Our Fraternity

About Sigma Alpha Mu – Delta Pi Chapter

Founded in 1989, the Delta Pi Chapter of Sigma Alpha Mu International Fraternity is the oldest and largest fraternity at the University of Ottawa. The Sammies’ ultimate goal is Building Better Men through Social, Philanthropic, and Academic initiatives.

 

Founding of Sigma Alpha Mu Fraternity

 

Sigma Alpha Mu was founded in 1909 at the City College of New York as a fraternity of Jewish men but is not exclusive to men of the Jewish face. This is a values-based organization that provides social, service and scholarship opportunities for its membership. Sigma Alpha Mu is also referred to as Sammy or SAM.

 

What is a Fraternity?

 

The International Fraternity is comprised of four legal entities; the operating entity (Sigma Alpha Mu Fraternity, Inc.), the Sigma Alpha Mu Endowment Fund, SAM National Properties, and the Sigma Alpha Mu Foundation. The Fraternity is governed by its Convention, which elects a board of directors (called the Octagon) comprised of seven alumni and one young alumnus. The Octagon elects four officers (Supreme Prior, Vice Supreme Prior, Exchequer, and Recorder) who govern in between official board meetings. The Endowment Fund is governed by seven Trustees who are appointed by the Octagon for three-year terms. Its purpose is to provide financial support to the Fraternity and to provide loans for housing. SAM National Properties was established in 2015 to invest in real estate and manage properties. The Sigma Alpha Mu Foundation is a 501(c)3 charitable organization that can accept tax-deductible contributions. Its purpose is to provide financial assistance to the Fraternity for its educational and leadership programs and to provide scholarships and financial assistance to SAM members.

Sigma Alpha Mu provides one of the best outlets for personal, community, and nation leadership development. Every year, the Sammies hold a Leadership Conference with its members. A collection of alumni from all different professional backgrounds facilitate the day-long event and discuss leadership with the active chapters. The conference consists of seminars and workshops to build strong leaders both on campus and in the professional world.

 

As members of Sigma Alpha Mu, students have the opportunity to grow as leaders in a number of supportive communities. Brothers attending those important conferences will receive training in chapter operations, leadership development, risk management, strategic planning and community service.
Those development conferences are hosted in each region of the continent, giving the chapters’ current and future leaders a chance to share their wealth of knowledge and experience with each other.

The Sigma Alpha Mu Foundation will grant over 140 scholarships totaling over $150,000 to members of the Fraternity during this coming academic year. The scholarship application process takes place during the winter months and grants are announced in early March of each year. The application form can be found on both the Fraternity’s web site and the Foundation’s web site. In addition, new members are eligible for a grant from the Guller Scholarship Fund if they achieve high academic results during their candidacy period.

Congratulations to our fellow chapter members for being awarded scholarships recently:

• Elad Tzemach, Pauline and Albert Pattenick Scholarship – $1,000
• Logan Kiens, Bora Laskin Scholarship – $1,000
• Felipe Izquierdo Yanez, Samuel Gotfrid Scholarship – $1,000

Each year, our chapters raise thousands of dollars (in 2011, over $40,0000 were raised) for the Judy Fund of the Alzheimer’s Association. This fund was established in memory of the late wife of a fraternity alumnus. Overall, our chapter members raised over $360,000 last year for various national and local charities.