September 2013 . Issue 06
FROM THE EDITOR Greetings to all of our brothers and friends. I hope you had an enjoyable Labor Day weekend. It’s been a very busy and productive summer at the International Headquarters, including our hosting nearly 700 brothers at the 2013 Stead Leadership Seminar at the end of July on the campus of the University of Memphis. Tragically, two days after the conference concluded, professional staff member Joseph Chavez (St. Mary’s) died suddenly from complications related to a seizure. Joseph served as the education coordinator on the Chapter Services team working for Marcus Kelley (Angelo State). Joseph will be missed dearly by all of us -- his infectious smile, his vibrancy of life, his tremendously positive attitude, and his overall contributions to the world and our brotherhood. To honor Josephs’ life and contributions to Lambda Chi Alpha, we’ve chosen to feature him on this month’s cover in addition to Andrew Talevich’s (Washington State) feature article about his life.
Tad Lichtenauer Director of Communications/IT (317) 803-7322 tlichtenauer@lambdachi.org
Also in this issue are a variety of additional articles: a feature story about PepBoys CEO Mike Odell’s (Denver) keynote speech from the summer conference; a feature story about the remarks given by our two newest Order of Achievement recipients, Bishop Larry Goodpaster (Millsaps) and Dr. E. Bruce Heilman (North Carolina State); a chapter profile feature story by Jon Williamson (Maryland) about our Omicron chapter at Cornell turning 100 in October; an exciting progress report update from Educational Foundation President and CEO Mark Bauer (Cal State-Fullerton) about the Investing in Future Leaders Campaign; an exciting new partnership announcement with Feeding America; our new general counsel position; a recap of chapter awards from Stead; Mike Raymond’s (Miami-OH) history article about the origins of the Theta News magazine; and, of course, our Chapter News. After two months off, we hope you enjoy reading this latest issue of the Cross & Crescent. As always, if you have any suggestions, story ideas, or general comments about the magazine, please send me an email at tlichtenauer@lambdachi.org. In ZAX & friendship,
Tad Lichtenauer Editor, Cross & Crescent Magazine
Cross & Crescent
Header
YOUR ONLINE SOURCE FOR ALL LAMBDA CHI ALPHA NEWS September 2013 ISSUE 6
Features 11 Departments Chapter News
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Chapter news, alumni news, and reports of death.
Fraternity News
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2013 Stead Leadership Seminar Awards
Fraternity News
National Partnership with Feeding America
Fraternity News
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New General Counsel
36 History
The Theta News of Theta Kappa Nu Fraternity
CREDITS Publisher: Bill Farkas anaging Editor: Tad Lichtenauer M Assistant Editor: Andrew Talevich Layout & Design: Thomas Roberts Photographer: Walt Moser Research: Jon Williamson Editors: Jono Hren Bob McLaughlin
THE LIGHT OF LAMBDA CHI ALPHA: REMEMBERING J O S E P H C H AV E Z
After an unexpected death on July 30, we remember Professional Staff member and close friend Joseph Chavez.
By Andrew Talevich (Washington State)
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PEPBOYS PRESIDENT & CEO
A member of Lambda Chi Alpha’s Educational Foundation Board and an alumni brother from the Alpha-Pi chapter at the University of Denver, Mike Odell (Denver) served as the final banquet keynote speaker during the 2013 Stead Leadership Seminar. As an undergraduate, he held the office of chapter treasurer when Drew Hunter, our current Grand High Alpha, was chapter president.
By Tad Lichtenauer (Denison)
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ORDER OF ACHIEVEMENT RECIPIENTS
At the 2013 Stead Leadership Seminar, two alumni brothers were presented with the Order of Achievement: Dr. E. Bruce Heilman (North Carolina State) and Bishop Larry Goodpaster (Millsaps). Heilman currently serves as the chancellor of the University of Richmond while Goodpaster is a bishop of the United Methodist Church.
By Tad Lichtenauer (Denison)
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CORNELL’S CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
The brothers encourage alumni to make plans to attend the anniversary weekend from October 18-23, 2013.
By Jon Williamson (Maryland) CONTRIBUTIONS Content for consideration should be submitted by the 25th of the month (except Aug/Jan) Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity 8741 Founders Rd Indianapolis, IN 46268-1338 (317) 872-8000 editor@lambdachi.org www.lambdachi.org/cross-crescent
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FUTURE LEADERS CAMPAIGN ENTERS FINAL YEAR Now in its final year, the campaign’s goal of $20 million is in sight.
By Mark Bauer (Cal State Fullerton)
CHAPTER NEWS
Chapter News Chapter news, alumni news, and reports of death
Alfred (Kappa-Sigma)
Arkansas State (Iota-Theta) Undergraduate and alumni brothers signed a Lambda Chi Alpha T-shirt and sent it to Executive Vice President Emeritus George Spasyk (Michigan 1949) thanking him for helping them start the Arkansas State chapter in 1959. He has visited the chapter many times, most recently in 2009 for the chapter’s 50th anniversary. In the photo: Caleb Garrett (social chairman), Rian Snell (chapter advisor), Carter Lee (alumni chairman), and Nathan Tripod (chapter president). Stephen R. Grilletta died January 17, 2013, after battling cancer. He was a freelance videographer.
Mitch Feldman provides updates to alumni brothers through the alumni website at www. aulambda.com. At the reunion in June 2013 the more than 50 alumni brothers in attendance dedicated two benches and plaques in honor of their two former chapter houses.
Marvin W. Buerkle (1964) died October 31, 2012. Jerry Duck (1981) died February 9, 2013. He was a machinist and a farmer. Edmond J.Hurst (1976) died March 3, 2013, after suffering a heart attack. After graduating from college he returned home to farm with his dad.
Raymond Spear (1953) died December 30, 2012. He was a U.S. Army veteran serving in 1953-1956. An Eagle Scout, he retired from General Motors in 1993.
Ron Carmack died Saturday, March 9, 2013. He had an extensive career with the Arkansas State University system, including serving as vice president of facilities. He also had served the State of Arkansas since 1992 as a board member of the Developmental Disabilities Services Board. He served his country during the Vietnam War with service in the U.S. Army, and was honored in the ROTC Hall of Honor on the ASUJonesboro Campus.
Appalachian State (Sigma-Upsilon) Bradley T. Adcock (1976) was reappointed by the governor to another four-year term on Appalachian State University’s Board of Trustees. Adcock is vice president for government affairs at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina and a former member of the UNC Board of Governors. He is vice chairman of the chancellor search committee at Appalachian and was a member of the director of athletics search committee in 2005. He was a member of the Athletic Facilities Enhancement Campaign Committee.
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Sam T. Spencer (1964) died April 13, 2013. William D. Walker died June 8, 2013. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy and had a 42-year career in the automotive industry as a manager and consultant.
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Auburn (Omega)
Culver-Stockton (Kappa-Mu)
Rob Maruster spoke at Auburn University’s graduation. After graduating from Auburn he spent 12 years with Delta Airlines and currently serves as chief operating officer at JetBlue.
Auburn-Montgomery (Phi-Kappa)
Fifteen undergraduate chapter brothers attended the 2013 Stead Leadership Seminar on the campus of the University of Memphis.
Denver (Alpha-Pi)
Jacob Nummy and his partner won the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship Saturday at Georgia’s Young Harris College.
Derik Maxon is an account executive at Saepio Technologies. Theron Guerra is a personal banker at FirstBank. Former House Director Sean Marier is an account supervisor at Bender/Helper Impact.
Brown (Iota)
Mac Randall is a manager of strategy at IMM.
Richard C. Houck (1944) died March 11, 2013. He worked as an automatic sprinkler fire protection contractor and mechanical designer.
Michael Himelstein is a marketing intern at Arrow Electronics. James Tarras is a dealer services representative at Fjällräven North America.
Timothy A. Fallon Jr. (1950) died April 3, 2013. A former chapter officer, he worked in advertising and investor relations for Consolidated Edison Co. of New York.
David McGowan is a director of global operations at Jeppesen. Ryan M. Laughlin is an intern at Axiom Consulting Partners.
Butler (Alpha-Alpha)
Jason Brown is managing director, partner at Hotchkis and Wiley Capital Management.
Joshua Phelps (2013) joined Arland Communications as digital media project manager, working to enhance the firm’s capabilities in graphic design, video production, animation, photography, and web development. Agency President Dave Arland also is an alumnus.
Curtis Sullivan is a merchandise manager at Colorado Eagles Professional Hockey. Tyler Grubb is a design engineer at Colder Products Co.
David Winter is an equity analyst intern at Geneva Investment Management.
Central Missouri (Lambda-Pi)
Barrett Corwin is a hotel brokerage analyst at Newmark Grubb Knight Frank.
Gregory A Woods (1976) died May 14, 2013. He retired from fire service. He was also a Civil War re-enactor for more than 13 years.
Gregory Rinsky is vice president - real estate, gaming, lodging and leisure investment banking at Deutsche Bank.
Scott N Sewing (1987) died May 27, 2013. He had a career at URS as a safety director for 15 years.
Marc Perusse is a director at Cress Capital. Sam Wald is an agent at Artist Voice.
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Cross Cross&&Crescent CrescentSeptember September2013 2013
CHAPTER NEWS
Chapter news, alumni news, and reports of death
Eastern Illinois (Phi-Alpha)
Jacob Rothbaum is a franchise performance coach at Sky Zone Franchise Group.
On June 14, 2013, and coinciding with the Army’s 238th birthday, Michael Skinner spent his last day in uniform. He served for 32 years, five in the Illinois Army National Guard and 27 on active duty; over 21 of those years in Army Special Forces. He also is a former chapter president.
Brett McPherson is an acquisitions analyst at Integrated Asset Services. Brian Stormont is a financial planner at Insight Wealth Strategies.
Nick Kray is the Director of Football Operations for Yale.
Cody Bohonnon is a business technology analyst intern at Deloitte.
Edinboro (Beta-Delta)
Robert Chodos is in real estate investment banking at Jones Lang LaSalle. Eric Palmer is a general supervisor at PCL Construction.
Drexel (Epsilon-Kappa)
Dr William Henk, the dean of education at Marquette University, wrote about his return to Edinboro University after being away for 30 years.
The chapter sent eight undergraduates and one alumnus to the Stead Leadership Seminar at the University of Memphis, July 25-27. Brother Marc Vetri received an honorary doctorate degree during Drexel’s Commencement ceremonies in June for his outstanding achievement in both culinary and philanthropic endeavors. The undergraduate chapter hosted an alumni BBQ on August 3rd. The chapter won the IFC intramural volleyball championship and made the semifinals in horseshoes. www.lambdachi.org/cross-crescent
On August 2-3, 2013, the alumni association and undergraduates held a reunion weekend and golf outing. The outing is named the Crazy John Ernst Memorial Outing. The balance of the weekend included a clothing drive, a food drive, and a Boro Woman’s Service Drive for baby items.
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Chapter news, alumni news, and reports of death
Eureka (Theta-Chi)
Hanover (Theta-Zeta)
Bruce Darnall has written an article entitled, Catcher Lucroy Walks the Talk, about Milwaukee Brewer catcher Jonathan Lucroy. It was published on-line by Athletes in Action, the sports ministry for Campus Crusade for Christ and tells about his life and his Christian faith.
Jim Hennegan (1953) died July 23, 2013. He was the first Hanover College graduate to become a veterinarian. Hennegan built Briarwood Animal Clinic, the first commercial building on West 86th Street in Indianapolis, little realizing it would lead to the amazing development of the Northwest Marion County business corridor. He was a charter member and president of Nora Sertoma Club. He was totally dedicated to his profession of Veterinary Medicine, serving as president of the Central Indiana Veterinary Medical Association (CIVMA). He won the 1981 IVMA President’s Award and was the 1992 IVMA Veterinarian of the Year. He was a charter member of the American Society of Feline Practitioners. Hennegan served eight years on the Indiana Board of Veterinary Medicine examiners, two years as Chairman of the Board, three years as liaison to PUSVM Admissions Committee and six years as Humane Society of Indianapolis advisor.
Evansville (Iota-Mu) James P. Barnett (2008) died June 3, 2013. He was a data director for the Texas State Democratic Party.
Florida (Epsilon-Mu) Douglas W. Calder was named director of strategic development for the Vaccine & Gene Therapy Institute of Florida. He will be coordinating initiatives to support the development of new vaccines and immunotherapies to boost the immune response to cancer and infectious diseases. VGTI has more than 100 employees conducting state-of-the-art research at its 100,000 square foot research facility, located on eight acres at the Tradition Center for Innovation in Port St. Lucie, Florida.
Indiana State (Iota-Epsilon) Walter Wintin (1955) died July 11, 2013. A U.S. Marine Corps veteran, he taught and coached at Warren Central High School in Indianapolis and at both Shields High School and Seymour High School in Seymour, Indiana. In these positions he taught math, health, and physical education. He coached football, wrestling, baseball, and basketball. He was athletic director and assistant principal at Seymour High School for 10 years and was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Indiana High School Wrestling Coaches Association in 1980.
John E. Shay Jr. (1955) died May 11, 2013.
Florida Southern (Epsilon-Xi) U.S. Air Force Cpt. William M. Scruggs Jr. (retired), was one of 24 World War II veterans who received France’s Legion of Honor Medal at a ceremony at the International Motorsports Center, NASCAR’s office building. A D-Day veteran, he also has been awarded a purple heart and an air medal. Established by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802, the medal is the most prestigious honor given by France for exceptional merit. Notable American recipients in the past include Thomas Edison, Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, and Gen. Colin Powell.
Illinois (Chi) In August 2013 the chapter held an Initiation Ritual Exemplification for their 11 spring associate members. Tyler Prince (1989) works for Pricewaterhouse-Coopers U.S. in Chicago where he is a U.S. Oracle practice leader and principal, and oversees implementation of Oracle database technology. Pete Loughlin (1976) retired and started a new adventure with his wife Dawn, relocating from their long-time home near Dallas, Texas, to the village of Cotacachi, Ecuador. Set between two dormant volcanoes on the edge of the Andes, the Loughlins’
Gettysburg (Theta-Pi) Pitcher Ryan Taylor was named to the NIC all-American baseball team. www.lambdachi.org/cross-crescent
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new home is a base of operations for experiencing new culture and for expanding their travel agency, Dreams & Things Travel.
residence. In 1970 Caserta formed Inspecto, Inc., originally a sideline business specializing in the inspection of residential homes that was primarily for potential buyers, realtors, and attorneys. Following early retirement from Grumman in 1994, Caserta ventured into automotive and marine engineering with his son, Charles. He decided to develop amphibious land and sea vehicles for commercial and private use. Upon his son’s college graduation in 1996 they began full time work under Inspecto’s Pontiphian Division designing, constructing, and obtaining patents and licensing. Later they added Amphijet and relocated to Syosset, New York.
Maryland-Baltimore County (Phi-Delta)
Marietta (Kappa Alpha)
Bobby Lubaszewski has helped restart the chapter’s alumni association. He and several other alumni brothers have created new by-laws, held meetings for the last several months, and elected new officers. The alumni association hosted a successful 2nd Annual Active/Alumni Crabfeast, and had significant turnout thanks to the help from current Alumni Chairman Tyler Sousa and chapter President Zach Engleman.
Mercer (Zeta-Omega) Branden Ryan (2013) began his Peace Corps service in Tanzania in July 2013. He is currently completing the duties of teaching English to secondary school students at Ngombezi Secondary School in Korogwe and will move to a new site in midSeptember and teach for another two years.
The chapter raised more than 1,000 pounds of food during a food drive at the end of the spring semester.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Lambda) Anthony L. Caserta (1963) June 14, 2013. He had worked on various projects during his 35 years at Grumman Aerospace Corp. Earlier in his life, at age 16, he learned the real estate business and became the youngest person licensed in New York State as a salesperson and worked at his father’s firm, Roslyn Realty. At MIT he was instrumental in the purchase of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity house, still the chapter’s
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Chapter news, alumni news, and reports of death
Miami-OH (Zeta-Upsilon) David R. Barr died May 16, 2013. He attended Miami University in Oxford, graduating with bachelors and masters degrees. He also received his doctorate in mathematics in 1964 from the University of Iowa. He went on active duty with the Air Force in June 1955. He taught at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs and then at the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) at Wright Patterson until his retirement in 1997.
The chapter is currently soliciting sponsorships from local businesses to help with the cost of the upcoming Watermelon Bust.
North Carolina-Greensboro (Phi-Theta)
Montavallo (Sigma-Epsilon) Gordon F. Taylor died August 23, 2013. He was employed with PepBoys.
Juan Vazquez served as commencement speaker for the Spring 2013 graduation ceremony.
Nevada-Reno (Epsilon-Iota)
At the same event Matt Moss served as the Class of 2013 Bell Ringer.
Richard N. Fulstone (1950) died August 7, 2013. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict, spending most of that time in Japan. Upon returning to the family ranch he started the first commercial cattle feed yard in the area, also making and sending alfalfa pellets to Japan. He served for 16 years on the Lyon County School Board, served on the N-3 Grazing Board, was a charter member of the National Cattlemen’s Association, and was a charter and life member of the Lyon County Museum. Until his death, he was chairman of the U.S. Board of Water Commissioners for the Walker River. For many years Fulstone was a director of Sierra Pacific Resources, retiring at age 72, and was an early investor, along with other members of his family, in the Heavenly Valley Ski Area. He was a director of the Western States Meat Packers Association during the time he owned and ran Peoples Packing Co. in Yerington, Nevada.
North Carolina-Charlotte (Beta-Upsilon)
The chapter was named IFC Fraternity of the Year, was awarded a Chapter of Excellence citation, and received an award for Outstanding Legacy. John Harlow was name Alumnus of the Year. Taylor McAlister was named Greek Man of the Year. North Carolina-Wilmington (Delta-Sigma) Former chapter president Robert Rideout (1995) is a major in the U.S. Army Reserves. He has been activated and is currently serving as the command judge advocate for the U.S. Forces Garrison Command, 4th Infantry Division (4ID), Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. This is his second combat deployment, having previously deployed for 12 months to An Nasiriyah, Iraq, in 2003-2004. In his civilian capacity, he is a U.S. administrative law judge in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Ohio (Alpha-Omega) Dale F. Henry (1960) died July 6, 2013. He was retired from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base where he worked as a financial specialist.
The chapter held a number of recruitment events the week of August 25, 2013: cornhole, football, volleyball, dodgeball, miniature golf, and go-kart racing. The week ended with a newmember dinner on August 29, 2013. www.lambdachi.org/cross-crescent
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Chapter news, alumni news, and reports of death
Oklahoma (Gamma-Rho)
house exterior by replacing the old bulbs with new LEDs. Pierce Stock 2013, the 16th annual gathering of chapter brothers and families, was held in Louisburg, Kansas. Seven chapter founders were in attendance.
Jon Hayes, MHA, CMPE, was selected as CEO of The Children’s Hospital at OU Medical Center, Oklahoma’s largest and most comprehensive pediatric hospital. Hayes comes to Children’s from The University of Oklahoma College of Medicine where he has served in various leadership positions involving children’s healthcare since 2001.
Pete Cole was appointed manager of global finance for Nueterra Health of America.
Polytechnic (Theta-Upsilon)
Oklahoma State (Alpha-Eta)
For the past 40 years a group of approximately 25 alumni brothers from the New York metropolitan area have been meeting at New York restaurants, the chapter house, or at the homes of the brothers. The alumni group has quarterly gettogethers to catch up, discuss the present, and reminisce about old times. The last meeting was on the evening of Friday, August 2, 2013, at Bella Luna Restaurant at 86th Street and Seventh Avenue in Brooklyn. In attendance were Larry Pepe (1969), Lou D’Amico (1972), Bob Ianuale (1972), Harry Raymond (1966), Rich Ferri (1970), Tom Lee (1973), and Tom Arnold (1969). Anyone who would like to be included in future events or to get news of the latest get-together please e-mail haraymond@ aol. com.
During the summer an Alumni Control Board was formed and selected Michael Barr to be the new chapter president. Since assuming the office Barr has organized a variety of committees and workshops to help improve chapter operations and set the goal of recruiting 30 new, high-quality young men.
Old Dominion (Sigma-Iota) Paul R. Holman (2007) was named a member of the 2013 Executive Council of New York Life Insurance Co. Members of the executive council are among the most successful of New York Life’s elite sales force of 12,250 licensed agents. Holman has been a New York Life agent since 2009 and is associated with New York Life’s Norfolk General Office in Norfolk, Virginia. He currently serves as Sigma-Iota’s chapter advisor.
Five Lambda Chi couples, John Levolo (1968), Larry Pepe (1969), Dan McHugh (1969), Rich Ferri (1970), Walt Schimming (1970), and their wives, along with other friends recently went on a seven-day Norwegian Breakaway cruise to Bermuda. The get-together was a success. Various activities included deep-sea fishing, snorkeling, sightseeing, shopping, good food, dancing, and great company.
Tom Kovacs (2011) has been hired as the assistant recruiting coordinator for the football team. Michael Motta (2011) has been hired as the director of women’s basketball operations at Dartmouth College.
Purdue (Psi) Scott Rench (1988) was accompanied by his father, Nicholas W. Rench (1963), when he returned to the campus in March 2013 to receive the School of Technology Alumnus of the Year Award. He is also profiled in the current edition of Purdue Alumnus magazine that describes several awards he has received and patents he has secured in his work with Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.
Pittsburg State (Lambda-Chi) Chapter brothers performed the following house repairs this summer: replaced all the stair railings; added new spot lights in the front yard for the flag pole and the monument sign with our fraternity name and coat-of-arms; replaced the outdoor safety lights with brighter ones; repaired the exterior stucco and painted the outside of the house; and updated the badge on the
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Aaron Bulger died August 15, 2013. A veterinary student with
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CHAPTER NEWS
Chapter news, alumni news, and reports of death an exceptional academic career, he was a senior in the College of Agriculture and was admitted to the Veterinary Scholars Program, an elite group consisting of fewer than 10 students in the major. Bulger also excelled in his work at the St. Joseph Humane Society where he worked for five years. He also was a former chapter officer.
South Dakota (Alpha-Gamma) James M. “Jim” Kuehn (1949) died June 10, 2013. He spent his 37-year daily newspaper career with the Rapid City Journal. Kuehn entered publishing as a printer in several South Dakota weekly newspapers, and during World War II at the U.S. Army Field Printing Plant, Ft. Belvoir, Virginia. As the Journal’s state editor, his “beat” was most of western South Dakota. He also was a reporter and columnist covering the South Dakota Legislature. Each promotion took him closer to his final title of vice president and editor. In 1960 South Dakota’s daily editors elected him president of the Associated Press Managing Editors’ Association. After the Minneapolis Star and Tribune Company purchased the Journal in 1964, he was given responsibility for both the news and editorial content of the newspaper. His staff grew to more than 30 people. In retirement he spent countless hours with plans and issues at the Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Foremost was participation in a fund-raising campaign by the Mount Rushmore National Memorial Society that yielded the $56 million spent on a near-total renovation of facilities at the Memorial. Most recently he became a founder and director of the Mount Rushmore Institute, which is dedicated to freedom and the discussion of vital topics at Mount Rushmore.
Rensselaer (Epsilon-Eta)
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute fraternity and sorority members helped incoming freshmen move into their dorms for the Fall 2013 semester. The men of Epsilon-Eta assisted with the movein, as they do every fall. The volunteering act is another example of how the brothers daily live their core values. The move-in event was also recognized by local newspaper TimesUnion of Albany, NY. Photo credit given to TimesUnion.
Southeast Missouri State (Delta-Phi) Derrick Feldmann, CEO of Achieve, hosted The Millennial Impact Conference (MCON13) in Indianapolis on July 18, 2013. MCON13 brings together nonprofit professionals from across the country to learn how to engage the Millennials as volunteers, leaders and donors. Feldmann and a colleague have also written a book on the topic, Cause for Change: The Why and How of Nonprofit Millennial Engagement.
South Carolina (Epsilon-Psi) Chapter Advisor Jim Tothill and Harm Reduction Manager Nick Hall attended the 2013 Stead Leadership Seminar at the end of July on the campus of the University of Memphis. Alumni brothers, Faculty Advisor Dr. John Grady, and Chapter Advisor Jim Tothill met at the Carolina Restaurant for a Summer Dinner Brotherhood Event on August 7, 2013. The discussion centered on summer jobs, fall recruitment, and philanthropic events. Sal Costa made all the arrangements.
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Southern California (Zeta-Delta) Catcher Garrett Stubbs was named to the NIC All-American baseball team.
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Chapter news, alumni news, and reports of death
St. Joseph’s (Phi-Lambda)
on campus. In the upcoming weeks the chapter will begin the Fraternity Education process to help the young men through this new period of becoming better men.
Nicholas Paolizzi serves as the SGA president. Ian Klinger serves as The Hawk, the school’s mascot.
Robert R. Graham Jr. died May 29, 2013. He worked several years at Combustion Engineering in Chattanooga before moving to St. Louis as controller of the St. Louis plant. He then moved to Houston and later retired as chief operating officer at C-E. His career took a totally different turn by becoming president of King Medical Equipment. This venture led him into many rewarding years of working in the home healthcare field. After his second retirement, he bought and successfully operated Smokey’s Barbecue.
Thiel (Theta-Xi) Paul P. Strenio died May 30, 2013. He was a staff sergeant in the U.S. Air Force. He was also the owner of Bostian Heights Supermarket and Lentz General Store and worked as an instructor at Rowan Tech. for 10 years.
Tennessee-Chattanooga (Zeta-Phi)
Truman State (Phi-Psi)
Dan Hartmann (2007) competed in the Ironman 70.3 in Muncie, Indiana. He is pictured top left next to Chris Barrick (Butler 2005). Both are former professional staff members for Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity.
The three-peat Fraternity-of-the-Year winners at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga started off the year very well by adding 36 new members during Rush Week. Students participated in a long-standing tradition on bid day at UTC, called “Running Out The Doors,” where each new member runs through a doorway and into the arms of his fraternity. This year it was held at Finely Stadium, the home of the Chattanooga Mocs. Running through the doorway or entrance symbolizes the entering of a the new stage in their lives. Zeta-Phi’s 36 new member fall class was the largest among all fraternities www.lambdachi.org/cross-crescent
Wabash (Alpha-Kappa) Adrian Pynenberg (2008) was named to the all-decade team for the North Central Athletic Conference. He was a two-time Hank Critchfield Award recipient as the NCAC Outstanding Defensive Player of the Year (2006, 2007), and was also named to the all-decade team as a linebacker. Pynenberg earned First
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Chapter news, alumni news, and reports of death Team All-NCAC honors from 2005-2007 and set the Wabash record for career tackles with 451, including a record-setting 73-1/2 tackles for loss. He owns the Wabash single-season mark with 168 stops in 2007 with 91 solo tackles. Pynenberg’s 26-1/2 tackles for losses in 2007 is also a Wabash single-season record. He earned D3football.com All-America honors in 2005 (Honorable Mention), 2006 (Second Team) and 2007 (First Team) and was a 2007 Gagliardi Trophy finalist.
2013. He was the former vice president and general manager of GE global operations, services; former vice president and general manager of assembly, test and overhaul; former vice president and manager of GEnex product line; and current vice president and general manager, commercial engines operation, for GE Aviation. Bruce Bevery (1973) received the Herbert F. Taylor Award for Distinguished Service to WPI in 2013. He currently serves on the Civil and Environmental Engineering Advisory Board member, adjunct professor in WPI’s Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, Alumni Council class representative, Class Agent, Alumni Association Cabinet member, and class reunion planning participant.
Washington & Lee (Gamma-Phi) SGA President Steele Burrow (2013) was one of the speakers at the graduation ceremonies. Lee Brett (2013) was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps. Alvin Thomas (2014) was elected president of the Alpha chapter of Omicron Delta Kappa service society. Warren E. Dean (1954) died May 30, 2013. He retired from PPG in 1996 after a 37-year career in numerous roles including laboratory manager, plant technical manager/superintendent, and area superintendent. Dean was an all-state basketball player in high school, continued to play basketball in college, and was inducted into the Richwood High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 1992. He volunteered his time for many years coaching and teaching basketball to children.
Steven Halstedt (1968) received the Herbert F. Taylor Award for Distinguished Service to WPI in 2013. He is a current WPI trustee who helped lead the quiet phase of the campaign to advance WPI, and is currently a member of the National Campaign advancement Committee that is leading the public phase of the $200 million fundraising endeavor. Leonard Redon (1973) received the Herbert F. Taylor Award for Distinguished Service to WPI in 2013. He is a trustee emeritus, current member of the Arts and Sciences Advisory Board, Class Agent, and admissions volunteer. Rick Wheeler (1977) was named to the 2013 New England Basketball Hall of Fame. A member of the WPI team from 1973 to 1977, he was inducted into the WPI Hall of Fame in 2005. At the time of his graduation he was the all-time leading scorer in WPI history, with 1,318 points.
West Texas A&M (Iota-Xi) Ed Wright (1970) received the 2013 Distinguished Alumnus Award from the West Texas A&M University Alumni Association. Each year the WTAMU Alumni Association presents its Distinguished Alumnus Award to successful graduates who contribute time and support to the University and to humanitarian causes. Wright was one of three recipients recognized at the University’s 50th annual Phoenix Banquet on June 8, 2013.
Bill Clemmey (1986) spent a weekend in April in North Conway, New Hampshire, reminiscing with fellow Lambda Chi Alpha brothers from the class of 1986. Also in attendance were Tom Crowley, Mike Doherty, Mike Duquette, host Dave Henry, Stu Murray, Mike Nelson, Steve Rogerson, and Matt McDonald. Bill Goode (1998) ran the 2013 Boston Marathon to raise funds and fight stroke as a member of Tedy Bruschi’s charity, Tedy’s Team. You can read his eyewitness account of the marathon explosions and aftermath on his blog, wickedgoode.com.
Worcester (Pi) William Fitzgerald (1983) received the university’s Robert H. Goddard Award for Outstanding Professional Achievement in
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FEATURE
The Light of Lambda Chi Alpha: Remembering Joseph Chavez After an unexpected death on July 30, we remember Professional Staff member and close friend Joseph Chavez. By Andrew Talevich (Washington State)
On Tuesday, July 30, 2013, Lambda Chi Alpha lost a member of the Professional Staff and a brother who was near and dear to the Fraternity. Joseph Chavez, 24, died unexpectedly from complications related to a seizure. Though Chavez’s death was untimely and bitterly unfortunate, the memories he instilled upon those around him and the legacy he left through his work with Lambda Chi Alpha will always be remembered. Chavez was a man who truly exemplified what it meant to be a brother in Lambda Chi Alpha. The values and lessons that are taught through Lambda Chi Alpha’s ritual and teachings were actions that Chavez lived each day. He lived up to the words we recite in our creed www.lambdachi.org/cross-crescent
We believe in Lambda Chi Alpha, and its traditions, principles, and ideals. The crescent is our symbol — pure, high, ever growing; In the five years since Chavez was first initiated into Lambda Chi Alpha he quickly developed himself through the Fraternity. As an undergraduate at the Sigma-Beta chapter of St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas, Chavez served as the ritualist and treasurer. After graduating, Chavez joined the Lambda Chi Alpha Professional Staff as an Educational Leadership Consultant. In this role he traveled to chapters in the Peninsula, Gulf Coast and Great South regions, working
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with undergraduate and alumni officers to strengthen their chapters. He had a knack for connecting with those around him and teaching about Lambda Chi Alpha’s traditions, principles, and ideals. Personally and professionally, it was a pleasure to witness Chavez’s crescent growing as he was involved with Lambda Chi Alpha.
and the cross is our guide — denoting service, sacrifice, and even suffering and humiliation before the world, bravely endured if need be, in following that ideal. Toward the end of Chavez’s first year on staff he suffered an epileptic seizure while on vacation. This twist of fate would take Chavez off the road and back to El Paso. Despite this setback, Chavez continued to contribute to the Fraternity by becoming a Master Steward and helping brothers in the Gulf Coast region. As an alumnus volunteer, Chavez attended Steward Summit and General Assembly. He would not let this unfair circumstance control his life. Chavez was determined to still be a central part of Lambda Chi Alpha.
May we have faith in Lambda Chi Alpha and passion for its welfare. May we have hope for the future of Lambda Chi Alpha and strength to fight for its teachings. Chavez received his chance to rejoin the Lambda Chi Alpha Professional Staff last spring when the position of Educational Programming Coordinator opened up. After arriving in Indianapolis and once again working at the place he loved, Chavez’s words to CEO Bill Farkas were: “I just felt I had unfinished business here.”
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One quality that set Chavez apart was his strong commitment to the betterment of Lambda Chi Alpha. During his life he was a very passionate Lambda Chi who loved facilitating educational programming to alumni and undergraduates and working with chapters to implement the Inner Circle, a program that aids in the maturation of undergraduates. During his second term on staff, Chavez assisted in enhancing the educational programming of Lambda Chi Alpha. Chavez’s passion for his work enabled him to make a difference in the lives of thousands of brothers.
May we have pure hearts, that we may approach the ideal of perfect brotherly love. Chavez’s legacy will live on with Lambda Chi Alpha. For the undergraduates he met while working on staff and volunteering as a Master Steward, they will remember Chavez for the lessons he bestowed upon countless chapters and his ability to relate to others around him. For the alumni volunteers who worked with him over the last two years, they will remember his friendship to Lambda Chi brothers of all ages, his leadership among his peers, and his clear understanding of the varying components of the Fraternity. For the Professional Staff and friends he worked with, we will always remember his words of advice, his sassy jokes and the many memories we had with him. He was serious when he needed to be; insightful when asked about something; and always open-minded when a brother needed to talk with him.
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Chavez’s presence was also very apparent at this year’s Stead Leadership Seminar. He assisted Marcus Kelley, Associate Director of Education, in successfully implementing all educational programming to the undergraduates who attended the annual conference. He strengthened his relationships with the alumni volunteers and undergraduates during the conference.
Chavez Memorial Endowment The Lambda Chi Alpha Educational Foundation board of directors has designated $30,000 of currently unrestricted assets to create the Joseph Chavez (St. Mary’s 2011) Memorial Endowment. The specific use and recipients of these funds will be identified by the Foundation staff, but will generally be used to assist undergraduate brothers with funds to attend Fraternity leadership and educational training programs.
One of the last memories that the Professional Staff as a whole shared with Joseph Chavez was at Stead Leadership Seminar. Following the final banquet on Saturday night, the Professional Staff met for a debrief meeting to discuss the conference. As we sat around and discussed the highs and lows of the conference, Chavez decided to lie down in the middle of the floor, as if the previous days had drained him of every ounce of energy. The staff decided to pour a box of hundreds of packing peanuts over him. Chavez’s reaction was a simple groan as if he didn’t care. It was moments like these that Chavez could light up a room and make everyone laugh.
We believe this is one of many ways to memorialize the life of Brother Chavez.
Between each person who met or worked with Chavez through Lambda Chi Alpha, the universal trait that comes to mind was his constant display of perfect brotherly love. Through his infectious smile, his vibrancy of life, his tremendously positive attitude, he brought light everywhere he went. There is solace in these memories. This is Chavez’s story through the eyes of Lambda Chi Alpha Professional Staff. There are other stories, from Chavez’s family and friends in El Paso to his chapter brothers at St. Mary’s. Everywhere he went he touched the lives of those around him. We will miss you Joseph Chavez but your light will burn on in Lambda Chi Alpha.
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PepBoys President & CEO A member of Lambda Chi Alpha’s Educational Foundation Board and an alumni brother from the Alpha-Pi chapter at the University of Denver, Mike Odell (Denver) served as the final banquet keynote speaker during the 2013 Stead Leadership Seminar. As an undergraduate, he held the office of chapter treasurer when Drew Hunter, our current Grand High Alpha, was chapter president. By Tad Lichtenauer (Denison)
A member of Lambda Chi Alpha’s Educational Foundation Board, and an alumnus brother from Alpha-Pi Zeta at the University of Denver, Mike Odell (Denver) serves as president and CEO of Pep Boys Auto, a full service automotive parts and tires aftermarket chain with more than 7,000 service bays in more than 700 stores in 35 states and Puerto Rico. Odell joined Pep Boys in September 2007 as executive vice President and chief operating officer, after serving more recently as the executive vice president and general manager www.lambdachi.org/cross-crescent
of Sears Retail & Specialty Stores. In his remarks Odell noted the parallels between leading a business and leading a chapter. Over the course of his career he has led three financial turnarounds; and his first one was at Alpha-Pi. “When you’re a leader you don’t always get a blueprint or a plan....,” Odell said. “Your job as a leader is to go figure it out and get people to follow you.”
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Being a Lambda Chi also teaches you how to network, how to mentor, how to be on a board, how to work together, and how to influence people.
Rule No. 1: True North (Integrity, Honor, Respect, and Personal Courage)
People Make the Difference
True North is how Odell explains his belief that a person’s moral compass is what ultimately matters.
Odell emphatically stated that the business model for chapters doesn’t work if you don’t recruit great people. It all starts with people. And getting great people to be on your team takes hard work, it doesn’t just happen.
“It’s who people are,” he said. “It’s the culture you want to create in your chapter houses.”
“It’s not just during rush,” he said. “It’s about what you’re doing all year long. It’s about when you meet people and think this person would make a great brother.”
Specifically, Odell emphasized Personal Courage as the most important value of Lambda Chi Alpha’s Seven Core Values. Integrity, Honor and Respect should be relatively easy but Personal Courage is what separates leaders and followers -showing the way and setting the example.
“ The best talent you can give is the mentoring of others and the networking you can provide.” Odell explained that this lesson about people is one that will be important for your entire career. “There’s such a great parallel between the experiences you are able to gain and what’s going to make you successful later and further your careers if you really do focus on the people side of things in terms of knowing what you’re looking for and how to get them on your team,” he said.
“Personal Courage is the one I’m most interested in because, for me, that’s the difference between being a follower and being a leader,” he said. Personal Courage at the chapter level is knowing when to stand up for an issue, when to let it go, or to fight for what you truly believe. What makes a chapter member valuable is knowing whom to talk to and when.
Recruitment drives the rest of the model; the hardest part of our business model is creating the pipeline of talent.
Who do you want on your team? Brothers who fit the culture we want to create.
“However, if you don’t know what you’re looking for then you’re going to have high turnover,” he said.
Rule No. 2: Commitment to Excellence (Loyalty & Duty)
People are about whom you want to be on your team and are they engaged in the vision, mission, and values? For Odell, the rule of three is one he uses regularly, and he applied this in his remarks [to] where each of our Seven Core Values fits in.
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Odell explained that you can’t be successful on a consistent or sustainable basis without commitment to excellence. He then shared a lesson his dad taught him many years ago:
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“Luck breaks both ways for everybody,” Odell said. “The people who are considered lucky are the people who are prepared to take advantage of things when they go their way, and are prepared to mitigate the damage when things don’t go their way. The people who are unlucky are [the] ones who take excessive risks, aren’t prepared when good things break their way, or don’t know how to control things when they break against them. The way you become lucky is to have that commitment to excellence. He also believes that Loyalty and Duty represent commitments. Commitment leads to controlling one’s outcomes.
Rule No. 3: Give Back and Pay It Forward (Service & Stewardship)
Odell said talent is the most underestimated way to give back. “When it comes to your talent, it’s endless in terms of what you can give,” he said. “The best talent you can give is the mentoring of others and the networking you can provide.” Moreover, the best way to find out what to look for in a mentor is to actually be a mentor to others. He stressed the importance of giving versus taking. Time and treasure have finite limits but talent doesn’t. Give of yourself and help others. Take advantage of Lambda Chi Alpha’s international networking opportunities.
Odell’s third and final rule is to give back and pay it forward. “You have an opportunity to attend the summer conference,” he said. “What are you going to do with it? Is it just for you or are you going to share it with the chapter?”
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Order of Achievement Recipients Header At the 2013 Stead Leadership Seminar, two alumni brothers were presented with the Order of Achievement: Dr. E. Bruce Heilman (North Carolina State) and Bishop Larry Goodpaster (Millsaps). Heilman currently serves as the chancellor of the University of Richmond while Goodpaster is a bishop of the United Methodist Church. By Tad Lichtenauer (Denison)
At the 2013 Stead Leadership Seminar, two alumni brothers were presented with the Order of Achievement: Dr. E. Bruce Heilman (North Carolina State) and Bishop Larry Goodpaster (Millsaps).
When considering men who are qualified for this award, the Grand High Zeta takes into consideration the character of the individual in question. Some of the prominent recipients of this award include:
The Lambda Chi Alpha Order of Achievement Award was first established in 1958 to honor those members who have distinguished themselves by achieving outstanding success in the field of business, industry, politics, the arts, science, or other professions. Their accomplishments bring honor to Lambda Chi Alpha and serve as an inspiration to their brothers. These men represent the Fraternity’s ideals in action, and serve as an example for undergraduates who are preparing to step out into the world.
• Former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Harry A. Blackmun • Inspired World War II aviator Lieutenant General Jimmy Doolittle • ESPN Founder Bill Rasmussen • Legendary Basketball Coach Henry “Hank” Iba • Noted Psychologist B.F. Skinner • Former U.S. President Harry S. Truman
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Dr. E. Bruce Heilman
of Councilors of Lambda Chi Alpha, and by David Huffine (North Carolina-Greensboro), a member of the Board of Directors of Lambda Chi Alpha. Kanipe, who worked for Heilman at Meredith, asked Heilman if he would join Lambda Chi Alpha as an honorary intiate in 1972. Heilman accepted and decided to join the Gamma-Upsilon chapter at North Carolina State because of his admiration for the then chancellor of the university, John T. Caldwell. In his introduction of Heilman, Kanipe said: The holy scriptures declare that old men dream dreams while young men see vision. Brother Heilman does both. He gives life to our teaching, principles, and ideals; exemplifying our Seven Core Values with service, success, and accomplishments that bring honor to Lambda Chi Alpha and [give] inspiration to our brothers. In his remarks, Heilman noted that throughout his life, and at every age, he will keep walking through doors as they open to him, and he was glad to have walked through Lambda Chi Alpha’s door at the final banquet of the 2013 Stead Leadership Seminar.
A U.S. Marine during the World War II Pacific Campaign, Heilman later received his bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees from Vanderbilt University. In 1966 he became president of Meredith College, prior to beginning his long association with the University of Richmond in 1971. After serving as president and CEO for approximately 17 years Heilman became chancellor at the University of Richmond on October 1, 1988. A renowned and respected educator, he has served as a consultant to many educational, religious, and charitable organizations and has been a member and officer of numerous professional and educational boards and organizations. Heilman was presented the Order of Achievement Award by John Kanipe (North Carolina State), a member of the Board www.lambdachi.org/cross-crescent
About the Order of Achievement, he said: “Those who have received it in the past years have placed upon it a stamp of high legitimacy. Thus, the recognition strokes my ego and elevates my self-esteem at a time in life when most acknowledgements of meritorious service or successful accomplishments have already been realized.”
Bishop Larry Goodpaster Goodpaster earned his bachelor’s degree from Millsaps College, and then attended Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta, where he earned a master’s of divinity degree. He was ordained a deacon in the former North Mississippi Conference by Bishop Edward J. Pendergrass. He was ordained an elder by Bishop Mack B. Stokes. He earned his doctorate of ministry degree from Candler School of Theology. Goodpaster then served in a variety of appointed positions in Mississippi, including one as District Superintendent of the Tupelo District. At the time of his election to the episcopacy he was senior pastor of the First United
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Methodist Church in Tupelo.
Goodpaster also served as chapter president when he was enrolled at Millsaps. I
He was elected to the episcopacy at the 2000 Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference and assigned to the Alabama-West Florida Area where he served for eight years. In 2008 he was assigned to the Western North Carolina Conference. Goodpaster was presented the Order of Achievement Award by Bobby Ray Hicks (Alabama), former Chairman of the Board of Directors of Lambda Chi Alpha.
In accepting his award, he said: “The Core Values make all the difference in how we live our lives and how we make a difference in this world. I am honored; I am humbled by this Order of Achievement. I receive it with gratitude, and on behalf of some brothers from Millsaps College -- many of whom could be standing here tonight -- I am a grateful for this very high honor.”
“These men represent the Fraternity’s ideals in action and serve as an example for undergraduates who are preparing to step out into the world,” Hicks said regarding qualifications for the award. “Larry was elected bishop of the United Methodist Church in the year 2000, and has served as president of the council of bishops; making him the actual leader of all United Methodism worldwide.”
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Cornell’s Centennial Celebration The brothers encourage alumni to make plans to attend the anniversary weekend from October 18-23, 2013. By Jon Williamson (Maryland)
October 18-23, 2013, is a weekend many Omicron Zeta alumni should mark on their calendars. I spoke with Mike Agostin earlier this summer about the Cornell chapter’s centennial, for which Mike is the chairman. “This will be a great celebration with so many brothers returning to Ithaca, New York. The weekend gets started on the night of the 18th with a reception at the chapter house. We think brothers will want to relax and have time for visiting and catching up. On the morning of the 19th we will have a breakfast at the Statler Hotel on the Cornell campus. A couple of brothers will brief the attendees
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on what is happening in the chapter, within the Cornell Greek system, and on the Cornell campus in general. After breakfast there will be a wine tour in the Finger Lakes Region. A special time will be scheduled in the house from 4 PM to 6 PM for alumni brothers to make room visits. They will be able to return to the room(s) in which they lived as undergraduates to establish generational connections and big-brother relationships. All of the rooms will be open. There will be several wine and cheese stations with their themes based on individual Cornell colleges to encourage networking opportunities. Then attendees will adjourn to enjoy a cocktail hour at the Statler, followed by a banquet menu of steak, chicken, and fish.”
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Chapter President Matt Clardy I wanted a sneak-peek regarding the status of the Cornell chapter so I turned to the current President Matt Clardy. “Before graduation this spring we had 70 brothers, which made us the fifth largest chapter of the 47 fraternities on the Cornell campus. For the second year in a row we enjoyed success in recruitment with 20 or more men, and their high quality has enabled us to enjoy success in intramurals, academics, and charitable events. The chapter won the fraternity league flag football championship, finished second in basketball and fourth in softball. For the spring of 2013 we moved up academically to 17th place among all fraternities with our 3.329 GPA. Always supportive of philanthropies, we continue to annually clean up Cascadilla Gorge. Ari Ruben organized a clothing drive for the Salvation Army, coordinating with students at Ithaca College. We remain active in leadership positions on the campus with Alex Schoifet and Jaime Winebreak serving as vice presidents within the IFC; Josh Lizotte has been very active in ROTC; Jon Carter Loftus is a member of the varsity polo team and a recipient of a 2013 Barry Goldwater scholarship; and Alan Workman was inducted into the very selective honorary of Quill and Dagger.” Omicron Zeta, Lambda Chi’s 13th chapter, was established October 11, 1913. It had its origin as Mug and Jug, founded in October 1907, and then I.S.W.Z.A. which was established in 1908. The word ISWZA was created by taking the first letters of one of the members’ favorite kneipe (or tavern) songs,” Im Schwarzen Walfisch Zu Askalon”.
Alumnus Henry McNulty For a better understanding of the heritage and traditions, I spoke with Henry McNulty who for over 25 years edited the chapter newsletter, the Omicron. “I joined the chapter in the late ‘60s, which were very turbulent times because of Vietnam. We had several brothers in ROTC and we also enjoyed the highest GPA on the campus. The fraternity house was a refuge from www.lambdachi.org/cross-crescent
the craziness that was taking place on the campus in the form of protests and demonstrations. My goals were to go to class, graduate, and get a job. I was very fortunate in making lifelong friends and establishing a long association with the house, serving for a period of time as the president of the holding corporation that owns the house. I loved editing the Omicron and I appreciated Sandy Gilbert’s work in beginning an electronic newspaper for people who graduated in the ‘50s and ‘60s.”
Capital Campaign Co-Chairman Sandy Gilbert Sandy Gilbert is the current co-chairman of the capital campaign, in charge of renovating the chapter house. He is retired and has lived in Florida for the past 12 years. “Four of the greatest years of my life were spent as a member of Lambda Chi Alpha at Cornell. I loved every moment. Because of that I wanted to give back, and working with Doug Levens and Ralph Wilhelm is fun, so I decided to assist in raising money for the renovation. At the very least we must redo the electricity, heating, and plumbing, plus the bathrooms. Back in my day the brothers slept dormitory style, but today’s students want private rooms. So, we want to build an exercise room and use space to build some additional living quarters. And of course we want to remodel the kitchen to satisfy the different eating times.”
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Where does the campaign stand?
Chapter Historian Jason Cho
“We visited with 40 brothers during the silent phase of the campaign and raised approximately $1M toward our goal of $2M. Brother Phil Prigmore will be the architect and he is very excited. One of my favorite memories is editing the Oracle. Our kids are grown and I’m retired and I have time. So I began a newsletter for brothers of the ‘50s and ‘60s. In each issue Steve Ashley and Ralph Wilhelm each write an article. The university works with Ralph when there is an issue within the Greek community. He is an intermediary with the administration as well as the Greek community.”
Jason Cho is considered by the alumni to be the historian of the chapter.
Take me back to your undergraduate days. “The chapter was a rah-rah group of men who could drink at 18 and there was an emphasis on parties with rock & roll. We had several brothers who formed a band. Those were the days of big-name entertainers, and on more than one occasion we joined with other fraternities, after obtaining university permission, and hired acts like BoDiddley and the Isley Brothers. I was the social chairman. We had about 45-50 brothers and in ’61 we won the softball championship.”
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“I began my research on the chapter when I was an undergrad by reading historical meeting minutes and looking at chapter pictures. There were seven fraternities active in the 1860s and an elite fraternity system was established. In our early days Lambda Chi took those men who could not get into the old-line groups. We weren’t looking for legacies; instead we were looking for good brothers. We have retained that focus. Omicron #1 was financially challenged and the brothers found him a place to live and he paid his way through school playing the coronet. The chapter had numerous varsity men in the 1920s and 1950s.”
What are some little known facts regarding brothers? “Cecil Robinson ’21 was an aerial photographer who founded an airline named Robinson Airlines, which became Mohawk Airlines and after a couple of mergers is now known as USAirways. A Klaxon from WWII is used to call people to dinner. The bible used in chapter meetings was
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received from our Cornell Theta Kappa Nu chapter. Sharon Hall was our first Crescent Girl in 1959. Jeff Goldberg, a former High Kappa, weighed over 300 pounds. The size of the chapter has gone up and down, with over 100 shortly after WWII to 45 when I was a member. Over the years we have enjoyed many mascots (pets). Our dog Topaz loved food. One day she disappeared from the front lawn and wandered over to the DKE house and ate one week’s entire shipment of bread. Our Winter formal and White Rose formal are held at wineries. Many alumni frequently return to the house because they benefited so much from their fraternity experience. They want to help the undergraduates and to make sure they also have a good experience. We like to eat and live together. Every living alumnus has lived in the house.”
Omicron Notable Alumni • Jose Abizaid, emeritus trustee of the Lebanese American University • William Adams, principal of Beacon Architectural Associates, Boston, Massachusetts
• Dr. Richard Douglas Alling, physician, St. Canandaigua, New York • Dr. Dale Stanley Antanitus, pediatrician, Waltham, Massachusetts • Stephen B. Ashley, COB and CEO of The Ashley Group, former
COB of Fannie Mae, recipient of Outstanding Alumni Award for 1998
• Dr. Robert Shahram Bahadori, pediatric otolaryngologist, Reston, Virginia
• Dr. John Baldeschwieler, professor emeritus of chemistry at the University of California @ Berkeley
• Dr. Robert M. Ball, physician, El Paso, Texas • Dr. Laverne Beakman, former veterinarian in Lockport, New York • Dr. Frederick Beardsley, former physician in Storrs, Connecticut
I understand that in the past some brothers have been pranksters!
• Dr. Philip R. Beck, psychiatrist, Montreal, Canada • Dr. Kris Lawrence Billiar, professor of biomedical engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute
“Now how did that rumor get started? Okay, there may be a small amount of truth to that. What is considered by many to be the chapter’s greatest hoax occurred in 1921. He wore a goatee and pince-nez, spoke with a Viennese accent, explained some theories of dream interpretation, and called himself a disciple of Sigmund Freud. But, when ‘Dr. Herman Vosbert’ addressed the Cornell Women’s Cosmopolitan Club, few in the crowd knew they were about to be addressed by Charlie Stotz, a Cornell Lambda Chi. Among his statements that evening were: ‘Calculus could cure sleeping sickness; that if water drips on the forehead of a sleeping man, he will dream he is rowing a boat on a stormy sea; and that ‘the dreamer does know what he dreams, but does not know what he knows, and therefore believes what he does not know’. There were congratulations and applause when he finished his lecture. The hoax lasted two days until papers in Ithaca and New York reported the joke.”
• Dr. Eugene Bonapace, physician, Great Neck, New York • Dr. Adam Borah, psychiatrist, Killeen, Texas • Leon M. Brockway, recipient of Lambda Chi Alpha’s Order of Merit • Dr. Paul Robert Byrne, physician-ob/gyn, Farmingdale, New York • Casualty of World War I: Joseph Alpheus Carr • Casualties of World War II: Gerald Brower, Richard Stuart Jansen, Edward Thomas Kelly, Carl Fearnley Rhodes, and Robert James Wallace
• Roger W. Chadwick, inducted into the Cornell University Athletic Hall of Fame for basketball and baseball
• Dr. George C. Christensen, former vice president at University of Alaska
• Dr. Sebastian Ciancio, urologist, Danville, Illinois • Dr. Charles Clause, veterinarian, Henrietta, New York • Scott Coffina, attorney, partner, Drinker Biddle, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Dr. Michael Finn Collins, physician, Glastonbury, Connecticut • Dr. Eduardo Alfred Constantino, assistant professor of psychiatry, SUNY @ Stony Brook
Board of Councilor Ralph Wilhelm
• Michael David Curtis, content producer for WCAU-TV, NBC 10, multiple awards including two regional Emmys
Ralph Wilhelm is a former member of the Grand High Zeta (GHZ), serving on the board from 2002 to 2010. www.lambdachi.org/cross-crescent
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• Dr. Henry W. Daniell, physician, clinical
professor at University of California Medical School at Davis, Redding, California
• Dr. Gregory G. Deierlein, John A. Blume professor in the School of Engineering, recipient of the ASCE Norman Medal
• Harry Delibero, deputy executive director of
human relations at Wildwood Programs Inc., New York
• Dr. Scott L. Diamond, Arthur E. Humphrey
professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering at the University of Pennsylvania, recipient of numerous awards
• Fred Dinger, president, CEO of ENTrigue Surgical Inc., San Antonio, Texas
• Honorable Roger F. Dykes, retired circuit judge for the State of Florida
• Bennett Egeth, former senior managing director at Bear Stearns, senior vice president at Broadridge
• Aslag H. Eskesen, former president of General Electric of Argentina
• Dr. Frederick F. Fakharzadeh, surgeon, New Jersey
• Dr. Steven Shahin Fakharzadeh, assistant professor at University of Pennsylvania
• Edwin D. Fessenden, former owner/operator of Fessenden Farms, recipient of Cornell’s Outstanding Alumni Award 2010
• Ernst J. C. Fischer, former Grand High Pi 19141915, former Grand High Zeta member-atlarge 1915-1920, former Grand High Alpha 1920-1929 (longest serving Grand High Alpha in Lambda Chi Alpha’s history)
• Gary Fitzgerald, president and CEO of Iroquois Healthcare Alliance
• Houston Irving Flournoy, former California
legislator and state controller, professor of public administration at University of Southern California
• Rear Admiral Emmet Peter Forrestel (United
States Naval Academy 1919), Commandant of the 9th Naval District
• Dr. Oscar Frick, professor of pediatrics/allergy immunology at the University of California @ San Francisco
• Captain J. Richard Gautney, retired United States Navy
Rafael, California
• Dr. John G. Guillemont, former specialist in pathology and nuclear medicine
• Richard F. Hardy, former vice president and
treasurer of General Telephone Corporation, inducted into the Cornell Athletic Hall of Fame in 1989 for track and field
• Frank Nelson Hawkins, co-founder and president of Hawk Associates
• William E. N. Hawkins, editor and publisher of the Post & Courier, Charleston, South Carolina
• Dr. Bruce Hedin, principal scientist at H5 • Dr. Samuel Dean Hellis, OB/GYN, Bellingham, Washington
• Dr. Hans Wilhelm Herrmann, founder and chief engineer at APJet, Arlington, Virginia
• Dr. Charles A. Hjerpe, retired veterinarian,
• Dr. George Gavrell, urologist, Hayward, California
Davis, California
• Dr. Joseph Lee Hollander, professor emeritus
• Dr. Stephen David Ginsberg, assistant professor at the NYU Langone Medical Center
• Lieutenant General Otto John Glasser,
former Deputy Chief of Staff for Research & Development in the US Air Force, Director of Atlas ICBM Program, received Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit
• Jonathan Howard Grunzweig, Chief Investment Officer and Principal of Colony Capital
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• Dr. Joseph A. Gryson, retired orthodontist, San
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of the School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, former president of the American Rheumatism Association and recipient of numerous awards
• Dr. Fulton Holtby, former engineering professor emeritus at the University Minnesota; he collaborated with another member of the faculty to build the first aircraft flight recorder (black box), and in addition he designed and
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fabricated heart valve replacements and special suture clamps for Dr. Christiaan Barnard’s pioneering heart surgery
• Dr. Kenneth Carl Huber, cardiologist, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Robert H. Hurlbut, former COB of Strong Memorial Hospital, former
trustee of St. John Fisher College, former COB of Commissioners for the New York State Insurance Fund
• Eric Jacobs, principal engineer at Sikorsky Aircraft • Admiral Joseph Franklin ‘Joe’ Jelley (United States Naval Academy 1927), Commandant of the Bureau of Yards and Docks, recipient of Lambda Chi Alpha’s Order of Achievement
• Dr. Roger Brian Johnson, cardiologist, Tucson, Arizona • Dr. Brian C. Joondeph, ophthalmology, Arvada, Colorado • Dr. Jeffrey Scott Karlin, orthodontist, New Jersey • Sherman Richmond Knapp, former president of the Connecticut Light & Power Company and director on multiple companies
• Dr. Paul Komor, energy education director of the Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute at the University of Colorado
• Dr. David Benjamin Kuhn, internal medicine, Fort McCoy, Florida
• Dr. William W. Mendenhall, former professor of civil engineering at the University of Alaska
• Robert Milkey, retired veterinarian, breeder, trainer and owner of harness horses
• Claude Ellsworth Mitchell – Omicron #1 • Dr. Jonathan Wayne Naughton, professor at the University of Wyoming • Dr. Allen Nicholson, professor of chemistry at Temple University • Arnold Olender, vice president and regional manager of Burns & McDonnell, Atlanta, Georgia
• Dr. Todd Oravitz, anesthesiologist, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Dr. Robert A. Pezzulich, former surgeon, Vermont • Mark Portera, regional sales director at the Hershey Company and the owner of the Nantucket Sandwich Shop, Atlanta, Georgia
• Steven Campagni Portis, COB of Renewable Funding Group, CEO at Global Power Finance, San Francisco
• Dr. George P. Potekhen, retired physician • OUTSTANDING CHAPTER – in May 2004 the chapter received Cornell’s highest honor for a fraternity
• Arthur E. LaCroix, former executive vice president of New England Power
• Dr. Joseph Mark Savitt, physician at Parkinson and Movement Disorder
• Dr. Thomas Lavelle, former surgeon
• George Schmidt, executive vice president, general counsel, and secretary
Service Company
Center of Maryland
• Kevin Lemanowicz, chief meteorologist for FOX25 in Boston, Massachusetts
• Henry W. Lengyel, former Judge in the New York Court of Claims • Dr. Robert Leshner, professor of neurosciences at the University of California @ San Diego School of Medicine
• Dr. Ludwig M. Licciardi, orthopedic surgeon, Brooklyn, New York • John Longstreet, president and CEO of Quaker Steak and Lube, Pennsylvania
• Dr. James J. Manion, physician, New York • Dr. David S. Mason, professor emeritus of political science at Butler University
• Dr. David Earl Mattern, former professor of music at the University of Michigan
• Dr. David McConnell, clinical professor of medicine at Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons
• Dr. Brian D. Meagher, physician, Jamestown, New York
“I joined Lambda Chi Alpha due to the outgoing nature of the members who combined a balance of academic seriousness and partying. In addition, the physical plant was very attractive, set in a gorge. Back then the chapter had between 40 and 60 brothers. The campus had a tradition of joint parties where two to four fraternities would pool their resources to pay for a live band. I have great memories of one such event where the Isley Brothers performed for
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of Glimcher Realty Trust
• Francis Sherman, president of AkzoNobel, Chicago, Illinois • Edward W. “Ed” Shineman Jr., former COB of Beech-Nut Packing Company, recipient of Cornell Lifetime Benefactor Award
• Walter T. Southworth, former administrative law judge with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
• Bradley Stahl, nature photographer, Northwind Nature Education • Judge R. James “Jim” Stroker, retired Judge of the Ninth Circuit of Florida • Craig Warrick Wayman, retired executive vice president of sales for Prentice Hall
• Dr. Ralph Wilhelm Jr., former Grand High Iota, former executive with Delphi Automotive Systems
• Matthew J. Zak, former managing director of Japan operations for Chrysler Corporation
• Dr. Paul Zbell, surgeon, Huntsville, Alabama
an on-campus party. The chapter also had a number of musically talented brothers who formed bands, in particular John DeWitt and Tom Shineman, who would perform at campus parties. The chapter brothers enjoyed two other traditions, one of which went with the overall musical talents. We loved to sing, not from a songbook, but from the custom of passing songs on from one class to another. I’m not sure why the culture of singing stopped, but it has
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been re-started over the past five and six years. And the other tradition was bridge! Some of us would begin playing bridge at noon and 12 or more hours later we would still be playing.”
What were the circumstances of you getting re-involved with the chapter? “During my years of graduate school I would return for homecoming, but afterwards my visits were random at best. I didn’t really become active until I returned from Singapore and joined the Lambda Chi Alpha Educational Foundation Board in 1998. After spending three years on that board I became much more engaged with the local chapter and the campus in general. I was then encouraged to run for the GHZ by Chris Molloy. I found this to be a wonderful experience as I discovered how the fraternity was run. During this same period of time I volunteered to be more involved with the Fraternity and Sorority Advisory Group in the Cornell Greek Community. For the past few years I have been chair of that group.”
alumni advisor, strong national that can help support the chapter, a strong set of values that the chapter lives by; and by being able to have a trusting relationship between the alumni and undergrads. For example, rational and constructive discussions are a must. Internationally it must be a multi-pronged approach and it begins with the campus administrator buying into this approach and the campus must have an over-arching alumni group that is willing to be a change agent on the campus to begin cultural change.”
Ralph, what continues to drive you in working for Lambda Chi Alpha? “I receive satisfaction in knowing that I am impacting one person at a time and getting them to see the opportunity to make changes for the better of their chapter, the campus, and themselves.”
What types of issues has that group had to confront? “One of the initial issues was fire safety. We found that most of the 40 to 50 houses at Cornell were privately owned and only half had installed sprinkler systems. Today, all but one of the houses has a sprinkler system. The current issue is live-in advisors and the alumni advisors understand the importance of this issue.” Is there one critical issue facing today’s Greek students, not only at Cornell, but on every campus? “Our biggest challenge at Cornell is to get young people to make healthy choices. We feel that there are multiple legs on a stool and that leads to a stable and strong chapter: Strong alumni; strong undergraduate leadership, strong www.lambdachi.org/cross-crescent
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Future Leaders Campaign Enters Final Year Now in its final year, the campaign’s goal of $20 million is in sight. By Mark Bauer (Cal State Fullerton)
Why did the leaders of the Lambda Chi Alpha Educational Foundation decide to begin a $20 million fund raising campaign in the midst of the national economic downturn of that time? In a word, through vision, they saw opportunity.
just meeting minimums, to keep up with our neighbors. More than ever before, Lambda Chi Alpha can make the next century better if we will focus on building future leaders.”
“One of the secrets of business and really the secret of life is that in helping others be successful, you become successful. Lambda Chi Alpha helped teach me that principle. More than ever before, our country and the world must focus on leading indicators, not
Technologies; Former CEO, Pratt & Whitney; Chairman, “Investing in
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- Karl Krapek (Kettering 1972), Retired President & COO, United Future Leaders” Campaign.
After you read through all of the booklets and websites, and listen to the reception and luncheon speeches, the opportunity and purpose of the campaign become clear:
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1. Build a financial support structure for the TRUE Brother Initiative. This was the dynamic, valuesfocused, educational program (more a new way of life) introduced in 2007 for our brothers and chapters. 2. Secure funding for mission-critical delivery programs today and into the future. The values of the TRUE Brother Initiative are priceless, yet really cost no money. The difference money can make is in funding conscious programming to instill and really lock these values into young men. These delivery programs today take the shape of our summer leadership education, such as the one our students enjoyed in Memphis back in July. In the years ahead, due to alumni generosity, new and innovative approaches to values-based mentoring will emerge to support young men in their journey.
The Final Year The campaign is now in the final year, and reaching the lofty goal we set for ourselves is in sight. I am impressed that we have now had four alumni brothers make gifts to this campaign of $1 million or more. Additionally, we have had 31 men commit $100,000 or more to this effort. History shows that back in the 1980s, we had a few alumni give as much as $50,000. In the 1990s some made generous gifts of $100,000. This is all a picture of momentum, and we are looking good! Our target for the last year of the campaign has been, and remains, to broaden the base of support as well as to raise money.
create hundreds of thousands of dollars annually which are pumped right back into the lives of our collegians and chapters.
Do You Know? While growing the asset base, our foundation has annually made a great difference in the programs of Lambda Chi Alpha. Over the last 25 years the foundation has granted and gifted $8 million to Lambda Chi Alpha brothers, chapters, and the General Fraternity. Moreover, it has only been since 2005 that the Foundation has annually and consistently made such grants and gifts in totals above $400,000!
“This is no time to sit back and relax. The chapter which is strong can be stronger. The alumnus who has been generous can be magnanimous. We call on all brothers now to join us in going the second mile. For if we are to continue to play a positive and constructive role in higher education; if we are to continue to expand the circle of friendship and brotherhood to everincreasing numbers of fine young men; if we are to experience the realization of our dreams; and if we are to see the extension of our ideals; we must give more of ourselves and of our resources for this magnificent adventure.” - George W. Spasyk (Michigan 1949), CEO of Lambda Chi Alpha 19681990
Look for more on the “Investing in Future Leaders” campaign in your email box in November.
Just since 2009, the assets of the Foundation have risen dramatically. Today, the assets of the Educational Foundation have reached $8 million and rising, and may increase by $1.5 million or more in the next year. This is four times the assets of the Foundation nine years ago when assets were just over $2 million. The significance of this is that the permanent funds of the Foundation
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2013 Stead Leadership Seminar Awards Read about the chapters and brothers who received awards this summer.
By Tad Lichtenauer (Denison)
At the 2013 Stead Leadership Seminar held July 2528, 2013, at the University of Memphis, dozens of chapters and several notable brothers were recognized for their accomplishments. In addition, we honored our 2013 Greek Advisor and held elections for the Council of Presidents.
Academic Achievement Chapter Academic Achievement Awards are presented to chapters with a grade point average that was either first on their campus, or second or third on larger campuses with a greater number of fraternities.
Spring 2012 • • • • •
Elmhurst (Pi-Zeta) Hanover (Theta-Zeta) Louisiana State (Upsilon) Montevallo (Sigma-Epsilon) Wake Forest (Theta-Tau)
Fall 2012 • • • • • • • •
California–Los Angeles (Epsilon-Sigma) Coe (Zeta-Alpha) Colorado State–Pueblo (Delta-Omega) Hanover (Theta-Zeta) Kutztown (Sigma-Gamma) Montevallo (Sigma-Epsilon) North Carolina–Wilmington (Delta-Sigma) Southern Indiana (Phi-Xi)
Alumni Affairs Recognizes outstanding alumni programming within the chapter; including alumni organization, events and activities, mentoring, and fundraising efforts.
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• •
Joseph T. Charles Mentor Leadership Program
Richmond (Alpha-Chi) Wabash (Alpha-Kappa)
Alumni Publications Awarded to chapters with outstanding alumni newsletters. At least two issues must be published and submitted to the International Headquarters during the academic year. • • •
Kansas State (Gamma-Xi) Drexel (Epsilon-Kappa) Cal State-Northridge (Beta-Rho) Honorable Mention
Bruce McIntosh Standards for Chapter Excellence Recognizes chapters for their significant achievements in the noble pursuit of excellence, particularly their use of the Standards for Chapter Excellence Program. • • •
California Polytechnic (Phi-Sigma) Kettering (Lambda-Epsilon A) Southeast Missouri State (DeltaPhi)
Campus Involvement Awarded to chapters with extensive involvement in extracurricular activities. • • • • • •
American (Colony 295) Maine (Beta) Pennsylvania (Epsilon) Washington and Lee (Gamma-Phi) California–Los Angeles (EpsilonSigma) Culver-Stockton (Kappa-Mu)
Granted to chapters that have the most participation in this program. •
Idaho (Epsilon-Gamma)
Grand High Alpha
Recognizes chapters that have maintained a superior level of operations for at least three consecutive years. A chapter may earn the award only once every three years. • • •
Southeast Missouri State (DeltaPhi) Cal Poly (Phi-Sigma) California-Los Angeles (EpsilonSigma)
Lewis A. Plourd Fraternity Education Presented to chapters whose outstanding Fraternity Education Program includes the entire membership, involves alumni, and incorporates a highly effective Big Brother program.
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Boise State (Colony 297) Culver-Stockton (Kappa-Mu) Elon (Delta-Pi) Georgia (Nu) Kettering (Lambda-Epsilon A) Maryland–Baltimore County (PhiDelta) Michigan (Sigma) Michigan State (GammaOmicron) San Diego (Delta-Kappa) Spring Hill (Delta-Delta) St. Joseph’s (Phi-Lambda) St. Louis College of Pharmacy (PiLambda) Washington (Alpha-Psi) William Jewell (Epsilon-Nu) Worcester Polytechnic (Pi)
North American Food Drive Awarded to chapters that collect and verify more than 8,500 pounds of food. The top chapters received special recognition. • •
Worcester Polytechnic (Pi) South Dakota (Alpha-Gamma)
Phoenix
Membership Recruitment
Presented to a chapter that has made unusually positive strides in overall chapter operations for at least three consecutive years, taking into consideration improved membership size, depth of programming, and riskfree operations.
Awarded to chapters with outstanding success in recruitment and 100 percent associate member retention.
• • •
• • •
•
Drexel (Epsilon-Kappa) Southeast Missouri State (DeltaPhi) Hanover (Theta-Zeta)
Southern Indiana (Phi-Xi) South Dakota (Alpha-Gamma) Iowa (Iota-Chi)
American (Colony 295)
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Rev. S. George “Doc” Dirghalli Scholastic Programming
Website
Recognizes chapters that have developed an outstanding program resulting in superior academic achievement of its members. • • •
of Southern Indiana
Drexel (Epsilon-Kappa) Southeast Missouri State (DeltaPhi) Memphis (Zeta-Theta)
Tozier Brown Public Affairs
Recognizes chapters with outstanding advances in the use of computer technology, layout, content management, computer graphics, and website design. • • •
California-Los Angeles (EpsilonSigma) Wabash (Alpha-Kappa) Cal State-Northridge (Beta-Rho)
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
Recognizes chapters with the most outstanding programs of community service and philanthropic activities. The award is divided into two categories: Public Affairs Programs and Most Outstanding Public Affairs Project.
•
Cyril F. “Duke” Flad Outstanding Undergraduate
Memphis (Zeta-Theta) Elmhurst (Pi-Zeta)
Public Affairs Project • •
California-Los Angeles (EpsilonSigma) Missouri Science and Technology (Alpha-Delta)
Warren A. Cole Recruitment Program Recognizes chapters that have developed and implemented wellorganized and effective recruitment programs. • • •
Drexel (Epsilon-Kappa) Wabash (Alpha-Kappa) Worcester Polytechnic (Pi)
Established in 1958, this award recognizes alumni for outstanding achievement in their professional careers. Recipients are elected to receive the award in General Assembly years, but may receive it at another appropriate event. •
Public Affairs Program • •
Order of Achievement
Created in 1970, this award honors Cyril F. “Duke” Flad, who served as the Fraternity’s second chief executive from 1942 to 1968. One outstanding undergraduate brother is selected annually to receive this award. •
Tyler Tordsen (South Dakota)
Fraternity Advisor of the Year May be awarded annually to a fraternity or Greek advisor who has rendered exemplary service to the Greek system on a particular campus or on a number of campuses. •
Bishop Larry Goodpaster (Millsaps) Chancellor Bruce Heilman (North Carolina State)
Council of Presidents The Council of Presidents was created to further undergraduate representation on the Grand High Zeta. A chairman and vice chairman are selected by other chapter presidents attending the conference, to serve as members of the Grand High Zeta as the Grand High Nu and Grand High Pi, respectively. • •
Brendon Davidson (Southern Indiana 2014) - Grand High Nu Tyler Tordsen (South Dakota 2014) - Grand High Psi
David Stetter - Program Advisor, Fraternity/Sorority Life, University
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National Partnership with Feeding America Agreement provides new food collection tools and resources for 190 college chapters
By Tad Lichtenauer (Denison)
On Saturday, July 27, 2013, Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity and Feeding America formally announced a new national partnership designed to improve the fraternity’s food collection programs on 190 college campuses in the United States. The announcement was made by Lambda Chi Alpha CEO Bill Farkas at the Fraternity’s summer educational leadership seminar on the University of Memphis campus in Memphis, Tennessee. “This is another significant milestone for our 100-year old fraternity,” Farkas said. “The importance of giving back to their local communities is one of the key experiences college men learn when they join Lambda Chi Alpha. I believe this partnership with Feeding America will provide our 10,000 undergraduate members with the resources and tools they need to dramatically increase our collection totals donated to Feeding America’s local food banks.” Through this partnership, Feeding America will provide Lambda Chi Alpha chapters with Volunteer Engagement Guidelines and Food Drive Best Practices. In addition, Feeding America will publicize the events, as well as the food totals collected by Lambda Chi Alpha’s chapters, through its national network of 202 food banks, on its blog, and via Feeding America’s social media outlets. “We are delighted to be deepening our partnership with Lambda Chi Alpha,” said Kelli Walker, manager, corporate partnerships at Feeding America. “Not only is this national fraternity’s on-going commitment to hunger-relief commendable, but we’re honored by the chapters’ commitment to improve their processes so www.lambdachi.org/cross-crescent
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that their collective volunteer impact can become even greater.” During the fall of 2012, prior to the new partnership, Lambda Chi Alpha chapters collected more than one million pounds of food; approximately 830,000 meals. Since 1993 Lambda Chi Alpha has maintained a food drive that encouraged chapters to collect and donate non-perishable food. These efforts have raised more than 40 million pounds of food for the needy. In addition to expanding the number of participating chapters and total amount of food collected, Lambda Chi Alpha believes the partnership with Feeding America will help strengthen the local relationships between chapters and member food banks and increase collaborative opportunities. Unfortunately hunger exists everywhere in the United States; in every county and in every community. Last year Feeding America provided 2.82 billion meals to 37 million people in all 50 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico. Some of the most shocking statistics about hunger are: • 1 in 6 Americans faces hunger • According to the USDA, nearly 17
million children are living in foodinsecure households • 36 percent of households served
by the Feeding America network include at least one adult who works
• Approximately 23 percent of the
adult clients interviewed by Hunger in America 2010 have attended college or a technical school • Approximately 3 million rural
households experience food insecurity • According to the USDA, limited
resources prevent more than 50 million Americans from getting enough food
About Feeding America Feeding America is a nationwide network of more than 200 food banks that leads the fight against hunger in the United States. Together, it provides food to more than 37 million people through 61,000 food pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters in communities across America. Feeding America also supports programs that improve food security among the people it serves; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Individuals, charities, businesses and government all have a role in ending hunger.
collected the most pounds. A new resource guide is now available in Officer Portal to assist chapters in working with Feeding America food banks and to explain how to report your food collection totals. You can find a local Feeding America food bank by visiting http://feedingamerica. org/foodbank-results.aspx In addition, the International Headquarters staff will host an informational webinar about our new partnership and resources at 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 11, 2013. We will send out an email to the chapters with the webinar invitation. For our Canadian chapters, we encourage you to to work with the local food bank of your choosing and follow the same procedures for reporting your totals via Officer Portal. If you have any questions about our Feeding America partnership, please send an email to communications@ lambdachi.org.
Chapter Resources & Upcoming Webinar The General Fraternity has an international goal of collecting at least 1.5 million pounds of food for the 2013-2014 academic year. Food totals will be reported in both December and May and then the totals will be combined to calculate which chapters
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New General Counsel
Deborah J. Vargo Joins Lambda Chi Alpha Professional Staff as General Counsel
By Tad Lichtenauer (Denison)
Effective August 6, 2013, Deborah J. Vargo has joined Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity’s professional staff as general counsel and executive team member. Previously, Vargo served as vice president and associate general counsel for Western & Southern Financial Group (W&SFG) based in Cincinnati until her retirement in 2012. “Deb’s vast experience and knowledge of the legal and insurance industries will be a tremendous asset to our organization,” said Bill Farkas, CEO of Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity. “With the increased volume and complexity of legal and harm-reduction matters, having a general counsel on staff will help us make better decisions to ensure the www.lambdachi.org/cross-crescent
long-term welfare of our organization.” Vargo joined The Lafayette Life Insurance Co. in 1986 as home office attorney and worked her way up to senior vice president, general counsel, and secretary before the company was acquired by W&SFG in 2005. In these positions she was responsible for legal affairs, compliance, claims, human resources, corporate governance/board secretary, facilities, and served on numerous committees. She has also served in leadership positions in legal and insurance industry groups and non-profit organizations. In her new position Vargo’s primary duties include serving as the chief liaison to the James R. Favor Insurance Agency,
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a bachelor’s degree in secondary education, English, and speech from the University of Akron, graduating summa cum laude. She was named both Outstanding Senior Woman and Outstanding Greek Woman. She is an alumna member of the Sigma chapter of Theta Phi Alpha Sorority where, as an undergraduate, she served as the chapter president and as president of the University of Akron chapter of Rho Lambda, a national sorority honorary. As an alumna member she served as chairman of the chapter’s board of directors in addition to serving as a board member of the House Corporation. She also served as the vice president of the sorority’s Akron Area Alumnae Association. On the national level, Vargo was chosen as a chapter consultant, chairman of Constitution and Bylaws, and parliamentarian.
overseeing the fraternity’s claims and litigation, and as the person most knowledgeable in depositions. She also will be in charge of reviewing university relationship statements, surveys, contracts, and North-American Interfraternity Conference documents, as well as membership eligibility issues as needed, and overseeing all legal issues related to Lambda Chi Alpha trademarks and vendor licensing. Vargo earned her law degree from University of Akron School of Law, graduating magna cum laude. She earned www.lambdachi.org/cross-crescent www.lambdachi.org/cross-crescent
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HISTORY
The Theta News of Theta Kappa Nu Fraternity By Mike Raymond (Miami-OH)
The first issue of Theta News of Theta Kappa Nu Fraternity appeared in October of 1924. The sudden appearance of this publication was an amazing feat for the new national fraternity. Theta Kappa Nu was founded on June 9, 1924, and the magazine appeared shortly after the fraternity’s public announcement of its existence, or “badging out,” on October 11, 1924. In less than four months the fledgling organization had a national publication worthy of any fraternity. The editor of the magazine was the legendary fraternity leader J. H. “Dad” Krenmyre (Iowa Wesleyan). Krenmyre held this position for the first decade of the Theta News and later he contributed articles and commentaries found in the last four volumes of the magazine. The Theta News was published from late 1924 until Theta Kappa Nu merged with Lambda Chi Alpha in 1939. The Great Depression caused the magazine to reduce its page count and number of articles because of reduced fraternity membership dues. However, the quality of the writing and the timeliness of its articles never declined. Krenmyre saw to it that the Theta News remained a superior fraternal publication during the Depression.
The First Issue of the Theta News The first issue of the Theta News is a valuable resource for information about the early years of the fraternity. It includes feature articles on the First Grand Chapter, the Grand Officers of Theta Kappa Nu, a short history of the
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founding of the fraternity, the installation of the local fraternities as component chapters of the new national fraternity, and reproductions of their new badge and coat of arms.
Features of the Magazine The first issue of the Theta News dutifully reported on the First Grand Chapter, held in Springfield, Missouri, that gave birth to the fledgling national fraternity. Reading over the description of the Grand Chapter activities leaves one in amazement at the breathtaking speed at which the 20 delegates acted to create a new fraternity. A League and Covenant was drawn up, and committees on a constitution, name, ritual, badge, and colors were formed on the first day of the Grand Chapter. The work of the committees commenced at 9:00 am on a Monday and their work was completed, after a long day and night on Monday, by Tuesday afternoon! Of course, they did have the experience and resources of eleven well established local fraternities to bring to the task. Another feature of the magazine was a short series of articles about the original founding chapters of Theta Kappa Nu. Ten thumbnail sketches were written about the original chapters with only Rollins College (Florida Alpha) missing. A few years later, Lambda Chi’s Purple, Green, and Gold magazine carried a similar series of articles about the early history of its chapters. Anyone interested in the history of Theta Kappa Nu will find this article of interest.
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Theta Kappa Nu was noted for promoting good scholarship among its members. This issue of the magazine carried an announcement seeking designs for a scholarship key that the Grand Council had recently approved. The Oracle’s Message appeared in almost every issue of the Theta News until Theta Kappa Nu’s merger with Lambda Chi Alpha. This communication of practical advice, insightful observations, and inspirational messages was written by “Dad” Krenmyre. The Oracle’s Message in this issue, among other things, laid out the basic beliefs and principles of the organization. Krenmyre emphasized that scholarship was one of the four cardinal pillars of the fraternity. He wrote, “We demand high scholarship and through our Graduate Scholarship Endowment and our recognition of high scholarship by the awarding of a scholarship key, we strive to encourage every brother to attain the highest possible standing among his fellow students.” Krenmyre intended that the Theta News magazine present fraternity news that went beyond that of Theta Kappa Nu. Like many early fraternity and sorority publications, www.lambdachi.org/cross-crescent www.lambdachi.org/cross-crescent
including the Purple, Green, and Gold magazine, this magazine would cover the whole Greek world. He pledged that the Theta News would provide its readers with articles about fraternity leaders, the general fraternity movement, and even what he called “...purported humor, pithy sayings and brief news items.” Over the lifetime of the Theta News every issue contained some information about the general fraternity world. Otho R. McAtee, Grand Scribe, provided an article, Is There an Expansion Movement Among Fraternities?, for this issue of the Theta News. He analyzed and tabulated the expansion efforts of thirty-four national fraternities from 1894 to 1924. McAtee crafted a table from data compiled from information found in Baird’s Manuals published during this time frame. He analyzed fraternity expansion into colleges as distinguished from their expansion onto university campuses. His analysis of the data disclosed that colleges were seldom granted charters by the older fraternities such as Phi Delta Theta, Sigma Chi, and Beta Theta Pi (the Miami Triad). The Miami Triad granted only nine charters to college
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HISTORY groups over the thirty years covered in the study. On the other hand, the Miami Triad granted eighty-six charters during this period to groups found on university campuses. McAtee argued that higher education had changed so much after World War I that small colleges were attracting better students with their higher academic standards. In his opinion, the small college was now a fertile ground for expansion by national fraternities. He estimated that there were over 500 local fraternities on the college level that were competing successfully against national fraternities.
McAtee finished his article calling for the older national fraternities to recognize that colleges possessed many highly qualified candidates for membership. He also cautioned them that the demand for more national fraternities on college campuses would lead to the creation of more national fraternities. These new national fraternities would be strong enough to hold their own against all competition. He pointed out that Theta Kappa Nu was ready to meet the needs of these underserved college students. A few quotes from the general interest column of The Theta News.
He also reported that the existing national fraternities were inundated with petitions from these local groups. Most of the petitions were turned down. For example, one established fraternity had seventeen petitions to consider, only two were accepted. Another national fraternity had nineteen petitions submitted of which it rejected seventeen.
• • •
“To kill time, try hard work.” “Noise isn’t reason.” “A bachelor has one advantage. His joy in receiving presents isn’t dulled by the knowledge that he must pay the bill later.”
Of interest to our members is the listing for Lambda Chi Alpha that shows us at 62 chapters strong, with no closed chapters from our birth, and six college chapters (Knox, Butler, F.& M., Wabash, Colby, and W. & J.) installed since January 1, 1915. Another feature of the first issue of the Theta News was the provision of Chapter Letters. These letters gave each chapter an opportunity to highlight the activities and successes of their members. This continues to be a feature of most fraternity and sorority magazines, including the Cross & Crescent, to this day.
In Summary This initial offering of The Theta News represented a mature publication that helped to establish Theta Kappa Nu as a national fraternity from its beginning. It was a magazine with a variety of appealing and informative articles and that promised to focus on the entire Greek community. It is also a wonderful storehouse of information on the history of Theta Kappa Nu, and represents a time of high ideals and optimism as Theta Kappa Nu was launched onto the national fraternity scene.
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