Year End Chapter Tone 2004-2005 Debt? What debt? We,the gentlemen ofPhi Gamma Delta have been in debt for most ofthe 5 years that we have been a chapter. Each year, we tried to bring ourselves out ofthis hole, but to no avail. With a little planning and a lot of work,the chapter brought this house into the black. At the end of the 2003-2004 semesters, William Woods University asked the house if we would like to participate in year end cleaning and moving. We were offered a large sum of money to do this work, and low and behold we were given more than we were promised. This extra bit of money brought the Kappa Chi chapter of Phi Gamma Delta, out of debt and finally recognized us as an actual chapter and letting us get a vote in the international meetings held each year. An event that was orchestrated by the chapter was Mom's Weekend. Bringing all of out mommies into one place was so sweet. We were able to raise over $1000 dollars for the house, as well as money for some home improvement items. We had a blast and it helped us further ourselves out of debt. Ahh,the sweet smell of victory, more or less. Coming into the 2004 fall semester, we began what was a long and arduous road; filled with troubles, hard times, and lots offun. We began our year with the campus favorite, Anchor Splash hosted by the Delta Gammas'. We worked our hardest to win this event, but any amount of work seemed to be done in vain. Coming out with a second place victory is not all that bad though. Winning the skit part ofthe competition is usually the most important for us anyway, and boy did we kick it. \r\nOur second accomplishment for the year was the Chi Omegas' Omega Man. Being the champs in this has definitely improved our relations with the Chi Omegas. We came, we saw, and we kicked some major butt in the competition. Seeing us win this event was a nice sight to see for we were all down because we had little to get done. The rest ofthe first semester was all a bust because ofthis or that or we had to get other things done. We did join in on one final event, the Tri Delta Frats at Bat tournament. We were reigning champs three years running, but we were shot down this last year. That's ok because no one can be on top the entire time. Coming back from winter break really gave the house a boost of confidence to get going and get stuff done. I was impressed with the amount of work that we did for the second semester's worth of philanthropies. We started the year with Lyre Fest hosted by the Alpha Chi Omegas'. We came to this event thinking that we had it in the bag, but due to outside...scratch that,"inside" interference, had came out with a less than second place position. We did have fim with this event and we did win the serenade part of it. The last official philanthropy that we participated in was the Alpha Phi's Spring Phiver. Needless to say that the word 1 am looking for is,"we kicked rocks". We came out with a first place victory beating out the favored Sigma Chi house over on the Westminster campus. I guess when you look at it, when you mess with the best,you can expect the worst! Many brothers were involved with every aspect ofthe day, even with their commitment to school and/or other things. This final event brought us together as a house and stopped us fi-om squabbling like children and unified us into one collective. I am the LAW! Well, well, well. Being in a ffatemity brings cheer and good tidings to those who let it and don't fightjust to be fighting. We are unified as a whole and it couldn't be better. Phi Gamma Delta holds a philanthropy event called Fiji Islander. We are the stars ofthe show when it comes to this week. Having girls waiting on us hand and foot can be great, but it is also important to do your own work as well. Fiji Islander was a blast and two-thirds this year. There was food, and girls, and more food, and Kevin Frantz was there! It was freakin amazing this year, says I. We had built a "sand box" type thing which extended the length of our walkway in front ofthe house. The school was not too happy with that, but since it was perspective weekend,they let it slide because we made the school look good, Greek wise. The winners ofthe entire week were the Alpha Phi's. They didn't win by too big ofa margin either. All ofthe girls that participated had fim and seemed happy with what we had done. Now comes the part about the Islander Party. This is a party of mass proportions and is known throughout William Woods and Westminster as the best party ofthe year. All ofthose dreams,those hopes, and those wishes were shattered into a million pieces as the Fulton Police Department has no idea what to do when it comes to not being giant douches. The party started great as any party should. We had grad brothers and brothers from other chapters ofPhi Gamma Delta. For a time, it was good. Then, it all turned for the sour. We were partying and having a great time when some ofthe guests had a minor disagreement and there was a little immature on how to settle the dispute. Needless to say, the part was immediately shut dovm and we all started too heard out ofthe place where we partied. Upon getting to the door ofthe building, there was the entire Fulton \r\nPD waiting to help break up the ensuing fight. By the time that we had made it to the fi-ont door to leave, the madness had stopped and everything was under control. Some rookie idiot on the Fulton PD decided to give us all a nice bath of pepper spray (wasn't that so kind of him)going against what the other officers were saying. Thinking that pepper spray was not enough to take care ofthe "riot", a little can oftear gas was tossed into the bar and that was a blast. Let me tell you friends, getting the comments from other brothers and guests getting sprayed with pepper spray is like shoving shards of glass in your eyes and then washing the glass out with Tabasco sauce. Huzzah I say, huzzah! No one was long termed harmed by the event that occurred, minus the law suits against the FPD and the mental anguish that they caused. The beginning is the end is the beginning... "Welcome Back!" grants the School of William Woods University. "Thanks for your money,now here is some crappy teaching!" It is time for another semester at WWU fun times are ahead of us. This meant seeing the same fnends for the most part and seeing new eye candy and perspective Phi Gams. Starting a new semester means working hard as well as playing hard. Rush 2112 AKA: Recruitment "Hey, hey we're the Fiji's, and were not letting you dotvn!" This year was a year to remember. We came back to school thinking that we were in line for a huge group of guys. Our motto is to find guys who are better than us. Peering into the eyes of many of the incoming recruits, I could see where we could have had great influence on some of them. Just remember that,"you can't have them all". We had several events planned when we came into this year, but as everyone should know that things don't always go the way they are planned. We started the week as we iwually do, go and meet all ofthe new guys while helping them move into their rooms for the first four days on campus. Getting to know some ofthe guys was hard because they were not used to random strangers walking up to them and asking if they have a minute to talk. It was nice talking to most ofthe guys, because it had seemed that there was a lot oftalk about going Fiji and not Pike. The annual Men's Smoker was a great hit, there was just about every incoming guy there for what seemed to be for the environment, but we know the main reason. There was a lot oftalk about going Greek at the smoker and this made both the Fiji house and the Pike house happy that there might be a large group for each of us. D-Day on the island of Fiji; the morning started with waking up every brother to get them out to the lawn to watch and see who will be the new members to the island community. Watching this year was gut wrenching. Seeing guys who said that they would never go one way and then doing it is a very hard experience. The end number for the 2004 RUSH was eight ofthe most fan-freaking-tastic guys that I have ever met! This year was good because we had quality over quantity. The best part about only getting these eight guys is that we still have them all! Eat that Pike house! We also brought in another member in the second semester ofthe school year. He is also a great man. \r\nThe end is the beginning is the end... The entire year was an emotional rollercoaster of deathly intentions. We had our high and low points as well as our sideways ones. Though we had our bad times, we pulled through them and was given the most improved GPA among the Greek organizations on the campus, go us! To quote Jared Krichevsky, a graduating brother and a former historian,"By the time the end ofthe semester had come, everyone felt that they had a well-deserved break coming to them." I agree with this, through the internal politics, and the classes, and the shows, and the horses, we needed this break. Several of the brothers who were here for the beginning ofthe chapter are leaving as well as others who were not there, but will be missed just as much. Some ofthem are giddy with excitement that they are leaving, but are dreading leaving the house and their brothers. This upcoming year will bring new quests and tasks to behold, but no one can know what will really happen. Let us hope that we can come back with the same spark we had at the better parts ofthe year and continue to bring our five values back to the table. Michael Zumwalt Historian '04/05