ROSE FIJI Rho Phi Chapter at Rose Hulman Institute of Technology ‐ Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity Fall 2010 Edition HONORS RECEIVED AT STATE DAY & EKKLESIA The Rho Phi Chapter was honored to be recognized several times over the last few months for excellence in chapter operations. Rho Phi received five awards at Indiana State Day and four awards at the recently held Ekklesia. At State Day on February 13, awards are certainly competitive since many of the chapters in Indiana are some of the best in Phi Gamma Delta. On that day, the chapter was deemed to have the second best pledge education and recruitment programs in the state. Additionally, Rho Phi was named the most improved chapter in Indiana and the best chapter in terms of graduate relations. Overall, the chapter received a second place finish in the Beta Cup Things to Know Andrew Siegle (2013), Matt Behling (2011), Whitt Somerall (2011), and Tim Harlan (ISU 1972, Rose Hulman GA 2008). competition, which found the chapter second overall among all Indiana chapters. State Day awards are based upon the previous calendar year, so these awards recognized chapter excellence during 2009. On July 29 and 30, Rho Phi brothers were humbled to be recognized among By: Austin Davis (2011), Chapter President My name is Austin Davis and I am the newly elected president of the Rho Phi Chapter of Phi Gamma Delta. It is my pleasure to 77 brothers returning this fall • 24,288 photos online at rosefiji.smugmug.com • 3.03 Chapter GPA • Over $4,000 raised for the Red Cross in 2009-10 • Fiji Football Run goal is $10,000 for Red Cross • We have email addresses for 81% of our graduates, do we have yours? If not, email us at info@rosefiji.com. (Continued on page 2) A NOTE FROM THE CHAPTER PRESIDENT share with you some of the great accomplishments of an outstanding 2009-10 year, and also some of the high hopes of our upcoming year at Rose-Hulman. This previous year, the Rho Phi Chapter wanted to get back to the basics with Rush. We pursued the idea of quality over quantity, and took 27 of what we believe are the best men on campus. In • this mix are 24 freshmen and 3 sophomores, many of which were members of the baseball team, football team, track team, ROTC, drama club, and one sophomore advisor. These newly initiated brothers have already made a huge impact in the chapter and will no doubt continue to help the chapter grow in the future. (Continued on page 3) Inside this issue: Tim Harlan Durrance Award 2 Todd Hubbell - Hall of Fame 4 Graduate Relations Program 5 Undergraduate Spotlight 7 Graduate Spotlight 9 Parents Club Info 10 Fiji Football Run 11 \r\nROSE FIJI Page 2 TIM HARLAN RECEIVES DURRANCE AWARD Tim Harlan (ISU 1972, Rose-Hulman GA 2008) was honored at the recently completed Ekklesia in Phoenix, Arizona, by receiving the Durrance Award. The Durrance Award, named in honor of Francis Marvin Durrance (Washington and Lee 1907), is presented to the most outstanding Purple Legionnaire in Phi Gamma Delta. It is considered one of the top individual honors in the fraternity. Brother Harlan has been active in one way or another in Phi Gamma Delta for nearly 40 years. In the early 1970s, Tim was one of the chartering members of the Indiana State Chapter. He served as Corresponding Secretary for the chapter. Upon graduation, Tim continued to remain involved in the fraternity. He served as Purple Legionnaire for Indiana State for a stint and also helped that chapter in recruitment efforts. Nearly ten years ago Tim stepped up and began volunteering for Rho Phi, eventually becoming Purple Legionnaire. It has been during Tim’s tenure that the chapter has continued to excel in rush each year with a program that has become a well-oiled machine. In 2008, the chapter affiliated Brother Harlan into the chapter and inducted him into the Rho Phi Hall of Fame. It would be hard to find many brothers who have graduated in the last 10 years who were not positively influenced by the role Tim has served the chapter. We offer congratulations to Brother Harlan for this well deserved honor. Tim lives at home with Kathleen, his lovely bride of almost 40 years. His daughter, Virginia, now works for Eli Lilly Company after graduating from Vanderbilt and Kelley School of Business. Tim receiving the award from Jeff Downey (UCLA 1983). HONORS RECEIVED AT STATE DAY & EKKLESIA continued... (Continued from page 1) some of the best of the 130 Phi Gamma Delta chapters and colonies. Overall, the chapter received four chapter awards and one individual award during the Ekkelsia. On Friday at the awards luncheon, the chapter received the McCarty Proficiency Award for the 24th straight year. This continues our streak of winning this award all but one year it has been given. Only one chapter has received this award all 25 years – the University of Washington, certainly one of Phi Gamma Delta’s finest chapters. Rho Phi received an honorable mention in the Zerman Trophy which is awarded to the undergraduate chapter which excels in promoting the involvement of brothers in student government, the campus newspaper, and extracurricular activities. It is named in honor of Executive Director and Editor Emeritus William S. Zerman (Michigan 1949). This honorable mention placed us in the top eight chapters in this category. Next, the chapter was awarded a second place finish for the Brightman Trophy. The Brightman Trophy is presented to the undergraduate chapter which best demonstrates that ‘Phi Gamma Delta is not for college days alone’ by maintaining and improving relations between the chapter and graduate brothers. The Brightman Trophy is named in honor of Horace I. Brightman (Columbia 1892). Certainly the excitement of the day was witnessing the presentation of the Durrance Award to Tim Harlan as the most outstanding Purple Legionnaire in Phi Gamma Delta. For the first time anyone can remember, Tim was speechless! Perhaps the most unexpected and exciting moment was during Saturday night’s closing banquet when the top six chapters of Phi Gamma Delta were named during the presentation of the Cheney Cup. There was an audible gasp from the Rho Phi table when the chapter was announced as an honorable mention in this most prestigious award in Phi Gamma Delta. Rho Phi congratulates Sigma Tau at the University of Washington for an impressive 11th win in this category. It is believed that this level of recognition by the greater fraternity has not been bestowed upon Rho Phi for at least 25 years. It was too bad that only a small contingent of Rho Phi brothers could be in attendance when the hard work of over 100 men was recognized. We thank Ethan Kestenman (2012) who put together a 200+ page report for the awards committee. \r\nPage 3 NEIGHBORHOOD CLEAN UP RAISES $1,700 This spring, the Rho Phi Chapter raised money for its main philanthropy organization, the America Red Cross. On May 1, in coordination with a city-wide clean up, 60 Fiji brothers gathered at the house and participated in a neighborhood clean up for the Farrington’s Grove Neighborhood. In the weeks prior to the neighborhood clean up, 20 additional brothers went door-to-door to offer the Fraternity’s services of yard work, painting, debris, trash and appliance removal, for a donation to the American Red Cross. On the day of the event, brothers went to neighborhood homes to help them with their spring cleaning. Along with helping several neighbors, the men of Phi Gamma Delta helped them complete the task of cleaning every alleyway in Farrington’s Grove. Brothers worked cheerfully in groups of fours with several brothers offering their trucks to help haul trash to the dumpsters placed on 6th and 13th streets. Local newspaper and television recorded the hard work of the men in purple, interviewing several brothers. In all, the brothers completed 30 jobs in four hours, filling three city dumpsters with over 100 cubic yards of trash. Many other truckloads of items were recycled Steven Juszczak (2011), Matt Behling (2011) and Andrew Siekmann (2012) help clean up. or donated to Goodwill Industries. The hard work of the brothers neighborhood clean up look promising was shown by their ability to raise over and the men of the Rho Phi look forward $1,700 that day. The proceeds were doto establishing good relations with our nated to the Terre Haute Disaster Relief neighborhood and hope to continue to Fund. In total, we donated almost $4,000 raise funds for the American Red Cross. to the Red Cross through this and other events throughout the year. Thoughts for next year’s A NOTE FROM THE CHAPTER PRESIDENT continued... (Continued from page 1) As always, the Rose-Hulman Fijis dominated in sports, whether it be intramurals or varsity athletics. We had six varsity sport team captains, 55 varsity athletes and 12 athletic honors. In intramurals we were the champions of soccer, kickball, tennis, flag football, sno-ball softball, billiards, swimming, spring golf scramble, track and field, and the Strongest Engineer Competition in all 3 weight classes. Campus involvement and service are never afterthoughts, which is proven by our involvement at TREES, Campus Beautification, Lighthouse Mission, Bikes for Tykes (most men in attendance from any fraternity), Up Till Dawn for the St. Jude Children’s Hospital (1020 letters – most of any fraternity), campus blood “I would like to extend to the graduates of our chapter an open invitation to come back as often as possible to visit, share your stories, and help better the chapter even after your college days have passed.” drives, Clothe-A-Child, and our 17th Annual Happiness Bag Christmas Party. As you all know, our involvement is also a reflection of our grades. A chapter GPA over 3.0 was achieved every quarter of the previous year, which proves our dedication to the classroom. In the upcoming year, the Fijis at Rose-Hulman will continue to strive to do their best in all aspects of the fraternity and school. We will represent the five values well with our continued persistence to be the best men we can be. As president of the Rho Phi Chapter, I would like to say that I am proud of the previous year, and will make sure to the best of my ability that the upcoming year is even better. We have already begun to strive for excellence by calendaring every single chapter event for the entire year in advance, scheduling a Field Secretary visit, and attempting to improve the committee structures by getting more people in the fraternity involved. I would like to extend to the graduates of our chapter an open invitation to come back as often as possible to visit, share your stories, and help better the chapter even after your college days have passed. I know I speak for the whole chapter when I say that I look forward to meeting you and learning in this upcoming year. \r\nROSE FIJI Page 4 TODD HUBBELL INDUCTED INTO HALL OF FAME Conceived in 2004, the Rho Phi Hall of Fame honors graduate brothers for outstanding achievements. Inducted are a select group of men who are recognized for achievements in career, service to church, community or country and dedication to Phi Gamma Delta. On March 20, the Rho Phi Chapter welcomed its newest member of the Rho Phi Chapter Hall of Fame. Todd Hubbell (1996) is the 16th brother to be inducted into the Rho Phi Hall of Fame. Todd has been instrumental as both an undergraduate and a graduate in managing and continuously improving the Rho Phi Chapter. As an undergraduate in 1995, Todd led a committee that was formed to improve the layout and functionality of the basement in the chapter house. After months of work by a dedicated group of brothers including Todd, a presentation was made to the House Corporation to spend about $100,000 to rip out the basement and replace it with what the chapter enjoys today. Now cable TV, phone and Internet are in each room, and most importantly, a study environment that met the needs to today’s college students is provided. Todd has had an even larger impact on the chapter as a graduate brother. Almost immediately after graduation, Todd became a member of the Rho Phi House Corporation. Since that time, the House Corporation has transformed itself from a group of graduates who reacted to physical issues with the house to a support system Joe Weist presents Todd Hubbell with the Rho Phi Hall of Fame certificate. that provides the chapter with leadership and educational opportunities. during tough times that every chapter It was also during this time that a real comencounters. Todd, along with the rest mitment to graduate development of the House Corporation, personally emerged. dealt with a series of obvious risk A second area that Todd has had a management violations. His stern major impact is in the financial workings of handling of each issue kept the chapthe chapter. With the help of other graduter from spiraling out of control. Durate brothers, a campaign to collect almost ing Todd’s tenure as House Corpora$100,000 of graduate debt was started. At tion President, three undergraduate that time, the chapter was only collecting brothers lost their lives and one was about $.75 on each dollar billed out in the seriously injured in a car accident. chapter. Over the next few years, most of Todd made sure the House Corporathat money was collected, and Omega Fition provided buses to funerals and nancial was hired as a third-party billing counseling for any brother who agent. needed it. Todd’s leadership at a chapter Todd is employed at Endress level has been demanded on several occa& Hauser and lives with his bride sions even outside of the financial issues Kacy in Greenwood, Indiana. VOTING OPEN FOR YOUNG ALUMNI REPRESENTATIVE TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES Rho Phi graduate brother CJ Przybyl (2004) is a finalist in the voting for the board of trustee’s young alumni representative. C.J. is currently the Emerson Global Account Manager at Freescale Semiconductor where he is responsible for the global sales strategy, contract negotiations and new product strategy. He was previously a Motorola Mobile Devices Account Manager at Freescale, managing over $1 billion in annual sales. C.J. is pursuing his MBA at the University of Chicago where he has studied governance best practices of both for-profit and non-profit boards of directors. There is a link to the voting on the chapter website at www.rosefiji.com. \r\nPage 5 HELP US FIND LOST BROTHERS! Out of 880 living graduate brothers, we know where most of you are located. However, there are a few who have slipped away from us. If you know the location (or email, cell phone) of any of the following Rho Phi brothers, send it to info@rosefiji.com. Michael O. Breitmeyer, PhD Michael R. Goler, M.D. Lawrence J. Daly Donald B. Daugherty Michael D. Hlavaty-Laposa Jeffery A. Mathias 1970 1974 1978 1980 1981 1982 Jared A. Mitchener Thomas G. Wappes David A. Madsen Christopher Williams Jason W. Short Bradley J. Shervheim 1988 1990 1995 1998 2003 2007 GRADUATE RELATIONS PROGRAM ANNOUNCED My name is Andrew Siekmann (2012) and I am the Graduate Relations Committee Chairman for the upcoming year. The first event most of you are anticipating this year is the 2010 homecoming football game and festivities. The football game is October 2 against Manchester College. There are several activities planned by the school on Friday, October 1. The schedule of chapter and school events can be found at www.rosefiji.com. The football team is comprised of many Fijis, with several already holding AllAmerican awards from previous seasons. It should be great game and fun to watch. Besides watching the game, at our tent we will provide food and drinks and there will be cornhole boards for your enjoyment. “The undergraduates always look forward to meeting you (graduates) and sharing bonds only Fijis can make.” In the previous years, our tent has been overflowing with brothers and I expect it to keep growing. The undergraduates always look forward to meeting you and sharing bonds only Fijis can make. I would hope that as many of you can make it as possible and suggest you save the date. To reunion classes of 2005, 2000, 1990, 1980, and 1970, it is my hope that as many members from your pledge classes can make it out to the festivities as possible this year. Many of you can catch up on each other’s lives, rekindle old friendships, and relive the vivid memories of your time in the fraternity. It’s always amazing to share memories that were so important and shared with brothers. Pig Dinner, currently scheduled for March 19, and the Rho Phi Open, scheduled for May 14, are some other events that are great experiences for graduate as well as undergraduate brothers this year. I would hope that many of you are able to make these events and add them to your calendar for this year. The chapter looks forward to seeing you all this year at each event. UPCOMING EVENTS FIJI Football Run – September 24-25 Homecoming – October 2 Pledge Retreat – December 11 Pig Dinner – March 19 Parent’s Dinner – April 30 Rho Phi Open Golf - May 14 DO WE HAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS? Much of our communication with graduates is through email. However there are some of you for which we do not have a valid email address. If you have not received any email from us in a while, send us your email at info@rosefiji.com. \r\nROSE FIJI Page 6 DEREK EITEL (2010) DRAFTED BY THE ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS In the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft, Derek Eitel (2010) was selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 17th round as the 511th overall pick. Currently, Eitel is pitching for the Missoula Osprey located in Missoula, Montana. Eitel pursued a degree in mechanical engineering while playing baseball and football. He becomes the first Rose-Hulman student-athlete to be selected in a major sport draft. Over his four years at RoseHulman, Eitel set many school records: innings pitched (320.1) and career wins (29). He also is ranked second in career strikeouts (299) and third in strikeouts in a season (92). In Eitel’s senior season, he finished with a 6-2 record and a 3.74 earned run average in a total of 77 innings. He received many honors throughout his baseball career: two first-team AllHCAC and two All-Mideast Region awards. Eitel did not only excel on the mound, but he also stood out on the gridiron. He played four years on the Rose-Hulman football team as quarterback. At the end of his career, Eitel set many school records: career passing yards (7,507), career completions (576), career touchdown passes (52), single-season passing yards (2,723), single-season touchdowns (24), and single-season passing efficiency (152.8). Eitel is a great athlete, and he is also a great Fiji. He represents the Fiji values and is a great role model in the Rho Phi Chapter. We all would like to congratulate Derek Eitel on his accomplishments and wish him the best of luck in his quest! RHO PHI AAA SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS Academic Achievement Awards (AAA) are just one benefit the Phi Gamma Delta Educational Foundation provides to undergraduate brothers - a $250 check to new initiates for achieving at least a 3.0 GPA during their pledge term. Phi Gamma Delta is the only national fraternity or sorority to offer this blanketed scholarship that helps get our new brothers focused on their academics. Thanks to those donors who support the Phi Gamma Delta Educational Foundation. Since its inception in 1999, AAA scholarships have been awarded to 125 Rho Phi brothers, including this list of current brothers who received the AAA during the 2009-10 school year: Mitch E. Braddock Ryan J. Eslinger Matthew B. Fuson Brent J. Gregory Jeffrey S. Ketchum Scott J. Minchuk Benjamin M. Parker Jacob D. Whitsitt 2011 2012 2013 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 \r\nPage 7 UNDERGRADUATE SPOTLIGHT ANDREW BOMAR (2011) Brother Andrew Bomar (2011) is one of the many mechanical engineering students in the Rho Phi Chapter. However, there are many things about Andrew that set him apart from the others in the chapter. Born in Big Rapids, Michigan, Andrew currently boasts a GPA of 3.94 and is a key member in FIJI. He is currently taking the role of a scholarship co-chairman seriously which is definitely deserved due to his willingness to help others in and out of the classroom and making sure his studies are at a top level as well. His education is where he excels and what his true passion is, and he aspires to pass that success and passion along to other members of the chapter. Andrew has worked with the Human Powered Vehicles Team since he started his college career, and is now the incoming president. As a member of this team, he is always designing, building, and testing the human-powered vehicle itself, and when competition time comes around, you will most definitely see him in the driver’s seat. When asked what his most fond memory of being involved with this team was, his response was “My favorite moment came as a freshman when I passed a rival team in the final lap of a race to earn us first place in the competition.” This alone will tell you the drive that he has to not just be a part of what he does, but to be the best at it and enjoy it at the same time. This is a quality that all our Fijis have, and he is definitely one who shows it well. Campus involvement is also a huge part of Andrew’s life at RoseHulman. Last year he was a Sophomore Advisor and will be a Resident Assistant this upcoming year. Being able to balance that with the duties of a scholar- ship co-chairman and president of the Human-Powered Vehicle Team (and still find time to just be himself) will show you Andrew’s true character. During the 2009-10 school year, Andrew received honors as the top Mechanical Engineering student in the sophomore class. He has just recently become a member of FIJI, and has made huge strides at impacting the chapter ever since day one. There is a lot more to Andrew than just school. In his free time, he likes to stay active by cycling and occasionally skating. He was a hockey player in high school, and is currently picking up disc golf, snowboarding, and flying model airplanes. Andrew will only be at RoseHulman for a total of three years due to college courses in high school. His current plans after his time at RoseHulman are to attend graduate school. However, he is still looking for the graduate program that grabs his attention and is of the highest interest to him. It is without a doubt, that wherever he ends up, a positive impact and a trail for others will follow where he has led. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FOLLOWING BROTHERS WHO RECEIVED CHAPTER AWARDS DURING THE 2009-10 SCHOOL YEAR: FIVE-VALUE AWARDS - Friendship - Alex Pantages (2011), Knowledge - Pat Zacherl (2010), Service Brandon Woodward (2009), Morality - Bradley Seibert (2011), Excellence - Austin Davis (2011) PLEDGE CLASS AWARDS - JJ Boyce Outstanding Pledge Award - Zach Howe (2011), Most Outstanding Pledge (as selected by class) - Jordon Martin (2013), Most Outstanding Pledge Class GPA Andrew Bomar (2011) OVERALL AWARDS - Most Outstanding Senior Scholarship - Pat Zacherl (2010), Brandon Dean Couch Outstanding Brother Award - Matt Baber (2011) NOT FOR COLLEGE DAYS ALONE AWARD - Cecil Whitaker (1973) \r\nROSE FIJI Page 8 FIJI FLASHBACK - 1968-69 Find more photos like these at rosefiji.smugmug.com. Homecoming 2010 - Rendezvous with Rosie Friday, October 1 8:30 pm – Pep Rally at Rose-Hulman 9:15 pm – Bonfire at Rose-Hulman Food will be available at the chapter house before the pep rally and after the bonfire. Graduates, parents, and guests are welcome to join us. Saturday, October 2 1:00 pm – Phi Gamma Delta Tent opens Food will be available for all graduates, parents, and family members. 2:00 pm – Homecoming Game (Manchester College vs. Rose-Hulman) at Cook Stadium (Saturday evening there will be food at the house for informal gatherings.) RSVP to homecoming@rosefiji.com \r\nPage 9 GRADUATE SPOTLIGHT MIKE COLLINS (1973) Mike Collins (1973), BS in Aerospace Engineering, is currently employed by Advantage Development, Inc. based in Westlake, Ohio. To simply state it, Advantage Development, Inc. is a business that uses information to architect, plan, direct, and manage complex programs for its customers. ADI uses advanced knowledge discovery tools to find, index, and cluster information so that it can be structured to describe engineering problems. ADI uses these scalable object based system engineering tools to build this structured information into persistent and accurate descriptions of complex systems for an enterprise. Currently, their business effort supports the USMC and USN. ADI has also done work for Joint Staff, Joint Forces, OSC C3I, Now Networks and Information Integration, Joint Program Manager for chem. Bio, and USAF. Advantage Development, Inc. is built around the information and processes of system architecting. The information and process of system architecting represents the front-end requirements and synthesis of the form in the representation of the system. ADI then works in the on-going role that system architecting plays in system engineering. They have focused their efforts in the integration of knowledge discovery and system architecting to provide persistent knowledge repositories for the entire product life cycle. These repositories represent integrated information infrastructure that are built on the architectural model, or framework, of the system. By working in these areas, ADI is immediately exposed to the gaps, overlaps, ambiguities, and conflicts in the system and simultaneously the technologies and solutions that may resolve these. ADI has stepped into the world of fiber optic backbones and their mechanical terminations, dynamic medical systems, and streaming video enhancement, compression, and video analytics. Mike has a huge interest in Rose-Hulman Ventures. He believes it is an exciting opportunity for both large and small organizations to get straight forward and boundable tasks identified, analyzed, examined, and reported. He believes this provides an independent and unbiased review of the technol- ogy, an in depth review and evaluation of the problem, and a solution that can be applied quickly. He believes that this is the current direction of many of the research and engineering organizations in the Department of Defense, which is to approach these as a consortium and engage them with small business for innovative solutions to problems being experienced in the field and in programs of record. Along with a BS in Aerospace Engineering, Mike also studied post graduate at Air Force Institute of Technology and received a MS in Business. He has been attending many Northeast Ohio events with a local graduate chapter. He is currently making some initial efforts to contact the Rho Phi graduates in Northeast Ohio. SPONSORSHIPS FOR PURPLE FIJI CHAIRS AVAILABLE The Chapter and House Corporation are launching an effort to slowly change out all chairs in the chapter house with the pictured heavy duty cushioned chairs. These chairs are custom designed for Rho Phi and will be used in the library, study rooms and group study area. The chapter’s goal is to purchase 60 of these chairs. These are the same design the athletic department at Rose has used in the locker rooms for years so they are known to handle heavy wear and tear. Any graduate, undergraduate or parent who would like to help the chapter meet this goal by sponsoring a chair may do so for $100 (the cost of the chair). You can mail a check to: Phi Gamma Delta, PO Box 3047, Terre Haute, IN 47803. There will be more information at homecoming and in future mailings, but donations can be made now. We hope you can support us with this project. \r\nROSE FIJI Page 10 CECIL WHITAKER (1973) ELECTED HOUSE CORPORATION PRESIDENT RHO PHI GRADUATE LEADERSHIP House Corporation Officers Cecil Whitaker (1973), President Joe Weist (1987) , Treasurer Chip Bradway (1997), Secretary House Corporation Directors Rob Bunch (1975) Ben Giant (2003) Andy Horton (1997) Todd Hubbell (1996) Andrew Huddleston (2011) Bobby Short (2012) Ryan Thompson (2004) House Corporation Committees Don Mighell (1956), Investment Advisor Purple Legionnaire Tim Harlan (1972) Section Chief Joe Weist (1987) Website www.RoseFIJI.com Photograph Archive RoseFIJI.SmugMug.com Rho Phi House Corp. P.O. Box 3047 Terre Haute, IN 47803 E-mail: Info@RoseFIJI.com Cecil Whitaker (1973) was elected president of the Rho Phi House Corporation at its annual meeting. Cecil takes over from long-time House Corporation president Todd Hubbell (1996). Cecil is president of Whitaker Engineering, an Indianapolis company he founded. Cecil’s primary goal for the House Corporation is to leverage the assets of the House Corporation and its membership to provide the chapter additional meaningful resources to achieve excellence in its operations. Two endeavors the board is undertaking is the creation of a Parent’s Club and the repopulation and repurposing of the Board of Chapter Advisors (BCA). Through these two groups, the chapter will continue to excel as individuals and as an organization. This will leave the House Corporation to focus on its core mission of managing and supporting the chapter’s financial and physical assets including the chapter house. Additionally, the House Corporation, in partnership with the Chapter and BCA, would like to continue to grow our graduate outreach programs including communications and event management of traditional brotherhood opportunities such as Homecoming, Pig Dinner and the Graduate/Father golf tournament. If any graduate brother or parent would like to get more involved, please contact the House Corporation at hc@rosefiji.com. We wish Cecil and the rest of the House Corporation the best of luck as they continue to provide support to the Rho Phi Chapter. PARENT’S CLUB READY TO SET SAIL By: Dena Irwin, Member Many Phi Gamma Delta chapters have some sort of family support system for the brothers, chapter house, and activities they participate in annually. These support systems are very successful in that endeavor. We want all the brothers of the Rho Phi Chapter to have that same family involvement to enrich their experiences as well. With that in mind, some of the parents, friends, and graduates are starting a “Parent’s Club” for the RHIT brothers and we invite you to come on board. We are still planning our journey, but we have determined that four main events will take precedence this coming year: Homecoming (October), Parent’s Dinner (May), golf open (May), summer house maintenance (June). Smaller ways to show we care are taking place too. Melinda Short and I delivered homemade cookies and candies to the house before winter break. As Parent’s Club members, we want to help the brothers academically, financially, and socially. Some fundraising events are in the planning stages as well. Funds raised can be earmarked for house improvements, birthday cakes, weekend meals, library supplies, toner cartridges, etc. The list goes on. We will be contacting you in the coming months with more information about how you can become involved and lend your expertise to the newly formed Parent’s Club. \r\nPage 11 FIJI FOOTBALL RUN - RHO PHI’S NEWEST PHILANTHROPY Over the last four months, the brothers of Rho Phi have been working hard to organize what we believe might be one of the largest philanthropic events in our chapter’s history. We have joined forces with brothers from the Tau Chapter at Hanover College to start a football rivalry run similar to those of our chapters at Ohio State-Michigan, Virginia-Virginia Tech, Western Kentucky and Kansas-Kansas State. While we may be smaller colleges, we hope to have a large impact in our communities. Both chapters have large contingencies of football players, so this game will have added meaning. The run will be raising money for the local chapters of the American Red Cross in both chapters’ communities. Brothers have been working over the summer to get family and friends to donate on their behalf. Our goal this year is to raise $10,000 and we hope in years to come that we could double this amount. The run will be a 150-mile trek across southern Indiana and will take place over a 24-hour period on September 24 and 25, 2010. This year’s game is at Hanover, so we will start the run at the Rho Phi Chapter house and complete it on the L.S. Ayers field at Hanover College. We have 35 runners who will be running an average of nine miles each (two runners at a time). We call upon each graduate and parent to partner with us to make this inaugural run the success we believe it can be. Can you help us by donating $25 (or more) to this effort? Below is a donation form to fill out and return. You can also donate online at www.fijifootballrun.com. Our thanks in advance to all those who can help us achieve our goal! While we hope to raise a lot of money for a worthwhile cause, the event is about more than just raising money for the Red Cross. Our two chapters hope to build a tradition. We wanted an event that can be done year after year that would strengthen the two chapters’ relationships and build friendships. ATTENTION GRADUATES AND PARENTS! In just a few short weeks, the Rose-Hulman (Rho Phi) and Hanover (Tau) Chapters of Phi Gamma Delta will be conducting their first Fiji Football Run to raise money for the American Red Cross. We need your help! On September 24 and 25, Fiji brothers from Rose-Hulman and Hanover will run the official game ball from Terre Haute to the opening kickoff in Hanover for the annual grudge match between these two conference rivals. To accomplish this feat, Fiji brothers will be running 150 miles for more than 24 hours. All funds that are raised by this event will be donated directly to the American Red Cross chapters for Vigo and Jefferson Counties. There are several ways you can support their first Fiji Football Run: At the bottom of this letter, you will find a tear-off form that you can fill in your general donation amount and then mail the form and your donation check to the address listed below. You can also go online to our website at www.FijiFootballRun.com where you will find links to donate online. There are also several merchandise items you could purchase on the website such as t-shirts or wristbands. We hope that you will join the Hanover and Rose-Hulman brothers in supporting the local chapters of the American Red Cross. Thank you for your support! General Donation Form Name of donor:_______________________________________ Donation amount:________________ Checks made payable to: Fiji Charity Account Please mail your check and this form to: Phi Gamma Delta, PO Box 3047, Terre Haute, IN 47803. Visit us at www.FijiFootballRun.com to purchase merchandise or donate online! Donations to Fiji Charity Account are not tax deductible. If you wish to make a tax deductible donation, please make your check payable to the American Red Cross. \r\nPhi Gamma Delta Fraternity 1201 Red Mile Road Lexington, KY 40504 Nonprofit Org US Postage Paid Lexington, KY Permit # 540 Information Update - Tell us about you! Please detach and return with your contact information so we can update our records. We will feature graduate updates in upcoming newsletters. If you want to share your recent news, fill in the news section for your information to be published. Name________________________________________________________ School/year__________________ Address_________________________________________________________________________________ City/State/Zip_____________________________________________________________________________ Phone (H)______________________________________(W)_______________________________________ E-mail__________________________________________________________________________________ News to share with classmates: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ Occupation ______________________________ Employer _________________________________________ CONTRIBUTE TO THE RHO PHI CHAPTER I am pleased to make a contribution to Rho Phi of : $1,000 $500 $250 $100 $50 $25 Other $_______________ I would like my donation to be used in the following area: _______________________________________________. Donations can be made on-line at www.phigam.org/netcommunity/rosedonations, by phone at (859)255-1848 ext 136 or send checks payable to Phi Gamma Delta - Rho Phi to: Rho Phi Chapter/Rose Hulman Donations, PO Box 4599, Lexington, KY 40544 and include this form. Design, printing and mailing services provided by the International Fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta.