FIJI Parents’ Newsletter “The most natural Chi Iota Chapter Spring 2012 Edition Editor: Matthew Schipp food is fruit” From The Chapter President Hello, my name is Ryan Nemethy, and I am the current President of the Chi Iota chapter. This is a very exciting time for our chapter because as we grow in membership, we expand in numerous other ways. Including the Spring 2012 pledge class, Fiji bolsters a chapter roster that is just under 100 members. With our increasing numbers we have been able to raise over $5,200 towards The American Red Cross and Habitat for Humanity while also recording the most service hours amongst all 45 Interfraternity Council sponsored fraternities during the 2011 year. As the 2012 year gets under way, all Phi Gams are excited to continue working towards achieving academic success while taking part in other philanthropies, service and social opportunities. This chapter has been built upon an excellent foundation that encourages academic success and campus-wide involvement that develops well-rounded young men. I am mighty proud to be a Fiji! Best, Ryan Nemethy \r\nCoaching Champions Written by Chris Kvistad For many semesters, members of the Chi Iota chapter have devoted their time to coaching local grade-school basketball teams. This year, FIJI had eleven coaches divided over three different teams. From talking with some of the coaches, it was undeniably a rewarding experience for the kids and coaches both on and off the court. When asked what the most rewarding part of coaching has been, Aadil Saxena responded that seeing his players develop their skills compared from the start to the end of the season. “In our first game, we lost 22-7 and our offense and defense were terrible. By the end of the season, every kid had scored a basket and both the offense and defense improved immensely. The kids were playing way better as a team.” As can be assumed, coaching grade school kids is not always easy. “The biggest struggle when coaching kids that are between 10-12 years old, is trying to keep them focused on the drills we are attempting to run. It was often difficult to make sure the players were actually listening when we were trying to explain something,” stated Tom Houle. Aadil also added that it was difficult to keep the kids from getting upset with another teammate if a mistake was made. “One thing I wanted to highlight to the kids was that coaches will tell players when a player does something wrong, not another player. We had to stress this several times during the season, as players got frustrated with each other constantly.” Most parents would be a bit nervous when a group of three or four college guys show up to the first basketball practice, and introduce themselves as the team’s coaches. “At first, the parents, I could tell, didn't know if we would take it seriously or not. They sat in on the practices early on during the season. Yet, I think that when they saw how strict we were in practices and how much we really wanted to help these kids improve they stopped showing up at all the practices and placed more trust in us. They also wanted to see how much we would discipline the kids and at first probably thought we wouldn't be that strict with the kids. Yet, after seeing we had a no tolerance on bad attitudes they started to trust us more,” explained Aadil. Some of the kids on Tyler Sendt’s team were coached by a group of college guys the previous year, and the team was not very successful. After winning the first three games of the season, the parents appeared to be enjoying watching the games more, and even took the time to get to know Tyler and the rest of the coaches. When asked what he hoped the players learned from him and his coaching staff, Tyler replied, “I hope they learned the joy of the game. Through all the frustrations and shortcomings they may have, the point of the game is to enjoy yourself.” Tom and Aadil had similar end goals in mind, hoping that their players learned how to be a teammate as well as a better player. \r\nSpring Philanthropy Service Written by Robert Olsen Written by Jonathon Liang For this semester’s philanthropy event, our chapter has decided to work with Keep On Keeping On, a nonprofit organization that assists those living with severe physical disabilities. Keep On Keeping On is a parent organization to Handicap This!, a live stage show which raises awareness to the special needs community. Our event is called Phi Jamma Delta and will take place on Sunday, April 15th, at Washington Park, located right behind our chapter house. So far this semester our chapter has completed a total of 320 service hours. Our current service chair, Andrew Farver, has been doing a great job organizing a variety of service events for all of the brothers to volunteer at. Earlier in the semester, there was even a service recruitment event where both brothers and recruits helped to set up for an awards dinner hosted by the art group 40 North Champaign, while simultaneously demonstrating how important service is to FIJI. We have also been working a lot with the Orpheum Children’s Science Museum, which is a free museum in Champaign that has science based exhibits for kids to learn about. This month some brothers helped to set up the current “March of the Penguins” exhibit at the Orpheum. Another service activity that FIJI has been involved in is volunteering at bingo games at the Illini Heritage Center, which is a local retirement home. Some events that we hope to be participating in, in the future, are the Austin Cloyd Day of Service and Champaign Volunteer Week. Overall, our chapter has been doing a great job volunteering for the wide variety of service events that are going on this semester, and we hope to continue all of this amazing work. We will host a series of wheelchairthemed events, including wheelchair relay races and an obstacle course. In order to raise money and awareness for people with severe physical disabilities for Phi Jamma Delta, we also intend on having a 24 hour run on the Main Quad during April 5th and 6th. We are very excited to support the great efforts of Keep On Keeping On with this new philanthropy event! More information about Keep On Keeping On can be found on their website, www.keeponkeepingon.org. \r\nPersistence Intramurals Written by Andrew Groll Written by Robert Olsen “Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan 'Press On' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.” – Calvin Coolidge Many FIJI’s are involved with intramurals, and we currently have three basketball teams. We play on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights. Despite the early struggles from all three teams, we have all improved and enjoyed the time to get to play. Our next intramural sport starting up soon is broomball. With our best athlete in the house, [Mark McGinnis], as captain of the team, we hope to be successful, but have fun too. In the future, we are trying to form a co-ed soccer team with our sister sorority, Kappa Alpha Theta. We will also be having a softball team in the spring. All prospective FIJI gentlemen are expected to learn the values of this fraternity. Early on, they are introduced to the concept of Persistence. Persistence (as stated by Calvin Coolidge) is an irreplaceable trait, and is absolute in its supremacy. It is unbeatable. All members of Phi Gamma Delta understand the words of Calvin Coolidge and should hold his words close. If in some instance, life chooses to hand a FIJI a challenge which at first strains his abilities, the potential defeat is only the result of choice. Did that FIJI give up? Defeat is only the product of an individual’s fortitude and will. If he chooses to “Press On” he will be successful for no wall can stand between a man and his desires for eternity. It will fall to his tenacity. When these men graduate and finally step into the real world, it would be by the founders’ will that the only products of these men be success. Persistence is the ignited fuel for which we can come to completion with our wishes. This is what Phi Gamma Delta attempts to instill within the individual for when this is understood, challenge does not exist… only choice. Contact Chi Iota Chapter Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity 902 S. 2nd Daniel Champaign, IL 61820 Website: www.illinifiji.org President: Ryan Nemethy nemethy1@illinois.edu Corresponding Secretary: Matt Ross ross31@illinois.edu \r\nThe Semester in Photos Josh Sitrick, Eric Sproat, and Tyler Sendt pose for a team picture with their 3rd grade basketball team. Brothers take a break during UIUC Dance Marathon. Brothers ready to go to St. Louis for a Blackhawks game with Alpha Phi. Hayden Johnson, Justin Thiems, and Nate Burns with their dates before our Semiformal. Matt LoLordo, Andrew Davis, and Pat Grigalauski are all dressed up for an exchange. Mark McGinnis, Luke Harris, and Dan Conroy at the 3rd annual FIJI Semiformal.