BETA SIGMA BRIEF Phi Gamma Delta • Ball State University Issue 1 Vol. 1 Summer 2013 Dear Brothers of the Beta Sigma Chapter, It is my honor to open this graduate newsletter with my state of the chapter address. To begin, this spring 2013 semester has been another stellar time for our chapter. We currently operate at a total chapter size of 69 members— which is the third largest Fraternity at Ball State–and are proud to see our 11 seniors graduate this May. To fill this void, our Alpha Theta spring class makes up our five newest members. We also initiated 12 brothers of the Alpha Eta fall pledge class during our Winter Retreat to International Headquarters in Lexington, Kentucky. In addition to recruitment, Beta Sigma has collected several awards over the past months. During the Grand Chapter awards ceremony at Ball State, we were recognized as runner-up for the best fraternity on campus. Beta Sigma was recognized as runner-up for the Beta Cup—the best overall chapter in the state. Our brothers currently are involved in 63 different campus organizations, and we currently have two brothers serving on the Interfraternity Council. As for our future, Beta Sigma’s biggest objective has been the creation and implementation our second five-year plan. No longer will Beta Sigma remain focused solely on the activities of Ball State’s campus. Instead, the chapter has taken an interest in statewide and international recognition. This has been my brief overview of the successes and goals of the Beta Sigma chapter. If anyone has any questions, comments, or concerns, please feel free to contact me using the methods below. Sean D. Ratkus Chapter President Fun Facts About the Chapter • 69 total members • 20 brothers initiated during the 2012-2013 school year • Brother Dylan Pieri (2014) named runner-up for Most Outstanding Brother at State Day •Brother Jacob Cash (2016) named runner-up for Most Outstanding New Member at State Day •Brother Dylan Stone (2015) named Alpha Gamma Delta’s Alpha Gam Man •Brother John Campbell (2014) named Kappa Delta’s Daggerman. •Brothers Jake Lecea (2013), Grant Reed (2014), Drew Calbert (2014) and Graduate Brother Paul Desmond (2012) participated in a semester-long world tour through the College of Architecture and Planning Contact Sean: 724-316-1478 sdratkus@gmail.com Pig Dinner Recap T his year’s Pig Dinner was held on March 23 at the Riverwalk Banquet Center and Lodge in Indianapolis. Brother Peter Loomis, Pig Dinner chairman, was the emcee for the event, which featured Graduate Brother Daniel Woody as the keynote speaker. In addition, Graduate Brother Timothy Neeser delivered the Exile’s Toast, and Graduate Brother Michael Lang updated those in attendance about the state of Housing Corps. Next year’s Pig Dinner is scheduled for Feb. 15, 2014 at Ball State University’s Alumni Center. In other news, this year’s Beta Sigma Classic will be held on Aug. 10, 2013 at the Fox Prairie Golf Course in Noblesville, Ind. Shotgun start is scheduled for noon. Please contact Brother Graduate Brother Daniel Woodfin and pledge brother Chris Luke Woody, Graduate Relations Chairman, for additional Winslow kiss the pig at the 2013 Pig Dinner information. He can be reached at 317-709-9983. • \r\nFIJIs on Campus Phi Gamma Delta • Ball State University Andrew Bennett (2014) •Associate producer, Cheery Point Craig Collins (2013) •On-Air Personality, WCRD 91.3 FM Dylan Pieri (2014) •Vice President of Public Relations, IFC Hunter Klein (2014) •President, Ball State Men’s Volleyball Club Dylan Stone (2015) •Executive Director, Cardinal Communications Joe Humpal (2015) •Treasurer, Ball State Men’s Volleyball Club Alex Hostetler (2015) •Director of Operations, BSUDM 2013 Alex Wojciechowski (2013) •Weather Broadcaster, NewsLink Indiana Peter Loomis (2014) •Producer, Ball State Sports Link Tim Arlowe (2015) •Secretary, Ball State Men’s Rugby Jason Fry (2014) •Vice President of Scholarship and Academics, IFC Alex Selvey (2016) •Vice President, Global Brigades Zach Brown (2014) •Director of Media Relations, BSUDM 2014 Kristofer Kaizer (2013) •Vice President, Ball State Energy Action Team Brandon Froning (2014) •President, Student Education Association Nathan Hesher (2014) •Royalty Chairman, 2013 Homecoming Steering Committee Graduate Brother Spotlight I Timothy Neeser (2012) have wanted to move to Chicago for longer than I can remember. After hunting for a job in the city all summer, I was fortunate enough to get an interview through a friend of a friend. The interview was at Pierce and Associates P.C., a 600+ employee law office in the heart of Chicago’s loop. I still work there now, and while it’s by no means by dream job, it’s a solid start and without it I wouldn’t have been able to move to Chicago, and for that I am grateful. Here’s the cool part. Back in June or July, I was hardcore Chicago job-hunting. I figured it couldn’t hurt to see what sort of Phi Gamma Delta connections I might be able to utilize to make my goals a reality. I got connected to the Kappa Graduate Chapter of Chicago via LinkedIn, and got in touch with Skip Buckley, the section chief for this area (he serves the Northwestern and U of I chapters, as well as the DePaul University Delta Colony, just to name a few). He asked me to send him my resume, and offered to pass along my information to a few other brothers in the area who might be able to, if not offer me an opportunity outright, perhaps point me in the direction of one. I think he sent my info to about 10 people or so, but in the end only one person got back to me, a fellow named John Olson. John is the Communications director at ComedySportz Chicago, a theater known for its mainstage competitive improv show, among many others. We emailed back and forth a few times, and he said if I was ever in the city visiting or otherwise to let him know and we could meet up. Well, flash forward to August, where I was in Chicago for my interview at P&A (where I had just been hired) and on my way to ComedySportz to meet John and let him know I’d just been offered a job here in the city. He said that he’d be happy to offer me an internship with the theater, an opportunity which I immediately jumped on. Flash forward AGAIN to December/January, where I met fellow intern Oliver Berger, who is now my friend and business partner with whom I own and oversee Humbug Media, a fledgling media production company here in Chicago. In case you didn’t catch the details, my internship and now production company, which are much more in-line with my personal interests and expertise versus the whole lame office thing (again, not that I’m not grateful, haha) ultimately happened because of Fiji. I am now the co-owner and executive producer for Humbug Media. We are all very excited about the new direction of the company. We already shot and edited the first episode of our sketch comedy series called Side-Showz, and hope to release it within the next few weeks. I am also pleased to share with you the as-yet-unannounced news that we will be unveiling our fundraising capital campaign in early May. There will be a ton of cool rewards and opportunities to be had by those who pledge, so be sure to keep an eye out online for more news on that front both from Humbug and myself personally! • \r\nPhilanthropy Phi Gamma Delta • Ball State University T he Beta Sigma chapter enjoyed a successful year of philanthropy, whether it was participating in other chapters’ events or raising money for our annual Ride Across the Purple Valley. We participated in a variety of philanthropic events and won several as well. FIJI took home first place in Alpha Chi Omega and Delta Tau Delta’s Watermelon Bust, Phi Sigma Kappa’s Polar Plunge, Delta Zeta’s Turtle Tugs and Sigma Kappa’s Capture the Flag. Brothers also participated in Ball State University Dance MaraRiders from the 2012 Ride Across the Purple Valley pose at Camp Atterbury thon, Ball State’s largest on-campus philanthropic event, which raised more than $196,000 for Riley Hospital in Indianapolis. In addition, we made the decision to pair with Sigma Kappa to co-sponsor their Capture the Flag philanthropy. The Ride Across the Purple Valley is back again, and this year’s goal is $10,000. The Ride will begin on Monday May 6 at the chapter house in Muncie. For more information, contact Brother Tim Arlowe, philanthropy chairman, at 312-286-2260 • Interfraternity Council Update A s much as the Interfraternity Council may get a bad reputation for regulating parties and handing out fines, we are charged with the overall advancement of fraternity life as a whole at Ball State University. Lately some of the goals that have been put into place by IFC have been raising the overall GPA of fraternities on campus, increasing the number of new members to fraternity life, and increasing the number of fraternities on Ball State’s campus within the coming years. All of this being said, Beta Sigma has no shortage of a presence on Ball State’s Interfraternity Council. As a chapter we have two brothers on the IFC Executive Council. Brother Jason Fry recently introduced new legislation to IFC which regulates alcoholic parties the weekend before finals week as to provide an incentive for fraternity members on Ball State’s campus to study and be prepared for finals. Brother Dylan Pieri recently created an risk reduction video which will be used to educate new members of all fraternities and sororities on campus during Greek Academy each semester. Brother Pieri also led a Greek Marketing Committee that re-branded Ball State’s Greek life. Overall, the presence that FIJI has in Ball State’s Interfraternity Council is unmatched by any other fraternity on campus and the brothers involved are working to advance fraternity life as a whole here at Ball State and are constantly working to uphold the prestigious reputation that Beta Sigma has rightfully earned on campus • -Brother Jacob Cash, IFC Delegate \r\nChapter House Update Phi Gamma Delta • Ball State University T he Chapter House at 900 W. Riverside has undergone a number of significant improvements over the last two years. Thanks to the generous support of our housing corps, many different changes have taken place. In the summer of 2011, we paved our back parking lot, adding a basketball hoop as well. We also had additional fencing installed out back. Another significant improvement made to our chapter house is the replacement of the old Beta Theta Pi house blocks with brand new Phi Gamma Delta house markers (pictured below). Our basement ceiling was also finished last summer. Lastly, in the fall of 2012, we invested in a new paved handicapped ramp leading to our back entrance. The Beta blocks on the house at 900 W. Riverside have been taken out and replaced with Phi Gamma Delta blocks The basement ceiling was finished in the summer of 2012 Editor’s Note Brothers, It has been my pleasure having the opportunity to bring you this edition of the Beta Sigma Brief. For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Zach Brown. I am a member of the Alpha Delta pledge class and I serve as the chapter’s publications chairman. I am a public relations major and I just completed my junior year. My Ball State experience is truly rooted within Phi Gamma Delta. After spending one semester at DePauw University, I transferred to BSU with the full intention of going Greek. My pledging semester opened me up to opportunities with Ball State University Dance Marathon, an organization where I now hold an executive position. My brothers motivate me to achieve the highest levels of scholarship and be a true friend and gentleman of quality. After all, friendship is the sweetest influence. I want to thank you all for setting such a fine example for this undergraduate chapter. Each and every one of you has helped blaze the trail so that we are able to enjoy the successes together and grow as a brotherhood. I hope you have enjoyed reading this publication, and I wish you all the best in all your endeavors, wherever they may lead you. If you have any questions, or even some names for recruitment, please don’t hesitate to contact us! -Brother Zach M. Brown Phi Gamma Delta 900 W. Riverside Ave. Muncie, IN 47303