the World Trade Center towers still stood tall as part of the New York City skyline, and Osama Bin Laden and Al Queda were names you heard but that required little attention. The tragic events of September 11 will always be etched into my memory. This Fraternity lost several brothers that day and in the conflicts that took place as a result. However, the one thing that has been forgotten through the years is the incredible sense of patriotism and community that existed for several months after our fateful day.

The Fraternity changed over ten years. The structure of our organization has evolved into the current tri-board system that ensures separate governance and few entanglements. Even our Ritual changed in that time, such as the addition of “The True Gentleman” to its ceremonies. Further, I have been fortunate to have worked with three Eminent Supreme Recorders, dozens of devoted board members, numerous excellent staff members, hundreds of Province Archons, thousands of undergraduates and, finally, my best friends—those men with whom I served on the Supreme Council.

I have been fortunate to be an instrumental part in pulling the Fraternity from the brink of bankruptcy, taking a gamble on a unique idea for Leadership School on a cruise ship and brainstorming with Council on a “wild concept” of having a elite leadership-training event that would be called the Inner Circle. I am proud I am leaving this organization with growing numbers in all areas and a financial stability while professing the ideals and precepts of our forefathers.

I could not offer a summary unless I spoke about the people who have been most impacted by my tenure—my family. I have spent hours upon hours on conference calls. I have stayed hundreds of nights on the road working for Minerva. At the start of my term, Marty was 15; Michael, 10; Matthew, 8; and Mercedes, 6. My wife, Dora, and I added Mark on the way, and he will see me end my Council years at the age of 6. Each of them is ten years older now, and I know they’re proud of their father. My family has suffered the most for my time away from home, and I will never get those years back. But more importantly, during that time, my wonderful wife of 25 years has been the rock of our household. My future includes making up that time to my family, for they deserve it for all of their patience.

In conclusion, I humbly believe that I have made a difference. In the scheme of all that occurs over a decade, if one can be proud to say that he believes he has made a difference, then—as I hand over the Eminent Supreme Archon Badge over to Ken Tracey—I can raise my head proudly knowing I have given all of my heart, wipe a tear from my eye for the memories for which I have been so fortunate to be a part and bid the realm a “thank you” for allowing me to make that journey with all of you.

Phi Alpha,
Martin D. Wiglesworth (Centre ’84)

Greeting and prosperity to our order! As you review the content in this edition with the annual report, you’ll see the Fraternity is doing well. By whatever criterion you use – chapter numbers, undergraduates initiated, finances or other measurements – the state of this organization should bring us great pride. These results are not simply the outcome of one individual; they’re a result of each of us, undergraduates and alumni, working to make Sigma Alpha Epsilon the best fraternal experience possible. As your Eminent Supreme Archon, it’s my duty to point out this fact and give credit where credit is due.

We are not to sit on our laurels, however, as much work is left to be done. One area that we need to improve is risk management. I am pained to see the number of incidents that occur at the chapter level. In just the first three months of the academic year, we have seen a disturbing increase in acts of indiscretion that threaten our existence. It seems to me that we have lost focus on our ever-important risk-management policies. Hazing is still an issue and problem with Greek-letter organizations. As I said at last year’s convention, hazing continues to rear its ugly head.

Our Be the One campaign was meant to focus our attention on crediting those people who have made an impact on each of our lives. It was meant to give us reasons to believe that what we have as a fraternal organization is unique to us. As we continue with our Be the One campaign, I want to refocus that message in a different venue. I want each of you to Be the One as a commitment to risk management. Whether you are the one to stand up and stop that brother from taking an extra drink that puts him over the edge, whether you are the one to stand up against those incidents during pledgeship that wander into the hazing realm, whether you are the one to stand up to that alumnus who wants to “make the pledges earn respect” by bringing back outdated and illegal activities, we need to Be the One to change this culture. We cannot exist using antiquated thinking and methodologies that have absolutely nothing to do with our creed and mission.

I must remind you that the Fraternity introduced our We Stand Together program last year to combat hazing and bystander behavior. We Stand Together spotlights those practices that are not healthy nor have anything to do with our organization. The program gives us ideals and principles in pledge programming as well as defining those areas in which we need to improve throughout our brotherhood experience.

As we go forward, let us celebrate our successes and, at the same time, improve upon areas we need to address. They are not new issues. In fact, brothers like Billy Levere and John Moseley struggled with the same ones and spent plenty of time addressing how we can handle them. It is my dream to have a fraternal experience free of those threats we see everyday resulting from risk-management violations and other risky behaviors that have no place in Sigma Alpha Epsilon. Brothers, that future is within our grasp. Reach out and assist me in making our fraternal experience what it our Founding Fathers intended it to be.

Phi Alpha,

Greetings and prosperity to our Order! I’m pleased to say in this annual report that the Fraternity is doing well. By whatever measure you use – chapter number, undergraduates initiated, finances or other metrics – we should all be proud of the state of this organization. These results cannot be credited to just one individual, because credit is due to each of us.

Despite these wonderful results, we cannot rest on our laurels. Much work is left to be done, especially in risk management. In just the first three months of the 2009-2010 academic year, we have seen a disturbing increase in acts of indiscretion that threaten our continued existence. I will not delve into details, but we have lost focus on risk-management policies. Hazing is still a problem. The Be the One initiative was meant to give credit to those who have made an impact on each of our lives. As we continue the Be the One message, I want to refocus that call-to-action on the area of risk management. Be the One to stand up and stop that brother from taking that extra drink that puts him over the edge. Be the One to stand up against those incidents during pledgeship that stray into the realm of hazing. Be the One to stand up to that alumnus who wants to “make the pledges earn respect” by using out-dated and illegal activities. We cannot continue to exist without such a change in our culture. Accordingly, the Fraternity has introduced the We Stand Together program, which spotlights those practices that negatively impact our organization. It stresses the ideals and principles of our Founders for our pledge programming as well as defining those areas we need to improve upon throughout our brotherhood experience.

As we go forward, let us celebrate our successes and be aware of all those areas where we can improve. It is my dream to have a fraternal experience free of those threats we see everyday resulting from risk-management violations. Brothers, that future is within your grasp. Reach out and assist me in making my goal a reality.

Phi Alpha,

Martin D. Wiglesworth (Centre ’84)
Eminent Supreme Archon

As you read this column just before our 153rd Anniversary Convention in July, it’s hard for me to believe that my two-year tenure as your Eminent Supreme Archon is coming to a close. I think back to when a brother from Mississippi Sigma gave me the chance to join Sigma Alpha Epsilon. That one action allowed me to join the greatest fraternity in the world. My love and appreciation for the organization only grew with time. I thought I had all the good brothers and friends I needed at Mississippi Sigma, but over the course of the last two decades, my friendships and connections have grown. I’ve met an incredible number of brothers who share that sacred bond of friendship with me and there’s been a brother within reach with the grip of friendship and a hearty “Phi Alpha.”

This entire biennium, I’ve stressed the importance of my message: Be the One. It only takes one brother to reach out to one other person and make the Sigma Alpha Epsilon experience complete. That’s what Joe Clark did for me, and that’s what thousands of our forefathers did for all of us. Many of our brothers have shared their personal stories about Being the One with me, and I’m amazed at their commitment to the cause. I want to make sure we continue that trend so that our sons and grandsons can join Sigma Alpha Epsilon.

I want to thank everyone for rallying behind my message to Be the One. Now, my wish is that you keep the momentum going. Be inspired by Sigma Alpha Epsilon and give back to the organization that has given so much to you. Your membership in our Fraternity has likely paid more dividends throughout your life than you ever imagined. That’s the hidden benefit: It’s not just for those few years in college; it’s for a lifetime. You weren’t an SAE; you are an SAE. We must always continue to Be the One and share our experience with others. We must continue to replace ourselves with new members. We must be our brother’s keeper to ensure we take care of one another. And we must volunteer our time and energy to keep the fire burning.

Before I hand over the gavel and badge to this office at our convention in New Orleans, I’d like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the opportunity to serve as your Eminent Supreme Archon. Sitting back in my dorm room as a pledge, trying to put myself through college, I could never have dreamed I would have this opportunity. In the past two years, we’ve demonstrated as a brotherhood that we can bond together and tackle what this world throws at us. Membership in a Greek-letter organization is just as relevant as it was 153 years ago. I leave office knowing Sigma Alpha Epsilon is under the guidance of great leaders who will maintain our status as the greatest fraternity in the world.

In the Bonds,
M. Todd Buchanan (Southern Mississippi ’90)
Past Eminent Supreme Archon

On behalf of the entire Supreme Council and all of our members, I’d like to wish you a Happy 153rd Anniversary. We celebrated our Founders Day on March 9, and our organization is just as strong as ever. I’m proud to be the national president of the best social fraternity in this country. I’m sure this has been a challenging year for you, both personally and professionally. It seems that all we hear is negative news about the economy, the job market and the performance of our retirement plans. But I have some good news for you. Despite the hardships our country has been facing, Sigma Alpha Epsilon is doing incredibly well. We are meeting our challenges, our members are embracing my call to Be the One and our numbers are as strong today as they have been in the past.

For example, in February, we installed our 300th chapter at the University of Wisconsin at La Crosse, a major milestone. We have 10,000 undergraduates at 218 chapters across the country. We have nearly 190,000 living alumni. And I had the privilege of pinning a new member with badge 287,300. Those numbers mean college men are still very much interested in what our fraternal experience offers, and the need for fraternities is just as great today as it was back in 1856. I’ve asked our members to Be the One, and every day I hear more stories about how they’re achieving that mission.

We share a common experience and must continue to share it. At the same time, the Supreme Council is committed to keep delivering meaningful experiences to our members. While we’re weathering the financial storm, we’re committed to continuing our annual traditions like Leadership School, the Phoenix Institute and the Fraternity Convention as well as our excellent volunteer-driven events such as the SAE World Series and the National Amateur Golf Tournament. These events enrich our experience and allow us to impact our fellow brothers.

At the end of the day, I know all of us have the same goal in mind: to leave the organization better than we found it. As the ESA, I’d like to thank you for not only being a loyal, committed brother but for Being the One. Your support allows us to thrive in good times and bad, and our good work ensures Sigma Alpha Epsilon will be around for future anniversaries. When I attend our events like Leadership School, I can see the gratefulness in the eyes of our young men to the members who made their experience possible, simply by choosing to Be the One.

Always remember that a brother’s support or advice is only a phone call or e-mail or text message away. It’s in periods like this that we truly learn the meaning of brotherhood and the benefits of having lifelong friends. Personally, I can’t imagine my life without the guys I know from Mississippi Sigma and the other brothers I’ve met along the way. I’m confident that, despite what this world throws at us, we can meet our challenges and continue celebrating our legacy.

In the Bonds,
M. Todd Buchanan (Southern Mississippi ’90)
Eminent Supreme Archon

When I took over as your Eminent Supreme Archon last summer, I challenged all of our members, young and old, to Be the One. I’m sure you’ve heard that message by now, and I want to tell you that through my travels, I’ve met lots of brothers who are Being the One. It’s that one person, that one degree, that can make all the difference in our lives.

Sigma Alpha Epsilon is here for you today because our forefathers stepped up to the plate and advanced their visions of leadership. They intended our Fraternity to be a social fraternity, as evidenced when DeVotie wrote that “man is a social being” and explained the need for brothers “whose character upholds those social qualities so necessary for the perpetuation of friendships.”

What he was saying is this: While we each live our own individual lives, we have the need to touch others and interact with them. By nature, we should make friends and extend our social network. Growing the membership was our Founding Fathers’ first order of business; hence, their way of Being the One. And, just like they envisioned, we have to Be the Ones to pass that gift of membership along to another true gentleman. Only by leading the charge can we inspire other members to follow in our footsteps.

This issue of The Record is dedicated to those members and groups who are great examples of brothers Being the Ones in their own ways, whether they’re excelling in the fraternity house, sharing common goals an alumni group or leading the way in their careers. They’re a source of inspiration for us all. We could not cover everyone’s success stories, but we can bring you the best of the best. Maybe you, too, can be inspired to Be the One.

Your work as a brother is never truly done until you reach out and bring other quality men into the Fraternity so you can give them what someone gave you. Your fraternal experience does not end when you leave school. And it doesn’t end when you get older and see your brothers less often. You are an SAE for life, so you can Be the One for life.

As we continue with this biennium, you will hear more about the success stories about our members who are Being the One in addition to learning how we’re more connected than we realize. Our outreach to just one man impacts more lives than you know. Be the One who perseveres when the naysayers tell you it can’t be done. Be the One who leads the charge with spirited determination, enthusiasm and perseverance. And you will Be the One others point to and say, “He’s the one who made us better. He’s the one who wouldn’t let us settle for second-best when first was available.” After all, that’s what my call to action is all about. I have no doubt it continues to make us the strongest fraternity across the nation.

In the Bonds,
M. Todd Buchanan (Southern Mississippi ’90)
Eminent Supreme Archon