PHI GAMMA DELTA DELTA MU CHAPTER SPRING 2019 NEWSLETTER WAY NE S T AT E U N I V E R S IT Y - DET R O I T, MI CHARTERING WEEKEND INTERESTED IN JOINING THE BCA? A unique opportunity presents itself with the brothers of the Delta Mu Chapter of Phi Gamma Delta! As a newly formed chapter, we are looking for alumni to help form our Board of Chapter Advisors. Members of the BCA will be in advisory roles and have input in chapter operations! If interested or for more info contact: Ryan McFarland (812) 841-0240 On the weekend of October 27 and 28, 2018, nearly 100 alumni and undergraduate brothers of Phi Gamma Delta gathered to celebrate the chartering of the Delta Mu Chapter located at Wayne State University in Detroit, MI. Among those in attendance was Bill Martin, brothers from all over the state of Michigan were also in attendance such as Western Michigan, Grand Valley State, and Kettering. The events took place around the Detroit area such as the Masonic temple in downtown Detroit and the Marriot in Southfield. LOOKING FOR A NEW PURPLE LEGIONNAIRE! The Delta Mu Chapter has had the privilege of having Eric Ruelle (DePaul 2012) serve as our Purple Legionnaire since our colonization in Fall 2016. He will be stepping down from the role at the conclusion of the Winter 2019 semester. The chapter will be seeking a brother that has a passion for working with Executive Director Bill Martin (Mississippi State 1975). Many of the brothers were delighted and thankful to see him in attendance as this was one of his last Pig Dinners and Chartering Weekends before his retirement. Along with rdmcfarland77@gmail.com undergraduate members of the fraternity, as well as the graduate members in the local area. If you are interested, please contact our Section Chief Ryan McFarland (Ball State (Above) Brothers celebrate Chartering Weekend. 2002) via phone or email. Ryan McFarland (812) 841-0240 rdmcfarland77@gmail.com \r\nRECRUITMENT UPDATE This fall, our recruitment chairs Tyler Fisk, Matthew Palushaj, and Yuri Alonte were able to recruit 8 wonderful new pledges. While the transition from high school to college can be difficult, it can be easier if you are surrounded by people who push you to succeed. These 8 new pledges, all freshmen in college, were welcomed with open arms in the Delta Mu Chapter. We are beyond excited to see the great contributions they can make for our fraternity. PLEDGING EXPERIENCE SERVICE UPDATE The brothers of the Delta Mu Chapter completed hundreds of community service hours over the course of the semester. One of the goals of the chapter for the upcoming semester is to have larger-scale service events with not only other groups on Wayne State’s campus, but across the state of Michigan. The Delta Mu Chapter will be seeking new relationships that are centered around serving our community throughout the winter months and into the spring. "My experience pledging Phi Gamma Delta was very enjoyable. Specifically, I loved meeting new people and bonding with them. I also enjoyed learning about the history and traditions of the fraternity. Fiji has given me, so far, an enhanced ability to talk to and build relationships with people I’ve never met or people I barely know. Fiji has also given me the opportunity to grow as a gentleman, as well as a leader. When it comes to my aspirations in Fiji, I hope to be a chair of a committee and work my way to a cabinet position or two by the time I graduate. When I become a graduate brother, I want to be able to say I left the chapter in better shape than when I joined it. " -Nolan Handyside (2022) \r\nPHILANTHROPY UPDATE This year, our main philanthropy event, Toys for Tots, occurred in the first week of December. To get in to the holiday spirit, the brothers of the Delta Mu Chapter decided to reach out to their families, friends, and community to help gather toys and donations for those in need this holiday season. Toys for Tots is an organization that collects new and unwrapped toys, then distributes those toys to less fortunate families across the globe. Thankfully, we were able to gather many donations from our community and families. Overall, we collected nearly $800 worth in toys and donations! Thank you to everyone who helped make our event special, but most importantly, putting a smile on the faces of many families. We look forward to helping again! SENIOR SPOTLIGHT "Being a member of Phi Gamma Delta has been the most rewarding experience of my college career. I’ve been a member from the very start, and seeing our colony grow into a chapter was a very proud moment for my brothers and me. I hold the friendships I have made with my brothers very close to my heart, and I know I am always welcome back to the Delta Mu Chapter. I look forward to seeing the growth of the chapter and the impact that my brothers have on the community." -Kevin Reck (2018) FIJI THROUGH THE LENS (Below) Brothers from all over the state gather for a Grad Brother's Dinner at Detroit Beer Co. (Left) Brothers were all handson deck for Freshmen MoveIn Day. (Left) Fiji celebrating a 1st place victory at Alpha Sig's Volleyball Tournament. (Above) Brothers posing with Wayne State president, M. Roy Wilson. (Left) Fiji celebrating another 1st place victory at AGD's Hoops for Hunger. \r\nMEET THE CABINET This year, elections took place on November 26, 2018 in the Student Center. All night, brothers planned and prepared speeches describing how they could improve the fraternity in one aspect or another. After much discussion, the brothers of the Delta Mu Chapter elected 5 brothers to serve as the new cabinet. We are beyond excited to see what they can do and where they can take our fraternity! Jeff Pokriefka, President Justin Verriest, Treasurer Yuri Alonte, Corresponding Greg Alter, Recording Secretary Alex Pouttu, Historian Secretary PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS SAVE THE DATE! Greetings brothers! January 30, 2019 - Wing Night @ Wayne State My name is Jeffrey Pokriefka. I am the newly elected President of the Delta Mu Chapter of FIJI at Wayne State University. I am a junior studying mechanical engineering. I am also involved in numerous bands at WSU. I’m honored to have been selected by my brothers to represent this amazing chapter. I look forward to expanding our impact on the Detroit community over the next year through increasing our philanthropy and community service efforts. I also intend to strengthen the brotherhood, both within the chapter and with graduate brothers from the surrounding area. I have such a profound love for this group and everything it stands for, and I would love for our chapter to meet as many graduate brothers as possible so that we can share our experiences and memories, while creating new ones together. I have been blessed with some extremely hardworking and passionate cabinet members who I know I can depend on for this upcoming semester. They, as well as I, will work hard to ensure that the Delta Mu Chapter is the best that it can be for our campus, and for our fraternity. February 8, 2019 - FIJI Friday February 15, 2019 - Grad Brother's Dinner February 20, 2019 Traditions Night March 9, 2019 - MOD Pizza Service Event Thank you very much for your time and support, Jeffrey Pokriefka President of the Delta Mu Chapter of Phi Gamma Delta Perge! For questions about upcoming events contact: waynestatefiji@gmail.com