World's Greatest Party! - Delta Sigma Pi

Deltasig July 06 7/6/06 7:54 AM Page 8
A Legend Retires and
the Central Office Moves
In a report to the 1953 Grand Chapter
Congress, Past Grand President Allen L.
Fowler noted, in part, the following: “For
some years your Grand Council has
thought about and discussed the possibility
and the practicality of creating an
educational foundation which could
take over, and perhaps enlarge upon,
some of the activities now being carried
on by the Fraternity. The original thinking
was to the effect that we should turn
over the assets of our National
Endowment Fund to this new
Foundation, and that, upon payment of
the $50 life membership fee, a brother
would automatically become a member
of the Foundation. This was on the
assumption that certain activities of
Delta Sigma Pi, such as the alumni placing
service, the publication of The
DELTASIG, the biennial survey, scholarship
keys, and chapter and student
loans could be taken over by the new
Educational Foundation.”
After discussions with the U.S.
Treasury Department, it was determined
much of the original thinking would
have to be scrapped, and there would
have to be a “complete technical
divorcement” of the Foundation management
from that of the Fraternity.
Such were the rules governing educational
foundations in the 1950s. This led
to the further discussions that $50 (in
1950s valuation) was not a large enough
amount to charge for a life membership
considering the things that the
Fraternity had hoped the Foundation
could do. Once the life membership
amount had been paid it was feared
there may be no incentive for a brother
to continue giving over the years. In the
end, it was decided the National
Endowment Fund of Delta Sigma Pi
would not be transferred to the new
Educational Foundation. The only area
of “overlapping” purposes was in the
area of student loans, which the
National Endowment Fund could also
make, but this was not considered to be
a problem.
8 JULY 2006/THE DELTASIG OF DELTA SIGMA PI
A staff meeting in the Founders’ Room of the “new”Central Office building. Pictured (from left): Jane
Nelson, Jane Lehman, Ray Flodin, Helen Schocke, Peg Whitelaw and Jim Thomson. In the 1950s,
Brother Thomson was charged with creation of the Central Office—from visiting cities to eventually
buying furniture. His success is evident by the fine facility in Oxford, still in use today.
Detroit was the host city for the 1955
Grand Chapter Congress. Gig Wright,
who had devoted so much of his life to
the development of the Fraternity over a
35 year period, would soon retire. The
new Central Office building would be
dedicated to Brother Wright for his
Micro film capsules were placed in the Central
Office building cornerstone by Past Grand
President John L. McKewen while then Grand
President J. Harry Feltham prepared to place the
cover on the stone and seal it in place.
extraordinary service. Also discussed at
this Congress was the establishment of
an alumni chapter franchise fee, an
alumni chapter ritual, and the creation
of a uniform alumni chapter membership
card.
The Golden Anniversary of Delta
Sigma Pi was celebrated in New York
City at the Grand Chapter Congress. On
May 18, 1957, the new Central Office
building was officially dedicated to Gig
Wright.
In 1959, the Grand Chapter Congress
was held in Cincinnati. Grand Secretary-
Treasurer James D. Thomson reported
that the new building in Oxford, Ohio
was working out just fine, in spite of
almost nothing being ready upon their
arrival in 1956. Hazing is still an issue.
But the “Selective Membership”requirement
is working out. ▲
When the Centennial Series continues,
bring on the hippies!
Note: The Centennial Edition of The
DELTASIG will include this complete
Centennial Series, as well as more detailed
articles covering Gig Wright, Jim Thomson,
the building of the Central Office—and
much, much more!