Great moments 1st | December 23-25, 1903
11th | December 28-30, 1921
Richmond, VA Held in the Virginia Alpha
chapter room in the tower of Ryland Hall at Richmond College, the first Grand Chapter Conclave was attended by seven delegates, representing four of the Fraternity’s nine chapters. They passed the 1903 constitution, which provided for a grand council consisting of one representative from each chapter. They also authorized the publication of the Journal.
Des Moines, IA Eighty members attended and passed legislation to create the traveling secretary position, one of the first in the fraternity world. Clarence Freeark, Illinois ’23, was SigEp’s first. It was his job to work with each chapter to make SigEp a more cohesive organization.
5th | April 20-22, 1908 Chicago, IL Delegates elected Founder Billy Phillips to the newly created position of Grand Secretary. Phillips moved Fraternity headquarters to Washington. His salary was $900 a year, and he remained Grand Secretary until his retirement in 1942.
Clarence Freeark was SigEp’s first traveling secretary.
24th | Aug 31-Sept 2, 1955 Cincinnati, OH Language restricting membership to white males of Christian birth was removed from the bylaws. This was also Uncle Billy’s last Conclave.
28th | Aug 30-Sept 2, 1963
26th | September 3-5, 1959 Washington, DC The 1959 Conclave passed ground breaking
legislation giving chapters of Sigma Phi Epsilon “the privilege of selecting members without restriction,” thereby eliminating all selectivity clauses from their constitution and opening the doors of SigEp to members without regard to race, creed or religious affiliation.
42nd | August 14-18, 1991 Washington, DC Chapter delegates issued a mandate for the transformation of the pledging process. At the following Conclave, the Balanced Man Program was officially adopted as SigEp’s new development model, replacing pledging with a fouryear development program. “We were trying to recapture the spirit of the Founders,” said Past Grand President Steve Shanklin, Murray State ’70.
from Conclaves past
Mackinac Island, MI Legislation established a national leadership school, which over three hundred SigEps would attend the following year. In a Conclave discussion on hazing, Grand President Bedford Black, Wake Forest ’41, warned offending chapters to mend their ways or leave. “One of the most damaging enemies to the fraternity system is the chapter which tolerates the moronic, ignorant, unimaginative, ridiculous, often hazardous course of pre-initiation activities involving hazing.”
46th | August 19-22, 1999 Chicago, IL Chapter delegates recalled the 1959 Conclave that opened membership to brothers of all races, creeds and religions. With another historic Conclave vote, they clarified that commitment extended to sexual orientation. The Fraternity recommitted itself to building a more inclusive and diverse fraternity.
50th | August 8-12, 2007 Atlanta, GA Grand President
Archer L. Yeatts, Richmond ’64, delivered an emotional address to the assembly on the topic of hazing.
Since 1903, Conclave moments have shaped Sigma Phi Epsilon. Decisions made, big and small, have strengthened the foundation upon which today’s undergraduates build. Young men tackle colossal issues and reaffirm SigEp’s commitment to be a valued partner in higher education. In a few short days, they shatter stereotypes and revolutionize the fraternity experience. Every two years, we gather and ask, “What’s next?” commentary
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