BETA SIGMA BRIEF Phi Gamma Delta • Ball State University Letter from the President: It has been another eventful fall semester for our chapter. The brothers have participated in many of the classic fall activities, and also developed new traditions for the future. Utilizing our Black Diamond Scholarship program and dynamic recruitment techniques, Beta Sigma welcomed 19 pledge brothers in our Alpha Iota class. These new members secured the award for Best Greek Float in the Homecoming Parade. Additionally, we initiated five new brothers of the Alpha Eta and Alpha Theta classes, bringing our total membership to 74 brothers. New events this fall include: pairing with College Mentors for Kids to host a Hog Roast at the Fraternity house to raise money for the United Service Organization. Fathers and sons celebrated the Ball State victory over Toledo during Beta Sigma’s inaugural Dad’s Day tailgate. Also, we began a new philanthropic tradition with Sigma Kappa sorority entitled “Capture the Flag”. This athletic competition raised $1,500 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association in honor of our brother William Kuhn. Lastly, I would like to thank all graduate members who came back to golf in the Beta Sigma classic, tailgate at the Homecoming game against Kent State, or eat at the Thanksgiving dinner this holiday season. Beta Sigma appreciates all of your contributions and participation with our chapter. If anyone has any questions, comments, or concerns, please feel free to contact me using the methods below. Sean D. Ratkus 2012-2013 Chapter President Contact Sean: 724-316-1478 sdratkus@gmail.com 2013 Cabinet Elections We would like to introduce you to the 2013-2014 Beta Sigma Cabinet! It comprises of five sophomore leaders coming from various fields of study including: marketing, spanish, business, sports administration, advertising and anthropology. The future of the chapter is in good hands! President–Jacob Cash, Columbus, Ind. Treasurer–Zachary Bruner, Bloomington, Ind. Recording Secretary–James Gilliom, Fort Wayne, Ind. Corresponding Secretary–Jarrett Harty, Garrett, Ind. Historian–Alex Selvey, Albany, Ind. Fall/Winter 2013 Chapter Awards International Headquarters Second Place: •Owen Cup (Scholarship Improvement) Honorable Mention: •Cheney Cup (Most outstanding chapter) •Baker Cup (Service) •Brightman Trophy (Graduate Relations) •Jordan Bowl (Scholarship) •Durrance Award (Purple Legionnaire) \r\nFIJIs on Campus Phi Gamma Delta • Ball State University Dylan Pieri (2014) • Vice President of Marketing, Versa Studios Media Internship Program Dylan Stone (2015) • Executive Director, Cardinal Communications Harry Davis (2014) • Peer Mentor for First Year Students Andrew Bennett (2014) • President, Versa Studios Media Internship Program Hunter Klein (2014) • President, Ball State Men’s Volleyball Club Will Kuhn (2014) • Fundraising Committee, BSUDM 2014 Zach Richardville(2014) • Peer Mentor, Ball State Honors College Peter Loomis (2014) • Producer, Cardinal Sports Live Alec Immordino (2016) • Vice President of Scholarship and Academics, IFC Zach Brown (2014) • Director of Media Relations, BSUDM 2014 Joe Humpal (2015) •Treasurer, American Institute of Architecture Students Tim Arlowe (2015) •Vice President, Ball State Men’s Rugby Tom Arlowe (2015) • Secretary, Ball State Men’s Rugby Riley Holkan (2016) • Senator, Student Government Association Dawson Bowling (2016) • ROTC, Cadet First Sergeant (1SG) Nathan Hesher (2014) • Royalty Chairman, 2013 Homecoming Steering Committee Luke Woody (2014) •Creative Coordinator, Cardinal Communications Nick Balkevicius (2017) • President, Invisible Children at Ball State Graduate Brother Spotlight T he Beta Sigma chapter has enjoyed another successful semester of events, philanthropy and brotherhood. A great deal of this success stems from the precedent set by graduate brothers of the fraternity. Here are a few updates in the world of our graduates: Brother Austin Durbin • Brother James H. Thomas • • • Congratulations on your newborn child! Born: 5/28/13 at 10:18 p.m. Name: James Robert Thomas • Selected to represent the intern • architects on the council for the Architects Associations of New Brunswick • Responsible for liaison between the council and the current interns of the province along • with the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada Brother Michael Niezer Recently moved back to Indiana from South Carolina with wife Laura, now living in Fort Wayne Accepted a position at Design Collaborative, an Architecture and Engineering firm Expecting first child, due in February \r\nService Phi Gamma Delta • Ball State University -By Brother Danny Delaney C ommunity service has been incredible this semester, perhaps the best I have seen since I started pledging. We have volunteered with numerous organizations such as the Muncie Rotary Club, the Boy Scouts of America, and Habitat for Humanity. Overall, we worked for more than 950 hours, with more hours still coming in weekly. This semester, one of my goals was to incorporate more brotherhood with service. To do this, I planned events that were a bit more conducive to brothers having conversations with each other while serving. This was especially helpful in letting pledges get to know the brothers better, as we always had many of them there at each event. Over the past few months, I have definitely seen brothers enjoying themselves while volunteering, which is not necessarily something I had seen as much in the past. Brothers working for Habitat for Humanity Interfraternity Council Update T he Interfraternity Council constantly strives to maintain and uphold the overall current state of Ball State Greek Life. IFC accomplishes this by not only regulating our events but also setting goals that chapters aim to achieve, as well as recognizing the chapters that are achieving these goals and helping the chapters that are falling short. The new IFC executive council was recently elected, and I have the distinct honor of serving as the Vice President of Scholarship and Academics. It appears to be a strong council with solid goals we hope to accomplish during the upcoming term. One major goal is to foster better relationships between fraternities. The idea is that this will allow Greek Life to work better as a whole. As for my position, I am working to increase the overall GPA by rewarding and recognizing those succeeding in academics, while helping and encouraging those who are struggling. Phi Gamma Delta is currently in excellent standing with the Interfraternity Council and collaborating with other chapters to maximize each organization’s unique potential. -By Brother Alec Immordino, IFC Vice President of Scholarship and Academics \r\nAlpha Iota Pledge Class Update Phi Gamma Delta • Ball State University T his year’s Pledge Education has been a lot different than years in the past. The overall process is nearly identical to the previous classes because history does not change, of course. However, with the Pledge Educators, things have changed. We have tried a new system where there is no one individual in charge. We are doing this so everyone is looked at as an authority figure on a flat level. We can see this reflecting in each pledge’s behavior because they do not neglect any responsibility given to them and they all hold themselves accountable to the fullest. As for the pledges and their development within the chapter, it has been outstanding. First off, they were all very ambitious from day one by setting a goal of thirty service hours per pledge—where as my own Alpha Eta pledge class had a goal of ten. But their professionalism and ambition is not where it stops. The main thing I see in this pledge class is the growing friendship between every member of the chapter. We require them to try their best and interview every brother. Because of that, they are always around the house and meeting people within the chapter. They are involved with the fraternity as a whole, not just their own class. My last point of interest is the brotherhood among the pledge class. Every pledge class has its typical cliques, but this is not the case with Alpha Iota. Everyone loves everyone and no individual is excluded. This allows the class to grow as a group and ultimately reach their maximum potential. We are all very excited for the upcoming initiation and to finally call the members of the Alpha Iota pledge class brothers of the Beta Sigma chapter. -By Brother Jim Gilliom, Pledge Eductor Donate to the Chapter Yes! I want to invest in the future of the Beta Sigma Chapter _________________________________________________________________________________________ Name Phone _________________________________________________________________________________________ Address Email _________________________________________________________________________________________ Signature I wish to donate: For: $25 $50 Black Diamond Scholarship $100 $250 RATPV Other:____________________ Send form with check to: Other:________________________ Phi Gamma Delta 900 W. Riverside Ave. Muncie, IN 47303