Alpha Sigma Gamma
Initiation
Ritual
2011
The
initiation ritual for the Alpha Sigma Gamma may be conducted in formats ranging
from an uncomplicated informal ceremony with no meals or speakers to a lunch or
dinner with a speaker. The type of ceremony that fits your chapter will depend
on the characteristics of your real estate faculty, number of initiates, time
availability, facilities, local custom, available financing, and other factors.
Cost
The
ceremony should not add to the cost of membership for the student members.
However, any chapter may seek to cover costs of initiation from contributions.
Chapters may also solicit funds for initiation expenses from a sponsor or
sponsors to fund any expenses associated with the initiation.
Attendance
All
Alpha Sigma Gamma initiates, including honorary and faculty initiates, should be
encouraged to attend the initiation ceremony. All current members of the local
chapter should also be invited if possible. All real estate and related faculty
at the host institution should be invited as well as all appropriate
administrative personnel including department chairs and dean’ s office
representatives.
Procedures
The
initiation room should have a table or lectern in the front with the Alpha Sigma
Gamma name and logo in a prominent position behind the lectern. Initiates should
be seated in the first few rows of the room facing the table or lectern. If the
ceremony involves a meal or other sitting arrangement, initiates should be asked
to come forward and/or stand facing the table or lectern for initiation.
The
initiation ceremony should be supervised by the faculty Chapter President or
his/her representative, who is the Presiding Member.
The
order of the initiation ceremony is:
1)
Initiates are asked to stand.
2)
General introductory and congratulatory comments.
3)
Initiation ritual is read and initiates pledge to uphold the values of Alpha
Sigma Gamma.
4)
Membership certificates are presented to each initiate by asking each new
initiate to come forward when his/her name is called.
The
presiding member should start certificate presentations with student members,
then faculty members, and finally, honorary members. The presiding member may
wish to comment on each honorary member's accomplishments and the reasons he/she
was elected to membership in Alpha Sigma Gamma.
5)
Closing comments and completion of initiation ritual.
Initiation
Ritual.
The
initiation ritual has an introduction; discussion of the meaning of each Greek
letter; discussion of the overall meaning of the Parthenon, the symbol of Alpha
Sigma Gamma; and a membership pledge for initiates.
The
Alpha Sigma Gamma initiation ritual may be administered by the Presiding Member
or by an initiation team. If a team approach is used, members of the team may
read the meaning the Greek letters and the Parthenon. However, the Presiding
Member should administer the membership pledge and present membership
certificates.
The
Ceremony
Initiates,
either seated or standing, should be facing the presiding member or initiation
team. The initiation team should be standing, in the order of presentation, if
possible, facing the initiates.
Presiding
Member: You have
been selected for initiation into the Alpha Sigma Gamma International Real
Estate Honorary Society. Does each of you desire to become members of Alpha
Sigma Gamma? Signify by saying "I do."
All
Initiates: I do.
Presiding
Member: Alpha
Sigma Gamma is founded on certain principles appropriate for the study and
practice of real estate. Because you have distinguished yourself in the real
estate area and have expressed your desire to become a member of Alpha Sigma
Gamma, these basic principles, represented by three Greek letters forming our
name will now be revealed. You will also learn the significance of the
Parthenon, the symbol of Alpha Sigma Gamma.
Presiding
Member or Alpha Speaker: Alpha
is the initial letter of word Arete, which in Greek means EXCELLENCE. To the
Greeks, the achievement of excellence in all aspects of living was a life-long
pursuit. It was a pursuit of excellence in the broadest sense of the word -
incorporating honor, virtue, and balance. Arete also describes the Greeks
attitude toward their equivalent of our cities, the Polis, and its development.
Today, Arete serves as a laudable goal reflecting continued effort for personal
excellence in real estate endeavors. It also incorporates the responsibility you
have to the community in which you live and work.
Presiding
Member: Striving
for excellence is an important element of real estate endeavors. However,
striving alone is not enough as the meaning of the Greek letter Sigma reveals.
Presiding
Member or Sigma Speaker:
This
letter Sigma represents the Greek word Sophia meaning WISDOM. Wisdom is a
composite of knowledge, judgment, attitude, and a consistent internal philosophy
for planning and making decisions. Wisdom results from academic pursuits and
experience being melded into insights of what is appropriate. Wisdom is the
ability to learn from experience.
Wisdom
provides the context for making choices. Wisdom combines science and philosophy
to produce a comprehensive decision context. It is the ability to discern inner
qualities and relationships and to put new knowledge into perspective.
Presiding
Member: The
pursuit of overall excellence and the role of wisdom in that pursuit must both
occur within a particular context in order to be most meaningful. Listen now to
the meaning of Gamma.
Presiding
Member or Gamma Speaker: The
letter Gamma is the first letter of the Greek word Gaia which means EARTH, the
most fundamental element of all real estate. It is the ultimate object to which
the pursuit of excellence and wisdom is applied. Through the wise pursuit of
excellence you can contribute to the quality of the built environment and to
preserving the Earth for future generations.
Gaia
represents an awareness of the need to achieve excellence through wisdom.
Presiding
Member: This
brings us to the symbol of the Alpha Sigma Gamma, the Parthenon. The Parthenon
embodies the attributes of excellence and wisdom and the need for a harmonious
relationship between the built environment and the Earth. The columns
surrounding the Parthenon represent the multidisciplinary nature of real estate
while its overall proportions represent balance and the skillful blending of
many disciplines, skills, and interests. The location of the Parthenon on the
Acropolis, or high city, represents the constant need to seek the highest
ethical and moral ground in all real estate activities. Finally, the enduring
nature of the structure is a reminder of the long-term consequences of real
estate activities and the need for the pursuit of wisdom and excellence in all
decisions involving the use of the Earth. The Parthenon, then, embodies many of
the elements central to Alpha Sigma Gamma.
Presiding
Member: As you
have already affirmed your desire to become a member Alpha Sigma Gamma will you
please stand and repeat after me.
“I
(state your full name) will endeavor to pursue / the principles of the Alpha
Sigma Gamma, the International Real Estate Honorary Society. / I will strive for
overall excellence in all real estate activities. / I will work to develop
wisdom to guide my decisions. / I will endeavor to work for the betterment of my
community, / its environment, and the Earth in general. / I always will work /
to further and promote real estate scholarship / and the highest levels of
business practice in the real estate industry.”
Presiding
Member: To
commemorate your achievements and you acceptance of the principles of Alpha
Sigma Gamma, we will now present membership certificates.
Ask
each new member to come forward and receive his/her certificate as you call
initiates’ names.
Presiding
Member: On behalf
of the … (Chapter
name) Chapter of the Alpha Sigma Gamma International Real Estate
Honorary Society, I welcome you to membership. This concludes our
initiation ceremony.