Chapter History
In June 2004 the Western Regional Director Dr. Ernest Miller gave permission to Bro. James B. Carr of Japan to start a working group to charter the Mainland Japan. Japan would fall under the Western Region of the Fraternity. The nearest local chapter was in Seoul, South Korea of Alpha Omega Sigma/Korea. Dr. Ernest Miller requested 10 members to charter Japan with a chapter of its own. The Chapter would be called the Tokyo Alumni Chapter and would encompass the following bases and posts: Yokota Air Force Base, Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Naval Fleet Activities Yokosuka and Camp Zama Army Post. All of these areas are located near Tokyo, Japan.
On June 11, 2004 the Sigma-Zeta Far East Chartering Committee met. This committee was composed of: Bro. James B. Carr, coordinator, Bro. Michael A. Pope, recorder, Soror Nicole P. Carr, treasurer and Bro. David D. Jefferson. Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. was included with Soror Carr (wife or Bro. Carr) due to permissions given her by the Pacific Regional Director, Soror Stacye Montez. This day set the planning motions into action. Tasks were given the members for planning and implementing both organizations to be chartered. Bro. James Carr gave the mission brief and opened with the first statement: "Why can’t it be us, Sigma and Zeta?" "We can bring community service to Japan." "Did our three Honorable Founders & the Five Pearls envision their Fraternity & Sorority in Japan?" "We must continue their vision and tirelessly continue to focus ourselves to their goals even in this strange and foreign land." The idea was to have brother and sister organization chartered near the same time if possible. As soon as either chapter was chartered then the committee would disband and support would be given to help the other form and charter. Late fall was the target for initiation/chartering. Later in July Bro. Charles E. Dickerson and Bro. Keith L. Ferguson were stationed in Yokosuka, Japan and were quickly onboard with chartering a chapter of our fraternity. The Sigma-Zeta Chartering Committee was dissolved as per provision in July 2004 as Sigma was chartered first.
The first chapter information meeting was held on July 11, 2004 with three prospective members present. On July 15, 2004 an original application for charter was signed by all five members and the proper fees where sent to the Western Regional director. Another informational meeting was held on August 1, 2004 with several prospective members in attendance. The charter application was signed by Headquarters and granted its current designation of Nu Eta Sigma on August 4, 2004.
The chartering class for the new chapter was four in total: Bro. Gerrick S. Garrett, Bro. Charles A. Bryant III, Bro. Keith E. Brown and Bro. Kirby L. Johnson. The chartering class name is "Kings of the Rising Sun." News was received that the new chapter was approved in August 2004 with the chapter designation of Nu Eta Sigma Chapter (Tokyo Alumni Chapter). On August 15, 2004 the first Sigma made in Japan was Bro. Gerrick S. Garrett. This was due to military operations with the current status of the Gulf war. The rest of the charter class was initiated on September 12, 2004.
Since this time of its original organization, Nu Eta Sigma Chapter has helped to reactivate many military brothers who did not know that Sigmas were in the Land of the Rising Sun. The chapter focus is to continue to grow in the Japanese mainland and to bring the light of brotherhood, scholarship and community service. There has been an outcropping of support from the international brotherhood worldwide. Special thanks to Bro. Donald Jemison, National Executive Director, Bro. Ernest Miller, Western Regional Director, Bro. Clay Hixson , Western Regional First Vice-President, Bro. Kevin Lynch, Western Region Director of Bigger & Better Business and Bro. Charles "Chuck" Dickerson, Vice-President Nu Eta Sigma for the aggressive work in keeping a steady focus. The Western Regional Director appointed Bro. James Carr to be the first State Director of Japan, handling all brotherhood issues in the Land of the Rising Sun. The chartering ceremony for Nu Eta Sigma Chapter will be held at the June 2005 with the International 31st President, Bro. Arthur Thomas, esq.
Being that Nu Eta Sigma is a military chapter, recognition from area military base commanding officers is necessary to do the work of Sigma in Japan. Fleet Activities Yokosuka and Naval Air Facility Atsugi were the first to accept Sigma’s application for recognition. This recognition allows Sigma to host fundraisers on the local bases and to host functions on those same bases. Nu Eta Sigma is helping the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. until their charter comes here in Japan, the sisters will be doing service with Sigma. The Blue & White Family’s first community service project was hosted on September 16, 2004 and consisted of feeding the homeless in the Kanagawa Prefecture (county) near NAF Atsugi.