OMEGA PHI GAMMA DELTA HRONICLE CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY Volume 7. Issue 3. PRESIDENTS ADDRESS Allow me to introduce myself on behalf of the Omega Chi Chapter, and give you a warm welcome to the 2016 edition of the Omega Chi Chronicle. My name is Amin Anjedani, and I am the current President of the Omega Chi Chapter of Phi Gamma Delta here at Chapman University. I am excited to share some of the huge achievements our chapter has accomplished in the year thus far! First and foremost, we are thrilled to welcome the Tau pledge class into our brotherhood. The pledge class, equipped with 21 of the finest gentlemen Chapman has to offer, was initiated on December 13. We are eager to see where these young leaders will take our chapter in the future, as they have already been an integral part of our chapter, campus, and community. Our chapter has continued its strong philanthropic efforts for the community. Recently, we raised $1,800 through our Turkey Bowl event, and we donated all of the proceeds to a local food bank in time for Thanksgiving. In addition, our chapter continues to support the surrounding community, projecting to offer over 1,000 hours of community service by the year’s end. We are especially excited for our largest philanthropy event of the year. Our annual Purple Tie Affair has raised $15,000 dollars in years past for the Make-A-Wish Foundation and we are looking to break the $20,000 threshold this year. The Purple Tie Affair has not only raised local recognition from the Chapman community but also national recognition from our headquarters, and we are excited to see what this year’s event has to offer. The affair will take place on April 16 and we look forward to seeing you all there. The Omega Chi Chapter also hosted our annual Pig Dinner event on November 7 at the Costa Mesa Country Club. We had the largest turnout of graduate brothers in our chapter’s brief history, with over 150 total brothers in attendance. Thank you all for making it such a wonderful event! Last but certainly not least, I want to give a huge thank you to the graduate advisor base, specifically BCA President Jim Washington (Arizona 1976), David Todd (Souhern California 1967) and our Purple Legionnaire Steve Caine, (New Mexico 1997) for working hard on our behalf and making everything we do within Omega Chi a huge success. Without their endless Chapman Chapter undergraduates with their PL, Steve Caine (New Mexico 1997) and his 1 year old legacy, Cameron Caine. support and tireless efforts, our chapter would not excel in the way that we do. They are a working example of persistence, and they reassure us every year that Phi Gamma Delta truly is “Not For College Days Alone.” On behalf of our brothers, I would personally like to thank you all for your continued support and encouragement. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or comments, and I look forward to seeing what the rest of this year has to offer! Amin Anjedani ‘17 Chapter President TABLE OF CONTENTS Norris Pig Dinner................................................... 2 Purple Tie Affair.....................................................2 Turkey Bowl............................................................3 Movember 2015.................................................... 3 Dad’s Weekend......................................................4 Sororities Philanthropies Omega Chi Connection........................................4 with Naaman Fletcher..........................................4 Grad Brother Updates.......................................... 5 Pledge Education.................................................. 5 \r\nPURPLE TIE AFFAIR By: Dylan Blumberg (2018) Parents and Graduates: You’re invited to Phi Gamma Delta's annual philanthropy event Purple Tie Affair. This year we have set a fundraising goal of $20,000 ($5,000 more than last year) for the Make-AWish Foundation. Contact for donation: Dylan Blumberg at blumb104@mail.chapman.edu, (503)807-0301 Attire: Formal RSVP: by April 20th (Purchase a ticket to RSVP) Donations: Can be cash, physical items or donation; contact Dylan Blumberg for a tax write off form, please make allchecks payable to "Phi Gamma Delta." When/Where: Saturday, April 30, at the Sandhu Conference Center at Chapman University from 6:00 - 9:30 pm Tentative Times: Cocktail hour- 6:00-7:00 pm, Dinner- 7:00-7:30 pm, Guest Speaker-7:30-?, Auction- ?-9:30, Dessert- 9:00-9:30pm. Tickets: https://chapmanfiji.webconnex.com/PurpleTie2016 NORRIS PIG DINNER By: Daniel Starkand (2016) Phi Gamma Delta’s Norris Pig Dinners are the most widely observed and longest continually running, chapter-based, annual graduate events in the Greek world. The first Pig Dinner was held at the University of California Berkeley in 1893. In 1902, the Pig Dinner was dedicated in memory of noted author Frank B. Norris, whose sense of humor created the event that has become an annual ceremony throughout all of Fijiland. The Omega Chi Chapter at Chapman University held our 2015 Pig Dinner at the Costa Mesa Country Club on Saturday, November 7. It turned out to be the most successful Pig Dinner since the chapter’s installation in 2008. 80 brothers, 21 pledges and 55 graduated brothersattended the event, for a total of 156 brothers, which is the most the Omega Chi Chapter has seen at a Pig Dinner. Additionally, the event raised more than $6,000, which is also a record for the chapter. Highlights of the event included Patrick Schoenberg (Chapman 2014) reading “The Exile’s Toast”, the announcement of MOVEMBER By: Nick Demore (2018) Every year around Thanksgiving, the Omega Chi chapter of Phi Gamma Delta brings a variety of organizations together for the Turkey Bowl, a school-wide flag football event held to support a philanthropy. This year we decided to support We Give Thanks, Inc, a philanthropy that makes Thanksgiving dinners for underprivileged families. In addition to providing a Thanksgiving Day feast to the homeless and less 2 graduate brother David Todd (Southern California 1967) receiving the Golden Owl award and the attendance of two brothers who fought and beat cancer, Dylan Trumbull (2014) and Connor Doyle (2017) Austin Devone (2015). We hope to see you all at the 2016 Pig Dinner, where we can hopefully continue to build on what we have created here at the Omega Chi Chapter. fortunate, The We Give Thanks Thanksgiving Dinner has become a meeting point where anyone not wanting to spend this festive time of year alone can come and enjoy a great meal, entertainment, and the friendly company of thousands of others from Southern California. This event consists of fraternities, sororities, and sports teams that are coached by a brother of Phi Gamma Delta. The teams were split by gender with men’s and women’s \r\nMOVEMBER CONTINUED... DAD’S WEEKEND teams and after about 3-4 weeks of coaching and preparation it was time for the Bowl. There were dramatic moments across Chapman’s Wilson Field that day, with injuries, setbacks, and emotional victories. Though all teams fought valiantly, the two winners were Women’s Soccer and Men’s Baseball. With the $100 buy in for each team, the donation provided a Thanksgiving meal for four families of four. The event in total raised about $1,800. Daniel Starkand (2016) This past semester, the Omega Chi Chapter decided to host its fourth annual Dad’s weekend. This weekend provided numerous events for brothers and their dads to reconnect and bond with each other. Some of the events included: a father/son softball game, a barbeque, and a day at the driving range. Andrew Cheatham (2016) coordinated the event and saw great improvements and success compared to last year’s Dad’s weekend. We look forward to possibly instilling a Mom’s weekendin the near future. Brothers Alex Badalian (2017) and Andrew Felikian (2016) showing off their Movember mustaches SORORITY PHILANTHROPIES By: Jenner Chapman (2018) The Omega Chi chapter participated in a variety of sorority events that contributed to different philanthropies this past fall. The first was Gamma Phi Beta’s Airbands. Partnered with Delta Gamma, we came in second place in the events that raised money for Girls On The Run. We also participated in Kappa Kappa Gamma’s Kappa Karnival. Brothers Sequoya De Nevers (2016), Brandon Shroyer (2018) and Malcolm Sun (2018) placed first overall after participating in many events, including a one-footed race. Kappa Karnival supported Reading is Fundamental. Led by our casanova Matt King (2016), FIJI had a great time participating in Kappa Alpha Theta’s annual philanthropy event, KATwalk. Theta supported CASA and the Theta Foundation. These are just a few of many event that our brothers participated in to help organizations on campus raise money for different philanthropies. 3 \r\nOMEGA CHI’S CONNECTION WITH NAAMAN FLETCHER By: David Todd (Southern California 1967) Grad Advisor Dave Todd and his wife periodically take “genealogy” vacations where they venture to places where their ancestors lived, go to old cemeteries, photo op the tombstones, etc. A few years back they headed for Wabash, IN, where Dave had some ancestors in the 1840-1890 time frame. Before Volume 7, Issue 3 Spring 2016 they went on the trip, Dave contacted the Wabash Historical Society to find out some info, including locating the cemetery where his ancestors were buried. The Historical Society folks complied and also sent Dave a fax of the cemetery map, including a section on his family’s cemetery plot. To his shock and surprise, there was a diagram with his Wabash ancestors, and right dead center in their plot was a box that said “Naaman Fletcher - 1824-1864.” So Dave and Carolyn made the trip, found the cemetery location, took a lot of pictures and notes and then went back to the Wabash HS to try to find out why Naaman Fletcher (Jefferson 1849), who was not a member of his family, was buried there. Dave says there is still a lot to be learned on the story, but here was the gist: (1) Naaman was a newspaper publisher in Wabash and a Unionist (a la Civil War); (2) Dave’s g-g-g-uncle was a state senator and also a Unionist; (3) they were both members of a local political “fraternity” that met on Wednesday nights in the upstairs of a local pub (still there, 2009), (4) therefore they were “drinking buddies,” (5) Naaman died quickly of suspected typhoid or diphtheria, at a time when the local laws required that people with such diseases be buried the same day or the following day, (6) The Fletchers did not have a cemetery plot and so Dave’s g-g-g uncle stepped forward and had Naaman buried in their plot. The name of the cemetery in Wabash, IN, where Naaman is buried is Falls Cemetery. Years later, the International Fraternity raised money to re-do Naaman’s tombstone, as shown bottom left. Several Indiana chapters still take turns sending members to Falls Cemetery once or twice a year to keep Naaman’s gravesite groomed and tidy. All the other people at rest in this plot are Dave’s ancestors. GRADUATE BROTHER UPDATE Dave Todd’s personal alumni newsletter (thanks to social media sources and some emails): Omega Chi Purple Legionnaire Steve Caine (New Mexico 1997) and his wife Natalie gave birth to their first son, Cameron, in December 2014. Married: Mikey Binder (2009) and Rachel, wed in Colorado, in the ceremony were RJ and Tomer. Married: Tony DeFrancis (2011) and Sophia, now our neighbors in Newport Beach and 100 yards away from Mag’s Donuts/Bakery, which has fed Fiji, pledge classes for 7 years. Brandon Marcia (2008): High school teacher and baseball coach at Saugus HS and world traveler, married to Kate. Valen Ahlo (2007) producer/director and actor in Honolulu, credits on Hawaii 5-0. Alex Westmore (2008), family has star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame which some Chapman Volume 7, Issue 3 Spring 2016 Fijis attended, now exec at Rooftop Films and VICE (media agency). David Norman (2008) spent several years with PricewaterhouseCoopers then moved on to be a financial executive at an international sports apparel company, offices in The OC and in France, married to Kim, son Jack born January 7. 4 \r\nGRADUATE BROTHER UPDATE CONTINUED... Todd Bui (2010) Doctorate in physical therapy from USC, married to DD. Baby on the way. Aaron Bollinger (2010) moved from the Dodgers to Arizona in July 2015 Ryan Yoshida (2010) showed up at PL Steve Caine’s wedding - great career in progress in medical instruments. Garrett Burk (2011) still listens to Eagles CDs as he drives around. Tyler Hadzinsky (2011) is in the front office at St. Louis Cardinals. Garrett Meyer (2011) is married to Natalie, is working in health care products, and they both really like Chocolate Labrador retrievers. THIS CHRONOLOGY STOPS AT 2012 - STAY TUNED FOR LATER YEARS. BUT IN THE MEANTIME, IF YOU EVER BIKE THE BEACH ROUTE IN NEWPORT, HERE ARE SOME FIJI REFUGES YOU CAN VISIT: BALBOA PIER AREA: Taylor Parks (2017) and Jason Tiger (2015) WEST PENINSULA: 29th Street - Dom Tornambe (2011) and Cameron Jalbert (2011) 30th Street - Chris Le Torneau (2013) 34th Street - Colin Toerge (2013), Colby Yoshimura (2013) and Carter Haslam (2013) Inland a few blocks: - Michael Rolfes (2012) Please submit corrections/additions PLEDGE EDUCATION By: Max Minervini (2018) On December 13, 2015, the Tau pledge class was initiated into the Omega Chi Fiji chapter at Chapman University. 20 new brothers pledged and were initiated during the 2015 Fall term at Chapman. Brothers Alex Venckus (2016) and Edric Ruiz (2016) served as the pledge educators for the Tau pledge class, mentoringthese young gentlemen and molding them into FIJIs. The Tau pledge class was involved in philanthropy as well during their pledging semester. As a pledge class, they all participated in an Alzheimer’s walk where they raised $3,920 towards Alzheimer’s research in the weeks leading up to the event. On the day of the event, all twenty of the pledges participated in the walk in Huntington Beach. Recruitment for the spring 2016 pledge class begins on Feb. 13. The alumni dinner will take place on Wed., Feb. 24 at 6:30 pm, at 828 E Vista del Playa Ave., Orange, CA 92865. Hope to see you all there! 5 \r\nNonprofit Org U.S. Postage Paid Lexington, KY Permit # 540 Omega Chi Chapter of PHI GAMMA DELTA CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY 1201 Red Mile Rd P.O. Box 4599 Lexington, KY 40544-4599 Design, printing and mailing services provided by the International Fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta. TAU PLEDGE CLASS Nima Anjedani (2019) - Orinda, California Sebastian Barahal (2019) - from Kailua, Hawaii Caelin Batstone (2019) - San Francisco, California Robert Degen (2018) - Boise, Idaho Clayton Dirkse (2019) - Lake Oswego, Oregon Jonathan Grace (2019) - Lake Oswego, Oregon Jake Herman (2019) - Los Angeles, California Solomon Leaman (2018) - Marin, California Mark Luberski (2019) - Yorba Linda, California Jorge Lymberopulos (2019) - Panama City, Panama Jack McAdam (2019) - Davis, California Jack Powell (2019) - Seattle, Washington Carlos Quintana (2017) - Orange, California Weston Ruhland (2019) - Marin, California Daniel Segerblom (2017) - Costa Mesa, California Ryan Turley (2019) - Manhattan Beach, California Colton Wackman (2019) - Elk Grove, California Jacob Wells (2018) - Sammamish, Washington Connor Wiegmann (2019) - Montgomery, New Jersey Nick Yahid (’19) - Tiburon, California For any questions, comments, or concerns concerning the content of the newsletter please contact the Public Relations Chairman Daniel Starkand. Daniel Starkand: (818) 749-1707. stark119@mail.chapman.edu