The C hi I ota C hronicle University of Illinois - Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity - Spring 2012 Edition FIJI PHILANTHROPY FOCUS Highlights Playground Service By: Michael Drackley (2013) • Chi Iota raised $3,355.52 for the American Red Cross during FIJI Fright Fest. On Saturday, November 5, 31 brothers went across town to spend the better part of their morning and afternoon adding to and rebuilding the playground of Faithful Friends, a Champaign preschool. With over a third of our chapter in attendance, we worked hard to repair a wooden train in bad disrepair, revamp a large playhouse, paint the playhouse, and build large storage shelves in the basement of the building. • Newly elected cabinet members have brought fresh ideas and excitement into their positions. • Save the date for Pig Dinner - April 28, 2012. Details and formal invitations coming soon... Brothers rebuilding the playground of Faithful Friends. Though the main priority was the service work, the day quickly transformed into a great opportunity for brotherhood, as this was also the first large service event that the new Xi class could participate in with the brothers. Service is a vital part of every Phi Gam’s duty, and all brothers had a great time contributing to the community that we call home for nine months of the year. FIJI Fright Fest - By: Matt Ross (2014) FIJI Fright Fest pumpkin carving competition. Through the hard work and dedication of the members of the Chi Iota Chapter, the three components of FIJI Fright Fest came to fruition. The week-long philanthropy event consisted of: Diamond Dash, a relay race in which four sororities and more than 25 participants took part; a pumpkin carving contest which involved five sororities and numerous brothers; and to cap off the week, we hosted a spaghetti dinner which drew over 200 attendees. Additionally, brothers spent the week dressing up in their favorite Halloween costumes and soliciting donations from all over campus, an event that raised nearly $200. Thanks to all the brothers’ diligence and participation, as well as the constant support of the American Red Cross, FIJI Fright Fest was able to raise $3,355.52 for the Central Illinois Chapter of the American Red Cross. \r\nPage 2 Chi Iota Chronicle INTRODUCING THE NEW CHI IOTA CABINET My name is Ryan Nemethy and I am the newly elected president of the Chi Iota Chapter. I am a sophomore studying psychology and one of five members from the Mu class on cabinet. As well as being the former philanthropy chair for Chi Iota, I am involved with IFC J-Board, Colleges Against Cancer, Childreach International, Fycare, Greek IV and the counseling center on campus. I was inspired to become a member of cabinet in order to lead a group of men who exemplify Friendship, Knowledge, Service, Morality and Excellence on a daily basis and whom I’m proud to call my brothers for life. Mighty proud to be a Fiji! I’m Austin Williams and I am the newly elected treasurer of FIJI. I am a sophomore studying accountancy and a proud member of the Mu class of Chi Iota Chapter. My interests include basketball, football, and movies. Outside of class and FIJI, I participate in Alpha Kappa Psi professional business fraternity, Block I, and Orange Krush. My motivation for becoming a cabinet member was the fact that FIJI has given me so many opportunities to grow as an individual, and I feel the need to give back to the chapter. Now that I have been elected, I hope to improve collection strategies. I see the chapter having the financial means to prosper on the University of Illinois campus! Perge! My name is Andrew Bertucci, and I am the new recording secretary. I am a proud member of the Mu class, and my major is political science with an interest in pre-law. The clubs and activities I participate in on campus are the Pre-Law Honors Society, Pre-Law Club, and coaching a local 3rd and 4th grade basketball team. I enjoy playing baseball, basketball, working out, and hanging out with friends. I wanted to run for a cabinet position because I wanted to get more involved in FIJI. FIJI has made a tremendous impact on my life. I have been surrounded by some incredible people and I cannot imagine my collegiate experience going any other way. My goal for this year is to improve ways of keeping the chapter in constant communication with all events and news, while continuing to grow individually as a member of FIJI. I’m Matt Ross, and I am the new corresponding secretary of FIJI. Along with the rest of the cabinet, I am a proud member of the Mu class. I am a sophomore studying biochemistry with plans to study environmental chemistry in graduate school. On campus, I participate in Alpha Chi Sigma, a professional chemical fraternity, Schrödinger Club, and Engineering Open House. My major interests are hockey, music, writing, and movies. The biggest motivation influencing my decision to run for Corresponding Secretary was to continue expanding our vast network of graduate affiliations. I want to keep our brothers involved in the amazing success our chapter is exhibiting. From the active brothers’ perspectives, I plan to increase involvement with the graduate brothers through committees dedicated to exact details of expanding our graduate network. I aspire to give back to a chapter which has already given me innumerable benefits. With regards to broader plans for the future, I hope to inspire many of our brothers who have fallen out of touch with the chapter through sharing the incredible feats the chapter is accomplishing. Perge! My name is Matt LoLordo and I am the chapter historian. I am a proud member of the Mu class and currently I am trying to find a home in the Food Science and Human Nutrition major. I am a member of Orange Krush, Association of Food Technologist, a coach for a 3rd and 4th grade basketball team, and a FYCARE facilitator on campus. My interest with taking a cabinet position started when being recruited. I knew I wanted to take leadership in whatever group I got involved with and fortunately FIJI was a great place for me to do this. I was very interested with recruitment and pledge education my first year with FIJI and wanting to get involved led me to the historian position. My goal for the term is to really bring brothers closer together and establish a name for our house on campus through keeping all brothers interested and committed to the fraternity. We have the potential and it excites me to see where will be in the next few years. \r\nPage 3 DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN? GRADUATE SPOTLIGHT - JOSH MOORE (2011) Field Secretary for the Fraternity International Headquarters What positions did you hold during your undergraduate days at the Chi Iota Chapter? It seemed like I dabbled a little bit in everything, especially during my first two years in the Chapter, but my official positions were Pledge Educator, CoPhilanthropy Chair, and Chapter President. What were the most memorable days from your college experience? It's hard to choose, but Ekklesia 2008 stands out. Due to then-Chapter Treasurer Mike Fergus's skill at applying for SORF funding, the Chapter sent 13 brothers to Miami. There were also some graduate brothers there, so our total was more like 17. I don't have to spell out what happened (nor should I, probably) but there are so many stories from that trip alone to fill this newsletter. If you're interested, ask one of us at Pig Dinner! What is the best part about being a Field Secretary? Definitely the pay and glamor of the position. No, I've really enjoyed seeing different parts of the country; I make frequent stops at historical sites and I always try to make a detour to see something interesting on my way to chapters. The best part is probably meeting such a wide variety of brothers. It's really gratifying to see the Fraternity from so many different angles and to understand that it really does unify men from all different backgrounds under our values. What made you decide to join FIJI? I joined FIJI because Joe Zearing (2009) has four nipples. Well, kind of. When I met some of the brothers, I was impressed by how down-to-Earth they were (Josh Laufenberg (2008) basically browbeat Joe into showing us his four nipples) and how they described the idea of a fraternity as something more. The idea of getting into something that was still very young really appealed to me, and I wanted to help shape it into a successful and meaningful organization. Which undergraduate campus’s house is your favorite? Why? A lot of my chapters actually do not have official houses. I have definitely seen and heard about some very cool chapter houses but, ultimately, I would have to say 902 S. 2nd. I know it's not technically our house (yet!), but some of my best college memories happened inside that house. The amount of time that I spent sitting in someone's room or standing in the hallway goofing off with my brothers was incredible. It's worth noting that after I graduated, productivity on the north side of the third floor (apparently) dramatically increased. That time spent doing random things and getting to know each other was what defined my fraternity experience. I imagine it's similar to what our older graduate brothers experienced at 401 E. John. Do you have any advice for the current chapter? It's my job to give chapter advice so I don't want to get long-winded. I'll restrain myself, though, and keep it short. Live the Ritual. TYLER SENDT (2013) - ELECTED IFC PRESIDENT Being elected to Chapter President as a sophomore was the greatest responsibility and honor I have received in my time at the University of Illinois. The relationships I built with my brothers and the glory that came along with leading the chapter propelled me to stay involved in the U of I’s Greek community and help students to realize the impact becoming Greek can have on their lives. Although no other fraternity can foster as positive of a college experience as that of Phi Gamma Delta, I still think it is important for men to experience fraternity life during their college experience. Since being elected to the president of the IFC, I have had a very positive experience working with members of other chapters who also have been influenced by their fraternal associations in such positive ways. Being the face of all fraternities on campus is truly an honor, and it is all thanks to the work those before me have put into making Chi Iota such a positive influence on its members. I look forward to representing the U of I Greek community wherever I go in the next year, but I will always remember I am first, and foremost a Phi Gam, and mighty proud! Thanks for the support you have all given me! \r\nPhi Gamma Delta Fraternity 1201 Red Mile Road Lexington, KY 40504 Nonprofit Org US Postage Paid Lexington, KY Permit # 540 SAVE THE DATE! Annual Frank Norris Pig Dinner APRIL 28, 2012 Details and formal invitation coming soon... CONSIDER A GIFT TO CHI IOTA I am pleased to make a contribution to the Chi Iota Chapter of Phi Gamma Delta of : $1000 $500 $250 $100 $50 $25 Other $_______ I would like my donation to be used in the following area: ________________________ Donations can be made with checks payable to Phi Gamma Delta and mailed to: Graduate Relations - Phi Gamma Delta, 902 S. 2nd St. Champaign IL, 61820 and include this form. If you have any questions or comments please send us a letter or visit our website at illinifiji.org Design, printing and mailing services provided by the International Fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta.