Washington and Lee Fiji Z e t a D e u t e r o n C h a p t e r Message from the President Dear Brothers, I hope this newsletter finds you well. Having completed the first semester of my senior year, and with only a few precious months left, my time as a FIJI seems ever more meaningful. I am lucky enough to be living in the house this year with our sophomore class and Lenny, our treasurer. Seeing each new class take up the mantle of the fraternity has been awesome. The fraternity has been working hard on classes, athletics, and rush all semester. By the time this letter finds you, we will finally know what our next class of Fijis will look like. So far, it looks like we will have a quality group of young men who will choose to call our house on Preston Street home. We will be sure to update you with a list in the next newsletter. Next I would like to make a request. I would love if as many of you as possible would come to Pig Dinner this spring, and continue to stop by the house. Brothers from just a few years ago and brothers from several decades ago all seem to connect with one another immediately. I hope that many of you will be able to make it to Pig Dinner this spring, an event that has grown in its short existence to be a grand celebration. If you attend, I am confident you will see exactly what I mean. Finally I would like to say thank you. I would like to thank our new House Director, Kelly, our chef, Dave, and our facilities liason, Myra. All of them work very hard so that we are able to enjoy our time here in the way that we do. If you ever encounter them please be sure to thank them. I would also like to thank our Housing Corp, Mark Muchmore and Brian Higgins, who volunteer their time to keep us afloat. Finally, I want to thank my brothers, current and graduate. All of you have made my time in this fraternity something I will cherish for the rest of my life. Fraternally, Tyler Kaelin, Phi Gamma Delta President 2015-2016 A receipt for chapter dues and boarding for Warren Hopkins from Sept. 1963. Inside this Issue Alexander Lockhart Nelson Meet the Class of 2016 Note from the House Mom Save the Date! 2 2 3 4 Chapter Leadership President: Tyler Kaelin, ‘16 Treasurer: Lenny Enkhbold, ‘17 Corresponding Secretary: Nelson Helm ‘17 Recording Secretary: Grant Cokeley, ‘16 Historian: Mina Shnoudah, ‘17 Rush Chairs: Matt Bryson & Michael Cuilik, ‘18 Pledge Educator: Brandon Lefore, ‘18 Risk Management: Anthony Hodges, ‘16 \r\nAlexander Lockhart Nelson (1827 – 1910) We all know the recent history of our beloved house, including the fire in 1984 that tragically killed one of our brothers. But, what about the past history of the house? W&L’s Special Collections Department has recently begun investigating this. Until 1890, the plot that houses our home was largely vacant. Colonel John Preston, who was influential in the founding of VMI, owned the property until the Nelson family bought it and built the house we now call home. The Nelson family continued to live in the house until it was sold to Washington and Lee. Alexander Lockhart Nelson (1827-1910) lived in the house until his death. Nelson first came to Lexington in 1846 when he enrolled as a sophomore at Washington and Lee. Nelson spent all but five years (1849-1854) in Lexington serving in the Math Dept. Through his time in Lexington, Nelson was able to see the changes that Robert E. Lee had on the community and the school. Nelson was one of four faculty on staff when Lee began his Presidency of then Washington College. According to personal letters between the two, Nelson showed a unique and previously undiscovered perspective on Lee. Along with other members of the family, including his one-year-old grandchild, Nelson died at the family house on Preston Street in 1910. It is said that he died on the porch. meet the Class of 2016 Grant Cokeley, Charleston, WV, History Mark Gensburg Chicago, Ill., Philosophy & Business Accounting Tyler Kaelin Louisville, KY, Economics & Politics Cameron Caldwell Cape Cod, MA, History David Fisher Greenville, MS, Computer Science Zac Richey Swope, VA, Business Accounting Robert O’Brien Philadelphia, PA, Economics & Politics Billy Fries St. Louis, MO, Religion & Math Anthony Hodges Memphis, TN, Physics & Math Zach Taylor New York, NY, Business & Politics Bren Flannigan Carthage, MO, Economics & Politics \r\na note from our new house mom Kelly and her two dogs, Truman and Pearl, before Mock Con Gala, November 2015. Kelly and Dave Cobb, the house chef, take a picture with the boys’ before Mock Con Gala. …and so it begins …Several years ago a house mom asked me to stay in her apartment for a week. She wanted me to see what it was like as she thought I’d enjoy a job as house director at some point. Before long another house mom asked me to sub for her. Then calls came in for me to play music for special events at different houses. I started feeling at home around campus. I have lots of skills that I practice every day in my various careers. For my interview with the Fiji House Corporation, I used that as a selling point! Little did I know I would use all that I had as well as develop many more in short order! Lucky for me my predecessors set up great tools, references, had typed, handwritten and verbal notes gently guiding me on my way. I worked many hours from my start date of June 1, 2015 to when the first brothers came back in August. After I’d organized all I could, I gradually moved things in to the cottage at Fiji. Then I was thrown in the deep end! It’s just the little things I didn’t think about. There were scores of boys who needed stuff and a house to run and I didn’t have all the instruction manuals! Sure, there have been some bumps and rollercoaster adventures along the way, but I have to say that I love this job. It allows me to continue my varied careers while making a positive difference for Phi Gamma Delta at Washington & Lee. Thank you Lisa Tracey, Mark Muchmore and Brian Higgins for trusting me with the Phi Gamma Delta house and brothers. Also a special thank you to “Momma C,” Charlotte Moore, a retired house mom for Phi Delta Theta at W&L who started me on the journey. - Kelly \r\nPhi Gamma Delta Fraternity Zeta Deuteron Chapter Washington & Lee University 112 West Preston Street Lexington, VA 24450 When: Where: Cost: R.S.V.P: Save The Date -Frank Norris Pig Dinner Please join the Zeta Deuteron brothers for the celebration of the year! Saturday, April 30, 2016 Dinner begins at 4:30 p.m. Zeta Deuteron Chapter house 112 West Preston Street, Lexington VA The suggested donations are: $20 - individual $30 – couple Please send check to: Nelson Helm, 112 West Preston Street, Lexington, VA 24450 Or visit: gofundme.com/wlufijipig