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One Graduate Chapter in the City of Chicago?
Since 1985, there has always been banter about the need, or lack thereof, for more than one graduate chapter of the Fraternity in the City of Chicago. Beginning on October 1, 1923 Sigma Omega became the first graduate chapter established in the city. No other graduate chapter existed until March 1, 1987 with the establishment of Rho Gamma Gamma. With the reactivation of Iota intermediate chapter on February 12, 1995 and Fraternity-mandated change to graduate chapter status on July 1,1995, the number of graduate chapters in the city grew to three! (The total in Chicago has since grown to four with the establishment of Rho Mu Mu on September 6, 2011. Collectively, when you add Nu Pi in Joliet on March 9, 1974, Mu Xi in Glen Ellyn on March 11, 1977; Rho Tau in North Chicago/Gurnee; Chi Lambda Lambda in Hazel Crest on December 7, 2004; Theta Kappa Kappa in Evanston and Omicron Mu Mu in Lansing--- there are 10 graduate chapters of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity in the metro Chicago area!)
In the early 2000's the "banter" about one graduate chapter in Chicago turned into actual formal meetings and discussions that went nowhere - evidenced by the establishment Rho Mu Mu in 2011. The lack of success at that time has been attributed to what amounts to an idea before its time. We are now in 2017 and the discussions of a single graduate chapter in Chicago have resurfaced with what appears to be wide-range support.
Past 10th District Representative and member of Rho Gamma Gamma chapter, the Hon. Bro. Steven G. Watkins, convened an informal meeting on Saturday October 14, 2017 in Ann Arbor, MI during the occasion of the Fall Council Meeting. The four Chicago graduate chapters were invited to come and open dialogue on the feasibility of the chapters merging as one. The meeting of about 25 Brothers also included Brothers from several of the suburban chapters as well. Once again the Brothers seemed to support the idea and wished to pursue additional discussions.
A second meeting was planned for 6pm on Thursday November 9, 2017 at the Rho Gamma Gamma Facility in Chicago. More than 50 Brothers attended that meeting to begin the dialogue. The takeaway was there was support for the effort, the benefits of one chapter greatly outweighed any areas of opportunity during the process, and that the process would likely be 2 years - with a target date of November 1, 2019...assuming the decision was to merge into one chapter.
The next meeting was scheduled at 6pm for Monday November 20, 2017. This was done to allow the four chapters opportunity to have a chapter meeting to formally discuss interest in the initiative, then have their representatives report back to the body. The optimum outcome would be that all four chapters would agree to merge into one and work towards that end. It was also agreed that the effort would still continue if less than all four agreed.
Stay tuned!
Roasting Bro. Gary "Jahbo" Griffin
Oh! How good and pleasant it was to ROAST Jahbo! Over 300 friends came to honor and celebrate Gary Griffin. We all gathered in Tully Hall for a selection of light hors d'oeuvres, champagne toasts... and most importantly good company!
All net proceeds went to Jahbo.
Sat, December 9, 2017
12:00 PM – 4:00 PM CST
St. Ignatius College Prep
1076 West Roosevelt Road
Tully Hall
Chicago, IL 60608
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