The Pi Sigma Portfolio Phi Gamma Delta News THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE PI SIGMA COLONY OF THE FRATERNITY OF PHI GAMMA DELTA Pig Dinner/Chartering Phi Gamma Delta News Rush Week From September 10-15, the University of Pittsburgh held their fall semester rush week. Starting with Meet the Greeks, we had many events throughout the week to get to know interested potential members. These events included a pizza dinner at Lotsa, a pickup football game on the Cathedral Lawn, meeting with graduate brothers at the Thirsty Scholar and watching Pitt football play against Georgia Tech from Brother George’s family box at Heinz Field. A big thank you to Brother Brock for planning a successful week. Delta Class Scholarship Recognition In the Fall 2018 semester, Brother Albert On September 29, six men took the Tanjaya was inducted into Pitt’s Order pledge to become brothers of the Pi of Omega, which is a society for those in Sigma Colony. After 7 weeks of pledge Greek Life who are recognized for their education, these men joined the ranks outstanding achievement in leadership and became colony brothers of Phi and academics. Congratulations Albert! Gamma Delta on November 16. These new brothers are highly dedicated individuals and are excited to contribute Getting Together to our Colony in the coming future. With The Grads On September 22, our brothers went to the house of Ken Boben (1984) to spend some time with the graduate brothers. The day consisted of a cookout, watching Pitt football and quality time reconnecting with brothers. Ed Graf’s Birthday On September 23, some of our brothers went to visit our Pi Sigma graduate brother, Ed Graf (1960), who was celebrating his 80th birthday. Our president, John Coyle, presented him with his Gold Owl in honor of being a Phi Gam for 50 years. IN THIS ISSUE: Service and Philanthropy Pi Sigma Association Annual Report Pi Sigma by the Numbers: Colony Undergraduates: 28 Colony Graduates: 3 Overall Colony GPA: 3.0 Philanthropy hours: 1,739 Philanthropy donations: $2,821.00 Greek Week 2018: 1st Place Greek Sing, 2nd Place Overall Campus Involvement: Two Student Government Board Members · Lambda Sigma Honors Fraternity · Pitt Golf Team · Pi Sigma Alpha Honors Society · Persian Table · Kappa Theta PiOutreach Chairman, Judicial Chairman · Quidditch Club · Alpha Omega · Habitat for Humanity · Psychology Club · College Republicans · Behavioral Economics · Semper Fi · Pitt Sports Analysis Club · Panther Taekwondo · Make Your Space Mentor · Design Hub Club · Asian Student Alliance- Advocacy Chairman · Math Club · Pitt Water Polo · American Chemical Society · Nepalese Student Organization · Pitt Attacks Cancer Together · Design for America- President, Project Manager · Arabic Club · Phi Alpha Delta PreLaw Fraternity · President of the Mighty Penguins Student Group · Psi Chi · College Democrats · Controlled Chaos Hip Hop Dance Crew · Pitt Finance Club · Active Minds · Pitt Band · Pitt Engineering Student Council · Humans of Pitt: Logistics Coordinator · Pitt Sailing · Pitt GeoClub · Honors Geology · Newman Club · Black Action Society- Programming Committee · Political Science Student Association- Vice President · Pitt Sangeet: Indian Classical Music Club - President · William Pitt Student Union Employee · Alpha Kappa Psi · Enactus · Outside the Classroom Curriculum Brand Ambassador · Pitt Club Handball · Panther Wrestling Club · Alpha Pi Mu · Engineering for a Sustainable World · IISE \r\nService and Philanthropy Service Fiji ran their first Oakland Cleanup in September, where we partnered with other student organizations to pick up trash along the streets of South Oakland. Also in September, some of our brothers participated in the IFC Day of Service where they helped knit and sew reusable clothing for low income families in Pittsburgh. In October, Pitt’s Student Government Board hosted events throughout Mental Health Awareness Week, and several brothers participated in these events to remind students that they can always get the help that they need. Shout out to brothers Albert and Zech for their hard work in planning these events as SGB members. On October 20, our brothers took part in Pitt Make A Difference Day, where we worked with Friends of North Park repairing trails and completing park maintenance in North Park. Other brothers participated in PMADD with other organizations, such as Asian Student Alliance and Student Government Board. Big thanks to Brothers Sam and Bobby for being volunteer leaders during the day. Philanthropy In September, Fiji hosted their first annual Tug of War competition between other members of Greek Life. The proceeds went to the American Cancer Society. In October, Fiji held their second annual sorority Instagram Challenge, which ended with Delta Phi Epsilon winning and donating the prize money to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. In Delta Phi Epsilon’s annual Deepher Dude Competition, Brother Brock was Fiji’s representative as he sang and played the guitar. The proceeds from the event also went to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. In November, some of the brothers participated in Tri Sigma’s Twister Tournament. Also in November, brothers participated in Kappa Delta’s Shamrock Event, where they participated in a men’s cheerleading competition and won second place. The money raised was donated to Prevent Child Abuse America. Following the horrific events in the Squirrel Hill community at the end of October, Fiji tabled inside the William Pitt Union to raise money for the Tree of Life Synagogue and spread awareness throughout our campus that Pittsburgh is stronger than hate. Pi Sigma Association Annual Report Brothers, I am pleased to report that the Pi Sigma Chapter is being successfully re-chartered at the University of Pittsburgh! The effort began back in 2014 when John Armour (1984), a trustee of our association, and other active brothers put together a fund-raising campaign that generated nearly $90,000.00 for the dual purpose of IHQ recolonization expenditures and future scholarship funding. A special “Thanks” goes to Bill Wallander (1981), who gave a very generous matching gift of all donations. Of the amount raised, we have spent $25,000.00 on the initial IHQ RUSH effort and continued recolonization effort. To date, we have a total of 31 colonists, with three colonist graduates. We have spent $6,000.00 ($500 each) on scholarship awards for the last three semesters. This year’s scholarship recipients were: Rob Montgomery Award (STEM): Wesley Keck (spring) & Max Johnson (fall), John Sheppard Award (chapter leadership): Kyle Jennings (spring) & John Coyle (fall), Gary Hirsch Award (chapter service): Albert Tanjaya (spring & fall) and Roy Walters Award (chapter spirit): Nathan Barnes (spring) & Alec Mertz (fall). \r\nSpring 2018 Pi Sigma Scholarship Recipients Wesley Keck, Nathan Barnes, Albert Tanjaya, Kyle Jennings Fall 2018 Pi Sigma Scholarship Recipients Alex Mertz, John Coyle, Albert Tanjaya, Max Johnson Minutes from the Pi Sigma Association ANNUAL MEETING, April 7, 2018 The meeting was called to order at 6:00pm at the Wyndham Hotel in Oakland prior to the Pig Dinner. Old Business: Treasurer George Keiser (1981) presented the Association’s current financials. We have $101K in an account from the sale of 4725 Wallingford Street. We also have $238K in IHQ “Pi Sigma specific” scholarship accounts and $26K in the PSA/recolonization effort account. New Business: The Association called for the election/confirmation of new officers and trustees. Chris DeLuca (1989), president, resigned his position to become a trustee. Ben Wallander (1989) was elected president. Tim Reitmeyer (1972) will remain vice president. George Keiser (1981) will remain treasurer. Scot Jennings (1986) was elected secretary. The Association trustees are: John Armour (1984) (confirmed), Chris DeLuca (1989) (elected), David Fisher (1986) (elected), Mark Jennings (1981) (confirmed), Paul Keelan (1985) (elected), Tim Moriarity (1988) (elected), Larry Pansino (1974) (confirmed), Steve Strzepek (1992) (elected), Mark Uminski (1980) (elected), Jim Wallander (1982) (elected), David Wissinger (1989) (Purple Legionnaire – ex-officio trustee), Paul Zane (1986) (elected), and Eli Rebich (1972) (TBD). A motion was passed to continue to fund the four Association scholarships awarded in $500 amounts each for next year’s two semesters at PITT. A motion was passed to use email as the primary means of communication. The trustees have tasked Ben Wallander with researching possible accommodations for our future Pi Sigma chapter facilities at PITT. He has been in contact with Matt Waalan, Director of Housing at PITT. As of now, there is no available housing option for us. The current “fraternity complex” houses on the hill are either occupied or under contract with PITT, with no openings in the foreseeable future. PITT’s Greek System will not recognize any fraternity who maintains an independent house off-campus. We will continue to work with PITT to resolve this situation. To continue to receive reports from the Pi Sigma Association, Please update your email with IHQ! We have amended our by-laws to now use email as our primary method of communication. This will be the last “postage” Annual Report to be sent due to the high cost of printing and mailing. We will be using the IHQ’s “Find A Brother” database to keep accurate email and brother contact information. Please go to www.phigam.org and log into the “Find A Brother” page located on the bottom left side of the home page to verify/update your contact information. If you don’t already have an account, PLEASE create one using the “Register” on the top of the home page. The plan is to email correspondence to keep you informed of what’s happening with our chapter. If you don’t verify your phigam.org information, you won’t receive future correspondence directly from the Pi Sigma Association. These are exciting times for our new chapter at PITT and the Pi Sigma Association is committed to doing everything we can help our new brothers succeed! Fraternally, Bennett T. Wallander, Sr. (1989) President Perge! \r\nPHI GAMMA DELTA Nonprofit Org US Postage Paid Lexington, KY Permit # 540 1201 Red Mile Rd Lexington, KY 40504 AFTER 20 YEARS, PI SIGMA CHAPTER IS RETURNING TO PITT! Come celebrate the re-chartering of our chapter on FEBRUARY 9, 2019. To register for the Pig Dinner and/or Chartering, go to the following URL and select the “Register Now” link for the Pig Dinner under events or the home page: www.pittfiji.org We have a block of 75 rooms at the Hilton Garden Inn, Pittsburgh University Place. To book a hotel room, go to URL: http://bit.ly/pigdinnerhotel or call (412)-683-2040 and ask for the Phi Gamma Delta room rate. Brothers attending will receive a commemorative lapel pin! Deadline to register for the dinner is January 31. Deadline to reserve a hotel room is January 25.