THE cn VGAMMA TAUK roialnstitute of Technology GeorcIA TECH Gamma Tau CuapTER OF PHI GAMMA DELTA WINTER 2001 Details solidify long-awaited 75th anniversary plans By Matt BeVier ‘02, chapter Mn anniversary chairman Just two months from now, April 20- 22,Gamma Tau will celebrate its long- anticipated 75th anniversary celebra- tion as a Georgia Tech fraternity. Details of the entire weekend are on pages 6 and 7. These include procedures for contributing to the special 75th anni- versary fund-raising effort, hotel registra- tion, and the submission of memorabilia for display during the weekend. Minor changes A few minor details have changed since the last issue. Highlights of the week- end, however, still include a kickoff party at the house on Friday night, April 20; the Couser Golf Tournament, chapter open house, and Pig Dinner on Satur- day; and a farewell open house at the chapter on Sunday morning. The Friday night open house will give brothers a chance to reunite with each other, obtain information about Atlanta if they are planning to play tourist on Satur- day, and form groups for dining out in area restaurants and/or visiting clubs later Friday evening. Golf, Pig Dinner The golf tournament will take place at Stone Mountain Park, 16 miles east of Atlanta. Participants can bring family members along to enjoy various park at- (Continued on page 5) Inside this issue Homecoming highlights Sports domination Parents’ Day... Chapter president's message Contributors to funds.. 75th anniversary details. House improvement: Featured graduate Fiji Fables ... The Good Word Big/little brother retreat salutes new pledges A north Georgia state park was the setting for a one-night tent campout of Gamma Tau's 21 new pledges (above) and their big brothers. The November event included a two-mile hike to the campsite. Each big/little brother duo provided their own food, which included traditional hot dogs and marshmallowsas well as some original creations. Many brothers joined the group toendure wind and freezing cold along with the friendship and pleasure of the mountain scenery. (Camping Life, a national publication, recently cited Georgia for having the best state park system in the nation.) ; ; Extensive rush begins fall semester By John Morris ’03 and Clay Scroggins ’03, 1999-2000 rush chairmen Gamma Tau began the 2000-2001 school year with 21 outstanding pledges as a result of our great summer and fall 2000 rush. We set a goal to have a rush activity every week during the summer. That goal came to fruition with the help of the entire house and paid great dividends when we headed into the fall with twiceas many rush contacts as any other house on campus. Summer highlights Some of the summer highlights included several trips to Braves games, parties at several brothers’ lake houses, a trip down the Ocoee River, and many nights playing Trivia. And the most special part of our summer rush was that we enjoyed all of these events while adhering to the IFC’s dry-rush policies. We are one of the few houses on campus that obey these by-laws and it was seen in the quality of young men we attracted in the fall. New tradition Gamma Tau rush took ona new tradition as The Magician performed during the first night of rush. The Magician performs all over the country for Anheuser-Busch and hasa wonderful and entertaining act. Many brothers who caddy at Eastlake Golf Course (Continued on page 8) \r\nGamma TauK Spring semester initiation welcomes 18 new brothers Eighteen new brothers were welcomed into Gamma Tau during the spring 2000 semester. In descending order of seniority, the new initiates and their hometowns are: Bill Porter, Lebanon, TN Neal Reeves, Acworth, GA Mike O'Rourke, Charlotte, NC Chad Conley, Lawrenceville, GA Bill Dalhoff, Spring, TX Justin Daniel, Snellville, GA Ben Foltz, York, PA Phil Guinand, Palm Harbor, FL. Jarod Harper, Hobe Sound, FL Garrett Korth, West Chester, OH Will Lanier, Colbert, GA Doug Lee, Lilburn, GA Dave Love, Chicago, IL Ryan Malloy, Nashville, TN Stephen Martin, Warner Robins, GA Patrick McCann, Warner Robins, GA Kevin Neal, Alpharetta, GA David Zorn, Sebastian, FL Service tradition continues with 675-pint blood drive By Neal Reeves ‘03, philanthropy chair Gamma Tau sponsored two blood drivesin 2000, one in the spring and one in the fall, but both during especially busy times. The spring blood drive took place during Greek Week. The fall blood drive began on Election Day, which created difficulties in finding volunteers when voting took everyone's time. Fall drive efforts, results Because of the time requirements of a blood drive, we were skeptical about how much turnout we would have. We put extra time and energy into organizing and getting the word to as many people as possible, and brothers came through by helping whenever needed, whether hanging flyers around cam- pus or stuffing student mailboxes. During the drive brothers came together and worked as one to get the job done. They helped withnumerousactivitiessuchas walk- ing donors from their chair to the canteen area. Others served the donors food and gave them juice while watching to make sure they stayed hydrated. Others sat at the door and checked donors’ names to keep an accu- rate count. High spirit Insummary, the Gamma Tau volunteers had high spirits and enjoyed helping others. As well as volunteering, over 40 brothers gave blood. The fraternity proved the importance of serviceand volunteerism by helping to collect over 675 pints of blood for a very successful fall blood drive. Winter 2001 By Clint Newsome ‘03 Pace Two Hospitality, fun highlight Homecoming Over 200 graduates poured into Creighton-Vail Hall on Homecoming Saturday, some to reminisce about “old college times” with brothers, others to enjoy the brunch prepared by chapter cook Gene Buran, and some to show their children where “daddy” once lived. “T enjoyed having a lot of graduates around for Homecoming, it made the day even thatmuch more fun,” said Chad Conley ‘04. All of the brothers were very excited about the graduate turnout, especially with the 75th anniversary around the corner. “I was very pleased with the graduate turn- out,” stated Ryan Sampson ‘02. Several past chapter presidents and a number of Fiji babies attended. When the weekend ended, Gamma Tau had placed among the top five fraternitiesin various campus competitions. Buzz: The Spy Who Stung Me The theme for this year's Homecoming was “Buzz: The Spy Who Stung Me,” and Gamma Tau was definitely a strong force. Homecoming philanthropy was a success The Gamma Tauk is published at least twice annually by the Gamma Tau Chapter of Phi Gamma Delta at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Editor-in-chief: David Zorn Contributing writers: Matt BeVier Bill Dalhoff Ryan Greene Garrett Korth John Morris Clint Newsome Marc Perla Kevin Price Neal Reeves Clay Scroggins Michael Swift Special thanks to Bill White ’59 Address correspondence to: Graduate Relations Chairman 841 Fowler St. N.W. Atlanta, GA 30313 with over 40 Fijis braving the early morning and working on such tasks as building a wheelchair ramp, painting the cafeteria ofa local elementary school, and yardwork. The week’s festivities started with a bang as Fiji Mock Rock took center stage. The brothers worked many hours to per- fect their dancing and lip-syncing, and when thesmoke cleared, PhiGam had not placed, but everyone there knew who should have won. In the field events Fijis excelled with sec- ond-place finishes in The Stand and the Punt Pass and Kick, as well as a third-place finish in the Pyramid Egg Toss. Inone of the most famous Tech traditions, the Mini 500, Team Phi Gam represented us well. Be- cause of construction around the Peters parking deck, this classic had to be relo- cated to the coliseum parking lot. Our team did well, but the tricycle just could not handle the terrain and fell apart midway through the race. After many hours of work, “The Goose Is Loose” display made its debut in front of Creighton-Vail Hall on Saturday morning. The display featured Buzz in an F-16 shoot- ing down the Demon Deacon over Bobby Dodd Stadium. The display apparently had an additional effect on Tech quarterback George Godsey, because ever since our dis- play, the Goose was unstoppable. The fixed body this year was a tank, designed by the pledges and using a car of Scott “Timmy” Stiber ‘00. The Ramblin’ Wreck parade entry this year turned out to be a building block for the future. Many hours were put into its construction, but when it was seen to be inoperable, plans werestarted to design the entry fornext year. \r\nPaGr THREE Winter 2001 Gamma Tauk a 7. Ta Matt BeVier ‘02, Lee Suber ‘00, Ryan Greene ‘00, Michael Greenburg ‘01, and Jeff Smith ‘00 BAT oe Jason Morris ‘99, D.W. Dubose '74, and Charlie Morris 02 Jim Shepherd ‘91 and Dave Katz ‘92 with Fiji babies 8, Steve Biles 99, Brandon Drew '99, and Michael McNamara ‘99 Troy Coons \r\nGamMa TAUK Teams continue to dominate across intramural spectrum By Kevin Price ‘02 In recent years our house has excelled in the world of athletics and this year is prov- ing to be no different. So far we have fielded from one to five teams in every sport that the Georgia Tech Intramural Office offers. These sports in- clude flag football, ultimate frisbee, whiffle ball, soccer, bowling, and indoor and sand volleyball. Of the seven different sports, Fiji has been represented in the A-league playoffs six times, with teams participat- ing in the championship games three times and the soccer playoffs still in progress at press time. Flag football triumphs The athletic year started off ona high as the flag football team won the Third Annual Fall Football Classic at Roe Stamps Field with a victory over Beta Theta Pi in the finals. The flag football team had to over- come some adversity as it tried to replace six graduates (Steve Biles ‘99, Dan Cuisimano ’99, Phil Klucsartis ‘00, Darren Manning ‘00, RyanOtt’00,and All-American Tony Watson ‘00) from the 1999 team thatmadearunatthe National Championship. The team came together and madearun through the regular season and defeated Pike in the fraternity championship and then defeated Campus Christian Fellow- ship in the school championship. The vic- tory in the school championship earned the team a trip to the state tournament in Statesboro. In driving rain and near-freez- ing temperatures the team valiantly won five games before it lost to Valdosta State in the semi-finals. Though not the repeat performance of 1999, this year’s team made large strides and is losing only two players to gradua- tion, Michael Greenberg ‘01 and Greg Bates ‘01. Itis looking forward to making a legiti- mate run back to the National Champion- ship in New Orleans. Other successes Our success has not only been on the football field because we have reached the championship games in whiffleball and in- door volleyball. The overall success of our athletic program this year has put us in great position to bring home the athletic trophy for the third straight year. Athletics provide us with great pride in our house and give us a break from the rigors of Georgia Tech academics. It also strengthens the brotherhood and fortifies the statement that PhiGamma Deltais by far the best house on the Georgia Tech campus. Winter 2001 PAGE Four Another Fiji athletic success—one of Gamma Tau’s tivo whiffleball teams, above, won the Tech independent league championship. Named “The 1848 Boys,” the victorious team included, left to right, Clint Southern '02, Ryan Malloy 04, Charley Morris 02, David Love ‘04, and Scott Atha ‘01. Successful Parents’ Day exemplifies many contributions of Mothers’ Club By David Zorn ‘04 Gamma Tau held another lively and well-attended Parents’ Day on Saturday, September 16, thanks to several primary factors: * Outstanding participation and contribu- tions by the Mothers’ Club. * Great food—the best on campus—by chapter cook and brother Gene Buran. ¢ Enthusiastic involvement by brothers and pledges. * Beautiful football weather and anticipa- tion of a Tech victory over Navy later in the afternoon. Big campus event Thousand of parents flooded the campus for the annual Parents’ Day, which has be- come sort of a holiday, in which under- graduates can step back from the “monoto- nous schoolwork” of Tech and share our college and fraternity lives with our parents. While Parents’ Day festivities were campus- wide this past year, Gamma Tau was the place tobe for great fellowship among broth- ers, pledges, and our beloved parents. Active recruiting In addition to the planned events of Par- ents’ Day, the Mothers’ Club had a wel- come presence in the house with a deco- rated recruitment table. As part of the offi- cially named Mary McCarty Mothers’ Club of the Gamma Tau Chapter of Phi Gamma Delta, present mothers /members recruited the pledges’ mothers to join this uniquely supportive organization. Withanenviron- ment somewhat similar to that of fall rush, the mothers seemed to have no problem finding more interested mothers to add to their arsenal of loving moms and good cooks. Generosity and hard work Coming off the spectacular 1999-2000 year of TLC (tender loving care) culminat- ing in their gift to the house of DirectTV digital satellite television, these special mothers are busy again. By providing three full, hearty meals during the fall, including an early Thanksgiving dinner, and finals-week nightly snacks, the moth- ers ensured that we were eating rightand reassured us of their unending love. The spring semester should be no dif- ferent as three more feasts and finals snacks are planned. The mothers willhold a reception in the spring for this year’s Gamma Tau graduates. Additionally the mothers have agreed to assist us in deco- rating for the 75th anniversary celebra- tion, a much-needed helping hand given that engineers and decorating do not usu- ally mix very well. Much-deserved thanks The chapter extends its thanks to the present and past mothers of the club for theirhard workand generosity. The 2000- 2001 officers are president Brenda Addis, mother of Kevin Neal 04; secretary Sandy Conley, mother of Chad Conley ‘04; and treasurer Pam Reeves, mother of Burt ‘00 and Neal Reeves ‘03. The Mothers’ Club can be contacted through the chapter at 841 Fowler St. N.W., Atlanta, GA, 30313. The club has developed a detailed set of by-laws, publishes a schedule of upcom- ing events, and solicits volunteerism from its members. Dues are $50 a year plus commitments for activity coordination or contribution of food for an event for the chapter. Dues are $100 a year for mothers whoare out of townor otherwise unable to volunteer asa coordinator or provide food. \r\nPace Five Winter 2001 Chapter highlights from Ryan Greene ‘00 & 2000-2001 Gamma Tau President ™s,, The tree may be gone, but the persistence in the pursuit of excellence in the Gamma Tau Chapter continues to press onand build strength in its ranks and achievements. The fall semester not only witnessed a reformation in the physical appearance of the chapter house, but also in chapter membership and operations. Successful rush The culmination of a successful fall rush in late August yielded 21 pledges, each one enthusiastic in subscribing to the values and learning the history of Phi Gamma Delta. Pledges have now assimi- lated themselves into all aspects of the fraternity, from community service to intramural athletics to the social scene. Philanthropy, athletics The chapter continued to give back to the community, with its endeavors in sponsoring the Ameri- can Red Cross fall blood drive at Georgia Tech, participating in the cam- om pus-wide TEAM Buzz) © initiative, and staging the annual River Run benefiting the Upper 4 Chattahoochee Riverkeeper. On the field, the flag football team once again reigned supreme on cam- pus, taking both school and fraternity crowns, and hoped to win the state championship at Georgia Southern Uni- versity. Social scene Of course, Phi Gam continues to func- tion as a prominent social force. Nu- merous road trips, paintball, camping, and Yellow Jacket football games pro- vided effective avenues of building our brotherhood, while an Oktoberfest mixer with Zeta Tau Alpha sorority in Helen and a Halloween Crush Party 75th anniversary plans (Continued from page 1) tractions while the Fiji family member is playing golf. The Pig Dinner will include wives and dates for the first time. As previously an- nounced, it will take place at the Sheraton Buckhead Hotel, on Lenox Road across from Lenox Square. The cost will be $50 per person. After dinner a band party will feature music from the 1950s to the present. Dress will be semi-formal (coat and tie). Graduates are urged to contribute to the 75th anniversary fund-raising campaign for improvements to the front of the house and other projects. allowed members to look beyond broth- erhood and into sisterhoods. Homecoming Weekend saw the re- turn of graduates, family, and friends to Creighton-Vail Hall for a morning brunch, Wreck parade, and Georgia Tech football. Graduate brothers recounted old college stories and anecdotes and discussed the excitement surrounding the upcoming 75th anniversary of our chapter. Undergraduates savored the Tech victory over Wake Forest with their dates at the Fiji semiformal at the Park Tavern ballroom, overlooking Piedmont Park and the Atlanta skyline. Alcohol programs On the heels of an Ekklesia focused oncontrolling alcohol use and reducing the associated risks, Gamma Tau is tak- ing the initiative to educate both pledges and brothers in responsible alcohol con- sumption. With a monetary grant from International, the entire chapter is un- dergoing TIPS alcohol training and cer- tification to ensure that all are educated on this subject. Open forums within the chapter have solicited the ideas of broth- ers to implement internal programs for designated drivers and monitors avail- able at all chapter social functions. 75th anniversary Much chapter effort has been focused on preparation and planning in collabo- ration with graduates for the 75th anni- versary celebration. Under the leader- ship of anniversary chairman Matt BeVier ‘02 and the aid of our faithful Board of Chapter Advisors, under- graduate brothers have divided the pri- mary responsibilities among themselves and are working diligently in anticipa- tion of this monumental event. With such a significant landmark in the near future of our chapter, brothers, I look forward to an increased level of support and interest from our graduates who have maintained and exemplified the values of Phi Gamma Delta over the past 75 years. We are all bonded to- gether by these values and arenow called to come together for this momentous celebration in recognition of the success of our glorious chapter and the memo- ries it has engraved within our hearts. Gamma TAUK Contributors to the 2000-2001 graduate communcations fund 1930s S. Bradford Rymer Jr. ‘37 1940s William C. Newell Jr. ’45 Clinton A. Crabtree ‘49 Mitchell L. Weiss ’49 1950s John H. Beach ’50 Roger I. Hallock ’50 Robert A. Sheffey Jr. 50 George T. Fulton ‘51 F. Dennis Pryor Jr. ‘51 Ernest O. Rotramel Jr. 52 Thomas E. Bell Jr. 55 1960s Winford G. Ellis ‘60 Bob N. Robards ‘60 Robert E. Harmon ‘61 Wesley M. Sokolosky ‘63 Richard B. Costin ‘64 J. Eric Taylor Jr. ‘64 Donald R. Brandt ‘65 Jerry T. Hinson ’65 Joseph W. Price ‘66 Stephen E. Robinson ’66 Gerald R. Harris ‘67 C. Dick Wells ‘67 John D. Green ‘69 1970s Michael W. Harris ‘70 Robert L. Bledsoe Jr. ’77 1980s Mark J. Garlen ‘84 Scott Parry ‘85 Jon E. Strombom ‘86 1990s Bret D. Anderson ’91 Kenneth D. Smith ’93 Steven T. Huskey ‘94 Frederick A. Dorsey Jr. ’95 Jeffrey S. Zickus ’96 Seth H. Conrad ’97 Christopher W. Heggen ’97 Michael McNamara '99 Thanks to the above-listed brothers for their generosity in helping to kick off the 2000-2001 fund. Additional con- tributors will be listed in the next issue. \r\nGamma TAUK Winter 2001 Pace Six Information for planning your participatior in Gamma Tau's 75th anniversary celebration — April DETAILS WEEKEND KICKOFF COUSER GOLF OPEN HOUSE PIG[ TOURNAMENT BA DAY, DATE Fripay, Aprit 20 SaTuRDAY, Aprit 21 SaTuRDAY, Aprit 21 Saturpay, A TIME 6 to 10 p.m. 8 a.m. (shotgun start) to 2 p.m. | 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Reception a (expected finish) p.m.; band f Po midnight LOCATION Chapter house Stone Mountain Golf Club, Chapter house Sheraton Bu 16 miles east of Atlanta Lenox Road Square (hot renovated) WHO ATTENDS Brothers and their guests Brothers (families, other guests | Brothers and their Brothers an can enjoy facilities of Stone guests Mountain Park; attractions open at 10 a.m.) HIGHLIGHTS Check in, obtain information, | Historic and scenic setting; Same as Friday open | Gamma Tat see the house, meet other highly rated course house include wive brothers and their guests, Pig Dinner « enjoy Gamma Tau hospitality music to su ATTIRE Casual No jeans, cut-offs, tank tops, T- | Casual Semi-formal shirts, gym shorts, or jogging suits; collared shirts with slacks or mid-length shorts required; soft spikes recommended; no sandals allowed PRICE No charge $85 to include greens and cart No charge $50 per bre fees, professional scoring, driving (Price incluc range, park entrance free, golf party), $8 n shop, gift certificate, bag tag, and gratuity. Participants also must pay $50 for the Pig Dinner. FOOD, BEVERAGES Soft drinks, hors d'ouevres At individual discretion Soft drinks, coffee, snacks Cash bever: salad, macac chicken, sea cheesecake coffee and t RESERVATION PROCEDURES No reservations needed Use enclosed form or register at www.gtfiji.com; formal invitations will be mailed to each graduate at the end of January No reservations needed Use enclose www.gtfiji.c invitations v graduate at CONTACTS FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Matt BeVier '02 404-872-7473 mbevier@gtfiji.com Ryan Malloy '04 404-849-8979 rmalloy@gtfiji.com David Zorn '04 404-808-3040 dzorn@gtfiji.com Matt BeVier 404-872-74 mbevier@g \r\nPAGE SEVEN L 20-22, 2001 SINNER AND OPEN HOUSE ND PARTY RIL 21 Sunpay, Aprit 22 nd dinner, 6 to 9 10 a.m. to noon arty, 9 p.m. to ckhead Hotel, on , across from Lenox al is newly Chapter house Brothers and their guests d their guests Another chance to enjoy Gamma Tau hospitality, farewells 's first Pig Dinner to s/dates; traditional eremonies; dance t all tastes following an exciting weekend (coat and tie) Casual No charge ther, $50 per guest es dinner and band ax to park at hotel ge service, Caesar amia nut crusted sonal vegetables, with fruit topping, 2a No reservations needed d form or register at >m; formal ‘ill be mailed to each che end of January ‘02 David Zorn '04 3 404-808-3040 fiji.com dzorn@gtfiji.com Winter 2001 Gamma TAUK Other important details as 75th anniversary approaches Fund-raising Fund-raising, with a goal of $75,000 ear- marked solely for 75th anniversary-related projects, hasbeen underway since thespring of 2000. Materials for the solicitation of funds were sent to class representatives, who were listed in the spring 2000 issue. Each class representative was asked to con- tact the graduate brothers on his list. “We thank the graduates who have con- tributed so far, and hope that other gradu- ates are prompt in making their contribu- tions. We would like to complete some house-related projects before the event weekend so that everyone can enjoy them. We plan, however, to continue fund-rais- ing after the anniversary in order to collect all pledges. We encourage graduates to pledge a large gift and make installment contributions if they need extra time to complete the pledge,” said Marc Perla ‘90, general chairman and coordinator for the 75th anniversary as well as chairman of the Board of Chapter Advisors. Levels of giving There are four levels of giving: $3,075, Golden Gamma Club; $1,575, Black Dia- mond Club; $750, White Star Club; $275, Purple Pilgrim Club. Target date for fulfilling the pledges is April 20, 2001, the first day of the anniver- sary weekend. Contributions should be mailed in the envelope included with this Gamma Tauk or to 75th Anniversary, Phi Gamma Delta at Georgia Tech, Graduate Records Office, PO Box 161188, Atlanta, GA 30321-9925. Checks should be pay- able to The Fraternity of PhiGamma Delta and must be labeled “75th Anniversary Campaign.” “We want graduates to complete the personal information form sent with their check so that we can update our Gamma Tau database. They may also include an- ecdotes or lost-brother address informa- tion,” said Marc. Volunteers are still being requested to fill vacancies for years without a representa- tive:'55, ‘56,62, 70, '71,'74,'77,'78,'79, '82, '86, ‘87,93, and ‘94. Anyone interested in helping in this important effort should call either Marc Perla at 404-351-5956 or Tom Adams (Emory ’70) at 404-377-4221. For the years without a representative, the fundraising committee plans to contact graduate brothers of those years by tele- phone, e-mail, orregularmail. “Somebroth- ersmay not be contacted at all—we encour- age them to just go ahead and send in their pledge or contribution to the address above,” said Tom. Support needed “This anniversary has moved us to work on projects that are costly, such as renovat- ing the front grounds. Our chapter will celebrate its 75th year only once,” empha- sized Mare. “We really want our graduates to support this chapter that continues to be the best not only at Georgia Tech but also among our International fraternity stars.” Memorabilia By Bill Dalhoff ‘04 The collection of memorabilia for both temporary and permanent display at the chapter houseis being emphasized with the approach of Gamma Tau’s anniversary. Memorabilia and mementos are being so- licited from brothers not only for ongoing display at the chapter house, but also dur- ing the anniversary weekend. Some items will be shown at the Pig Dinner. The display of memorabilia will be pos- sible only if graduates help out by sending artifacts that remind them of the “good old days” at Fiji. These can be photos, periodi- cals, news articles, books, plaques, glass- ware, trinkets, and miscellaneous para- phernalia. This could be T-shirts, purple garters, caps, sports items, a picture froma past Island Party or mixer, the Purple Pil- grimused through pledgeship, evena book written by a fellow brother, anything that brings back the memories of “college days and college lays.” Brothers will be able to enjoy the great memories and moments from the past. For fellow brothers to be able to look back at what Phi Gamma Delta meant to them is what makes Fiji what it is today. The form enclosed with this newsletter can be used to indicate what items can be provided. Items can be sent to the chapter now. How to send items Forsubmitted memorabilia, the contribu- tor/lender should state if the item is to be donated or loaned. All donated items will beassigneda permanent place in Creighton- Vail Hall, while all loaned items will be logged, properly stored, and returned as soon as the 75th anniversary celebration concludes. Brothers loaning items should include a return address, phone number, (Continued on page 8) \r\nGamma TAuUK Winter 2001 Pace ElGut Anniversary details (Continued from page 7) and e-mail address so the item can be returned. Every piece of memorabilia that is do- nated or loaned should be sent to Bill Dalhoff, 841 Fowler St. N.W., Atlanta, GA 30313. He can be contacted at 404-668- 5793 or bdalhoff@gtfiji.com. All brothers providing memorabilia will be listed in the Gamma Tauk. Hotel reservations The Sheraton Buckhead Hotel, on Lenox Road across from Lenox Square Mall, is the official hotel for the anniversary and the Pig Dinner site. A block of rooms has been set aside with a contract rate of $129 a night, single or double, plus 14 percent additional for taxes. Overnightsecured parking is $10. Eventually roomsnot reserved by broth- ers willbe released back to the hotel. Check- in time at the hotel is 3 p.m. and checkout time is noon. At check-in either a credit card or cash must be presented. A prior deposit of one night's stay will be required for each reservation. Reservations can be made by calling the hotel directly at 404- 261-9250 and specifying “Fiji 75th Anni- versary,” or by calling Sheraton Central Reservations at800-627-7785 and also speci- fying “Fiji 75th Anniversary.” Hotel location The hotel was selected because of its fa- cilities; convenience to transportation, shop- ping, and the Buckhead entertainment dis- trict; as well as a significantly lower room price thansomenearby establishments origi- nally considered. The Atlanta Graduate Chapter holds its monthly lunch meetings at the Sheraton, formerly known as the Terrace Garden Inn. Within walking distance of the hotel are two MARTA transit stations, two major shopping malls, and several smaller retail groupings providing nearly 400 places to shop and eat. Lenox Square has 250 estab- lishments and services and Phipps Plaza has over 100 retailers. The area surround- ing the Sheraton Buckhead is generally con- sidered the shopping capital of the South. Anniversary to-do list Contribute to the special fund Mark the dates on your calendar ¢Make a hotel reservation Review information from Gamma Tau Contact appropriate graduates or un- dergraduates if you have questions House Improvements begin Throughout thesummer Gamma Tau made prepa rations to construct a new front porch. A few weeks before rush the old front porch was demolished and construction on its replacement began. Unfortunately the porch was not entirely finished before rush, but enough was completed so that it did not affect people entering the house through the front door. Finishing touches during the fall semester included new lighting and a marble diamond embedded into the porch surface. While the long-standing tree and the shade it provided are missed by the brothers, the new porch has been a welcome change and the undergrads are highly pleased with the results At right Matt BeVier ‘02 and Justin Daniel '04 show off the new diamond at the front entrance. Extensive rush (Continued from page 1) have caddied for him and knew he would bea great asset for ourrush. His tricks and humor started us off on the right foot. Following The Magician, Fiji rush was highlighted by the annual appearance of Doc Holiday. His hypnotist act drew a packed house and yard for the second evening of rush. Doc entertained and mesmerized the crowd with his cheesy humor and the amazing show as he does every year. Other events The next few nights included Subway subs, wings, and Gene’s Famous Southern Barbecue. Hundreds of incoming fresh- men men and women got to know each other, the house, and the brotherhood. The week ended in typical style with the annual formal dinner prepared by chapter cook and brother Gene Buran. His chicken cordon-bleu left many young men asking, “How can I [not] take this bid?” A touch of humor was brought to the formal dinner with a new and improved slide show, showcasing the past year’s activities, and a showing of the Phi Gam 150" anniversary video, always a crowd favorite. Finale of welcoming Following this exciting and exhausting week, the chapter welcomed the pledges. Wecould not have been more proud of our pledge class, as time and time again these 21 young men prove scholastically, ath- letically, and socially to be the best pledge class on Georgia Tech’s campus. New rush chairmen are Kevin Neal ‘03 and Patrick McCann '03. They can be contacted at kneal@gtfijiccom or pmccann@gtfiji.com. \r\nPace NINE Winter 2001 Gamma TAuK Featured graduate Brother Whitaker pursues tough Navy SEAL training By Michael Swift ’01 Some men dream of becoming a doctor, while others hope to own their own com- pany; athletes may dream of playing Divi- sion I collegiate sports, but few dream, or even consider, aspiring to be a Navy SEAL. Most of us hear the title Navy SEAL and envision superhuman, machine-like men performing some of the most covert opera- tions in the world. Navy SEAL men, se- lected from the mostelite physically trained handful of Americans, are chosen to protect the safety of our nation. Only the best are even considered, including one of our own, a Phi Gam. Ensign Geoff Whitaker ‘00, Gamma Tau graduate, began his Navy SEAL training as an officer in July 2000. After successfully completing sev- eral preliminary Navy SEAL physical tests, Geoff was se- lected because of his elite performance as a top candi- date in the nation to enter SEAL training. Few arecho- sen, but even fewer success- fully complete the program. From the pre- vious SEAL class, 144 started, but only 21 finished. What does Navy SEAL training include? Isitreally as excruciating as we mightimag- ine? Yes; in the first two days, 20 men were lost because of the extreme body trials. This classhassetanew SEAL record, a record for the highest attrition rate in just two days. SEAL training is comprised of 25 weeks divided into three phases: eight weeks of physical beating, seven weeks of dive train- ing, and 10 weeks of land warfare training. Typical day What does a typical day for someone in SEAL training include? It involves 10 to 12 miles of running in combat boots, a two- mile swim in the ocean, and an endless stream of push-ups accompanied by rou- tine classroom work and meals. Running includes carrying at times large, heavy ob- jects such as rafts or logs. Several pool tests must be successfully completed in order to continue with train- ing. One life-saving exercise involves “res- cuing” a greased SEAL instructor. The trick here is that the SEAL, who just happens to be the biggest, meanest instructor available, violently rejects the rescue. In one of Geoff's informative e-mail updates, he quoted, “Per- sonally,any drowning victim whocan chase (Continued on page 12) Geoff The library provides access to the chapter computers and copier, and assures security for trophies and other memorabilia. The round table is in constant use for small meetings and homework Powerhouse library keeps improving By Garrett Korth 03 Gamma Tau’s Robert G, Edwards Memorial Library continues to improve and provide new capabilities for brothers in spite of an unexpected setback. After the transition of committee chairs in the 2000 spring semester, a disaster struck. Our server (the computer that hosts in- formation for all the other computers) crashed, rendering all previous informa- tion in our computer system useless. We lost all previous homework assignments, all resumés, and most importantly, all records of previous bills. Preventive mea- sures could have been taken to ensure that such a disaster would not occur, but none of us was really looking for such an event to happen. Preventive measures As the current library chairman, I have the future in mind and have taken many steps to make our library state-of-the-art, capable of recovering from another crash should the situation rise again. First, the entire network was reconfigured and a new server was built with the Windows 2000 operating system. Next, new and larger hard drives were installed to ensure that the brothers have enough space for their files. Zip drives were added for classes that involve mak- ing large files for labs. These Zip drives enable brothers to work on their assign- ments at the house, rather than ina public laboratory. Finally, a tape drive was in- stalled to back-up the entire system on a weekly basis to prevent another total loss. New copy machine With the help of the previous library chairman, Rusty White 02,Creighton-Vail Hall also purchased a brand new copy machine capable of handling any job. This machine can also send faxes, yet another convenience in our library. Each brother has his own account on the new copy ma- chine to keep track of how many copies are made, and to prevent the waste of paper. E-Word The library is taking another positive step towards the future with its new Elec- tronic Word, commonly referred to as E- Word. Brother Phil Guinand '03 and [are currently taking all the useful Word and placing it on the new network. This al- lows any brother to access current infor- mation about his classes with his own network account password. The benefits of E-Word are that there is more organization and it can be accessed from anywhere on campus. A major prob- lem with the current system is that Word constantly gets misplaced or lost. Losing information will no longer be a problem with E-Word. Georgia Tech is on the cutting edge of technology, and now Gamma Tau is also. With the support of the graduates and the energy of the current underclassmen we have transformed our gradually develop- ing library into an information power- house. The chapter thanks the various in- dividuals who have contributed skills, time, and money to the library. \r\n Gamma TAUK Winter 2001 Pace TEN Fr) FABLES 1940s Robert E. Leckrone ’42 (304 Lake Lawn Ct., Joliet, IL 60435) is a management consultant with Robert E. Leckrone & Associates. He has been elected vice- chairman of the board of directors of the Order of AHEPA (American Hellenic Educational Association) and serves as a Rotary International officer. William C. Newell Jr. 45 has sold his company and retired. You can drop hima line at 30338 Camino Porvenir, Palos Verdes, CA 90274; wnewell862@aol.com. As a docent at the Museum of Flight in Seattle, James G. Stanley ‘46 (3850 Klahanie Dr. S.E., #21-301, Issaquah, WA 98029; jsta443357@aol.com) works with school groups and gives tours to adults. “This has been one of the most rewarding activities of my life.” Mitchell L. Weiss ‘49 (4253 Chamblee Dunwoody Rd., Atlanta, GA 30341), president of M.L. Weiss Consultants, Inc., has traveled to many countries around the world. 1950s John H. Beach ‘50 (2585 Habersham Rd. N.W., Atlanta, GA 30305) is a vice- president and financial adviser with Robinson Humphrey Co. He enjoyed his 50th reunion in 2000. Philanthropist R. Kirk Landon '50 is president of the Kirk Foundation (255 Alhambra Cir., Ste. 820, Coral Gables, FL 33134; kirk_landon@assurant.com). He’s been appointed to the board of the Zoological Society of Florida. F. Dennis Pryor Jr. ’51 has retired and is now living at 731 W. Rhoten St., Jefferson City, TN 37760. E-mail for him can be sent to thedpryors@aol.com. James E. Bell ‘53 (1495 Ashford Pl. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30319; jbell@equipment controls.com), chairman of the board of Equipment Controls Co., is a trustee of both the Alumni Association and his church, Haygood Methodist. He enjoys travel and spent two weeks in Italy in 2000. Jim attends all Tech football games. Last fall, Donald L. Towns 57 (2000 L’Ambiance Cir., Unit 102, Naples, FL 34108; dontowns75@aol.com) took an 18- day trip to Poland, the Czech Republic, and Hungary. He’sa retired engineer and working as a part-time consultant. Donald R. Delaney ’58 (119 Hillview Dr., Vacaville, CA 95688; delaney@cwnet.com) is retired as a colonel in the Air Force and from Suisun City Public Works as a civil engineer. Correspondence for Bryan W. Fleming Jr. ’58 can be sent to a new address at 7194 Mink Hollow Rd., Highland, MD 20777. He and Elizabeth Adams were planning to be married in the fall of 2000. Joseph I. Brown ‘59 (16 Garfield Dr., Newport News, VA 23608) is active in the local Lions Club which obtained a $150,000 grant from the Lions Clubs International Foundation tobenefit Habitat for Humanity affiliates in the Newport News area. 1960s Agnes and Raymond K. Elderd Jr. ‘60 (9572 S.E. Little Club Way S., Tequesta, FL 33469) have a 40-foot motor home and are continuing their quest to golf twice ineach state. When we last received news, they had reached their goalin 19 of them. During, 2000, the couple planned to begin their travels in April and were looking forward to attending Homecoming and Ray’s 40th reunion at Georgia Tech in October. Newell M. Jones ’61 is working part time with Jones & Peabody Co. (201 Wild Bear Ln., Cleveland, GA 30528; mjones001@ ngweb.net) as a representative to Ford and G.M. assembly plants. He’s built a log home on 10 acres in the North Georgia mountains and enjoysrefinishing antiques, gardening, and travel. “Mike” is planning a trip to Israel for 2001. From undergraduate days, he has great memories of the dances and Fiji Island parties. Roxie W. Towns ‘62 (1512 E. 8th St., Charlotte, NC 28204; janeroxi@bellsouth. net) and his wife, Jane, are active as residential realtors and looking forward to retiring to the mountains of Virginia. They have three children. The Georgia Tech Foundation, Inc., sponsored an eight-day cruise beginning May 27 from New York to New England and Nova Scotia hosted by President G. Wayne Clough '63 (292 10th St. N.W., Atlanta, GA 30318) and his wife, Anne. The weekly Atlanta Business Chronicle published a 112-page special section, "Tech Biz," in October to promote the Georgia Technology Forum, October 24-26. The section saluted over 80 local industry movers and shakers, including Fortune 500 CEOs, investment firm leaders, and other people on the front lines of technology in a variety of organizations. Included was Tech President G. Wayne Clough '63. He stated as his biggest job challenge “to keep your eye focused on the longer-term goals you wantto achieve as you move through days filled with the concerns of students, faculty, administrators, foundation trustees, alumni, University System Regents, business leaders, community leaders, and political leaders.” In June 2000, Winford G. Ellis ’64 (707 Hawkins Way, Alexandria, VA 22314) retired from the Navy as a rear admiral after 36 years of active duty. As a government civilian employee, he’s now serving in the Senior Executive Service as director of the Deep Submergence Program for the chief of Naval operations. “Jerry” and his wife, Rosemary, have settled in the Old Town section of Alexandria. Ben H. Adler ’65 (3208 Lancaster Ln., Albany, GA 31707; bhadler@ mindspring.com) is the owner and president of Albany Nut & Bolt Co., Inc. When he wrote in September, John B. Windle III ’66 (P.O. Box 804, Kingsport, TN 37662; jbwinl@aol.com) was in the process of moving to Baton Rouge, La., as a plant manager for Specialty Minerals, Inc. He retired from Eastman Chemical Co. in December 1999. Richard B. Costin 67 (2850 Chapelwood Ct., Oviedo, FL 32765; rbcsac@aol.com) is planning to retire in April 2001 after 33 years with Lucent Technologies. John D. Green ‘69 (12206 Cypress Wood, Houston, TX 77070) has retired from Amoco Corp. During his three decades with the company, John spent 20 years in overseas locations. \r\nPaGE ELEVEN ____ Winter 2001 Gamma TAUK 1970s James A. Wilson '74 (1399 Austin Dr., Decatur, GA 30032) and his wife enjoy conducting marriage seminars in the Atlanta area. Terry L. R. Greenwood ‘79 (R.R. 1, Box 307, Prichard, WV 25555; trgreenwood@ att.net) has boughta70-acre farm. Heand his wife have five children and welcomed the arrival of their first grandchild this past November. Terry is now a control systems engineer with Marathon Ashland Petroleum. 1980s Asa regional director for RBC Ministries, Howard L. Liverance ‘80 (P.O. Box 7037, Grand Rapids, MI 49510; lifespring@ ameritech.net) develops the international outreach of the organization’s resources, including “Our Daily Bread” and “Day of Discovery” television and radio programs. His work frequently takes him to Latin America, Africa, and the Caribbean. William M. Gregory ‘84 (226 First Ave., Frankfort, NY 13340; gregoryw@rl.af.mil), an electronic engineer at the Air Force Research Laboratory, is married to Beverly and has four children. Scott Parry ‘85 has moved to 805 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30308. He has been appointed to the Physician’s Advisory Committee for Georgia Better Healthcare. For six months in 1999, John B. Snead ’88 (8317 Hillendale Rd., Parkville, MD 21234; jbsnead@freewwweb.com) wasin Albania and Macedonia with the USAFR in support of the refugee assistance effort for Kosovo and the air war there. While on the tour, he traveled to England and Scotland. In a new job, Mark A. Spears ‘88 (2994 Abbott Oak Way, Duluth, GA 30097; markspears@aol.com) isa projectengineer at Rockwell Automation. His favorite hobby is autocross. “This inexpensive form of automotive competition allows a car enthusiast to build hisskillsin performance driving in a safe and organized environment. It’s fun. Contact me if you are interested in competing.” Jody T. Kinney ‘89 (3179 Westfield Way, Roswell, GA 30075; jody.kinney@ mindspring.com), a forensic engineer with Applied Technical Services, announces the birth of his third child and second son, Chesley, in September 2000. Scott E. Miller ’89 (16142 Covington Point Ln., Huntersville, NC 28078; scottmiller@ sprynet.com) left Ingersol-Rand after 11 years with the company and relocated with his family to the Charlotte area. In April 2000 he joined a start-up company, GS. Technologies, as general manager of network operations. Scott has three sons. 1990s In his position as strategic marketing engineer at O.N. Semiconductor, Mitch E. Polonsky ’90 (1870 E. Drake Dr., Tempe, AZ 85283; mepolonsky@uswest.net) focuses on marketing semiconductors to the wireless communications industry. He traveled to Japan on business and was planning a trip to France and Finland. After graduating from medical school at Temple University, physician Kelly M. Rodriguez ‘90 begana residency at Fairfax Family Practice. Heand his wife, Christine, haverelocated to 13536 Leith Ct., Chantilly, VA 22021. You can contact “Mike” on the Internet at rodriguezck@hotmail.com. John E. Stangel ‘90 has bought a home at 1424 Abilene Ct., Allen, TX 75013. When he’s not on the job at Procter & Gamble, he enjoys golf, softball, and bass fishing. E-mail for him can be sent to johnstangel@home.com. Air Force pilot Bret D. Anderson ‘91 (47 S. St. Andrews Dr., Ormond Beach, FL 32174; slamf15@aol.com) wrote tousin November. While stationed at Langley Air Force Base, he spent September 2000 in Iceland on NATO exercises and wasin Turkey for two months enforcing the no-fly zone over Iraq in Operation Northern Watch. In March 2000, James H. Stainback Jr. 91 (2251 Sanford Rd., Decatur, GA 30033; j.stainback@mindspring.com) and his wife, Ashley, welcomed the arrival of their first child and son, Matthew. Jimmy is a senior associate at Wynnton Group, a real estate development firm. Gina and Torsten Wegner ’92 (146 Palmer Rd., Clayton, NC 27520; gtwegs@attglobal. net) became parents in February 2000 with the birth of their firstchild, Lauren. Torsten completed his MBA at Duke University the previous year. When Theodore R. Meihofer ‘94 (631 Windgrove Rd., Marietta, GA 30067; tmeihofer@manh.com) and Danielle Bucchino wed in Las Vegas in September 1999, Karl Meihofer ‘92, Eric Meihofer ’92, Casey Hodgson 92, Mel Johnson ‘91, Jeff Waller 93, and Jason Hill 94 were in attendance. Ted, a software consultant, is now a manager at Manhattan Associates. Justin Honaman 96 (1823 Brookhaven Cir., Atlanta, GA 30319) was pictured and quoted in an Atlanta Journal-Constitution article, “Time to Kick Off at the Party!” The article was subtitled “Football season means it's tailgating season; Tech and Georgia fans tell us their pregame rituals.” Justin and his friends were described as “25-30 young Georgia Tech alumni [dressing] for success in khakiand collared shirts, in honor of the long-standing tradition ... of undergrads wearing spiffy duds to games.” Justin stated, “It's a little more classy than the UGA style of tailgating.” He is a strategist for an e- commerce consulting firm in Midtown Atlanta. The group’s upscale menu can include gourmet cheeses and salads, homemade desserts, stuffed mushrooms, and for Homecoming, mimosas and Bloody Marys. Techsymbolsare displayed amid the food. Brian D. Volk ’96 (1484 Evanston Ln., Marietta,GA 30062; bvolk@hatfieldphilips. com) and Katherine Dixon married in October 1999 and moved to the Atlanta area. Brian is now a financial analyst at Hatfield Philips, Inc. Previously, he worked with Campus Crusade for Christ in Athens and spent much of his time with the undergraduate brothers and pledges of the Kappa Deuteron chapter at UGA. Inman J. Houston ’97 (4008 Hancock Cir., Atlanta, GA 30340; i-houston@ mindspring.com) is a minister of evangelism at Briarlake Baptist Church. He and April Ellis wed in August 2000. 2000s This past fall, Jeff Smith ‘00 (1321 Northwoods Dr., Greensboro, GA 30642; jeffksmith@hotmail.com) began medical school at Vanderbilt. “I feel that the personal skillsand friendships! developed while at Gamma Tau will serve me well in my medical education and career as a physician.” In memoriam Since publication of our last issue, we have learned of the death of Eugene A. Shaw Jr. 32, J. Austin White ’34 (12/99), Lewis A. Wolf ’39 (9/9/00), James H. Watson ‘45 (6/27/00), and James L. Thompson ‘48 (12/26/99). Phi Gamma Delta mourns their passing and extends condolences to their families and friends. \r\nGamMa TAUK The Good Word By David Zorn ‘04 At press time the winter formal was scheduled for New Orleans in January. Three buses were to transport brothers and dates to the Avenue Plaza, a resort hotel in the historic Garden District. The dance was to be at the Bourbon Vieux Room, an elegant ballroom with a sec- ond-floor balcony overlooking Bourbon Street in the heart of the French Quarter. Brothers will relate to the song “Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Or- leans” after returning from a favorite destination of many people. Look foran announcement of a graduate Island Party reception event this spring, intended tobean opportunity for gradu- ates toreturn to Creighton-Vailand remi- nisce of past IP memories while enjoy- ing the present festivities. For all of you healthy eaters, let it be known that the chapter cook, Brother Gene Buran, has added such fresh fruitas cantaloupe, honeydew melon, and pineapple to our daily lunch menu. Thanks Gene for keeping us regular. The extremely active Fiji Mothers’ Club is going strong this year. How will they possibly improve on last year’s group of moms? Rumor has it that we will be receiving help with 75th decorations from some very spe- cial mothers. It may come as an amusing surprise to some, but one of the most difficult as- pects of Georgia Tech is getting into the house to live. The estimated average time before a brother can live in good old Creighton-Vail is about three anda half years. This is quite long by today’s campus standards; the brothers of Fiji must really like living together. Friend- ship is the sweetest influence! Brother Bert Reeves ‘01 was recently highlighted in a “Faces” column in the Technique. No, not because of his charm- ing good looks but more for his constant involvement around campus. The ar- ticle focused mainly on Bert's reign as Buzz and his involvement with the IFC, culminating as president of the council. It is good to see such positive Phi Gam representation in “The South’s Liveliest College Newspaper!” Don’t forget that Georgia Tech has an up-and-coming candidate for the nation’s most prestigious football award. George “Goose” Godsey for Heisman 2001! Winter 2001 Pace TWELVE ata or Construction everywhere to greet anniversary attendees Gamma Tau chapter house faces Russ Chandler ['67] Stadium, beyond which is campus construction site seen in foreground. Restored Atlanta Biltmore, nowan office condominium with public ballrooms, is in background. New BellSouth office buildings are under construction to the right of the Biltmore, on the former site of First Baptist Church. Tech’s upcoming expansion will occupy land between 175/ 85 and the Biltmore. Downtown, Midtown, Buckhead and outlying areas are all marked by excavations, construction cranes, partially completed high-rises, and newly completed projects. Brother Whitaker (Continued from page 9) me to the side of the pool and hold his breath twice as long as I do doesn’t need saving by me!” Another pool exercise involving tying knots at the bottom of the pool gave Geoff the opportunity to “meet the wizard.” What exactly is meeting the wizard? This encounter is the commonly referred-to phrase for passing out under water. 126 sleepless hours “Hell week,” 126 hours without sleep, does exist. It includes five sleepless days full of clothed and unclothed ocean surf torture, frigid swamp crawls, log-carry- ing exercises, freezing boats full of ice, and vivid hallucinations of 18-wheelers in the middle of the ocean. Seventy-four men started the week, but only 44 fin- ished. People regularly defecated on themselves, some fell asleep while walk- ing, and others passed out from over- exertion. Geoff quickly emerged as a leader in the group. After suffering hip, knee, and achilles injuries, Geoff still manages to “press on” amidst the top of the class. His attitude never falters, and he continues to ensure the success of others. Despite his own physical struggle, he says, “I will do all I can to help them get through this place.” Geoff's persistence will carry him to graduation on March 30, 2001. (Tara Varga also contributed to this article.) Contributors to 75th anniversary fund-raising campaign as of January 2001 1940s “John E. Aderhold Jr. 45 Walter Schoel Jr. ‘45 1950s, Harold A. Valery 52 William J. Hendrix Jr. '53 Thomas E. Bell Jr. ‘55 1960s *David J. Anderson ’61 James R. Campbell '61 Michael Fligg ’61 William Jewell 61 “Dale A. Brandt '63 William G. Grant Jr. 63 John E. Hanby Jr. ‘63 *F. Marion Mitchell III “63 *Ben H. Adler 65 1970s Henry C. Edwards Jr. ‘72 Donald R. Henry ’72 James B. Morrison '72 *Gerald W. Staton Jr. 72 1980s *Mark J. Garlen ’84 David M. Loftus ’85 1990s John W. Lonshore ’91 *Frederick A. Dorsey Jr. '95 *Purple Pilgrim Club level of giving. Thanks to these brothers for their generosity and promptness in responding to this special event.