Rho Alpha Chapter SUMMER ISSUE VP/BSU Blacks burg, VA. (703)552-4251 PIG DINNER A HIT! The 1979 version of the Rho Alpha Morris Pig Dinner was certainly a success The turnout was most gratifying, our final count saw 85 people in attendance at this years festivities. The event was held this year at Tom's Terrific on Rte. 11 between Christiansburg and Radford. The evening was highlighted (except for the booze) by Mike Griffith's keynote speech. The exile's toast was handled by Andy Stowasser, and our Master of Ceremonies for the evening was John Beach. After an excellant meal, the dance music was provided by the Tom's Terrific DJ. Everyone, except Mike Rooney, had a good time, but now we'll have to try and top it again next yearl Fraternally, Karl Solterer Perge! - . • PL's REPORT TO THE GRADUATES Dear Brothers, To those of you who made it to Pig Dinner, I would like to say thanks and I hope you had as much fun as I did. Despite the last minute changes in the organization of the EGA meeting, I felt that things went pretty well and alot of important ideas were brought into the open. I would like to remind you that it is very important that some effort be made to get the names of fall quarter freshman who will be coming to Tech this year, either from your local high schools or from friends. I have already begun working on a letter which will go to the parents, explaining to-them what fraternities are about(ours in particular), and inviting them to stop by the house when they're here for orientation. Along with these letters will be some sort of brochure from HQ. Well, that's about it. If any of you have any ideas or questions, I will do my best to put them to work or answer them, whatever the case may be. Fraternally, Jim (PL) Pe rge.' I \r\n* FINANCE (BCA Report) In the area of financing for chapter activities and house expenses, the main topic of conversation centered around our continuing recievables problem. After much discussion the board came up with several ideas which we believe the chapter should implement by making appropriate modifications to the By-laws within two weeks after returning this coming fall. They are presented to you here in order that you be thinking about them and other possible changes to the By-Laws which have not been seriously scrutinized in the past several years. First, considering the problem of high expense to join the fraternity the board advocates eliminating the current local pledge fee of .$35-00. It is no secret that PGD is expensive to join. We feel that at this point in time, all things considered, the elimination of this fee will not have a significant impact on our income. However, of course there is a great need to generate money and this brongs us to the second recommendation. The Board advocates and strongly recommends that the time has come to raise our quarterly dues. The facts are plain and simple, operating costs are rising much faster than income, period. Dues have remained essentially constant now for several years. How much increase is obviously up to the undergraduate chapter, but the Board is pushing for at least 15%, and 25/6 is more realistic for the chapter's needs in the coming 18 months. Third, and in keeping with the above logic, the Board advocates an increase of lQf» in the rent that is currently paid for living at the chapter house. Here again, house improvements and increasing costs are the justification. There is no question that these ideas will require a good deal of discussion, but they are choices that must be made. Along with the discussion you will undertake, please keep in mind these other points which are of serious concern to the graduates and the Board. o Implement the Dollar-a-Month plan for graduate donations. o Publicize the current list of receivables at every meeting. 0 Conduct business meetings regularly every two weeks. 0 Enforce monthly minimum payments for all active brothers who: currently have obligations to the chapter, are sitting at the bar drinking if he is not at least trying to meet his debts. o Offer discounts to those brothers who will pay lump quarterly sums for dues and/or rent. o Require over-due members to demonstrate their efforts to help the chapter by making weekly work parties mandatory. Fraternally, Perge! Bill Ritchie , \r\nCHAPTER FINANCIAL REPORT Unfortunately, I can not tell you that our financial position has changed dramatically for the better, but in fact it is a little bit worse. Our current recievables is at $1,583-31- The kitchen is half completed and the bill so far is between $150-$200. 'jfe also ran into a problem with our water heater and that cost almost $100. The fire insurance bill of $562 had;to be paid mostly by Doug Painter with House Corporation money, with the stipulation that I pay him back as soon as possible. The only other bad news is that there isn't enough money to make a house payment yet. Sorry, but I can't pay what I don't have. Fraternally, Jeff Whipple Chapter Treasurer EGA RUSH REPORT The resounding tone of the June EGA meeting was the concern over the falling size of the active brotherhood. If we are to get a rebuilding program going at this point, with less than 20 active brothers our problem is visibility. How, with limited funding and a small brotherhood can the chapter maintain visibility in the campus environment? Obviously,T-shirts, jackets, bumperstickers, and other such stuff can make our name better known around Blacksburg. Occasionally, giant signs or other such novelties are great attention getters. But that's only half of the problem. The other is in turning all of this hulabalu into people (men and women) who will visit our chapter house. If the prospects don't show up, there will be no sale. Work on ways in which to organize and pull off successful activities. Also, don't try to recruit the whole world, recognize that it's freshmen and sophomores that you're looking for and then only about 25 or 30 at a time. That'sa good optimum size for an activity, throw in even a small bunch of girls and that's a good party. Incidentally, parties aren't the only way to demonstrate your existance. Football games, volleyball, camping, cookouts, dinners are all good ways to stimulate conversation, friendship, and interest in FIJI. As yvi may know, many fraternities have one big annual event which insome cases draw thousands of people. This is what our FIJI Island is supposed to be all about. Some of these events are fund raisers and others are just hell raisers, either way people sure know that the supporting fraternity is in town. But there is more to this visibility stuff....once you get people noticing you....what did they see? A bunch of obvious gutter cases or some college folks with their act together. If we go to the trouble of spreading the name, it's all for nought if one of us pulls an elmer that half of the campus knows about....How about right in our own chapter house.... If we're gonna walk over to Squires Center on Friday night 3 \r\nto round up a bunch of people for a party.... and 'then we go back and get snot drunk, we have defeated ourselves again. All the people present for the board meeting agreed that rush parties and drunk brothers are diametrically opposed to each other. If you'd like to get a rush drunk that's great....but you have a job to do at a rush party.... stay straight, or at least cohesive. And how about some decent jeans and shirt for a rush party. These may seem like simpleton enough ideas.... why not try them? All this is well and good, but in addition there are some other serious factors which make rushing at Tech a tough job. Regardless of what anyone says, the record shows the rather nonsupportive posture of Dr. Lavery's administration and the Board of Visitors. We have yet to see positive steps to insure the security of the Greek system at VPI. However, bear in mind these other factors which can be better be dealt with in a face to face conversation with a rush. Tech and Blacksburg offer to all students what is unquestionably one of the largest varieties of clubs, activities, sports, societies, and other things to do....many for free.... others more cheaply than this fraternity. So consider this point when trying to sell fraternity. There is alot of competition out there. Think about what makes the fraternity worth it?....I won't attempt to address that in writing here but I would add this. For anyone who wants to get involved in campus affairs, social or governmental, the combination of fraternities and sororities which compose the IFC-Pan-hel are without a doubt the potentially most powerful student body on campus. Remember, in this fraternity, a bid to pledge is almost a sealed invitation for membership. The idea is, when we bid them, we know them, and we want them. Be frank, don't conceal the cost or hold back on the cost of joining the fraternity....give it to him up front....if he keeps listening, he'll find the bucks.... if not, forget it. This year if you didn't meet a prospective pledge then don't blackball him. Its your fault, not his. Your goal is at least 6 pledges each quarter. Find as many potential rushees as possible and at least meet each one. Plan to send them bids unless they spit on you. Often reserved or introverted people who don't appear to be pledgable will come around during pledging and end up making the best new brothers. Don't be afraid to extend an invitation to anyone who interests you. It has been suggested that we take some special steps to convene the active brotherhood for some kind of rush coaching., itfe're open to suggestions and will assist in any way possible.'Just contact me if you'd like to coordinate something. Fraternally, Bill Ritchie Perge! • \r\nTHE EGA REPORT ON THE BCA As some of you are aware, the newly formed Board of Capter Advisors convened its first meeting in Richmond, Va. this past June 9- Several of our numbers met at Rick Vaden's house to discuss issues with which the chapter-:is currently concerned. Before getting down to what resulted, I'd like to thank Margaret and Rick for putting up with us for the day. As I recall, when I left the trash "baskets were overflowing with beer -cans. Thanks also to Bill Watts, Ed Weeks, Stacey Cole, Howard Canada, and Jim Showalter. Each of us drank our share of those cans which gladly produced lots of thought provoking conversation. The BCA is tasked by the International Fraternity to act as a purely advisory board of graduate brothers who are responsible for guiding the local chapter in-the month to month operation of the chapter Being a newly formed body and still really getting organized, the BCA convened the June meeting with the goal of concentrating on and providing objectives for what we see as three essential areas around which the chapter must unite. . o Pledge / Rush o Financing and Recievables o House, Activities, and Maintenance. During the coming months, we will be meeting again. As it becomes clearer to us all as to what our best contribution to the chapter can be, we will institute the outline for a regional concept to improve communication between all graduates and the chapter house in Blacksburg. The regional approach was first formally presented at Pig Dinner this past May. Those of you that volunteered, we know who you are....and so do you. Someone will be contacting you in the coming months. Now, it should be understood that what we will try to do is to builc a simple foundation around which the "month to month" operation of the chapter can be more closely monitored by the graduates through the BCA. The board will serve as the graduate's voice, either individually or collectively. Which is to say that if a group of graduates has a gripe about something that concerns them, they may voice that concern, loudly, through the BCA. Therefore, if-you do not like the way that the board is operating....don't bitch unless you're involved. But for now, my friends, I-am charged with writing and speaking for the board until we i get better organized, and what I want to hear is lots of bitching! That way, I know for sure that somebody cares. The other thing to keep in mind is that the Board can advise until we are all blue in the face. Ultimately, the "day to day" affairs of the chapter are the sole responsibility of the undergraduate brothers. liJhile I've got your attention, keep this in mind also. Ultimately, the survival of the chapter as a unit in the coming year is in the hands of the undergraduate brothers. If it sounds like a load....it is! \r\nSo then brothers, at this early point in the life of our EGA we will provide direction. Enclosed in this newsletter are several paragraphs outlining what we believe to be positive ideas for confronting our current problems. It will be up to our numbers in Blacksburg to to prove the worthiness of any graduate ideas. I urge each and all of us to recognize the coming academic year as an opportunity to begin a real rebuilding program. I'd like to close with this thought, as I sit here typing this letter, a lot of the fraternity problems that I saw as an undergraduate sometimes seemed to defy any improvement. Now they seem much smaller with a little more perspective and several years hindsight. I'm convinced that many improvements can result if more and more graduates can be persuaded to take a more visible posture. Among the many things that the chapter needs most is just plain positive support. Examine the ideas we've sent to you...if you'd like to comment... please do. To you undergraduates.... think about them a little this summer....you are the ones that must implement them. Perge! Fraternally, Bill Ritchie HOUSE REPORT Overall, it would appear that the house has remained at a "statusquo" this year. Thanks to the cooperation of the brothers living in the house, it certainly has been cleaner than in the past two years, but sorely needed improvements have been slow in coming. Our biggest improvement for ?8-79 has been in the kitchen. From those of you who shared Pig Dinner with us this year, it was apparent that most of you were pleased with the progress made at that point. Now, the countertop and sink have been replaced and the floor should be completed in a few weeks. Although we had originally planned to complete the kitchen during the school year, we were unable to find a contractor who would do the work for as low a price as the one we now have contracted. Future plans call for other improvements, including refinishing the hardwood floors,in the living and dining rooms and painting the porches, gables, and gutters. Many thanks go to all who donated funds specific-, ally for house improvements- we'd love to hear from the rest of you. Fraternally, Perge! Karl Solterer SPORTS REPORT j Our sports were too terrible to report on. Fraternally, .Anonymous '80? '79 \r\nTHE PRESIDENT'S REPORT As we all know, the situation here at Rho Alpha comes to a head next year. We had only four pledges this year(Erich, Bill, Henry, and Dave), two in the fall and two in the winter with none in the spring. We have only got 18 returning brothers and around 12 of them will be graduating next year. Pledge education is in need of help, and several good ideas have been preferred by Tom Matacia and Rick Gass. The entire pledging period is now on a strict schedule to be handed out at the beginning of the pledging period. This will hopefully prevent uninformed or misinformed pledges and will concretely lay down responsibilities concerning the house duties, et al. One possible addition to the pledge education system is requiring the pledges to live in the house for a week - preferrably near the beginning of the pledge period. This will give the pledges an opportunity to become very well acquainted with the brothers, and make them aware of the necessity for house upkeep. Another concept, ar eld one this time, will be discussed this fall. Keeping the house full has been a problem for several years now. It would be in the Fraternity's best interest to allot house space to the brotherhood. The brothers who want space in the house would be given that space and the remaining room will be filled by lottery. House improvements have been moving right along. The basement has been repainted and some major modifications allowing more space have been made. The new countertop has been put in and it looks fantastic! Jim Washenberger has rearranged the sink plumbing to come through at the right places. In about two weeks he will be back to put in the flooring and fix the old plasterboard where the old faucets were. Funds are available to complete the job, but they are growing quite slim with the fire insurance and rent due. We expect the summer dues and remaining balances to start coming in. Reminders and fall calendars will be sent out this week. Danny Kallick and all others who show reluctance to pay the large amounts owed will be dealt with harshly in the fall. During a visit to Headquarters with Jeff Whipple to discuss rush techniques and other problem areas, certain forms were picked up that deal with Archon trials. Rush pamphlets should be put together in time for fall. This includes pertinent information on style, techniques, and all other basics. The information consists solely of that in Headquarters files. To reinforce the points made in the pamphlet, there will be a Rush Seminar as mentioned on Sept. 22. It will start at approximatly 10:00 am. We encourage your presence. If you can not attend the Seminar, we are having a rush party that night, so come on down for that! Bill Mattox, our Section Chief, will be here the following Friday (Sept. 28) to help rush some candidates for FIJIHOOD. I will be here for three of the four rushes this fall, that is if plans turn out right. I have been suspended for the 1979-1980 academic year as some of you already know. This comes at an inappropriate time, (Over) \r\nhowever I will be doing my best to see that things are going well. When I return the following year, I want the chapter to be strong. It's important that we be pushed to maximum effort next year and I'm counting on all FIJI'S, undergraduate and graduate alike, to do the pushing. If we do it right, FIJI at Tech will be a source of pride to us all. Fraternally, Michael Rooney Perge! , . FIJI CALENDAR OF EVSNTS Sat., Sat., Wed., Sat., July Sept Sept Sept 28— 15— 19— 22— Work party at the FIJI house Football game vs Appalachian St. School Starts Rush Seminar with Bill Johnson 10:00-3:00 Rush party 8:00-? Tues., Sept 25— Rush party 8:00-12:00 Fri., Sept 28-- Rush Party with Bill Mattox 8:00-? Sat., Sept 29— Football game vs Florida State • Tues., Oct 2— Rush party 8:00-12:00 Sat., Oct 6-- Football game vs Wake Forest Sat., Oct 13— Another football game! Vs Clemson (my poor liver) SAT., OCT 20-- HOMECOMING vs Richmond with a special treat for the grad Sat., Kov 17— Football game vs VMI * * * # * * • » * * * * * * # • * * # • * * * # * * # EDITORIAL SECTION As you can all see above, there is a work party sceduled for Sat. July 28. We realize that this is awfully short notice, but due to delays in publishing, we couldn't get this out any sooner. So come on down on Saturday, we'll do some painting, tilt some beers and have a helluva good time. Bring a paint brush along with with you! Due to personal problems, John Hughes has had to turn the reins of the BCA over to Bill Ritchie. We would like to thank John for all of the time and effort that he put in to setting up the BCA and we wish him our best. And to Bill, Good Luck Brother, I think that you may need it. The Rush Seminar scheduled for Sat. Sept. 22 is going to be very important for the active brotherhood! So, it is manditory and you all know what that means! It would also be a great help if some of you grads could come down and help us rush. It's awfully important, and it is impressive to show them that Phi Gamma Delta is not for college days alone. Besides, it will be a good party! As you have probably noticed, the old Rho Alpha Rag has bitten the dust, only to be replaced by the Gobbler. The gobbler is patterned after publications from other chapters, and will hopefully be a little more regular. The header was designed by Mike Rooney, who also helped me by pointing out all of the mistakes that I was making. So, if you like the new Gobbler, let us know! If you don't like it, then let us know, but softly, please. See you all soon! Proud to be a FIJI, Perge! Mike O'Brien ^