0 |. = Q |: Md |: T |: te |: < | x |: O |: Y = [= \r\nThe Oxford Echo The Alpha Phi Chapter of Phi Gamma L ETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT With the coming of the new year, comes a turning over of a new leaf for the Alpha Phi Chapter of Phi Gamma Delta. To begin the State of the Union address for the first Oxford Echo since the rechartering of our chapter, I would like begin by introducing myself and the other members of the new cabinet: I am the President Jason Rosenblatt, and I am helped in the operations of running the house on 707 Oxford Road by the Treasurer Andrew Okrongly, Recording Secretary Joe Baldwin, Corresponding Secretary Thomas Joseph, and Historian Dan Bruce. are two philanthropic events that Fiji has spent much time and effort raising money for. Additionally, the University‟s “Greek Week” was held at the end of March. This Greek wide event to raise money towards local and national charitable organizations brought Fijis together with the men of Delta Upsilon and the ladies of Delta Delta Delta to form team “Nagano.” We had high expectations, but came away with a finish in the middle of the pack and a lot to improve on next year. We came in 4th out of 27 fraternities in the overall IM Sports standings for the year, a good While we just took over in January, there is finish but one few are happy to settle for in the some great news to report from the first house. On a good note, IM Sports chairman Ted semester. Firstly, in our fourth annual Rivalry Herringshaw tells me, “The future looks bright for Run, and our first where we combined with another fraternity, we were successful in raising the 08-09 year; no seniors will be graduating from the Mud Bowl, Flag Football, Basketball, $80,000 in efforts to fight cancer. Secondly, Fiji was proudly reported with the 4 th Water Polo, or Soccer teams, and recent freshman recruits (from the 'Lambda' and 'Mu' best GPA out of the 27 fraternities on UM's classes) also bring in a considerable pool of campus, with over a 3.3. This also placed the talent for future development.” We have big Alpha Phi Chapter as the sixth highest chapter of plans for the fall including Pig Dinner and the Fijis nationwide. Furthermore, Fiji also ranked Rivalry Run. So I hope you enjoy the newsletter 2nd on the Michigan campus in new member and we hear more from you in the future. GPA: clearly displaying the emphasis instilled on scholarship during the pledging process. Fraternally, Jason Rosenblatt With the beginning of the second semester came the initiation of our 18 fall pledges on January 12. We proudly initiated these young men who are excited to take a more active role in the fraternity in the years to come only to begin the winter recruitment process within the following week. As we had done in the previous fall, Fiji had a great rush process. This winter we were successful in achieving 100% acceptance rate giving out 13 bids and having 13 acceptances. The Mu pledge class is performing well and the brotherhood holds high expectations for their success in the future. Some of the highlights of the semester include the surprise, congratulatory and appreciation dinner for Kelley Rea for winning the Coulter Cup, the Graduate Brother of the Year award from International Headquarters. Also we participated in a “Meals on Wheels” program, delivering food to help those in need. Many Fiji brothers also came out for the University of Michigan‟s Dance Marathon and the Relay for Life; these 2 Delta Summer 2008 Table of Contents  LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT  LETTER FROM THE ALPHA PHI  ASSOCIATION GRADUATE SPOTLIGHT  PIG DINNER 2008  THE RIVALRY RUN GOLF OUTING  WHERE ARE THEY NOW?     RECRUITMENT PAT‟S CORNER 2 3 4 5 6 7 GRADUATE RELATIONS YOUR FEEDBACK  YOUR FEEDBACK 8 Make sure to check out our website at: www.michiganfiji.com Below: President Jason Rosenblatt holds the game ball before the Michigan vs Ohio State game. After a long but successful Rivalry Run, we were rewarded by carrying the ball all the way onto the playing field at the big house. \r\nL ETTER FROM THE A LPHA PHI ASSOCIATION Brothers, I'm happy to report that the state of the Alpha Phi Chapter is excellent. Most importantly we have a group of outstanding undergrads who continue to amaze. They have won the U-M Fraternity of the Year Award three years running. This is an IFC award given to the fraternity that excels in a wide range of pre-determined criteria. The Fiji undergrads are setting the standard for Michigan fraternities. To win the award once is difficult enough, but three years running is unbelievable! It's an amazing change from our off years of 1999-2002 . More details of the award are in this newsletter. The Alpha Phi Board is currently made up of the following brothers: John Bevington '72, Flip Connel'50, Mike Garry '72, Scott Paris '68, Chris Parker '68, Bob Pierce '83, Kelley Rea '66, Dave Tremonti '85, and John Tonkavich '72. While we are all enjoying our involvement, we also enjoy seeing new faces. Recently Bob Anderson '82, Jeff Gelfand '88, Kevin Kennett '78, and Joe Middleton '53, have offered their assistance. If helping manage the house interests you, just contact me at Chris380857@gmail.com, or by phone at (513) 232-4068. The house itself is in excellent shape due to recent renovations made possible by the fundraising and construction management of Kelley Rea, '66. We are carrying some debt, but it's managable relative to annual revenues. Our current goals include paying down some of the debt while saving enough in our maintenance and capitalization funds to be able to pay for the inevitable future work required to keep the approximate $2.6 million house in good shape. In addition we hope to further improve graduate relations through better communications. Tom Eames, '65, is accomplishing this by doing an incredible job updating mailing lists and editing the Alpha Phiji Phlier. We have from 43 to 45 brothers living in, out of the approximate 100 brothers currently in the chapter. We offer excellent living conditions at a very competitive price. If you haven't visited the house since 2004, you would enjoy seeing the changes. Life at 707 now is much like we all remember it - a solid group of guys enjoying the fraternity experience, while still taking advantage of the excellent educational opportunities offered at The University of Michigan. Please stop in for a visit or plan on attending Pig Dinner on Oct 4, 2008. Fraternally, Chris Parker '68 President - Alpha Phi Association GRADUATE SPOTLIGHT : DEREK COATNEY For the past year, Derek has done a wonderful job as our Graduate Advisor, while working as an Account Associate at Google. However, he’s moving out of 707 and moving on with his life. While we’re more than pleased to have Brian Meredith as our new Grad Advisor this coming fall, Derek will certainly be missed. We sat down and asked him a few questions to learn a little bit more about what makes him tick. Q: What pledge class were you in? A:The Delta class, Winter 2004 Q: What positions did you hold during your undergrad tenure? A: I was President and Recording Secretary Q: What is the best thing about being a graduate? A: Besides no homework and enjoying weekends…The money going the other way for once. Q: What do you miss most about being an undergrad? A: As cliché as it sounds, I miss the friends being around all the time. Q: Where do you see yourself in 10 years? A: Well, hopefully still with Google, maybe starting a family out West in California? I‟m just worried about next year. Q: What was your proudest moment as a Phi Gam? A:The best moment was winning University of Michigan Fraternity of the Year for the first time (for the 2005-2006 school year). I was the only one who didn‟t know and I was so surprised when we won. Q: What was your funniest moment as an undergrad? A: Definitely when Dan McGraw broke off a ten foot limb of a tree and tried to put it in Dave Ault‟s room. It was hilarious. Q: What is something people wouldn’t expect from you? A: I won the Rick‟s Beer Pong Tournament. I have a dominant jumper. Q: What is your favorite quote? A: "Those who mind don‟t matter and those who matter don‟t mind.” – Dr. Seuss 3 Above: Members of the Alpha Phi Association Tom Eames (1965), Chris Parker (1968), and Kelley Rea (1966) address the brotherhood. Below: Derek Coatney (2007) speaks at his last Islander Banquet. \r\nPIG DINNER 2008 Pig Dinner 2008 has been set for Homecoming weekend, Friday, October 3 through Sunday, October 5th. We hope this will help create an even better turnout this year after last year‟s success. Michigan plays Illinois at 3:30pm on Saturday. ITINERARY Friday 6 PM Undergraduates will have Brotherhood Dinner, early arriving Graduates welcome OWL A WARDS Congratulations to our newly eligible Brothers for Eligibility 7 PM Silver, Gold, and Diamond Owl Certificates. is determined by initiation date. The house will be open for those who would like to visit for the remainder of the evening Silver: 25 Years a Phi Gam The pledge classes from the Fall of 1983 and the Spring of 1984 Saturday 10:30AM - 1:30 PM Pregame Graduate Brunch 3:30 PM Homecoming Football Game VS ILLINOIS 8:00 PM Pig Dinner Banquet Gold: 50 Years a Phi Gam The pledge classes from the Spring and Fall of 1958. Diamond: 75 Years a Phi Gam Headquarters records tell us Richard H. Erlewine from the pledge class of 1933/34 has achieved this great accomplishment! We will have pins and certificates for all eligible brothers attending Pig Dinner this year who request them (even if this is not their first opportunity). To do so please see the feedback form in the back. Sunday (Optional) Golf Outing to support the Rivalry Run See next page for more details We will be sending out a reminder five weeks prior to the event. But if you would like to RSVP sooner, please contact Chris Parker at 513-232-4068 or by email at chris380857@gmail.com. 4 Top: Brother Dave Zack (2011) kisses the rear of the Pig during his pledge term at the ‘07 Dinner. Above: Brother Bob Chapel (1967) performs at the chapter house with some lovely ladies. Photo courtesy of Brother Russ DeJong (1967). \r\nRIVALRY RUN & PIG DINNER GOLF OUTING Please join us for a golf outing to help support the Rivalry Run. Last year over 20 undergraduate brothers attended as well. *This is not to be confused with Tom Eames‟ Golf Outing this July 26. When: Pig Dinner Weekend Sunday, October 5 Where: Stonebridge Golf Club 1825 Clubhouse Dr. Ann Arbor, Michigan Cost: $140 - Includes range balls, electric cart, and BBQ lunch after golf. Part of the proceeds will be donated to the Rivalry Run. Schedule: 8 a.m. Check In Complimentary range balls 9 a.m. Shotgun Start Carts provided 1:30 p.m. BBQ lunch To RSVP please see the response form in the back of this newsletter. After months of work, the Run is off to a fast start, with the fundraising events having been planned and the sponsorship packet having been completed. Philanthropy Committee members have been meeting with members of Pi Kappa Alpha at the University of Michigan and members of the Ohio State chapter of Phi Gamma Delta in order to coordinate the 2008 Rivalry Run. Thus far, the second annual Rivalry Run Golf Outing has been set for Pig Dinner Weekend, and we encourage you all to attend. In addition, the first annual Rivalry Run 5K will be held this year, in which we plan to raise awareness on top of financial support for the Rivalry Run in both the Greek community and the Ann Arbor area. In other exciting news, the Alpha Phi Chapter will not only be competing to raise more money than our brothers at OSU, but also we will be counting the money we raise against the Michigan Pikes in an effort to foster friendly competition and increase the total raised by the Rivalry Run. Furthermore, Thane Wolcott is hard at work in his efforts to create a Rivalry Run video, using footage from last year's run to create a video to feature on the Rivalry Run website for distributing to potential sponsors. Finally, the fruits of a semester's long struggle has finally come to completion as the first Fiji/Pike Rivalry Run Large Business Sponsorship Opportunities packet has been established. We will be seeking $3,000, $1,500, and $500 sponsors, and promoting these generous companies in staggered forms on the Rivalry Run Banner, T-shirt, Website, Facebook group, and other forms of media. If you would like to make an individual contribution, sign up for the Rivalry Run Golf Outing on October 5, or know of a company that might be interested in sponsoring the Rivalry Run in any capacity please contact Jeremy Kreisberg through the feedback form on the back of this newsletter. 5 \r\nWHERE ARE THEY NOW? Does it seem like you‟ve lost track of the brothers you spent your years with at 707 Oxford Rd? Well, here we‟re going to attack that problem one step at a time. Now that the chapter is back in action, let‟s take a look at where some of our very newest Graduate Brothers are making their way in the world from the classes of 2006 and 2007.  Bryan Jacobs is studying  David Ault is working as at the Harvard Dental School. Chris Peoples is headed to Southern California to study Medicine at Loma Linda University this fall. Dustin Hughes is working as a business consultant in Chicago, IL. Jeff Rapp is working in Finance in Chicago, IL Nick Simone is studying at the Michigan Dental School. Jeff Gerding is working at Aerotek Automotive in Davison, MI. an engineer for Caterpillar in Peoria, IL.  Brendan Kleiboer is an Americorps volunteer in Dallas, TX.  Dan Wilson is working for a software company in the healthcare. industry in Madison, WI, but also travels. frequently to Dallas so let him know if you‟d like to meet up.  Tom Shea is in Metro Detroit and would love you to check out his work at igotshotgun.com.       Keary Mark Engle is in Bochum, Germany, studying on a Fulbright Grant at the Max-PlanckInstitut für Kohlenforschung.  Dan McGraw is doing Teach for America and getting his Masters of Education at George Mason in Washington D.C.  Ryan Parrott is a Math and Physics teacher in Clarkston, MI. He was also recently married this June to Laura Kovacic (U-M, Non-Greek).  John Coleman is working in Washington D.C.  John Leahy is studying at Michigan State Medical School.  Charlie Elbert is working for Chase Bank in Chicago.  Kyle Landry is a Hospital Development Associate in Austin, TX.  Pat Tokarski is in Salt Lake City, UT, working for SPLORE, a non-profit providing adventure programs to those with disabilities and special needs. FOR NEXT TIME ... We‟d like to profile a different era of Graduate Brothers for each issue of the Echo. For the next one, we‟ve chosen the Brothers who graduated between 1990 and 2002. If you know you won‟t be able to make Pig Dinner, please let us know what you‟ve been up to with the feedback form on the next page. Look for our next issue shortly after Pig Dinner 2008. Above: Our recent graduate brothers grilling on the front porch. Left: Brother Steve Rappaport (1990) stars in a Michigan Daily article. Below: Brothers from 1993 get in costume to ask dates to Islander. For more classic photos like these, check out our photo archives online at http://picasaweb.google.com/fijiumich 6 \r\nRECRUITMENT PAT’S CORNER We are proud to say that we won the Michigan Interfraternity Council award for Best Recruitment for the past two years in a row. Pat Wright is the culinary genius behind the food served at 707 for the past two years. More than just a cook, he has acted as a mentor and leader for us undergraduates. As part of the new Oxford Echo, we thought it important to share his wisdom with the rest of the Brotherhood. However, we‟re not yet satisfied because we know the only way to continue to succeed is to take the cream of the crop of rushees and teach them what it means to be a FIJI. It takes a special type of man to hold true to our values, excel in school, and help support and run a capable chapter. From these beliefs stems the philosophy of “Recruit 365.” Do you know any young men coming to the University of Michigan who would make fine FIJI Gentlemen? We sincerely value the recommendations of our Graduate Brothers. Please let us know using the feedback form below. Brother Adam Frye and Chef Pat Wright at Pig Dinner 2007 Advice Never give women advice, you don‟t ever give women something they can‟t wear. President Jason Rosenblatt puts current pledge Gerrit Yntema on “the hot seat” at rush before he receives his bid over Buffalo Wild Wings. Joke Yesterday, scientists revealed that beer contains small traces of female hormones. To prove their theory, the scientists fed 100 men 12 pints of beer and observed that 100% of them gained weight, talked excessively without making sense, became emotional, couldn't drive, and refused to apologize when wrong. No further testing is planned. GRADUATE RELATIONS As a chapter we face some unique challenges with Graduate Relations. The nature of our school and our state scatters Michigan FIJIs all over the United States, and our recent chapter shutdown have cut communications short. However, these are issues we think we can address. First I‟d like to thank Tom Eames for his hard work keeping our contact database updated and spreading the word about our chapter when we have neglected to do so in the past. I encourage all of you let me know about anyway you‟d like to get involved, either with the undergraduates, the Alpha Phi Association, or simply reuniting with the brothers you went to school with. Our goal in the future is to send three of these newsletters per year. However, due to the cost of publishing in the future they will go out by email, much like the Ephlier Tom has been sending. For this reason I urge you to send us your updated email addresses if we don‟t have them, so we can stay in contact. On top of Pig Dinner and the other opportunities we‟ve outlined in this newsletter, there are two more specific ideas for graduate support right now. We need brothers interested in being a “Spotlight Grad” for the next issue of the Echo. The format can be anything from us asking you questions, to a free form autobiographical letter. Secondly, Michigan Greek Life is trying to put on a networking event this fall semester between graduates of all houses and Greek seniors. We are seeking all careers and all levels of seniority. If you have any interest in attending a dinner where students can meet some professionals in their field and find out some more background on it, please let me know and I will send you more information. Thanks, Danny Harris YOUR FEEDBACK Have a Recruitment recommendation? Want to be featured in the next Where Are They Now? Got a FIJI memory to share or just some additional comments? Detach this portion and mail it to the address on the back, or simply get a hold of us using the other contact info we’ve got there. Thanks. _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ 7 \r\nNonprofit Org US Postage Paid Lexington, KY Permit # 540 Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity 1201 Red Mile Road Lexington, KY 40504 YOUR FEEDBACK Questions, concerns, and RSVPs relating to Pig Dinner can be directed to Chris Parker by phone at 513-232-4068 OR by email at chris380857@gmail.com Yes I would like to attend the Rivalry Run Golf Outing on October 5. Yes I am planning to attend Pig Dinner this year, and would like to receive my owl pin and certificate. If you would like to support the Rivalry Run and attend the Golf Outing on Sunday, October 5 following Pig Dinner, please cut off this portion, fill out the corresponding information (including pairing preferences if any on the reverse side), attach a check for $140 payable to Stonebridge Golf Club, and mail to the address listed to the right. For any other questions, concerns, comments, or recommendations you might have please contact our Graduate Relations Chairman, Danny Harris. by phone at 248-821-4306 OR by email at dpharris@umich.edu 8 Name: _________________________________________ Email: _________________________________________ Mail to: Phi Gamma Delta PO Box 4638 Ann Arbor, MI 48106