Show me your National Headquarters (pics/photos/video!)

[Gusteau]

I believe they're seniors at VMI, so they wouldn't have had any other chapter. I remember Kappa Alpha also allowing VMI graduates to join upon graduation.

I have some picture of Delta Chi HQ that I'll need to find...

[TSteven]

Originally Posted by Gusteau

I believe they're seniors at VMI, so they wouldn't have had any other chapter. I remember Kappa Alpha also allowing VMI graduates to join upon graduation.

I have some picture of Delta Chi HQ that I'll need to find...

Thanks. And if so, that is an even better tradition.

[Exdos]

The Phi Kappa Psi headquarters purchased in May 2005. It's called Laurel Hall.

Here's a virtual tour:
http://www.laurel-hall.org/tour/default.asp

[Lafayette79]

Originally Posted by Exdos

The Phi Kappa Psi headquarters purchased in May 2005.

This is a beautiful big structure, but a 6100 pixel wide image is rough on the eyes. Here is one that's a bit smaller so that we can all enjoy it.

[victoriana]

They're all so lovely! My favorites are Tri-Sig and KKG... so beautiful

[Leslie Anne]

Here are some photos of Kappa Delta Headquarters in Memphis:

Front with some KDs


View of reception area


Grand entry


Spiral staircase


Stained glass in Council Room


Visionary Women's Room


Founders' Court (with buried time capsule)


Hall of Presidents


Museum


Alpha Trunk
This was used as a strongbox for Alpha Chapter until 1912. It contained minutes, by-laws and ritualistic items.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by Gusteau

I believe they're seniors at VMI, so they wouldn't have had any other chapter. I remember Kappa Alpha also allowing VMI graduates to join upon graduation.

I have some picture of Delta Chi HQ that I'll need to find...

No. Alpha Affiliates are selected every year. There's a limit on the number selected and they are selected based upon individual merit. Lots of student body presidents/chapter presidents/people who have excelled in the arts or in non-profit pursuits, etc.

The applicants are seniors. Once you're an Alpha Affiliate, you don't lose your affiliation with your original chapter. You simply have two chapters and two badge numbers.

[MysticCat]

These are some beautiful buildings. Serioiusly.

Ours isn't as grand as many of these -- it was originally a family home -- but it is indeed "home" to us. Located on the northern outskirts of Evansville, Indiana, the property is called "Lyrecrest," and it consists of 14+ acres with three buildings: the main building, the Robert H. Bray Cottage (a bunkhouse for chapters on retreat or others visiting) and a more recently purchased house called Lyrecrest North. There is also a lake on the grounds.

The main building:





The main building houses fraternity offices, the Sinfonia Store and has meeting rooms in a large lower floor (it be seen to the left of the handicapped ramp -- supposedly it was originally built to house organ pipes for an organ owned by a previous owner). Some historical items are also on display there.

I can't find any good pictures of the interior, or of Robert H. Bray Cottage (though you can see it behind the main building in the second picture above)or Lyrecrest North , but here is a picture of one of the items held at Lyrecrest North -- the stained glass that was originally placed over the door of Alpha's Chapter room at the New England Conservatory:




Two cool asides: First, by coincidence the address (10600 Old State Rd) reflecte the day we became a national fraternity by chartering our Beta chapter -- 10-6-(19)00.

As an added bonus, Lyrecrest has its own ghost. He is known as "Burr."

[TSteven]

Originally Posted by Kevin

No. Alpha Affiliates are selected every year. There's a limit on the number selected and they are selected based upon individual merit. Lots of student body presidents/chapter presidents/people who have excelled in the arts or in non-profit pursuits, etc.

The applicants are seniors. Once you're an Alpha Affiliate, you don't lose your affiliation with your original chapter. You simply have two chapters and two badge numbers.

Again, I don't want to tread where I shouldn't. But if I may, once the Alpha Chapter members are selected for a given year, do they affiliate all together back in Lexington or on each members' campus?

And as a follow up, I suspect that there is some sort of nomination procedure that would take place during the members’ senior year. As such, is the affiliation with the Alpha Chapter at a certain time of the year? Just guessing, but during the spring semester to allow seniors to receive honors and be nominated. Or perhaps after graduation?

Again, I understand and respect if this is private. I just find this a nice tradition and a great way to honor your Alpha Chapter.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by TSteven

Again, I don't want to tread where I shouldn't. But if I may, once the Alpha Chapter members are selected for a given year, do they affiliate all together back in Lexington or on each members' campus?

They have an affiliation ceremony (which is open to the public) at either Grand Chapter or at our College of Chapters, one of which is held every year in alternating years. At that ceremony, everyone is there together and that's where they're inducted.

And as a follow up, I suspect that there is some sort of nomination procedure that would take place during the members’ senior year. As such, is the affiliation with the Alpha Chapter at a certain time of the year? Just guessing, but during the spring semester to allow seniors to receive honors and be nominated. Or perhaps after graduation?

Sure. Seniors have to have their packets turned in by a certain day in April (forgot which day). If a Senior thinks he's Alpha Affiliate material, he simply sends in the application packet.

[Gusteau]

Originally Posted by Kevin

No...

Sorry - that's what I get for assuming... (I did double check on the KA-VMI thing and that is apparently true.)

As promised some pictures of the inside of Delta Chi HQ, borrowed from a brother's facebook.

A fun fact is that the house was build in 1890, the year of our founding, by a man whose name is very special to Delta Chis. (It's purely coincidental - Delta Chis may PM me, but I'm sure you can guess!)



A big set of carved chairs - apparently they were used for the Executive Council at the Centennial Convention.



Large metal Coat of Arms



This knight has actually been photographed with some cool lighting for our international website.



A napkin signed by the Founders when they got together in Vale in 1891. No, I don't know what possessed them to sign a napkin, and I sincerely hope the Greek letters are in ink and not blood!

[pshsx1]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

These are some beautiful buildings. Serioiusly.

Ours isn't as grand as many of these -- it was originally a family home -- but it is indeed "home" to us. Located on the northern outskirts of Evansville, Indiana, the property is called "Lyrecrest," and it consists of 14+ acres with three buildings: the main building, the Robert H. Bray Cottage (a bunkhouse for chapters on retreat or others visiting) and a more recently purchased house called Lyrecrest North. There is also a lake on the grounds.

All of our headquarters have been family homes as well. If you Google Map SigEp's, you can see it's in a neighborhood... it just happens to be 4 times bigger than the other mansions. :P


SigEp HQ from 1927-1946.


SigEp HQ from 1967-1988. Apparently this one was extremely gorgeous on the inside.


Up close of our current HQ's (The Zollinger House) Red Door.


Original Flag and Charter inside the Zollinger.

[sanjiyan69]

Here's the our HQ in Indianapolis. The first time I was there was before initiation, so there were a few things that I was not allowed to see. Now it's been almost 9 years since my initiation, I'd love to go back and visit again.

[KSUViolet06]

I know I posted the doll collection cases in here, but I wanted to let everyone know (who is interested in our doll collection) that our official blog is starting a series called Doll Fridays, where they will post a close-up pic of a chapter's doll and share a little of that chapter's history!

They started last week with Zeta Epsilon (Florida International University!):

http://trisigmablog.org/?p=250#more-250

[ASTalumna06]

Alpha Sigma Tau's new HQ building in Indianapolis, IN




And here's what the inside looks like... isn't it GORGEOUS?!

















Looking forward to coming back here to post pictures when everything is completely renovated!