By Dave McLaughlin, Minnesota ‘92

A district governor can be a volunteer’s best asset, and the first person you call with questions, concerns or just to talk SigEp. Most DGs, in addition to specific training, have served many volunteer roles in the Fraternity and served on local Alumni and Volunteer Corporations. This gives your DG a wealth of experience and knowledge to call on when needed.

The range of questions I field, as the district governor for Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, Wisconsin and Upper Michigan, range greatly. They vary from nuts and bolts AVC and chapter bylaw workings to more subtle nuances of mentoring undergraduates.

Your communication with your DG may vary a bit based on location and style, but you should include your DG on all volunteer correspondence, especially monthly meeting notes and minutes. It is a great help for me as a DG to have a pulse on your AVC communications. This not only helps me stay more informed, but helps me do my absolute favorite part of the job—passing along all of the wins and successes of the local chapters to the Headquarters staff. Secondly, depending on your needs, consider scheduling calls or meetings with your DG either as a routine or as needed. I truly enjoy the time I spend on the phone with AVC presidents, chapter counselors and other volunteers.

Our most important job is to assist local volunteers in finding, recruiting and training new volunteers. We can help in a variety of ways and bring resources to help you in the process. If you have specific needs or roles that need to be filled, bring your DG into the conversation and let him help with the process. We have typically been involved with SigEp for a long time and know plenty of alumni in the area. Also keep in mind that many of our most successful chapters include volunteers like parents or faculty members who are not SigEps.

DGs are also happy to attend special chapter events such as a Balanced Man Scholarship Banquet or Parents' Day. Like you, we are all volunteers, and with as much notice as possible we do our best to make as many events as we can. I’m sure most of us could even be convinced to stand up and say a few words.

Most importantly, never hesitate to pick up the phone and give us a call. Your district governor most likely held your position in an AVC at one time and will understand any situation you may be dealing with, had a chapter in his district with a similar challenge or knows where you can get help.

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