The Nittany Fiji Pennsylvania State University ‐ Gamma Phi Chapter ‐ Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity ‐ Winter 2013 NEW YEAR - NEW CABINET SAME OUTSTANDING CHAPTER By: Tyler Schmitt (2013) - Out-going Chapter President Currently the lodge finds itself in a very prosperous and growing state. After the whirlwind of craziness surrounding Penn State in the last year, most outsiders thought the culture here at University Park would have to drastically change. Since returning to campus, we have worked hard to ensure that does not have to happen. After what has been a historic semester for Penn State University, I can confidently say that the community has become as united as ever and grown stronger. The same goes for the current brotherhood here at Gamma Phi. In just 18 months, we have Inside this issue: 3 Save the Date - 125th Anniversary Celebration 4 Thank You Donors 5 Lost Brothers 7 Do you have news for an upcoming edition of The Nittany Fiji? Send your details and photos to phigam@phigam.org. New members from fall recruitment gone from 16 brothers living in house to the current 30, which will continue to grow until we are at max capacity. Our brotherhood size con- Support Gamma Phi tinues to increase as we consistently initiate 12 to 15 new brothers each semester. (Continued on page 2) 2013 OFF TO A GREAT START By: Gary Generose (1997) - Purple Legionnaire During the first weekend of the new year, I was fortunate enough to attend the 38th Fiji Leadership Academy, a two day session in St. Louis for cabinet members, rising chapter leaders, and graduate advisors. Over 600 undergraduate and graduate brothers gathered to learn lessons on leadership, accountability, values, and recruitment from not only a distinguished group of guest speakers, but also from each other. Beyond leadership skills, all of the attendees walked away with an assur- ance that Phi Gamma Delta is doing incredibly well across the country. In a time when other fraternities are contracting, our fraternity is expanding, and will likely hit the outsized goal of 170 chapters by the fraternity’s 170th anniversary in 2018. Truly an impressive accomplishment! Locally, we have our own incredibly impressive milestone coming up with our 125th anniversary this spring. We hope to see you in State (Continued on page 3) \r\nThe Nittany Fiji Page 2 New Year - New Cabinet - Same Outstanding Chapter continued... for the State College Borough Holiday Lights Tour. (Continued from page 1) With the growth in brotherhood, we have been able to become more involved throughout the Greek community and on the Penn State campus as a whole. We have partnered with a female dance organization in order to raise money for THON as well as sponsor a four diamonds family. Currently we are on pace to raise our highest THON total since I have been a brother and with your help, we look to increase the amount we will eventually donate. In addition to all of the exciting things occurring at the Gamma Phi Chapter, we have received an alcohol free housing exemption, allowing us to hold so- campus. Lastly, I would like to thank all of the graduate brothers for their immense support to me and the chapter over the last two years of my presidency as we are currently undergoing the transition to a new leadership cabinet in our chapter. Four new cabinet members have been elected as well as one previous member. Dan Greenberg, a sophomore from New Jersey, will become on new President. We have worked hard to overcome much adversity the chapter has faced in recent years and have strong faith that our new leadership will continue to move the chapter forward as we create a strong identity here on campus. “With the growth in brotherhood, we have been able to become more involved throughout the Greek community and on the Penn State campus as a whole.” The brotherhood has also become much more actively involved in the annual events that define the Greek community. The house has partnered with Beta Sig and Zeta Tau Alpha to participate in Greek Sing and Greek Week, which has allowed us to build important connections with other Penn State organizations. The lodge also hosted Santa cial functions with alcohol on our property. We have worked very hard to receive this exemption and do not plan on taking it lightly, as the house continues to work hard to achieve academic success, which is our main goal here on Perge! NEW CABINET President - Dan Greenberg (2015) - dan@psufiji.org Treasurer - Dan Meiselman (2014) - dlm5414@psu.edu Historian - Mike Perez (2015) - mlp5330@psu.edu Corresponding Secretary - Pranoy Mohapatra (2014) - pvm5115@psu.edu Recording Secretary - Bret Johnson (2015) - bretjohnson28@gmail.com HOUSE CORPORATION BOARD OF CHAPTER ADVISORS President - Bill Oliver (1967) - ollierock1@verizon.net Bill First (1968) - wkfirst@comcast.net Vice President - Matt Nee (1999) - mdnee@uss.com Harry Streamer (1965) - hstreamer1@comcast.net Treasurer - Bob Knechtel (1972) - Boknech@verizon.net Mike Stewart (1972) - mstewart@greensburglaw.com Secretary - Mike Burdick (1999) - burdick_m@yahoo.com Casey McNeil (2009) - cbm153@psu.edu \r\nPage 3 SUPPORT GAMMA PHI As you read through this issue of The Nittany Fiji, you will understand and see that many of us are very active in chapter preservation. Gamma Phi is “not for college days alone” and we need your help! CAPITAL CAMPAIGN Many of you have made commitments to our Capital Campaign. Unfortunately, the crash of 2008 came to all of us and stopped many of you from living up to your pledges. We came up approximately $85,000 short of our pledged amount. Now we are in 2013 and the markets have come back. To continue with house renovations we need your pledges to be fulfilled. I have not badgered you in the past, but at this time we have expended the funds received to date and cannot continue with house renovations next summer. If you have been back to the Lodge, you have witnessed the work we have done to improve the physical appearance of the house and most of the infrastructure. The BCA has also been very successful in having the current brothers maintain the house in its renovated condition. When you come next April to the 125th Gamma Phi Anniversary celebration, you will see for yourself! Your commitment is needed so we can continue our work! ANNUAL DUES Your annual dues go toward graduate communications…this Nittany Fiji and other communications between the graduates and undergraduates. Any excess goes into our house maintenance fund. used wisely! Ways to contribute to Gamma Phi: • Return the form on the back page of this newsletter • Go to www.phigam.org/ PennStateDonations • Contact House Corporation Treasurer Bob Knechtel at Boknech@verizon.net Gamma Phi appreciates all donations so we can continue brotherhood for another 125 years. Perge! House Corporation and Board of Chapter Advisors We need your continued support. To those who have fulfilled your pledges and made your annual donations, we thank you very much. Your funds are 2013 Off to A Great Start continued... (Continued from page 1) College to celebrate Penn State’s first and oldest (and best!) fraternity. I completely understand the constraints life puts upon our schedules, as we work to manage commitments to our employers, our families, and our communities. However, I do hope you’ll all join me in making attendance at the Norris Pig Dinner this spring a high priority – especially if you haven’t been back to campus in a few years. The house looks great! We have an outstanding core group of brothers. We have engaged and dedicated graduate volunteers… all that’s missing is you! Beyond attending the anniversary celebration, there is one other way I hope you can support our chapter. This spring, thousands of high school seniors will commit to attending Penn State’s main campus. We think we can tell potential brothers a very compelling story about pledging FIJI during the formal rush periods, but we need some help. Do you know of any incoming freshmen who might make good brothers? Perhaps you know someone from your church, a local high school sports team, or maybe even the children of coworkers? In a crowded Greek system with 50 houses, we want to make sure we get a chance to talk to promising freshmen, potentially even building relationships with them before they arrive on campus. If you know of someone, please feel free to reach out to me at garygenerose@psualum.com. Being a brother in Phi Gamma Delta can be a life changing experience. Please consider doing your part to help ensure a future generation of brothers gets a chance to experience life in our fraternity. And please make sure to share in the experience that will be our 125th anniversary by attending Pig Dinner! See you there… “Please consider doing your part to help ensure a future generation of brothers gets a chance to experience life in our fraternity.” \r\nThe Nittany Fiji Page 4 SAVE THE DATE - 4.26-27.2013 125th Anniversary Celebration Brothers, 2013 marks the 125th year since the Gamma Phi Chapter of Phi Gamma Delta was established at Penn State. That distinguishes us as the longest continuously operating fraternity at Penn State University. Many of you attended our 100th Anniversary Celebration held at The Nittany Lion Inn. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend our 125th celebration on April 26 - 27, 2013. Due to the numerous activities associated with the spring’s Blue/White game and high hotel room rates throughout town, our dinner is the following weekend. The dinner will again be held at The Nittany Lion Inn in State College and the hotel has a special room rate of $120.00 per night. Rooms have been reserved for the occasion. Call the Inn at 1-800-233-7505 and reference the event’s Reservation Identification number PHID13A to reserve your room today. An official invitation with more details has been mailed prior to this newsletter. Take this opportunity to contact your pledge brothers and plan to attend this event. Spouses and/or significant others are encouraged to attend and certainly are welcome. We are looking forward to a spectacular event and large turnout to celebrate the brotherhood at Gamma Phi. Jim Bruce (1962) - Jbruce63@aol.com David Young (1966) – dlyoung66@aol.com \r\nPage 5 THANK YOU DONORS Gamma Phi would like to thank and recognize our annual fund donors for the calendar year 2012. Your generosity has resulted in over $9,000. To make a donation visit www.phigam.org/PennStateDonations or send a check along with the form on the back page. Robert H. Hasek 1939 In Memory of Robert M. Yahres (1939) In Memory of Robert R. Hutchison (1939) Roy D. Bertolet 1944 In Memory of Lydon H. Beam (1920) Robert J. Abraham 1969 Ronald P. Moehler 1969 Peter S. Miller 1971 John G. Finneran, Jr. 1972 E. Robert Emmers 1948 Robert K. Knechtel 1972 Robert M. Allen, MD 1950 Michael J. Stewart 1972 A. Wayne Cole 1950 (Washington & Jefferson College) E. Stuart Tuthill 1972 Ray C. Noll, Jr. 1950 Robert S. Jones 1973 Frank H. McKean 1951 Christopher J. Hoppe 1974 Frank D. Tussey, USAF(Ret.) 1954 John M. Reihner, DDS 1975 Edward E. Birkinshaw, Jr. 1955 Kenneth A. Schwartz 1976 Charles V. Henry 1956 Richard K. Dandrea 1977 Douglas B. Henderson 1957 Gregory M. Kubas 1977 Richard J. Shutt 1959 Richard R. Etling 1978 Harold J. Heffner, Jr. 1961 Gregory A. Hanks 1978 Gregory P. Kelley 1961 Dean P. Guerro 1980 Winfred R. Boyer, USAF(Ret.) 1962 Scott R. Sieck 1981 Robert B. Evans 1962 Terence P. Curley 1982 In Memory of Florence Curley Frank R. Mascia, Jr. 1962 Harry A. Streamer 1963 Mark D. Knipe 1965 (Wittenberg University) Richard L. Stover 1965 J. William Bowman, III 1966 David L. Young 1966 In Memory of William H. Ritts (1965) In Memory of Donald K. Haney (1966) In Memory of William R. Schrader (1966) In Memory of Joseph J. Bellas (1966) In Memory of Thomas A. Reich (1966) William L. Oliver 1967 In Memory of Donald R. Hudson (1967) James I. Tarman, Jr. 1982 Marc A. Rossow 1991 Mark A. Yorkey 1991 Brian B. Long 1996 Gary L. Generose 1997 In Memory of Charles R. Harte (1964) David M. Csontos 1998 Ralston W. Merchant, III 1998 Matthew D. Nee 1999 David A. Oechslein 2003 Brendan M. Smith 2006 In Memory of Charles R. Harte (1964) \r\nThe Nittany Fiji Page 6 HOUSE CORPORATION vs. BCA Due to a few past legal situations, it is necessary to separate the members and roles of the House Corporation and Board of Chapter Advisors. In the past when these two groups either worked together or are made up of the same alumni, the inter-relationship can be devastating to the fraternity. A problem with the chapter that develops into a law suit may tie up the physical assets of the chapter (house and ground). An award in a suit may include the value of its assets! At Gamma Phi, we own our house and the ground it sits upon. If we ever loose our charter from International, the University has first rites to purchase our house and property. dling all legal and tax matters properly. 4. 5. Keep other graduate brothers informed of corporation activities. 6. Cooperate with other brothers and groups in the chapter’s support system, including the Purple Legionnaire, Board of Chapter Advisors (BCA), Section Chief, Archons, and Headquarters Staff. 7. The role of the House Corporation is as follows: 1. Manage the property so as to preserve it for the future use of the chapter. 2. Develop and implement a long range plan for renovation and financial and property management. 3. Run a businesslike operation, maintaining financial records, producing periodic financial reports, and han- Monitor the stability of the chapter, so that it can provide the income the house corporation needs to accomplish other objectives. Represent the interests of all the chapter’s graduate brothers in dealings with the host institution. The role of the Board of Chapter Advisors (BCA) is as follows: 1. 2. Assist the chapter in setting its goals, developing an action plan to achieve goals, follow-up to see that the action plan is being accomplished, and monitor the continuation of the action plan. to provide an environment necessary for the healthy growth of the brothers. 3. Assist the chapter in providing programs that address the short and long-term goals of the chapter (Phi Gamma Delta Standards of Excellent). 4. Provide the continuity and leadership that is often missing from an undergraduate chapter. 5. Sense the changing needs of the chapter both promptly and accurately. 6. Think with members and not tell them the answers. 7. Help, not criticize. In general, the House Corporation deals with the physical assets of the chapter and the BCA deals with the brotherhood! We are seeking graduates to assist in the above work. Contact Bill Oliver if interested at ollierock1@verizon.net. Work with the Purple Legionnaire A NEW KITCHEN! The kitchen at 319 N Burrowes Street received a fresh new look during the 2012 summer. A new freezer was purchased, electrical supply upgraded, the windows were replaced, countertops rebuilt and drawers added for the cooks use as well as fresh paint! A new dishwasher was also installed to enable the return to flatware and dishware. This work was done with contributions in honor of Charles Harte (1964). Before the kitchen update. \r\n? Page 7 HELP US FIND LOST BROTHERS We currently do not have valid addresses for the following brothers. If you have information on their whereabouts, please email address@phigam.org. Wells H. Denney 1928 James R. Engel 1974 Joel E. Mitchell 1928 Joseph D. Santinoceto 1974 Malcolm H. Townsend 1928 Richard S. Charles 1975 Ralph C. Scotney , Jr. 1929 James M. Funk 1978 Arthur R. Cunningham 1931 James M. Musser 1979 E. Parke Montague , Jr. 1931 Douglas S. Pysher 1979 Samuel Enion 1932 Kevin J. Murray 1981 Harry M. Wilson 1933 Tom Oprendek 1981 Bryson M. Filbert 1936 Callas Richardson 1981 William Armstrong , III 1937 James R. Rhodes 1983 Robert E. Schuler 1940 Brian Cornog 1986 Robert P. Kapp 1944 J. Drew Bycoskie 1987 Juan M. Quiros 1947 Michael A. Mosko 1987 Ross D. Pillsbury 1949 Matthew R. Sowash 1987 Raymond G. Husted 1950 Jason M. Scarpello 1988 Robert W. Patton 1951 David P. Hughes 1990 Richard M. Tomb 1953 Mark E. Baer 1991 Randell Washburn 1955 Alexander H. Schoonmaker 1994 Richard A. Rivers, Jr. 1956 Cory S. Hillegass 1999 Everett R. Girty 1961 Jonathan K. Whitenight 2001 William M. Nace 1961 Michael L. Zboray 2002 David L. Schwartz 1961 Michael Cutler 2006 Jonathan D. Stern , Jr. 1963 Matthew A. Kicinski 2006 Thomas L. Parry, Jr. 1964 Geoffrey C. Cherry 2008 Peter J. Herrmann 1966 Shaker A. Alabdullatif 2012 Steven L. Taylor 1968 Wesley M. Goldbaum 2012 Kenneth M. Thomas 1969 Max A. Schmierer 2012 \r\nNonprofit Org Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity 1201 Red Mile Road Lexington, KY 40504 US Postage Paid Lexington, KY Permit # 540 SAVE THE DATE - 125th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION - 4.26-27.13 RECENT HOUSE INSPECTIONS This past fall, we experienced three important chapter house inspections. They included our annual fire insurance inspection from Willis Insurance Group, our International Field Secretary’s visit, and the State College Borough safety inspection. With the exception of a cluttered “old party room” that interfered with quick access to the fire sprinkler valves, all was found in good condition for the fire insurance and State College inspections. Our Field Secretary report shows a great improvement over spring 2012! A few places where the current brothers are encouraged to show improvement are holding a chapter recruitment workshop, making sure that recruits have the required GPA before offering bids, having the new cabinet hold a retreat to set goals for the semester, and for the brothers to have a working relationship with our Purple Legionnaire. The chapter is operating sufficiently in all minimum standards of the International Fraternity! CONTRIBUTE TO THE GAMMA PHI ANNUAL FUND I am pleased to make a contribution to Gamma Phi of : $1,000 $500 $250 $100 $50 $25 Other $_________________ I would like my donation to be used in the following area: _______________________________________________ Donations can be made on-line at www.phigam.org/PennStateDonations, by phone at (859)255-1848 ext 136 or send checks payable to Phi Gamma Delta - Gamma Phi to: Gamma Phi/Pennsylvania State Donations, PO Box 4599, Lexington, KY 40544 and include this form. 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