SIGMA GAMMA TAU
Best Practices & Lessons Learned
Please send best practice / lesson learned ideas to the National Secretary
Initiation
Service
Display Board
Convention
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Chapters are encouraged to send in a list of names electronically
(Word document or e-mail text body, but NOT a scanned document) along with the dues check in
advance of the initiation ceremony (recommend 8 weeks). If these two items are sent in,
certificates can be ordered and sent to the chapter. At the initiation ceremony, the
nomination form can be signed to complete the paperwork process required by National
headquarters.
Wichita State's SGT membership invitation letter which gives the
details of the initiation ceremony day, time, and location also reminds students that
parents and significant others are welcome to come to the ceremony. Many parents have
been quite delighted to find out that their child is a high achieving student and some have
even travelled hundreds of miles in order to see them get initiated into SGT.
The Boston University chapter has conducted their initiation
ceremony at the top of a mountain. The fact that students have to climb up the mountain
before the initiation becomes a poignant reminder that they have "reached the top" of the
mountain and are being recognized for their academic achievement.
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Some chapters require participation in service activities (e.g.
tutoring or clean-up in the community). The Texas A&M chapter limits the privilege of
being able to wear the graduation stole only to those who have completed a specified
number of hours of service.
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Display Board
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The weekend before the start of the AIAA Science and Technology
(SciTech) Meeting in January seems to be the best time for the Triennial Convention because
of two reasons. First, it is at the start of the semester rather than the middle or end of
the semester when everyone is too busy. Secondly, school is in session so corresponding
with faculty and students is reasonably smooth (whereas it is more difficult to communicate
smoothly in the summer in order to organize an August or September Convention). Whether to
hold the meeting on a Saturday or Sunday is debateable with pro's and con's for each day,
but Saturday had slightly more support based on an informal poll during the 2015 Convention.
The Convention at the AIAA meeting venue with breakfast, lunch, and
refreshments in the meeting room is most convenient, but it is much more expensive. Alternatively,
a hotel near the AIAA meeting venue is less costly if people have to drive from the airport
anyway.
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