Epsilon Tau Pi (ΕΤΠ) Fraternity was founded in 1999 at the University of Dayton in Dayton, Ohio.[1] Its objective is to provide a collegiate fraternity for Eagle Scouts at universities and colleges in the United States.

Epsilon Tau Pi
ΕΤΠ
FoundedApril 28, 1999; 25 years ago (1999-04-28)
University of Dayton
TypeService
AffiliationIndependent
StatusActive
EmphasisEagle Scouts
ScopeNational (US)
Motto"May Eagles Forever Soar"
Colors  White   Red   Blue   Black
SymbolThe Bald eagle
Flag
Chapters11
Colonies6
HeadquartersEpsilon Tau Pi Fraternity, Inc.
P.O. Box 282

Dayton, Ohio 45409
United States
Websiteepsilontaupi.org

History

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Epsilon Tau Pi fraternity was founded by Michael Hammes and Michael A. Mahon, who, with six other students at the University of Dayton, became the founding members of the Alpha chapter. All eight were experienced Eagle Scouts, which became the focus of the new organization. This group of eight formally commenced operation of Alpha chapter on April 28, 1999; This date is celebrated by the fraternity as its national Founder's Day.[2]

In 2001, the Alpha chapter authorized the formation of a 5-member national executive board. The board serves to support and bolster the expansion of the fraternity, as well as to support existing collegiate chapters.

In 2003 the fraternity began to hold biennial convocations, where alumni and collegiate members alike could meet and conduct fraternity business. Officers and alumni delegates to the national executive board are elected at the convocation.

The Fraternity was incorporated in the State of Ohio on January 21, 2006.[3]

The Epsilon Tau Pi Foundation, a charitable and educational 501(c)3 organization, was registered on December 19, 2011, to provide scholarship assistance.[4]

While not a member of the ACHS, Epsilon Tau Pi has aspects of both an honor society and service fraternity and is characterized by regular projects undertaken for the local communities where chapters are present.

Purpose

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The fraternity was formed with several goals in mind. Foremost, the fraternity dedicated itself to upholding the high ideals of Scouting's Eagle rank. The fraternity enables its members to participate in and promote service to others, to Scouting, the community, their university, and the fraternity itself. Members of the fraternity must maintain strict academic standards, in addition to participation in individual, group, and chapter-wide service projects.

Epsilon Tau Pi was formed for five different purposes.

  1. To create a brotherhood of Eagle Scouts.
  2. To serve Scouting and the community.
  3. To uphold the principles of Scouting.
  4. To promote the achievement of the rank of Eagle Scout.
  5. To provide an example to all students of loyalty to the Alma Mater.[5]

Symbols

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The fraternity's colors are red, white, blue, and black. Its symbol is the Bald eagle. Its motto is "May eagles forever soar."

Membership

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There are five classes of Membership: Candidate, Active, Honorary, Alumni, and Advisory (Faculty).

Membership in Epsilon Tau Pi shall be open to all university students who have achieved the rank of Eagle Scout in Scouts BSA or have attained the highest award possible in their respective country’s scouting organization.[6]

Membership is available to students at those institutions where the Fraternity has chapters, or who are attending nearby schools.[6]

The Fraternity requires a Candidacy period of at least six and no more than ten weeks.[6]

Governance

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The chairman of the national executive board (NEB) is elected by all members of the fraternity at convocation and serves as the chairman and chief executive officer of the fraternity. The position was established in 2003, approximately two years after the formation of the board.

Other elected positions on the NEB include Vice-Chairman, Secretary, South Atlantic Regional Director, Midwest Regional Director, and North Central Regional Director. Appointed positions on the NEB include national fraternity education officer (FEO), financial director, marketing director, IT director, social media director, and Scholarship Director/Foundation Chairman. All positions have a term of two years.

Activities

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One of the more prominent activities of the fraternity is the Merit Badge College (MBC) in support of local scouting troops. MBCs are annual events hosted by chapters or colonies of Epsilon Tau Pi, offering scouts the opportunity to earn merit badges not otherwise offered outside of summer camps. Badges such as Chemistry and Programming may be earned with the advantage of college-level facilities, to which scouts would not otherwise have access. The MBC is held annually by the Alpha, Beta, and Iota chapters.[7][8]

Chapters

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Following is a list of Epsilon Tau Pi chapters and colonies.[9] Active chapters are indicated in bold. Inactive chapters are in italics.

Chapter Charter date and range Institution Location Status References
Alpha April 28, 1999 University of Dayton Dayton, Ohio Active [10]
Beta May 2002 ?–20xx ?; November 29, 2016 Ohio State University Columbus, Ohio Active [11][a]
Gamma March 27, 2007 Western Carolina University Cullowhee, North Carolina Active [b]
Delta colony N/A Indiana State University Terre Haute, Indiana Inactive [c]
Epsilon colony N/A California University of Pennsylvania California, Pennsylvania Inactive [d]
Zeta May 20, 2012 West Virginia University Morgantown, West Virginia Active [e]
Eta April 16, 2011 Appalachian State University Boone, North Carolina Active [12][f]
Theta April 17, 2014 Georgia Southern University Statesboro, Georgia Active [g]
Iota August 28, 2014 Robert Morris University Pittsburgh Area, Pennsylvania Active [h]
Kappa colony N/A Augustana College (Illinois) Rock Island, Illinois Inactive [i]
Lambda colony N/A Missouri Western State University St. Joseph, Missouri Inactive [j]
Mu April 6, 2019 East Carolina University Greenville, North Carolina Inactive [k]
Nu colony November 13, 2017 Northwest Missouri State University Maryville, Missouri Active [13][l]
Xi colony N/A Kansas State University Manhattan, Kansas Inactive [m]
Omicron April 19, 2021 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, North Carolina Active [n]
Pi July 12, 2021 University of South Carolina Columbia, South Carolina Active [o]
Rho colony N/A University of Cincinnati Cincinnati, Ohio Inactive [p]
Sigma colony February 17, 2019 Miami University Oxford, Ohio Active [q]
Tau colony September 18, 2019 North Carolina State University Raleigh, North Carolina Active [r]
Upsilon colony February 22, 2020 Ohio University Athens, Ohio Active [s]
Phi April 16, 2022 Clemson University Clemson, South Carolina Active [t]
Chi colony August 23, 2021 Missouri University of Science and Technology Rolla, Missouri Active [u]

Notes

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  1. ^ After going dormant, the chapter reformed as a colony on September 9, 2015.
  2. ^ Chapter started as a colony on April 23, 2005.
  3. ^ Colony was established on December 11, 2005, but went inactive before being chartered.
  4. ^ Colony formed on June 4, 2007, but went inactive before being chartered.
  5. ^ Chapter started as a colony on October 6, 2008.
  6. ^ Chapter started as a colony on November 9, 2009.
  7. ^ Chapter started as a colony on November 16, 2010
  8. ^ Chapter started as a colony on September 18, 2012.
  9. ^ Colony started on December 20, 2012, but went inactive before being chartered.
  10. ^ Colony started on January 30, 2015, but went inactive before being chartered.
  11. ^ Chapter started as a colony on September 26, 2017.
  12. ^ Colony started on November 13, 2017.
  13. ^ Colony started on February 5, 2018, but went inactive in 2022 before being chartered.
  14. ^ Chapter started as a colony on March 3, 2018.
  15. ^ Chapter formed as a colony on March 7, 2018.
  16. ^ Colony started on September 16, 2018, ceasing operations in 2024.
  17. ^ Colony started on February 18, 2019.
  18. ^ Chapter started on September 17, 2019.
  19. ^ Colony started on March 1, 2020.
  20. ^ Chapter started as a colony on March 1, 2020.
  21. ^ Colony started on August 23, 2021.

References

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  1. ^ "Eagle Scouts working to create fraternity at OSU". The Lantern (Ohio State University). 2003-05-19. Retrieved 2016-07-03.
  2. ^ Benjamin Kline (2000-02-05). "Eagle Scouts Gather at UD". Dayton Daily News. p. 2B.
  3. ^ Incorporation Certificate and Articles of Incorporation, from the Records Office of the Secretary of State of Ohio, accessed 2 Oct 2020.
  4. ^ Noted on CareerOneStop.org, in a listing about the Foundation and its Soaring Eagles scholarship, accessed 2 Oct 2020.
  5. ^ "Epsilon Tau Pi – General Regulations" (PDF). Epsilon Tau Pi. Retrieved July 3, 2016.
  6. ^ a b c Member regulations are more fully explained in the General Regulations, from the Fraternity's Governing Documents page. Accessed 2 Oct 2020.
  7. ^ Matt Beargie (2008-03-07). "Boy Scouts visit UD for annual classes". Flyer News (University of Dayton). Archived from the original on 2011-07-11. Retrieved 2008-05-13.
  8. ^ "Merit Badge College @ RMU :: February 20 & April 9, 2016". meritbadge.rmu.edu. Retrieved 2016-07-03.
  9. ^ "Locations". Epsilon Tau Pi. Retrieved 2024-02-16.
  10. ^ Herald, Fairborn Daily (2015-07-03). "UD students contribute service". Fairborn Daily Herald. Retrieved 2024-02-16.
  11. ^ Teter, Seth (2003-05-18). "Eagle Scouts working to create fraternity at OSU". The Lantern. Retrieved 2024-02-16.
  12. ^ Noted performing a graffiti-clearing project; (3 May 2017) Watauga Democrat Boone, North Carolina, Boone, North Carolina. Accessed 2 Oct 2020.
  13. ^ Imperiale, Amber (2020-05-08). "Epsilon Tau Pi". Northwest Missourian. Retrieved 2024-02-16.
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