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***
Anonymous and Incomplete Chapter History
of 1963-64.

        This exists in one handwritten version in the "Chapter Histories" file, on lined paper in one stapled enclosure. After the history proper there are a series of pages of a different paper with headings referring to committees and other topics; the author seems to have intended to write about them but never to have completed his work, which ends in mid-sentence. [--Patrick Feaster]

        Richard Kraemer was elected Kappa Sigma's President at the annual elections in the spring of 1963. These elections were held in the chapter "temporary" meeting quarters in the Brandt Hall cafeteria. This election placed Kraemer into a situation in which he soon found himself trying to lead a faltering group of Sinfonians on a number of new and uncharted ventures, the most notable being the new idea of a Sinfonia House. This project was to present Kappa Sigma with many numerous new problems (which shall be discussed later at a later point in this history); however, most of thse problems were all confronted with a degree of efficacy that had hardly been known to the chapter prior to 1963.

        The Kraemer administration was immediately faced with a certain lack of experience. This lack of experience became the most evident when the 1963-64 academic year began, and the work of organizing the Sinfonia House at 605 Lincolnway became an obvious reality. The idea of a permanent location at which virtually all of Kappa Sigma's affairs would be held was a new idea, an idea which was not to be fully effected at once among all of the active membership.

        Mr. Kraemer also faced the prospect of dealing with personalities and unsolved problems from the previous year. To be sure, these were not to be of a small significance.

        The shift from the leadership of Roger Maier to Richard Kraemer also presented its problems. A definite contrast could be seen between the manner in which Mr. Kraemer sought to lead the group, and that which Mr. Maier had implemented. Mr. Kraemer had an increased interest in the successful initiation and operation of the Sinfonia House, whereas the previous administration seemed to view the entire idea with some reservation. In all of this, Mr. Kraemer therefore was presented with the task of having to unify and reorganize the entire Chapter around the new idea of a House.

        However, insurmountable these various problems tasks seemed to be for the Kraemer administration and for Kappa Sigma in those fall days of 1963, it seems that the Chapter obviously grew in stature as the time elapsed. This growth was to be seen both from within, and also without. Externally there was a new approach to the Chapters relationship with Valpo's student body and with the university administration.

COMMITTEE STRUCTURE

        The area of committee activity was one which held much potential for the Chapter in 1963-64. This potential was in the fact that with any amount of perception and leadership, the Committee Structure could provide a vital role in the operation of the Chapter. Previously, committees had not attained any measure of autonomy, but rather became virtually a rubber-stamp for the Executive Board.

        To be sure, Mr. Kraemer visualized this area as one of his most important chapter assets, and spent many hours in attempting to prepare himself for the 1963-64 year by carefully placing (in some cases with all due reserve) various persons in committee positions which were most ideally suited for them. The entire idea was to make the committee structure as a whole as effective and yet as flexible as possible with the given manpower and abilities available.

        OnceAgain, James Goff was appointed chorus director chorus director (Ensemb to the Music Committee in the position of Ensemble Coordinator. A change from the previous year was the acceptance of the position of chorus director by William Kroeger. This change was to attempt to bring a new vitality to the vital center of the Chapter, the Chorus. Another addition, and one that did not get much attention, was Robert Bashoor as Chapter Librarian under the Music Committee. The Social Committee, also responsible for rush events, was headed by Ron Franklin. Charles Keleman was appointed as head of the Radio Committee, and it was intended that Sinfonia should be a bit more intense in this pursuit, as it involved its external relations to the Campus. The usher committee was headed by Fred Needham.

        The publicity committee had Roger Giese as its chairman. The pledge committee underwent a slight revision in that Earl Martens was appointed both as chairman of the committee and as Pledgemaster. A new committee was formed to begin the tedious job of House Affairs. This Housing Committee was headed by William Erat.

        As In the course of the of events, it became necessary to replace certain people on these committees, primarily due to a lack of responsibility. Alan Julseth replaced James Goff as ensemble coordinator.

        Other additions to the structure came in the Enforcement Committee, headed by Richard Kraemer. The problems which faced this committee shall be discussed later.

        Bill Meissner was appointed to the Financial Concerns Committee, which was responsible at first for a make-shift meal plan, and then for the handling of the pop-machine which had been newly acquired. Other notable projects of Mr. Meissner's undoubtedly were justified under this appointment.

        The final committee structure in outline form:
Music Comm: Alan Julseth, Ensemble Coordinator
                William Kroeger, Chorus Director
Enforcement Comm: Richard Kraemer, Ch.
House Comm: William Erat, Ch.
Publicity Comm: Roger Giese, Ch.
Radio Comm: Charles Keleman, Ch.
Usher Comm: Fred Needham, Ch.
Pledge Comm: Earl Martens, Ch.
Social Comm: Ron Franklin, Ch.
Financial Concerns: William Meissner, Ch.

Meetings

        The meetings of the 1963-64 year were held in entirety at the Sinfonia House. There was a certain amount of trouble at the beginning of the year in establishing a set meeting time. However, most of the meetings were held at 9:30 or 10:00 on weeknights. The format of these meetings eventually took a distinct fo pattern as established by Pres. Kraemer. Along with Robert's Rules of order and ah definate [sic] agenda, he attempted to bring an end to the long and ridiculous bull sessions with which the year began. Some of these meetings ran upwards of two and three hours in length, and the business actually contracted achieved was out of proportion. The gamut of irrelevancy which was run was soon to come to an end. be greatly limited curtailed.

        It is certain that President Kraemer was sincere in his attempt to bring to Kappa Sigma a new standard of organization and efficacy. However, at the beginning of the 1963-64 year, he attempted to run the meetings with too great an ear to the majority (or what seemed to be the majority, but was actually a [sic] "interest group" of sorts). This sincere attempt on his part to hear all sides soon resulted in the long meetings. It was obvious that restrictions had to be placed on various orders of business, and that Robert's Rules of Order must by necessity be utilized to a greater extent. It was to this end that he implemented the idea of primary motions being required prior to each meeting in written form, as well as committee reports.

        As the year progressed, Mr. Kraemer gained more respect from the group as a whole, and with the addition of new organizational ideas such as those mentioned above, the efficacy of business meetings began to improve greatly.

Radio Committee

        Goff got The radio committee continued to be part of the structure of Sinfonia during the 1963-64 year. Due to the increased amount of responsibility placed on the entire chapter by the acquisition of the new house, this aspect of Sinfonia did not receive the necessary amount of attention necessary to make it a vital part of the fraternity's campus activity.

Usher Committee
        Needham!

Music Committee

Christmas Caroling

Rush and Pledging

SAI

Finances

New Secretary
        Kasdorf to Giese

Spring Rush & Pledging

Honorés
        Eifrig in spring.

Formal
        Tiebels --

The House

Elections

Meetings

        Rather loose and informal at beginning of year, the Rich cracked down on bull session meetings.
        Sinfonia's meetings had previously been held in the Student union, or dorm cafeterias. With the start of the 1963-64 term, these meetings were held at 605 Lincolnway. The first meetings of the year were typical of some of the

[document ends]