A Message from the Grand President
Brothers and Friends,
Every two years at Conclave we recognize our highest performing chapters with the Buchanan Outstanding Chapter Award. Named in honor of past Grand President Edwin Buchanan, the Buchanan Cup represents superior and sustained chapter achievement.
While there is no debating the significance of the award, there is often discussion surrounding the application review and selection process. Our goal is to bring a greater level of transparency to the process and eliminate the frustration which follows a lack of clarity.
Immediately after the 2011 Conclave, the National Board of Directors established a task force of alumni and volunteers from across the country to review and propose changes to the Buchanan Cup application and selection process. With their feedback, we have taken steps to simplify the application, better communicate the review and selection process, and more appropriately recognize our recipients.
The 2013 application summary* and a very basic timeline between now and the awarding of Buchanan Cups has been established.
August 2012 - Application criteria available online
October 2012 - Applications available online
March 11, 2013 - Applications due to buccup@sigep.net no later than 11:59 p.m.
April – July, 2013 - Applications reviewed and selections finalized
August 1, 2013 - Buchanan Cups awarded at the Balanced Man Celebration
Most importantly, a detailed summary of the review process that will be used to select 2013 Buchanan Cup recipients is provided below:
- As in prior years, we have assembled teams of alumni and volunteer reviewers with significant involvement in the Fraternity from across the country. Each review team will be comprised of three individuals who do not reside in the same area as the chapters submitting the 10-15 applications they will review and assess.
- As applications are received, members of our professional staff will examine them for accuracy and honesty before forwarding the applications to the review teams. Additionally, they will note behavioral sanctions when not addressed in the application. After completing this review, staff will provide a written report to the volunteer review teams. Their contribution will be purely objective. Our staff will not provide any subjective commentary or recommendation on whether or not a chapter should receive a Buchanan Cup; that is the job of our review teams.
- After receiving the applications, each review team member will individually assess the applications. When that is complete, each team will come together to discuss the applications and cast votes as to whether or not to recommend a chapter for a Buchanan Cup via conference call. The process will continue based on the vote of the review team:
- If all 3 reviewers vote to recommend, the chapter is recommended to receive a Buchanan Cup
- If 2 of 3 reviewers vote to recommend, the application is sent to a second team for evaluation
- If 0 or 1 of 3 reviewers vote to recommend, the chapter is removed from the selection process
- Applications receiving 2 votes to recommend will be distributed to a second review team for consideration. This team will review the application in addition to notes and feedback from the first review team and the objective feedback from the staff. The decisions of this second review team will determine the remainder of the process for an application:
- If all 3 reviewers vote to recommend, the chapter is recommended to receive a Buchanan Cup
- If 2 of 3 reviewers vote to recommend, the chapter is sent to a third team for evaluation
- If 0 or 1 of 3 reviewers vote to recommend, the chapter is removed from the selection process
- Applications from the second round receiving 2 votes to recommend will be sent to a third review team for consideration. This team will review the application as well as notes and feedback from the previous two teams as well as the objective summary from the Headquarters staff. A unanimous decision of this review team will be required to recommend the chapter to receive a Buchanan Cup.
- The Buchanan Cup Task Force Chairman will submit a report to the National Board of Directors recommending that those chapters selected through the review process receive a Buchanan Cup at the 2013 Grand Chapter Conclave.
- The National Board of Directors will vote to confirm the recommendation of the task force and review teams.
Please note that if, at any point during the review process, the Headquarters staff receives additional information about a chapter that contradicts the application, they have been instructed to provide that information directly to the review teams for consideration.
If you have any questions, please contact Buchanan Cup Task Force Chairman Gene Schurg.
I challenge you to apply for the Buchanan Cup and look forward to recognizing our 2013 recipients in Dallas.
Fraternally,
Bert J. Harris, III
Grand President
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