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Spring 2020

that joining did not require preparation as a counselor to hold
membership. This is not the case, for example, in other professional
fields. It left me, and I think others prepared as counselors, feeling
“less than” regarding professional identity. I can say this now since
we sent only one letter to counselor educators throughout the country
inviting them to start CSI chapters and we never had to do so again.
CSI was born!
CSI’s close affiliations with state credentialing, national certification,
accreditation, professional associations at state, regional and national
levels and advocacy efforts have been grounded in CSI’s Bylaws and
its annual activities since its inception. Even a cursory review of our
website content will attest to its financial support (e.g., $1.6 million
in chapter rebates that support delegate attendance at the CSI Annual
Delegate Business Meeting held at the annual ACA Conference
& Expo), membership affiliations (e.g., CSI chapters chartered in
CACREP-accredited programs), and collaboration at every level of professional counseling activity
(e.g., CSI-NBCC Client Rights and Responsibilities; CSI leadership training at ACA and ACES
conferences). CSI has been a friend and supporter of every other counseling association.
Chi Sigma Iota (CSI), Counseling Society International, was born out of the idea that properly
prepared, ethically guided, culturally sensitive practicing professional counselors deserved to be proud
of their chosen profession. From its inception, CSI sought to promote excellence in all that it did and to
encourage and support excellence through its members and leaders. A brief review of the contributions
of CSI’s officers, award recipients, fellows, interns, chapter faculty advisors, and thousands of chapter
members conducting local projects reflect our faithfulness to these high aspirations. When asked, “what
is it you do?” CSI members can say without hesitation,” I am a professional counselor!”

Servant Leadership
Why stay involved with the counseling honor society? Dr. Ed Herr (Penn State, CSI
President-Elect at the time) and I were discussing this very matter during a break in one of our CSI
Executive Council meetings. Why were we still involved? We’d both achieved recognition for our
accomplishments but here we were taking another beautiful weekend to give our time and experience to
those coming along new to the profession. Other Council members rejoined the meeting and overheard
us talking and said, “why don’t you two guys write down your thoughts about your idea?” As it turned
out, each of us did. Ed, also a prolific scholar, drew on the work of a 1970’s author (Greenleaf) who
coined the term and identity of “Servant Leader,” one who serves for the greater good and not personal
gain or benefit. Indeed, that captured what we aspired to for leaders within CSI and the profession!
Ed was such a person himself. I can’t count the times that he and other CSI officers and
distinguished scholars of CSI traveled great distances to present at CSI chapter initiations and even

5 CHI SIGMA IOTA EXEMPLAR