October 2009 Upcoming Event Homecoming November 7 vs. Duke Tar Heel Basketball UNC basketball will be back before you know it! Here is a sneak peek at the first few games of the 2009 season: Nov. 9: Nov. 11: Nov. 15: Nov. 19: Nov. 21: Florida International NC Central Valparaiso at Ohio State at California OR Syracuse Nov. 23: Garndner-Webb Nov. 29: Nevada Dec. 1: Michigan State Dec. 5: at Kentucky Dec. 12: Presbyterian Make plans to go to a game with Phi Gam brothers! Search for contact information of other Fijis in the online directory at www.epsilonpgd.com. Ad Astra Since publication of our last newsletter, we have learned of the deaths of the following brothers: William Anderson ‘41 John Cobb ‘44 William Ralston ‘45 Charles Overman ‘50 James Thomas ‘57 John Goldfinch ‘69 What’s My Member ID? You can find your Member ID, required for First Time Login at www.epsilonpgd.com, above your name and address on this newsletter. The Epsilon Owl graduate Report Rallying for B.T. Graduates Show Their Support for a Brother in Need By Oliver Wheeler ’01 For those of you who have not heard, one of Epsilon’s greatest members has recently fallen on hard times. B.T. Harrington suffered a stroke a few years ago and has been hospitalized for the past three months or so fighting diabetes and related ailments; a portion of this time spent in Intensive Care. He has endured several operations, including having his left leg amputated above the knee, and undergoes dialysis three days a week. Obviously he is facing many obstacles right now and could use our support to boost his spirits during this difficult recovery process. His daughter, Katie Ray, sees him daily and has been keeping many of us apprised of his condition via email. B.T. has received cards, flowers, gifts and visits from many brothers and he and his family are most appreciative. Katie Ray said B.T. remembers all “his boys” and she attributes some of his recovery and buoyed spirits to our collective support. B.T. is currently in Richmond at Health South Show your support for B.T.! You can: ✔ Call him at 804-288-5700 ✔ Visit him at the Health South Rehab Hospital of Virginia (in Richmond), room 126 (call 919‑225-1071 before visiting) ✔ Write him at: 8451 Regan Drive King George, VA 22485 www.epsilonpgd.com Rehab Hospital of Virginia, room 126, and the telephone number is (804) 288-5700. Katie Ray has requested that we send anything for B.T. to her home address (8451 Regan Drive, King George, VA 22485) and she will take it to him. Also, please call her (919225-1071) before coming to visit in case he’s unable to see visitors at that particular time. Please make an effort to reach out to B.T. and let him know how much he means to all of us. “[B.T.’s daughter] said he remembers all ‘his boys’ and she attributes some of his recovery and buoyed spirits to our collective support.” Along those lines, members of the House Corporation are spearheading a fundraiser to raise money for B.T.’s medical needs. Although his hospital stays have been covered, he and his family will incur significant expenses as he recovers from the multiple operations. In an effort to help with some of these costs, a fundraising dinner was held September 23rd at Fosters in Raleigh. A number of you have asked how to give to B.T. If you couldn’t make the dinner, please make donation checks payable to Phi Gamma Delta and mail to Jeff Cooke’s attention at 801 Oberlin Road, Suite 315, Raleigh, NC 27605, indicating that your check is for the B.T. Fund in the memo line. Thanks for all of your help. We will continue to send updates on B.T.’s progress via email, so please ensure your contact information is up to date by going to www.epsilonpgd.com. 1 \r\nChapter report Epsilon Chapter Welcomes 17-Man Pledge Class By Corresponding Secretary S. Thomas Rhodes ’10 and President M. Webb Bostic ’10 We are proud to announce a successful 2009 fall rush with the recent acquisition of 17 young men entering pledgeship and one new social affiliate membership. Our strong pledge class consists of three legacies; Hill Dubose, Robert Exum and Mathew Green. In addition to legacies, we are pleased to have an array of bright young gentlemen from all around the state of North Carolina as well as one from Richmond, Virginia. By relying on the founding morals and beliefs of Phi Gamma Delta, the active brothers are extremely confident in the ability of this new set of hopeful members to complete their pledge process and strengthen our already solid fraternity chapter. The Epsilon chapter would like to thank the alumni for all of their support, as it has truly shown us year after year that Phi Gamma Delta is “not for college days alone.” As always with the Epsilon chapter, we are striving to improve the community around us as well. With numerous philanthropic events on the calendar in the near future, we are excited about being able to give back to the fraternity and community that support us so wholeheartedly. Our main objective is to relay the standing values of the Phi Gamma Delta to our pledges so the fraternity can continue to stand strong and thrive in this university as well as a collective whole. We hope to see you at Vance Hall this fall. In the Words of our Graduates How Has Phi Gam Influenced You? Thank you to our graduate members who recently responded to let us know how Phi Gamma Delta has influenced their lives. Here’s what a few brothers had to say about their time in the fraternity: “[Phi Gamma Delta] taught me responsibility, humility and working together as a team. Made friendships with some of the best people I’ll ever know.” Andrew went on to say, “In my relatively short time in the work- force, my affiliation with Phi Gam has been a tremendous asset to me.” - Andrew Bullard Baysden ’05 I was very impressed by the other members of Epsilon. I have never regretted my decision.” - John S. Whichard ’50 “Membership in Phi Gam taught me many things about how to get along with others and establish lasting friendships.” John said that many of his family members were also involved with the fraternity. “I have a brother, nephew and great nephew who were Epsilon Phi Gam members.” He added, “During rush, “Helped establish lifelong network of friends and business associates.” John’s father and son were both Epsilon members. He decided to pledge the fraternity because of its “great reputation” and having known a lot of brothers. - John Dixon Fleming Jr. ’76 Share your own stories at www.epsilonpgd.com! Graduate Reunions Are You Receiving our Monthly e‑Letter? Hayes Holderness submitted this photo of 8 Epsilon Phi Gams that was taken as they cheered on the Tar Heels at the Final Four to another National Championship. In the picture from left to right seated: Charles Young ‘77, Hunter Davis ‘77, Hayes Holderness ‘79, and standing: Emmett McLean ‘77, Davy Davidson ‘77, Bill Creekmuir ‘77, Billy Worsham ‘75 and Chuck Holderness ‘74. Share YOUR stories and photos of recent reunions with other Phi Gams! You can do so online at www.epsilonpgd.com or by emailing our editors at content@affinityconnection.com (mention Fiji at UNC). 2 www.epsilonpgd.com October 2009 \r\nFundraising Your Support Makes a Difference! There are numerous ways that a graduate brother can support Epsilon financially. Annual Fund Every year the House Corporation conducts an annual fund drive to support alumni activities such as the distribution of The Owl as well as the annual alumni get together at Vance Hall on a football weekend. Last year over 200 graduates attended the pig pickin’ and this year’s event will be Saturday, October 3rd, either before or after the UNC/UVA game (depending on game time). Every graduate should support the annual fund - information on how to participate is sent to each graduate numerous times a year. We invite everyone to make a multi-year commitment through the “Donate Now” feature on the website. Annual fund contributions are not tax deductible. Memorial Scholarship In 2008 the Epsilon House Corporation and the Phi Gamma Delta Educational Foundation announced the establishment of The Mark Strickland, Josh Weaver and Ben Woodruff Memorial Scholarship, in memory of our brothers who perished in the Mother’s Day fire of 1996. The scholarship is awarded annually to an undergraduate brother based on an equal combination of scholarship and chapter service and leadership. We have had three brothers thus far earn this valuable scholarship. The scholarship is endowed for $200,000 with the funding coming from the gifts made by the graduates to the Phi Gam Foundation CHEF fund. Any brother wishing to make a tax deductible contribution to this endowment, may do so by contacting Ben Robinson at the Phi Gamma Delta Foundation at (859) 253-0779 ext. 133 or brobinson@phigam.org or John Hughes at (919) 933-9959 or jhughes@visatm.com. UNC Capital Campaign Soon, the University will announce the commencement of a new capital campaign. One of the primary goals of that campaign will be the establishment of more endowed professorships to allow the university to retain its valuable faculty. Epsilon will sponsor one of the endowed professorships just as the DKE’s and Phi Delt’s have already done and the Tri Delt’s are presently doing. The total cost will be $1 million to be matched with $500,000 from the State. Contributions will be tax deductable and will be made directly to UNC. For graduates who want to support academic programs at UNC, this is an excellent way to honor Epsilon as well as the University. We have not decided what academic discipline the endowment will support as contributors will have a major voice in that selection. For more information please contact John Hughes at (919) 9339959 or jhughes@vistatm.com. Gifts to either of the tax-deductable programs may be made in cash or securities or in the form of a bequeath. Both the Phi Gam Foundation and the University have professionals who can work with your estate planner to craft a giving program that suits your wishes and fits with your estate plan. From the Archives… Early Years of Phi Gam at The University of North Carolina By Towner Blackstock (Davidson 1994) From www.phigam.org, August, 2005 A brief look at the early history of Epsilon Chapter, as published at www.phigam.org. The University of North Carolina was chartered in 1789 and opened in 1795, and is thus celebrated as the oldest public university in the United States. (The University of Georgia was chartered in 1785, but did not open until 1801.) Fraternities found an early foot-hold; Phi Gamma Delta and Delta Kappa Epsilon both established chapters here in 1851. The Grand Chapter at Jefferson College noted in its minutes of December 21, 1850 that “a letter from Nashville was read, giving us the hope of having a Chapter established at the University of North Carolina.” The University of Nashville had closed in October. Brother Felix Grundy McGavock (Nashville 1850) prepared to transfer to Chapel Hill. The Fraternity’s Constitution stated that The Epsilon Owl a brother “may in his own person apply for a charter, therewith furnishing a list of the names of those he proposes for membership…” McGavock did just that; the Grand Chapter granted a charter on March 14, 1851. By May 10 they heard back from McGavock that he had installed the chapter and now served as its president. The other charter members were Thomas B. Burton, Thomas H. Gilliam, William A. Moore, Leonidas F. Siler, Alexander R. Smith and Basil Manly Thompson. Interestingly, Delta Kappa Epsilon claims to have established the first fraternity chapter at Chapel Hill. However, their charter was issued on April 5, 1851, the month after Phi Gamma Delta granted a charter. Thus Phi Gamma Delta was the first fraternity at the University of North Carolina. The chapter grew quickly to seventeen www.epsilonpgd.com members by the end of the term, according to Fraternity catalogues. The following academic year the membership expanded to twenty-two undergraduates. As was the case at our other early chapters, the brothers were of the highest standing in the University. Kemp P. Battle, later president of UNC, wrote, ““the Phi Gamma Deltas of my day: they were the best in the land.” The valedictorians of 1851, 1852, and 1854 were Phi Gams, as was the salutorian in 1852. Many others achieved honor recognition and spoke at commencement. Of the six founding editors of the University Magazine, five were brothers. So were half of the next fourteen editors. Such foreshadowed their substantial achievements in later life. Read the full article at www.epsilonpgd.com. 3 \r\n778-116 FN MH Phi Gam News Eugene E. Record, Jr. ‘63 (19 Crowninshield Road, Marblehead, MA 019452628) I enjoy traveling, skiing, biking and golf. They make retirement a busy time! We’re now up to 12 grandchildren with two in North Carolina. Chuck Holderness ‘74 (2004 Dalton Rd., Greensboro, NC 27408; cholderness@forexcoinc.com) I was a part of the annual Bike MS 2009. It was a two-day ride: 103 miles on Saturday, September 26 and another 72 miles on Sunday. Special thanks to Steve Cornwell, Ray Moore, Sandy Weathersbee, Fairfax Reynolds and Bill Reynolds for their support. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society is dedicated to creating a world free of MS. They simultaneously fund research for a cure while also helping people who currently live with MS lead more fulfilling lives. Old Photo Album Share Your Phi Gam Photos on our Web Site We love coming across great old pictures from our chapter’s history! And we want to feature more from your era too. If you have great pictures from your days in Phi Gam, share them with us for publication in future issues of The Owl and our monthly e-Letter. You can upload your pictures to a personal album at www.epsilonpgd.com or by emailing them to our editors at content@affinityconnection.com (mention Phi Gam at UNC). Alston Tankard ‘92 (adt0219@netscape.net) I recently bought a used lawn mower and I mow a couple yards a week! My painting business failed due to the fact my scaper broke! I start work at 11 a.m. and finished after lunch three days a week. Sandbar on Saturdays! Hotties and Totties! a great time to reunite UNC basketball season is page 2 for how to with Phi Gam brothers! See s winter. get reunited with them thi 778-116 FN Address Service Requested Epsilon Phi Gams Rally for a Brother in Need! Read the Story Inside... Graduate Relations Processing Center P.O. Box 7007 Albert Lea, MN 56007‑8007 UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA Epsilon of Phi Gamma Delta, Inc. PRESORTED FIRST CLASS MAIL U.S. POSTAGE PAID State College, Pa. Permit No. 2 4 www.epsilonpgd.com October 2009