Fall 2005 Edition of Rattle
The latest edition of the Rattle is available. Read about what is going on with Omega chapter and its brothers.
Inside this edition:
I Don’t Have Time… But I will Try - By Dave West (Beta Zeta/Michigan State - CEO and Executive Director
There have been so many.
So very many. Some began when they were retired. Some began a few years after graduation from college. Some began when they moved to a city or town in which a Theta Chi chapter, colony, or interest group was located. Some began when they moved away from home and they wanted to connect with a familiar organization.
Some said, "I'm too busy...but I will help where I can." Some said, "No way" at first, but later agreed with the condition that, "Okay, but just for a semester." Some said, "Let me try this out, but no promises."
I can't think of anyone from this group over the years who said, "Sure, I have plenty of extra time to help-put me to work," or, "I've been looking for something else to do with my time." Not one. It has always been the busy people who we tapped on the shoulder for one more thing to further complicate their lives. Some responded to a personal request from undergraduates.
Some responded to the clarion call letter or electronic message with the time-honored phrase, "We need help-the chapter is sinking." Some stepped up when others stepped down. Some responded to an advertisement in the faculty bulletin, or to a comment during a presentation by a Consultant, a Regional Counselor, a National officer or an administrative staff member who said "Your Helping Hand is needed."
Some were approached at homecoming. Some were contacted by another alumnus who gave them the encouragement (the shove) to reach that tipping point of "Okay, (sigh) I'll give it the old college try." Some were recruited by undergraduate officers who, with foresight and wisdom beyond their years, saw a good match with their chapters. Some were contacted by a staff member who said, "Here's our need-do you know anyone who can help us?" and the response was, "Yeah ...well, maybe me." And, "maybe" turned into ten or twelve years of dedicated service.
They are our advisors. Alumnus, Chapter, Financial, Faculty... the title is not nearly as important as the person. They are our Alumni Corporation officers or Chapter or Colony Advisory Board members. And regardless of the title, these men and women become the key people in the perpetuation and improvement of a chapter or a colony or interest group.
And there has never been one best way to advise or one best philosophical approach or one best style or manner of advising. There is only one common factor among so many diffeent people, and that is that these people were willing to Be There for the undergraduates on a regular basis.
Names? There are hundreds. I can't begin to list them all. Let me name a few.
Allen Aldrich, Alpha Omicron/Washington State, who became involved with his chapter in Pullman, a long haul from the Seattle area where Allen lives. Keith Buchanan, Delta Gamma/West Virginia Wesleyan, who stood by his chapter through a reorganization and other challenges, Howard Cavner, who has been quietly instrumental in the birth and development of our Iota Beta chapter at Southwest Missouri. Mike Davidson, Tau/Florida, who has been there for his chapter through some very challenging times.
Colonel Robert Elliott, an ROTC officer who stepped forward to help out at Alpha Sigma/Oregon and has continued to do so. Dr. Jon Fleming, Alpha Mu/Iowa State, our long-time advisor who has always answered the bell and who has been positive and progressive through a number of changes and challenges at the chapter. And on to the other end of the alphabet with Hugh Pence, Alpha Delta/Purdue, a longtime advocate for the chapter, and Bob Williams, Alpha Zeta/Rochester, who has done the same in New York state.
How about those who were initiated at one chapter but share their time with another chapter?
Joost Keesing (L) recipent of the 2005 Duane Deal Advisor of the Year Award, at our Chapter Leadership Confrence XI, with Howard R. Alter Jr., Executive Director Emeritus - July 2005
Joost Keesing, Epsilon Sigma/Wagner, who received our Duane Deal Advisor of the Year Award at our Chapter Leadership Conference XI on July 16th, 2005. Joost worked with our Omega chapter at Penn State for a number of years. Jim Thompson, Beta/MIT, who recently completed ten years of service on the Norwich Housing Corporation, has continued to help at Omega as well. Terry Johnson, Gamma Pi/SUNY-Buffalo, who has been such a positive force for us with the recolonization of Gamma Rho at Florida State, along with Bruce Hoffmann, Tau/Florida, who has also jumped in at Gamma Rho to assist.
And, the late-Duane Deal, the brother for whom our "Advisor of the Year" award is named: Duane was a 1947 alumnus of Gamma Phi/Nebraska Wesleyan who stepped up to serve as faculty advisor at Delta Kappa/Ball State University in 1952 and never stopped advising, helping, counseling, and working with young men until he joined the Chapter Eternal in the summer of 2001.
They exemplify the simple concept that Theta Chi is an international Fraternity and that when help is needed, the letters next to the badge—the chapter guard—are not nearly as important as the "Theta" and "Chi."
Members of another men's national fraternity who have advised Theta Chi chapters? Absolutely.
Put Pat Nicosia, Pi Kappa Alpha, on the "A" team. Pat worked with our Eta Phi chapter at Oakland University for more than twenty years. David Bechtel, an alumnus of Alpha Gamma Rho, who worked so hard with Rho/Illinois.
We can list them by team leader-the alumnus members who came into the huddle, looked everyone in the eye, and said, "Let's go." Leadership is example.
We can start with Ray Rumanowski and a group of other Delta/RPI alumni who came forward when the chapter foundered in 2000. They rolled up their sleeves and started helping. Darick Brown and Craig Dennis at Eta Gamma/Morehead State. Rob Lytle, Zeta Lambda/Westminster. Jesse Springer at Gamma Chi/Randolph-Macon. More recently, John Horvat and James Pratt at Eta Phi/Oakland. Paul Lobo at Iota/Colgate. Alex Ferrini at Lambda/Cornell, who continues to hang in there with us through tough times. Paul Accampo, Mu/California-Berkeley. Rick Conner, Alpha Delta/Purdue, who has cycled through a number of positions with the corporation but who has always been our go-to guy.
How about those who double-dipped and helped at two chapters? Write in ever-loyal Graham Kenneweg at the top of that list, with his work at Alpha Kappa/West Virginia and his alma mater, Delta Gamma/West Virginia Wesleyan.
Women have played an increasingly important role in advising our chapters and colonies. Recent alumni of Epsilon Phi/Central Missouri will quickly note that guidance and leadership from Glenda Goetz, who served as advisor for several years, were key reasons for the turn-around in that chapter. Glenda is a recipient of our Mabel Oswaldt Appreciation Award for her work. Marty Marty is helping us at Iota Beta/Southwest Missouri. Karla Karney, whose advising at Iota Alpha/University of North Carolina-Wilmington was an integral part of the success of that new chapter.
And those who were initiated into Theta Chi after becoming involved with a chapter or colony? Fr. Philip Bowers, who was such a force at Alpha Delta/Purdue and on the campus itself, who served on the Grand Chapter and who continues to serve the Fraternity. Brandon Chong, Epsilon Zeta/Tampa has been a real find for us and his help with the colony and then reinstalled chapter has been significant. Fr. John Grace, Eta Kappa/James Madison, who has had a very positive impact with the chapter. "Doc" Leland at Eta Pi/East Stroudsburg.
How about former volunteers at the National level who "retired" and then continued to work at the local level with their chapters and alumni corporations? As they say at Staples, "Yeah, we got them."
Carlton Bennett, Zeta Pi/Old Dominion, a Past National President who continues to be a force with his chapter. Leon "Buzz" Stroud, Delta Alpha/Linfield, who has helped his brothers for seventeen years since he stepped down from the Grand Chapter. Lindsay Olsen, Delta Psi/Kansas, Dick Meyer, Gamma Phi/Nebraska Wesleyan, Dale Taylor and Fulton Hamilton from Alpha Phi/Alabama, and David DeVol, Gamma Theta/San Diego State, who has contributed in so many ways locally, regionally, and Nationally.
And, Al Bulliner, Beta Sigma/Lehigh, who drove from New York City to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania on a weekly basis several years ago to help with the education of a newly recruited group of members who were literally rebuilding the chapter. Jerry Tahajian, Beta Upsilon/CSU Fresno. Dr. Bryan Holcomb, Zeta Xi/California-Davis. Warren Hoffman, Alpha Iota/Indiana, who is helping in the recolonization of our chapter in Bloomington. Tom Van Cleave, Beta Rho/Illinois Wesleyan; Tom has been the first brother we called for help or assistance and he has always responded.
Current volunteers at the National level who divide their time between our Fraternity and their chapters? Read on. Jim McQuade, Beta Sigma/Lehigh, who serves us so well on the Risk Management and Standards Committee and has also led and helped his alumni corporation. Joseph Couch, Chi/Auburn, who shares his time now with the Regional staff and the alumni corporation for his chapter at the Loveliest Village on the Plains. Alex Ruiz, Epsilon Psi/NJIT, who also serves on the Risk Management and Standards Committee but remains active with his chapter.
The biggest part of being an advisor is the "Be," as in "Being There," at the meetings, on the phone, at the keyboard.
It is the hand on the shoulder, the encouragement of a young leader, the quiet conversation after the meeting. It is also the stronger message at the appropriate time. It is standing up to those who would tear a chapter down. It is the reminder of precedent, the rejoinder to those who would eliminate positive tradition for the sake of change, and the calm, reasoned response to those who would sacrifice meaningful change for tradition.
Another CEO of a men's national fraternity once likened a good advisor or involved corporation officer to the keel on a large sailboat. "You never see it," he said, "but it provides direction and stability... all under water and out of view. The keel does not provide the power and it does not steer the boat, but without it, the boat would tip, founder and sink, especially in stormy conditions." Well stated.
Our thanks to all of our advisors, our corporation officers, our CAB members...for being our keels, especially when the waves rise and the wind begins to moan through the rigging. And, thanks for saying, "Yes" when you were asked to help ...a year ago, ten years ago, fifty years ago. We are a better brotherhood because of you.
Chapter Eternal
Ross B. Brode
Cedric L. Chapman, 1932
F. N. Gartside, 1923
Albert W. Johnson III, 1960
Robert E. Ritz, 1949
Nelson D. Zimmerman, 1927
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