PHI GAMMA DELTA DELTA MU CHAPTER FALL 2019 NEWSLETTER WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY | DETROIT, MI 2ND ANNUAL DELTA MU PIG DINNER INTERESTED IN JOINING THE BCA? A unique opportunity presents itself with the brothers of the Delta Mu Chapter of Phi Gamma Delta! As a very young chapter, we are looking for alumni to help form our Board of Chapter Advisors. Members of the BCA will be in advisory roles and have input in chapter operations! If interested or for more information, contact: The brothers of the Delta Mu Chapter held its Second Annual Frank Norris Pig Dinner at Barrister Gardens in St. Clair Shores, Michigan. Our keynote speaker, Nic Walker (Western Michigan 2017) provided the chapter with key advice on how to keep moving forward as a new chapter and how to stay unique while also growing. Brothers from the Western Michigan, Grand Valley, DePaul, and Michigan State Chapters came out to support the chapter as well as Duke Murphy (Coastal Carolina 2011), Director of Development & Stewardship for the Phi Gamma Delta Educational Foundation. This Pig Dinner was a great night of brotherhood and learning. We are looking forward to many more as a chapter!” Tyler Fisk (2020) Ryan McFarland (Ball State 2002) (812) 841-0240 rdmcfarland77@gmail.com FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA @waynestatefiji @waynestatefiji Phi Gamma Delta at Wayne State University \r\nRECRUITMENT UPDATE This fall, our recruitment chairs Logan Ward (2022), Damian Arnold (2022) and Nolan Handyside (2022) were able to recruit eight wonderful new pledges. While the transition from high school to college can be difficult, it can be easier if you are surrounded by people who push you to succeed. These eight new pledges, all freshmen, were welcomed with open arms in the Delta Mu Chapter. We are beyond excited to see the great contributions they can make for our Fraternity. PLEDGING EXPERIENCE Greetings brothers! My name is Michael Paniccia, I am a newly initiated brother to Phi Gamma Delta in the Delta Mu Chapter. I have had nothing but a great time with these fine young men and I truly believe that the guys that I choose to surround myself really made my arrival to Wayne State a time I’ll never forget. SERVICE UPDATE The brothers of the Delta Mu Chapter completed approximately 530 hours of community service over the course of the semester. One of the goals of the chapter for the upcoming semester is to continue our involvement with the Wayne State University Food Pantry, keep our campus cleanup events going (pictured above) and start or become part of service events with groups across the state of Michigan. At Festifall 2019 when I got to meet the men at their table, I knew that Fiji was the place for me and I don’t regret it one bit. During the recruitment process they came off like they wanted to be friends more so than getting me to be a part of their Fraternity, and that was something I valued very much. As for the future in the Fraternity, I aspire to be head of recruitment and eventually hold a cabinet position. I was told by one of my brothers, Yuri Alonte (2021), that “you get out of this fraternity what you put into it.” Thus far, that advice has not been proven wrong. Personally, I cannot wait for the future and my development in Phi Gamma Delta as well. Fraternally, Michael Paniccia (2023) \r\nPHILANTHROPY UPDATE This semester, our main philanthropy event was the FIJI Petting Zoo which was held in the middle of campus in late September. This event was possible due to Brother Alex Pouttu (2020) and his connections with a local petting zoo as well as philanthropy chairs Nolan Handyside (2022) and Logan Ward (2022). Since our last newsletter was sent out, the brothers of Delta Mu planned and held our first annual “Kick Out Cancer” event. This was a kickball tournament held on Belle Isle where other Greek organizations and groups made teams and/or sponsored the event. The brothers would like to specifically shoutout the Kettering University Chapter of FIJI as well as the Delta Nu Chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha. Having laid a solid groundwork, we aim to build on it and do even better for the future! SENIOR SPOTLIGHT For me, FIJI helped me in my undergraduate years in a couple of big ways. If it weren’t for FIJI, I wouldn’t have switched to Supply Chain, and I wouldn’t have gotten either of the internships that I was fortunate enough to get. On top that, I think being a part of FIJI has helped me be more confident in myself and learn how to be a leader as well as a team player. Perge! Benjamin Lipinski (2019) FIJI THROUGH THE LENS Brothers enjoy being part of the Wayne State band program. FIJI celebrating another 1st place victory at AGD’s Hoops for Hunger. Brothers enjoy having ran in the DZ 5k back in October. Brothers volunteer at the WSU Food Pantry. \r\nMEET THE CABINET This year, elections took place on November 17, 2019 in the Student Center. All night, brothers planned and prepared speeches describing how they could improve the fraternity in one aspect or another. After much discussion, the brothers of the Delta Mu Chapter elected five brothers to serve as the new Cabinet. We are beyond excited to see what they can do and where they can take our Fraternity! Nolan Handyside (2022) Corresponding Secretary Logan Ward (2022) Treasurer Alex Pouttu (2020) President Joe Simbeni (2022) Sam Church (2022) Recording Secretary Historian PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS Greetings brothers! My name is Alex Pouttu, and I am the newly elected President of the Delta Mu Chapter of Phi Gamma Delta at Wayne State University. I am currently a junior studying mechanical engineering. I grew up in Ortonville, Michigan on a small family farm. I graduated from Clarkston High School in 2017 and plan on graduating from Wayne State in 2022. I’m honored to have been selected by my brothers to represent this amazing chapter. In the past year we have set up two flagship philanthropy events, while also increasing our community service hours. This year, I would like to continue growing our philanthropy and community outreach. I also intend to strengthen the brotherhood, both within the chapter and with graduate brothers from the surrounding area. We are currently working on setting up a BCA and a website to help out with our brotherhood. I am very excited to be working with some extremely hardworking and passionate cabinet members who I know I can depend on for this upcoming semester. They, as well as I, will work hard to ensure that the Delta Mu Chapter will continue to do amazing things for our campus, and for our community. Thank you very much for your time and support, Alexander Pouttu (2020) President of the Delta Mu Chapter of Phi Gamma Delta Perge!