Epsilon Tau Pi

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.{{cite news|title=Eagle Scouts Gather at UD|author=Benjamin Kline|publisher=Dayton Daily News|page=2B|date=2000-02-05}}

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.[http://epsilontaupi.org/download/public/ETP+501c7.pdf Incorporation Certificate and Articles of Incorporation], from the Records Office of the Secretary of State of Ohio, accessed 2 Oct 2020.

The Epsilon Tau Pi Foundation, a charitable and educational 501(c)3 organization, was registered on December 19, 2011, to provide scholarship assistance.Noted on [https://www.careeronestop.org/getmyfuture/toolkit/find-scholarships.aspx?sortcolumns=Max_AwardAmount&sortdirections=ASC&genderrestrictionfilter=4294967206&lang=en&scholarshipid=9994511 CareerOneStop.org, in a listing about the Foundation and its Soaring Eagles scholarship], accessed 2 Oct 2020.

While not a member of the Association of College Honor Societies, 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.

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.{{Cite web|url=http://epsilontaupi.org/download/public/2010.02.08+-+General+Regulations.pdf|title=Epsilon Tau Pi – General Regulations|publisher=Epsilon Tau Pi|access-date=July 3, 2016}}

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

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.

Membership is available to students at those institutions where the Fraternity has chapters, or who are attending nearby schools.Member regulations are more fully explained in the [http://epsilontaupi.org/governing-documents/ General Regulations], from the Fraternity's Governing Documents page. Accessed 2 Oct 2020.

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

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.

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.{{cite news |author=Matt Beargie |date=2008-03-07 |title=Boy Scouts visit UD for annual classes |url=http://www.flyernews.com/article.php?section=News&volume=55&issue=33&artnum=02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711013336/http://www.flyernews.com/article.php?section=News&volume=55&issue=33&artnum=02 |archive-date=2011-07-11 |access-date=2008-05-13 |publisher=Flyer News (University of Dayton)}}{{Cite web |title=Merit Badge College @ RMU :: February 20 & April 9, 2016 |url=http://meritbadge.rmu.edu |access-date=2016-07-03 |website=meritbadge.rmu.edu}}

Following is a list of Epsilon Tau Pi chapters and colonies.{{Cite web |title=Locations |url=http://epsilontaupi.org/locations/ |access-date=2024-02-16 |website=Epsilon Tau Pi |language=en-US}} Active chapters are indicated in bold. Inactive chapters are in italics.

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• [http://www.epsilontaupi.org Epsilon Tau Pi Official Website]

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Category:Honor societies

Category:Associations related to the Boy Scouts of America

Category:Student societies in the United States

Category:1999 establishments in Ohio

Category:Student organizations established in 1999

Category:Boy Scouts of America