September '95 The PA Times October 14, and I'm very proud to call all of you my brothers. PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS Jason Dean, BH Chapter President "I AM NOT A CROOK" ho Alpha THE BETA LAMBDA REPORT Chapter is looking as good as ever BA's this year. The chapter is feeling very purple after our INITIATED outstanding showing at FIJI Academy this summer, thanks, in great part, to our graduates. Please see the Academy I m I t was initiation time again (I( and on September 1, the article to learn more. To those of you who haven't heard: FIJI at VA Tech is improving at a drastic rate. We were finalists for the IFC's Cup of Excellence last year, and we won the award for Best Overall Scholarship - Under 50 Members. We are all very Feel free to call the house at any time to have us pick you up a ticket for an upcoming game. Keep in mind: Basketball will be good this year at Tech. Since we won the NIT, lost no players, and have added some exciting new excited about this and hope to keep the chapter on the rise. faces, I will be surprised if we Islander couldn't have gone any better. I was very don't kick some A-10 ass and make it to the NCAA's. Plan to come see us for a game or proud of the brotherhood and two. all of the work everyone did to make it such a success (see Islander article). Despite the poor start of the football team (before the Miami game), we have had a good amount of grads coming to see the Hokies in action. Rho Alpha Chapter initiated eight new brothers. The pledge period lasted fourteen weeks and it was a true learning experience. During the period we learned the history, organization, and morals of the chapter and the fraternity. Throughout the semester we planned and accomplished several brotherhood brothers the Towner Blackstock, our Field Secretary, will be visiting on the weekend of September 30, and we will let you know how the visit went when we see you next. I am looking forward to seeing everyone at Homecoming this year on events. greatly entertainment The appreciated that was supplied at the Beta Lambda hot dog cookout. Not only did the brothers get buns with their dogs, but they got thighs and breasts too. The Beta Lambda Pool Tournament was also great. Each of us teamed up with our big brothers and had a great time shooting pool. The tournament was not only \r\nThe PA Times for the pledges and their big brothers; it was open to all big brother/little brother teams. [NEWS FROM ACADEMY | The winning team was Pledge Brother Villarreall and his big brother, Brother Dennis. PA WINS We also organized or participated in projects to AWARDS benefit the house and community. We re-did the driveway with new gravel for the pledge class house project. With help from the brothers, we spread about a ton of gravel. As SERVICE is the third moral of the fraternity, we participated in several projects to benefit the community. As a pledge class, we went to an old folks home and spent the day walking and talking with several elderly gentlemen. We had a great time listening to them talk about the\r the history and history of Btacksburg. We also participated in the Chi Delta Alpha service day. The 1 he FIJI Leadership Academy was held this summer. Our chapter's the brotherhood split into teams with some of Virginia Tech's sororities and went around the community helping out where help was needed. cabinet and I attended in late July, on the campus of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. As a young FIJI, I was excited to be invited to go with my brothers and meet other FIJIs from all over the country. were brothers from all over the coast and as far as California and Alberta. One of east the more interesting things about the brothers was the high involvement of graduates (field secretaries, archons, headquarters directors, and purple legionnaires). The names that were just names in 1 my pledge book were great men. I initiated, we have begun our post initiation education, and are striving to be the best brothers we can be. Proud to be a FIJI Dave Bissett, BA now know them personallyl These brothers make our fraternity so great. I learned Now that we have been I was not disappointed; there that more than anything else at the Academy. that Over the three days we spent at Miami, brothers attended mini- seminars through-out the entire day, covering issues like rush, scholarship, and risk management. The best part about the seminars was that we talked in smaller groups and exchanged ideas from our own chapters and ^ gathered ideas from other chapters that could be beneficial. Rho Alpha is already trying out some of the ideas that we \r\nThe PA Times [BCA PRESIDENT REPORT the Rho Alpha Scholarship Award is an ongoing program which will always welcome | donations! We can all be proud that we achieved our first goal of $10,000 in the fund last year. This means the HEPLER, POOLE TO award is now endowed and we BE MARRIED can forever award $500 each don't worry, I won't be keeping year. Our next goal is $20,000 so we can present two awards each year. Remember, donations to the Rho Alpha Scholarship Fund are tax you long! deductible! ust a quick note from your BCA President... as Henry Vill said to his fourth wife. First a few other new BCA officers, Vice planning a June 1996 wedding President James Hamric and in scenic Southern Maryland, Harden remains Adamo is now the Heather McColl are the while Brother Tom Poole and Lori Castle will tie the knot five months later in November 96. rush On the academic front, BCA I scholarship advisor and John Secretary Brian Oakes has serve in an advisory capacity begun studying law at for all other facets of chapter American U. while keeping his operations. I look forward to 1 full time job at the Patent advisor. Brian, James, and I working with these most capable men for the next three years, and I encourage the Office. Brother Roel Cuejilo has graduated from Catholic University's Columbus School undergraduate chapter to tap of Law (and it is rumored that their experience whenever necessary. Speaking of undergraduates, they deserve med. school is next on Roel's a big WAY-TO-GO for all the accolades they raked in at FIJI Academy over the summer! Next, some business items: please take note of the Rho Alpha Employment Database form and its accompanying explanation, which are enclosed in this newsletter. I encourage all employed graduate brothers to fill it out and send it to Jon Parker. This can be a tremendous resource for our chapter. Also, a reminder that have welcomed our new bab boy Colin James into th world, and I am trying to teac him to say "Go Hokies!" Everyone keep up th good work, and remember that Phi Gamma Delta is not for college days alone! Hope to see you at Homecoming. Pete McDevitt'90 Finally, some graduate news: Brother John Hepler and Ed Finally, Laura and BCA President congratulatory notes: congratulations again to your Secretary Brian Oakes. Force. hit list!), and Brother Bobby Stephenson has entered the Ph.D. program in Psychology ISLANDER 750 CANS & OVER $750 DONATED Every year in lat September our chapte gets fired up about ou largest party of the year, th FIJI Islander. I was mor excited than anyone else, being voted King Louie. We advertised all over campus to insure that our party was huge. Personally, that is the way I like it! at -get this- Pepperdine University, which is located on the Pacific Coast Highway in Southern California (yeah, like you're gonna get any studying done Bobby!). And in the "where are they now" department, Brother Mark Mennuti is employed as a chef at West Virginia's plush Preparation for a Greenbrier Resort, and Brother event like this one is no on Jay Bumgardner and his wife Kim are living in Florida, where Jay is an officer in the Air man Job. Each of our team was delegated certai responsibilities, like setting ui \r\nThe PA Times the waterfall and the construction of "Pissman." Our house was In tip top shape and ready for a great party. In celebration, I wore a Hawaiian shirt and a grass skirt. Other brothers did the same. Three bands were scheduled to play, all In the name of our charity event. This year, the cost to get In was three cans of food or three dollars. All the proceeds for the Islander benefited the Blacksburg Food Bank. favorite, horseshoes. Our goal of winning the IFC athletics cup Is very possible. After two disappointing football games, Virginia Tech football was looking very gloomy. Our offense was stopped ten yards short of defeating Boston College and completely shut out by defensive power house Cincinnati. (O.K., maybe Cincinnati Isn't a defensive pathetic. The Virginia Tec football team had defeated I national power house, bu 2,000+ fans couldn't tak i down one goalpost. Oh well we still beat Miami. Bring o UVA. The Tech's rest of Virgin! football favorable for schedule the 6 I win necessary to go to a bow game. We play Pittsburg away and Navy away for ou power house, but Tech Is no offensive power house.) After next two games. Then o October 14, Tech return the 0 and 2 start, the Rho home to play Akron fo homecoming (we hope to se The night was a great success, with a turnout of over 600 people. Brothers from the Alpha FIJI Chapter refused to camp out for tickets again until Davidson, James Madison and I Tech actually won a game. Richmond chapters came to evening, the house was a Winning our third game didn't look promising since it was against the University of Miami mess, as it had rained late that which night. Virginia Tech. Then, a miracle home. Temple agreed to play occurred. this year's game against Tech celebrate with us. After the Again it was time for another huge house cleanup. Tim Bowling, BK King Louie '95 had never lost to Virginia Tech took an early 10 to 0 lead in the first half. Miami struck back with a touchdown by the end of the second quarter to make the SPORTS NEWS score 10 to 7 at half time. A Tech field goal In the middle of many graduate brothers her that weekend). The Rutger game starts a two-game roa trip that ends at West Virginia.' The next game is up agains' Syracuse on November 4, a in Washington DC regular season against arcf rival Virginia on November 18. We hope to see as many graduates as possible at all ol the home games. TECH BEATS the fourth quarter made the Jason Newcomb, BH score 13 to 7. Sports Coordinator MIAMI fieldgoal kicker ended up being 2 for 6 for the day. This fall Fiji athletics have started out dramatically. Matt Audette won his first Intramural golf match by 15 strokes, the 3-on-3 basketball teams are both 1 and 1, and a total of nine FIJI'S participated In Intramural tennis. We plan on having teams In Intramural volleyball and flag football, and we also plan on having Individuals play Intramural table tennis, racquetball, puttputt golf, and, my personal The Tech Miami's last drive ended with an Incomplete pass with 17 seconds left on the clock. On September 24, 1995, Virginia Tech defeated Miami 13 to 7. It was the biggest victory at Lane Stadium since Tech beat Virginia In 1990. The fans stormed the field. After an hour of fans jumping on the goalposts to bring them down, they were still up. Jt was pretty on November 11. We finish the! RUSH REPORT \r\nThe PA Times !•]IlU111Uro [ H. C. PRESIDENT'S REPORT FELLOW BROTHERS OF FIJI... ^1 would like to bring ail of you up to date as to the — progress of the House Corporation since the Pig dinner meeting. As you know we were looking to put together a list of renovations with drawings and cost. As of this writing the list is together and the drawings are \r\nThe PA Times Richard Lloyd was authorized to buy a replacement and ship it to Blacksburg with Main Plumbing to do the installation. The meeting was adjourned at 1:00, and then contagious. I always wish I could retum to Blacksburg permanently every time I enter our house and begin shaking Brother's hands and catching up on who is doing what and lunch, tubing and volleyball who has called lately to update ensued. the Chapter as to their whereabouts in the nation. I feel an immense pride for the fellows who carry forth our To all my fellow Brothers I implore you to return to Blacksburg at least once a year and if possible twice with Homecoming and Pig dinner being the obvious choices for your return. I think all of you would find the transformation inherited. To both of these ends I feel we are well on our way to completion. I know that I sleep easier at night concerning the safety of our undergraduate membership When I began my terms over three years ago I did not sleep so well. I look forward to Chapter name to the town and seeing all of you at Homecoming and if not then at Pig dinner for sure as my campus. terms come to a conclusion. As we look forward to the conclusion of our terms as Corporation officers we have Thank you for the opportunity to serve you, I feel that 1 have accomplished much during my set several goals. We would like to leave in place a five term and that I have served from the Fraternity of old to the Fraternity of new as nothing short of Earth shattering. The nucleus of gentlemen in FIJI is outstanding. They have drive subsequent- "^administrations Rich Lloyd '91 and leave^"our 80 year old House Corp. President and a law-mSar FIJI that is house in better shape than we gamma DELTA 202C}rarcb.Street Blacksburg,Virginia 24060 Dana you honorably and proudly. year plari that will help guide Ul. Hesse 9531 Kings Grant Road Laurel, MD 20723 \r\nASSIST YOUR BROTHERS IN THEIR EMPLOYMENT ENDEAVORS THROUGH THE RHO ALPHA EMPLOYMENT DATABASE! Rho Alpha is attempting to set up a database of job information to assist graduates and imdergraduates during those wonderifiil times ofjob-hunting. As we all know, networking (i.e. having a contact at a company that employs people in your profession)is a great way to find ajob. It has worked for several Rho Alpha brothers in the past. We would like to build a database fiiat would, ideally, include information on every company that employees a graduate brother. By knowing the types ofprofessions,locations,etc.that most ofour brothers are employed in,memb^ ofour brotherhood can search for possible employment opportunities. Please fill in the employment information form and send it to Jon "Crash" Parker at the address below. In doing that, be aware that you are agreeing to assist a fellow Rho Alpha Fiji should they be interested in applying to your company. That means answering questions and helping your brother by doing what you can for bim at your company,such as taking the resume straight to bioTig managers or HR,providing a good reference, etc. Send the fonn to: Jon Parker 20756 Snowpine Place Ashbum,VA 22011 Jon can be reached at(703)506-5631 at work, or(703)729-0252 at home. Once the database is established, any brother that is looking for employment should call Jon and he will query the database and provide you with any information you need. \r\n