The Alpha Phiji News A Publication of the Graduate Brothers of Phi Gamma Delta University of Michigan Winter, 2003 www.phigams.org 75 Brothers enjoy Pig Dinner 2003 On Oct 25, 2003, 36 alums and 40 actives and pledges celebrated the annual Norris Pig Dinner at 707 Oxford. Following an easy victory over Purdue at the Big House the brothers gathered at the old 707 for a chance to reminisce, make new friends, and enjoy a wonderful meal prepared by Mary Hollinger the new house chef. The Board Room was full. Two tables spilled into the Living Room. A ceremonial pig was tenderly bussed on the snout by George Seymour '39, and on the arse by Pat Tokarski '07. The group enjoyed brief presentations from Jim Miller '53 (100 years of FIJIs - in one family) John Bevington '72, Alpha Phi Board President, Kelley Rea '66, Fund Raising Chair, and Dustin Hughes '06, Chapter President. After a few favorite Fiji songs and questionable "roll 'em up" jokes from Bill Masch '06 and Nick Simone '06, the dinner adjourned for coffee and dessert. This is the third year running that the annual Pig Dinner has been held at 707. The first floor of the house is starting to look the way most of us remember it. We hope to see even more alums for Pig Dinner 2004. (more pictures back page) Chris Parker '68 Pig Dinner Chair -1- \r\nColony Founding Fathers learn about real Founding Fathers from Jim Miller (great grandson of Henry Earle “Daddy” Riggs) The 24 outstanding young men that have stepped up to pioneer our Alpha Phi Chapter at Michigan back into the Fiji fold, got a large dose of what it means to be a real pioneer from Jim Miller (Michigan ’53) at this year’s Pig Dinner. Jim is a direct descendent of Dr. Henry Earle Riggs (Kansas ’86), and great-great grandson of Judge Samuel Agnew Riggs (Jefferson College ’56). Yes, Sam Riggs was initiated into the Grand (Founding) Chapter of Phi Gamma Delta at Jefferson College. Jim shares this proud tradition of four Fiji generations with 26 other relatives that have been brothers in our fraternity around the country. Wow. What a legacy! Pioneering seemed to be the benchmark of the Riggs family. Not only did Sam help pioneer Phi Gamma Delta in the early years of our fraternity at Jefferson College, but he initiated his only son Henry as the 8th member of the PI Deuteron Chapter in Kansas, as one the founding members, in 1882. Henry carried the pioneer spirit to Ann Arbor where, while Chairman of the Civil Engineering Department at U of M, he was instrumental in re-establishing our Alpha Phi chapter (originally chartered in 1885) at Michigan in 1902, after 7 years of inactivity. The initial house for the re-instated chapter was at 643 Thayer St, and moved into the present house at 707 Oxford in the Fall of 1905. Jim Miller ‘53 shows his Riggs heritage. Sam was not only a pioneer for the Fraternity, but in the other side of his life as well. He left the civilized country of Pennsylvania for the “wild west” country of Kansas after graduation. Jim told us at dinner, Judge Riggs “moved to Lawrence, Kansas and was a target at the time of the infamous Civil War raid on Lawrence by William Clarke Quantrill and his band of 450 really bad actors, including the Jesse James/Younger outlaws and their ilk. The Judge was spared because the assassin’s gun misfired and his wife grabbed the reins of the horse and prevented another shot. Fate was kind that day of August 21 in 1863 for 2 years later young Henry was born. Think about it! None of us might have been here.” Any time our new young Colony members think it is tough to pioneer the renewal of our fraternity, they can draw on the strength of the heritage of pioneering shared with us first-hand by the great-great grandson of true pioneers of Phi Gamma Delta. Thanks Jim. The Quantrill raid of 1863 comes alive. Mark your calendars for the next Boondoggle on 2/2/04 -2- \r\nFundraising progresses to Phase II December 2003 Dear Brothers, We are starting the Phase II, and major, renovation phase for the house with a full head of steam. We have major contributions and pledges through 2007 totaling over $500,000 from several brothers including Bill Younger ’72, Bob Knutson ’56, Vern Bishop ’33, Howard Egert ’41, Bill (Ollie) Schoedinger ’47, and George Qua ’52. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to these key initial major donors. THANK YOU brothers. Two of these major gifts are matching donations, that is, the donor will contribute up to $100,000 to match other donations. This provides the impetus and incentive for all of us to contribute to the best of our financial abilities. With help from all of you, we can reach $800,000 in gifts and pledges by March 2004 and start the Phase II base renovation work. This work will begin and be completed in the summer of 2004. It will consist of new systems for the old house, kitchen and first floor remodeling, complete second floor reconstruction and rough in of the third floor. This will enable us to accommodate 30 to 40 (and possibly more) men living in the house. Most of the 40 current members have indicated a preference to live in the house next year. Kelley Rea ‘66 Therefore, we need your financial assistance now. I know many of you have given more than once to help us through the Phase I renovation project (by the way, the “new” addition really looks new now, thanks to all of your gifts and the sweat of many graduate and undergraduate brothers). But we need your help again to make the Phase II project successful. Your contributions may be made payable to the Alpha Phi Building Association of Phi Gamma Delta and sent to Kelley Rea, 1958 Penn Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55405-2219. Contributions of $5,000 and more may be made payable to the Phi Gamma Delta of Michigan Foundation (a 501(c)(3) entity) and sent to the same address. Multi-year pledges are also acceptable. Thanks, in advance, for your generous continuing financial assistance. If you want to discuss the mechanics of your contribution, or ask any questions, please contact me at (612) 374-4645 or email at krmj@earthlink.net. Fraternally, Kelley V. Rea ‘66 Fundraising Chairman For the latest information and updates, check our chapter website at http://www.phigams.org -3- \r\nDelta Colony perspective at Pig Dinner. The '03 Pig Dinner at 707 Oxford was an extremely enjoyable and upbeat time for the undergraduates and graduates alike. I feel safe to say that all of the undergraduates had a great time conversing with the graduate brothers who lived here 10, 20, 30, or even 60 years ago. Hearing the stories from the "old days" about the cold racks or just about some of the crazy events (the good crazy events of course) that once took place in this house really got a lot of the younger guys eager and excited to push this colony on to get its charter. As for the charter, our petition is finally finished and we just seem to be waiting to make sure that we have enough men to send everything to Lexington. We are really trying to step up our recruitment efforts before the term ends, even though finals are just around the corner. Sororities are the main target for recommendations seeing as Josh Morita and Scott Yaworski had a great amount of success when they recruited the initial 23 of us last year. The inside of 707 has had a few minor changes on the inside Dustin Hughes ’06 Delta Colony President also. In the past week, we've purchased a new cherry oak pool table with purple cloth, of course, that is scheduled to be delivered and assembled fairly soon. Also, the walls in Wildcat's room have had a face lift, or in other words, they've been painted white to cover up all of the graffiti that previously caused an eye sore. The reason for that is because we just recently bought some weight equipment and will be using Wildcat's room for our own little weight room. With all the spending we did on these two things, it shows that being a little conservative throughout the semester can really be an advantage! Speaking on behalf of the undergrads at 707, I hope that everyone had a great Thanksgiving and also that everyone has a safe and wonderful holiday season! Dustin Hughes ’06 Colony President More fun at Pig Dinner Flip Connell ‘50 and George AnderFred Woodward ‘49 (seated) listens as classmates from the 60’s & 70’s trade George Qua ’52 (right) explains the past Pig Dinner traditions to new Colony Daisy Coenen ‘50, Tom Emerson ‘50, Jay Strickler ‘54, Mike Quinn ‘69, Dick Pinkerton ’55, and Jim Miller ‘53, Tom Eames ‘65, Greg Ippolito ‘83, and Jay Strickler ‘54 -4- George Seymour ‘39, Potsy Ryan ‘50, & Ollie Schoedinger ‘47 visit at lunch