Chris has shown leadership and dedication to the Fraternity from the beginning. As an undergraduate, Chris attended Phi Delta Theta’s Leadership College in 1997 and the 82nd General Convention in San Antonio, Texas. From serving as the social chairman and secretary for his chapter, Chris exemplified the character of a great leader early on. In addition to his Fraternity involvement, he served as the president in the student government association at UND.

“The continued support and invaluable relationships provided by Phi Delta Theta helped me develop skills and a network to pursue a career path in sports and entertainment, which I am grateful for.”

Chris Semrau, North Dakota ’97, Distingushed Alumnus Award Recipient

Brother Chris M. Semrau exemplifies the qualities and achievements this award seeks to honor. As the General Manager of Paycom Center, home of the NBA’s OKC Thunder, and Prairie Surf Studios in Oklahoma City, Semrau has overseen a remarkable period of growth and success. Since his arrival, Paycom Center has experienced a significant increase in touring events, culminating in a record-breaking year in 2022. The Country Music Association also recognized the excellence of Paycom Center by naming it as a finalist for ‘Venue of the Year’ in 2023.

Chris’ contributions to the entertainment industry have been widely acknowledged. As one of the youngest General Managers of a major professional sports facility in North America, he was a 2022 finalist for Venue Executive of the Year by the International Entertainment Buyers Association. Additionally, Chris has been selected four times by Venue’s Today Magazine as a finalist for Booking Achievement, underscoring his exceptional talent and dedication to his profession. Notably, 405 Magazine recently named Brother Semrau to its ‘Metro’s Most Influential’ list, further cementing his reputation as a leader in his field.

Prior to his role in Oklahoma City, Chris played a pivotal role in the construction and opening of the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. During his tenure, the PREMIER Center garnered significant recognition. He was named a finalist for an Academy of Country Music Awards for Venue of the Year three times and Pollstar’s Best New Concert Venue. Chris has made an impactful and lasting mark on the entertainment landscape.

Chris has made an impactful and lasting mark on the entertainment landscape, and with this impact, the General Council of Phi Delta Theta has recognized Chris Semrau with the Distinguished Alumnus Award.

The post Chris Semrau – Phi Delta Theta’s 2024 Distinguished Alumnus Award Recipient appeared first on Phi Delta Theta.

By Brian Lynn, Eastern Washington ’98

Our college years and ongoing membership in Phi Delta Theta has enriched our lives and given us all a foundation upon which to build our futures. Both institutions delivered experiences and relationships that helped form our worldview while providing friendships that serve as a support system and navigate life’s trials and tribulations after college.

But times change, and time changes all.

World views often shift with circumstances and perspectives as we age or advance up the corporate ladder; college relationships morph or slowly fall by the wayside as we continue to move forward in life.

For the men of Washington Epsilon at Eastern Washington University (EWU), however, an annual Memorial Day weekend camping trip has helped keep those relationships intact, despite the rigors and distractions of life throughout the rest of the year.

What was once a brothers’ only weekend for a few alumni has, as happens with all circumstances and relationships, transformed into a family affair that now occurs annually, including everyone from toddlers to the Washington Epsilon Founders who were on the first camping trips.

The Early Years (when we were young, single, and poor)

In the mid-to-late 1990s, the Founders of Phi Delta Theta at EWU had recently graduated and wanted to reconnect over the long Memorial Day weekend. The alumni decided upon a camping trip, and a “Boys’ Weekend” was born.

It was a typical affair for men in their early 20s. Hikes, mountain biking, and fishing during the day. Talk of new jobs, blossoming careers, and impending relationships over beers around a campfire at night. College friendships renewed for another year over laughter as each alumnus began to find their way in the real world.

And then it happened. A jolting change to the brotherly dynamic.

Girlfriends began to tag along. In the opinion of some, it was perfectly fine. To others, this was tantamount to treason, and banishment was the appropriate punishment (or at least unrelenting heckling).

In time, women won out and the traditional weekend set aside for manly adventure became known simply as the Memorial Day Camping Trip, and girlfriends were welcome. Harmony was restored, and all was well.

But then it got worse.

Those girlfriends became wives!

In time, those wives began to birth offspring. As everyone knows, children present an entirely different set of circumstances. If the brothers’ only weekend wasn’t dead with girlfriends and wives present, it would surely perish with the arrival of diapers, formula, and Baby Bjorn carriers.

But the men of Washington Epsilon persevered and dragged their girlfriends, wives, and the subsequent broods into the Cascade Mountains every Memorial Day weekend. The group pitched tents on the cold, hard, wet ground and set up coolers of food, beer, and baby formula.

Balance was once again found.

However, not all was harmonious. Camping has a way of bringing out different stressors than those found in the city’s rat race while climbing the corporate ladder.

Friends, brothers even, don’t always see eye to eye. Spouses, especially those new to a group, don’t always appreciate a tradition—especially when it involves roughing it. More than once, the growing group of young Phi Delt alumni faced conflict head-on.

There was the infamous Marshmallow Incident of ’98, when two brothers, who shall remain nameless, took the tossing of marshmallows too far and ended up wrestling in the mud one dark and stormy night while everyone else took shelter, watching from under tarps strung between trees. Nearly twenty years later, the two must maintain a fair distance from each other during s’mores assemblage.

Much like a family outgrows their first home, the small campground that housed the dozen or so campers in the early years just didn’t work for all the new alumni that wanted to join in the weekend. The group required a bigger place with warmer, drier weather.

The Mid-Life Years (married with children and aging)

Those early camping years were enjoyable in the same way that college was— nobody knew any different.

Now, more than 20 year later, the Memorial weekend camping trip is now known as Phi Camp. And, like those who have been around since the inception, a certain stability and level of comfort has come with middle age.

Like snowbirds, the camp has moved to a secret spot on the east side of the Cascade Mountains so as to increase the chance of sunny, warm weather. Where tents once littered campgrounds, now fewer do, as wives have put their feet down and brothers in their 40s find less enjoyment as they did in their 20s upon waking on the hard ground; an armada of trailers, RVs and fifth wheels the size of some of our college apartments now stand.

And then there’s the children. So. Many. Children.

Apparently, Phi Delts are a productive lot, as children now outnumber adults, and those babies holstered to their father’s chests during competitive games in the early years are now readying to graduate from high school (with several becoming legacies in Phi Delta Theta).

Phi Camp has taken on a middle-aged consistency. Brothers and wives from the 1990s to the 2010s congregate, laugh, and share. Children from newborns to high schoolers do the same, each age group of kids finding their own way and entertainment for what’s become a four-day weekend. Trailers, grills, and coolers are shared. If a stray child shows up at a picnic table or trailer, it gets fed and then scurries off with a group of peers until the next meal.

Annual traditions continue to evolve: games for young and old(er) alike; a potluck-dinner night; a bouncy castle, big-screen movie night and piñata for the kids; karaoke night at a brother’s trailer; a water fight instigated by children against unsuspecting parents; S’mores around the campfire (with proper supervision of children and specific brothers); the yearly kickball game that the youngest to oldest camper plays in. There’s even Phi Camp apparel each year.

One ritual, a throwback to chapter members’ school days at Washington Epsilon, takes place on Saturday night. A long walk by the brothers in which they take turns sharing with one another what’s going on in their lives – success or hardship, it matters not, everyone listens silently to whomever has the floor, offering support or congratulations afterwards.

It’s a bit of an ode to the brothers only weekend from which this family tradition has sprung. Those brotherly bonds have now connected families and different generations of Phi Delt alumni. What started with a few guys escaping for the weekend has turned into a camping clan of 100 or more brothers, wives and children gathering to celebrate the foundation and relationships they built as members of Phi Delta Theta and continue to nurture today.

Two founders shared their thoughts about what being a founder of Washington Epsilon means to them.

Comments from two founders:

“The defining and proud role of founding the Washington Epsilon Chapter of Phi Delta Theta provided many opportunities to me and the members of our interest group, emerging chapter, and chapter. The process to establish a chapter and come together as young men was both challenging and rewarding.”

Upon reflection, this quote rings true, “Nothing worth doing is easy.” Most importantly, what I’ve learned is that relationships made and maintained are priceless. Every year those who are able gather for Phi Camp each Memorial Day weekend.

Throughout the year we stay connected with family vacations, Seahawk games, skiing, golfing, mountain biking, hunting, and other spontaneous connections. When times get interesting, we know that we can call one another for support and advice. In sad times, we often share one another’s grief at the death of a loved one. Or even the closing of our beloved chapter.

Our sons and daughters are now entering college, and many are choosing to join a fraternity or sorority, including four legacy Phis at Eastern Washington University! We are truly blessed to have Washington Epsilon as part of our lives.”

–Kevin Dull Bond #1, Eastern Washington, ’93

“I could write reams about the impact of the Washington Epsilon Chapter on me in the thirty years since we joined together and embraced the principles of Friendship, Sound Learning, and Rectitude. New research has shown that our happiness levels in life are related to our relationships, not money or health even, but friendships. Even when I moved to a different state, through the many life events that have transpired in our lives, the founders maintain contact. And the legacy continues through our children. And sadly, three founders have entered the Chapter Grand.

We continue to find ways to be together. In fact, just this month we started the WaE Investment Club as we prepare for retirement.

My experience is wrapped up by this scripture –

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” -Psalm 133:1.

–Blake DeFrance, Bond # 13, Eastern Washington, ’93

Thoughts from three campers, and newest generation of Phis

Camden Weber has been attending Phi Camp with his uncle, Bond # 72, Kolby Schafer, Eastern Washington ’96, and cousin, Brayton since he was in the first grade.

What was initially just “a blast” became an annual weekend event that Camden looked forward to every summer. As he grew up, he said that the campers became like family, “always happy to see me, and asking about me and my family each year.”

Favorite highlights include the all-age-kickball game. We had kids from five-years-old, to the most senior Phi Delts on teams competing and laughing with one another.

“As a kid, all I knew was that these were buddies in college in this thing called Phi Delt. And what I knew, is that the memorial weekend Phi Camp was fun. And I looked forward to it every year.”

When Camden was in high school, and beginning to consider colleges, he also had a grasp on what this alumni weekend meant to his uncle and his uncle’s chapter brothers. “Even though college was back in the 1990s, they were still like best friends, they never missed a beat from year to year, catching up with one other’s life stories, sharing in the successes, and working through the struggles.”

When I realized I’d be going to Eastern Washington, I knew I’d want to be part of Phi Delt. Recruitment occurred in January 2021, and Camden is one of the newest Phikeias of the Washington Epsilon Chapter.

–Phikeia Camden Weber, nephew of Kolby Schafer, Eastern Washington ’96

According to Camden’s camp buddy, and now Washington Epsilon Big Brother, Riley Eggleston, “Phi camp has shown that the friendship and bonds within the Fraternity are for a lifetime. Since I was just a little kid, I remember the kickball games, biking around camp, and the goofy made-up games that we played all weekend long.”

“Looking back at those weekends, I now know it was a way for Phis to catch up on life, their struggles, and the watch their kids grow up! It’s crazy how big Phi Camp has become since our first camp. It gets bigger and better each year!”

–Legacy Riley Eggleston is a member at WA Epsilon. His father is Founder Keith Eggleston, Bond #6, Eastern Washington ’96

Hunter Johnson, Idaho ’22, started coming to Phi Camp when his mom started dating his now stepdad, Adam Hendricks, Eastern Washington ’04.

Like the other guys, the early attraction to camp was the all-out fun and games the kids had while at the camp.

As he aged, he began to see the connection with the life and friendships his stepdad had with his college fraternity brothers. As he got closer to college decisions, he realized a college with Phi Delta Theta would was an important consideration.

When he was admitted to the University of Idaho, and he learned there was a Phi Delta Theta Chapter, he pursued membership. By this time, some of his camp friends were also committing to Phi Delt back at Eastern Washington. He and Riley Eggleston are the same age and were entering college at different places but with some of the same intentions.

Hunter was offered a bid, and he has made it his Phi-life mission to help Idaho Alpha form their very own Phi Camp, modeled exactly like the one he grew up attending.

Hunter talked about it during recruitment. He talked about Phi Camp during new member period, and he continues to beat the drum of starting that camp upon his graduation. He is paving the way for Idaho Alpha alumni to have their very own camp, and he hopes one day to be looking back, seeing his buddies and their families grow up, just like the guys back in Washington have.

“My stepdad came to my initiation and participated in the weekend’s activities. It was a special moment and the fact that we share the Bond is even better. I knew it was worth pursuing, but now that I’m living the Phi Delt life in Idaho, I am confident that this is all only the very beginning.”

–Legacy Hunter Johnson, Idaho ’22, stepson to Adam Hendricks, ’04

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Written by Brad Dickinson, Purdue ’80

About fourteen years ago three brothers were skiing in Utah together, and on the gondola rides between ski and snow board runs, the three concocted a plan to help make the Indiana Theta Chapter House stand out on campus. With the institution of alcohol-free housing, and no longer being able to use the aspect of the best house party to attract new members, they brainstormed ways to make the most prime student housing real estate property on campus (across the street from the student union and in the very center of campus) a premier recruitment tool.

• From the class of 1980, Andy Bosworth, David Tavitian, and Brad Dickinson devised a program called Alumni in Action (AIA), which predates the Chapter Advisory Board model.

Three goals of an annual fall workdays are:

• To compete with other fraternities by having the nicest house on campus.
• To develop relationships with undergraduate members, not just write checks.
• To advise, plan, work together on common goals to deepen the bond of friendship and brotherhood.
• To teach transferable skills in managing a property, through regular maintenance, remodeling, planning, project management, and communications.

The original weekend schedule:

• Thursday night telethon: alumni and undergraduates make phone calls to alumni to explain the current house projects, create buy in, and ask alumni to contribute toward accomplishing the goals.
• Friday day: alumni begin work on projects, and as class work finishes for the undergraduates, the students work alongside alumni to accomplish projects.
• Friday night: alumni sponsor a steak fry at the house and they enjoy fellowship.
• Saturday: work as needed and alumni host gathering before the home football game.
• Saturday night: social as it happens naturally, out on their own.
• Sunday: finish up any projects that require more time.

The AIA officers and current Chapter Advisory Board members now meet with the chapter every winter or spring to advise. Then, the CAB advisers meet with their respective chapter officers to check in. Then the CAB advisers meet with their respective officers for annual check in.

• Andy Bosworth is the steady presence, as chairman of the CAB, and plans the fall AIA weekend and organizes rentals when necessary. The chapter president and house manager are the undergraduate leaders who coordinate on site.
• Every year they print a t-shirt to commemorate the event and generously give free shirts to the undergraduate Phis.
• Projects this year included the back of the house four story stairwell that was in desperate need of updates and painting. Past projects include an updated dining room, media room, and frequent updates to the common areas.
• Through the years they’ve made lasting friendships. Last year Dickinson, Tavitian, and Bosworth invited several undergraduates to the Dickinson lake house for the weekend along with other alumni brothers.

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Throughout college, I had various jobs that crafted my view on life. I worked as a student ambassador for West Liberty University and showed off the campus to prospective students. I volunteered on political campaigns and was a full-time staffer on a state senate campaign. My final job prior to graduation was a part-time role at an automobile showroom in the Ohio Valley. I started out by assisting with human resources, accounts payable/receivable, and social media strategies. After three months, I was on the sales floor. I was making great money for a young kid still in college and was on the fast track for a sales manager role if I played my cards right. Nevertheless, I declined the opportunity. The hours were long and rigid and car sales did not allow me the proper time for my studies at West Liberty. So, I fully committed to my final two semesters. Though I loved working at the dealership, if I was ever going to be able to pay back my school loans, I knew that a degree was important.

With the extra time on my hands, I dove in and committed much of my time to Phi Delta Theta. Serving as the chapter president of the West Virginia Gamma Chapter provided some of the most valuable learning experiences I had as an undergraduate. I learned how to communicate with my brothers, with my fraternity and sorority life advisor, and other faculty and staff, plus learned an awful lot about my own leadership style.

With these skills fine-tuned, our Leadership Consultant Matt Fritsch, Northwest Missouri State ’14, spoke with me about the opportunities that Phi Delta Theta held for fraternity leaders after college. I wanted nothing to do with it! I had aspirations to pursue a career in political communications after college and if that did not work out, I had left the car dealership on good terms and would go back into sales until the time was right for me to jump back in to the political arena.

Then, Colin Hueser, Iowa State ’13, who was a leadership consultant during the time that West Virginia Gamma Colony become a chapter, called me and also pitched the potential opportunity of me becoming an LC. Because this was the second time it was mentioned to me, I began to consider the possibility. He reminded me that elections are every two years and they could wait if I wanted to take a break, see some of the country, and grow my network outside of West Virginia. This caught my attention so I called my chapter advisor and he said I would be crazy to not fully consider an opportunity to work with the capable staff of Phi Delta Theta’s General Headquarters. I then spoke with my then girlfriend, now fiancée, who told me that if Chi Omega ever came knocking that she would definitely go through the interview process.

Well, you can guess the rest of the story. I interviewed at GHQ, was offered the role as an LC, accepted the job, and traveled Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, and parts of Indiana, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and one Canadian province. My tenure with Phi Delta Theta lasted a little over a year-and-a-half, and upon completing my commitment as an LC to the Fraternity, I shipped out to Columbus where I began working with the Ohio Trucking Association (OTA).

You may now be asking yourself how and why did Evan Newman end up working with the Ohio Trucking Association? Well, the answer is simple: it was a Phi Delta Theta connection. The President and CEO of the OTA, Tom Balzer, is a North Dakota Alpha Phi and saw in me the potential to give back to the OTA in the same way I was able to give back to Phi Delta Theta, West Virginia politics, the car dealership, and West Liberty. I now work as the director of membership for the Ohio Trucking Association and love it! I work on recruitment, retention, engagement, and development efforts with some of Ohio’s brightest transportation leaders. In my spare time, I am also on the steering committee for the Phi Delta Theta Central Ohio Alumni Club. Our mission is to serve Central Ohio’s Phi Delta Theta Alumni and undergraduates at Ohio Wesleyan University, Otterbein University, Ohio State University, and Dennison University.

After three meetings, I have been able to connect with four other former Phi Delta Theta GHQ staffers: Tom Balzer, North Dakota ’99, Allan Williams, Ashland ’10, Larry Carr, Bowling Green State ’73, and Dick Walters, Ashland ’72. Tom and Allan worked on the executive leadership team and Foundation respectively. Fun fact about Larry and Dick, they both worked as leadership consultants with Bob Biggs, the current executive vice president and CEO, and the man who hired me! Things came full circle for Larry and Dick as we laughed about this at the Central Ohio Alumni Club’s recent Founder’s Day Banquet.

Though it’s equally effective to become a volunteer straight out of college, like many working with the Central Ohio PDT Alumni Club, I would venture to say that having a bridge by working at Phi Delta Theta General Headquarters has had a huge impact on me and so many of us who have served as leadership consultants.

Whether it is attending an annual conference or regional workshop, or applying for an internship or job as a leadership consultant, there are many ways to enjoy the rewarding Phi Delta Theta connections throughout your lifetime. I highly recommend any and all such connections.

The post Phi Delta Theta Connections Can Change Your Life If You Allow Them To appeared first on Phi Delta Theta.

“I had no idea when taking on the role in 2005, how long I would serve; only that I wanted to get give back; and the opportunity to do so at my grandfather’s chapter was very special to me. I’ve been fortunate enough, even in years with heavy air travel, to have the autonomy to schedule around getting out to Manhattan, Kansas every other Wednesday night or so to work with the chapter and officers.

The best organizations continue to innovate and evolve. They ride the wave, and when it crests, they start to build a new wave. It’s no different with fraternities, or careers in the corporate world. With change comes opportunity and having recently accepted a promotion that involves a relocation, it’s with bittersweet emotions that I have to announce that I will be stepping down as Chapter Advisor. Despite the necessary self-disruption in the name of progress and career evolution, knowing what it would mean for my ability to work with the chapter made it that much tougher a decision in a way that’s difficult to describe. At some point, it becomes more than just ‘giving back,’ it becomes part of who you are. Fortunately, Kansas Gamma has a resurgent alumni base, and I’ve been able to tap into the last 12 years of graduates to augment the Chapter Advisory Board. I’m hopeful to pass the torch to a guy well known and liked by many of you (looking at you James Barrick).

Since 2005, I’ve averaged 8 trips/semester, 120 miles one-way, door to door from Olathe. 16 or more trips a year and 3,900 miles/year; roughly 46,000 miles. 24 Exec Board Retreats either in Manhattan or somewhere in Kansas City helping develop and set officer, exec, and chapter goals. It hasn’t been all business, there have been plenty of retreats followed by brotherhood and 15 undergraduates crashing at my house after BBQ, and many great times. I’ve had the opportunity to initiate close to 300 Phis at Kansas Gamma, mentor and develop 12 chapter presidents, and many of the officers and members over the years. As advisor, you want to get to know everyone and impact them positively on a personal level as they grow and develop in life & college, but with limited time on-site, you only hope that you can find a way to reach some of the guys with the time that you have.

Over the years I’ve dealt with every major issue imaginable but will always remember the positives – the leadership conferences and Exec Board retreats, Friday Night Phis, winning the Phoenix Award at the ’06 Convention in Kansas City, stopping by tailgates, and watching the guys serenade sororities or proudly execute Homecoming performances. Over the years I’ve written dozens of letters of recommendation, reviewed countless resumes for my guys; and watched with pride as they’ve gone on to have success in life after college.

Working as an advisor, the work is never done. Phi Delta Theta thrives because of our enduring value system built on Morrison’s Philosophy, the Phikeia Oath, and our three Cardinal Principles. I’ve said it many times — the only thing stopping Kansas Gamma, is Kansas Gamma. Today, the sky is the limit and the future is bright.

In the end, what’s in a legacy? It’s not miles driven or awards won. It’s always been about the people I’ve been able to positively impact and leaving the chapter better than I found it. So, to all the alumni, but especially to “my guys,” those undergraduate members from 2005-today; I hope my legacy is the relationships and friendships built. Serving as advisor has been an honor and a privilege that I will always cherish. You know you can count on me, and I’ll always be an email, text, phone call, or tweet away.

Semper Fi, and Yours in the Bond,

Brandon G. Bogue

Chapter Advisory Board Chairman 2005 – 2017

The post Long-Time Kansas Gamma (Kansas State) CAB Chairman Bids Farewell With Heartfelt Letter To Chapter appeared first on Phi Delta Theta.

Over the past 18 months, I’ve had the honor of helping “birth” a new chapter of Phi Delta Theta at West Liberty University, West Virginia Gamma.

I recently ran into the mother of a current undergraduate at the grocery store.

She enthusiastically thanked me for helping the young men become a part of Phi Delta Theta, and she was completely thrilled with what her son had to say about the Kleberg Emerging Leaders Institute. She then asked why I stay involved. “Paying it forward” was the fast answer, but it was not good enough for her.

I initiated with Ohio Mu at Ashland College in 1979.

I was not the best active member –spotty attendance at meetings and events, late with my dues.

In spite of my shortcomings, the Fraternity was there for me. I was prodded by my brothers to do better in class, improve my attendance and stay involved. Whether they liked me or not, my brothers did what brothers do. The impact on my life was enormous.

Twenty years ago, a founding member of Ohio Mu insisted that I engage with Phi Delta Theta again. It was something more than an invitation. I became engaged again as a chapter adviser.

I can’t begin to describe to you what I get from working with a great group of young people, watching them grow as leaders and develop as individuals. I’m honored each time one of them calls and asks for my opinion. I’m thrilled when I watch them make decisions and act upon them, both as a group and as individuals. I’m proud with every success and am there for them when they fail.

It’s also the alumni and advisers from other chapters I get to meet that make the role so rewarding. Recently retired or still working, they bubble about the funds they raised for a new chapter house or the success of one of their chapter’s undergraduates or alumni.

Maybe I’m paying it forward, but I’m still receiving more than I could have imagined.

It might be selfish, but it’s the real reason I’m actively engaged with Phi Delta Theta.

The post Paying it Forward? appeared first on Phi Delta Theta.

As the chapter president of the Alberta Alpha Chapter at the University of Alberta, I understand the significance of alumni in sustaining the functionality of the Fraternity. A supportive Chapter Advisory Board is the difference between a good chapter and a strong chapter. Chris Uglanica is a true Phi Delt. Chris has helped our chapter through struggling times. Today, we at Alberta Alpha are proud of our progress, and we would like to thank Chris for his hard work and dedication to our chapter. By going beyond what is expected from our alumni, Chris regularly attends meetings and shares news from our CAB. In addition, he ensures we are in the right track to a better chapter. Helping with rush, taking composite photographs, and giving advice are only a small handful of tasks Chris has graciously offered us.

Chris is a fantastic brother. He will never shy away from giving advice or offering a helping hand. In addition, Chris will always be ready to lighten your day with an amusing story or a quirky joke. I can honestly say that Chris has greatly enriched my experience as a Phi Delt, and he is a primary reason of why Alberta Alpha has improved significantly over recent years.

Sean MacGregor was initiated into Alberta Alpha in January 2010. He is majoring in elementary education and hopes of getting a job as a teacher. He has held chapter offices, such as: fundraiser, recruitment chairman, vice president, risk management, and currently is serving as president of Alberta Alpha.

The post A Supportive CAB is the Difference Between a Good and a Strong Chapter appeared first on Phi Delta Theta.

I am Jack Sieke, the President of Phi Delta Theta’s Ohio Iota Chapter at Denison University.  I am a junior from Alexandria, Virginia and am writing today to talk about our Chapter Adviser, Chuck Gorman, Denison ’73.

Chuck started working as our alumni adviser around a year ago, and in that year, we have seen incredible improvement in our chapter, largely due to his influence.  Chuck was in Phi Delta Theta at Denison and his experience in the chapter during his undergraduate days led him back to us to step in and advise.  Chuck has taken his job with us very seriously. He has become very involved and always challenges us to push ourselves to the next level and remove complacency.  He has been extremely helpful to me as president to keep me accountable for everything and to make sure that I have all the help that I need in order to lead our chapter.

Many of our brothers play on the different sports teams on campus and Chuck does his best to follow our brothers and to congratulate them on big wins and personal victories as well.  Chuck and I sat next to each other this past Wednesday and watched our lacrosse team, led by two senior brothers, win their first round game of the NCAA national championship.  Coming to this game on a Wednesday afternoon to me shows Chuck’s dedication to our chapter.  He is always willing to drop anything to help out and advise our chapter.  Chuck really exemplifies the concept of brotherhood as he takes time out of his life to help us to become a better chapter and helps us to become the best that we can be.

Chuck and I talk a few times a week to just check in and while our conversations generally focus around the Fraternity, Chuck also works to make sure I am getting my schoolwork done and takes a genuine interest in what is going on in my life outside of the Fraternity.  Having him as a safety net and someone who is able to guide me in decisions that I make has been very helpful in my transition to being president.  He is always in my corner and helps me work through tough decisions that I have had to make, but he also helps me to see the other side of the decisions so that I truly can make the best decision for our chapter.

Thanks to Chuck, we have become closer as a chapter and have become a better version of ourselves.  I look forward to seeing where we can move as a chapter in the years to come with his advising.

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My Phi Delt experience has been filled by the presence of so many tremendous volunteers.  Many of them have never gotten a mention in The Scroll or during a convention; but they work hard for our undergraduate men and alumni brothers day after day.  I’ve been asked to write about a Fraternity volunteer who’s enriched my experience – and my life in general.  My variety of great experiences with many a Phi Delt volunteer makes it difficult to comment on one brother.

My first contact with the General Fraternity was through my province president when I was an undergraduate, Brother George Porosky. With his Mercedes Benz parked in the street across from the chapter house – parking lights on – he was a consistent, positive presence in our chapter.  Patient and ever in control, George steered us when we needed it and let us go when we needed to learn a lesson.  He hated our chapter meetings.  He thought they were too long. He’s an engineer so I think some of our ridiculousness was in firm contrast to George’s constitution. Those meetings were long, very long.  He was right of course.  But they were fun and I remember thinking there was no other place on the planet I’d rather be than down in the chapter room on Sunday nights.  George is a main figure in my mind’s memory of those days.

But, the volunteer who taught me perhaps my most treasured lesson about Phi Delta Theta is Brother Jim Warner.  Jim succeeded George as province president of Sigma South and prowls the sidelines of Northeast Ohio for us to this day.  Jim was an adviser at Akron with Ohio Epsilon – his alma mater just like George – when I first met him.  I was an undergraduate and remember meeting him at a Kent State homecoming.  Now, there is a rivalry between Akron and Kent; both institutionally and between our chapters.  So I was a tad perplexed by the presence of an ‘Akron Phi’ at a Kent homecoming.  But, when I met Jim I realized quickly that he didn’t care about what chapter you were from, he cared about you and he cared about Phi Delta Theta.  I learned from Jim a lesson that has led me to this position today on the General Council.  I learned that Phi Delt isn’t just about your home chapter and school.  It’s a whole lot more than that.  I learned that Phi Delt is an International brotherhood – not a chapter.  I learned that you can love your home chapter while serving an international brotherhood.  I learned that Phi Delt is a whole lot bigger than Kent State University.  And, make no mistake about it; I love Kent State and Ohio Lambda.

I’ll never be able to repay Jim for the gift he gave me.  He planted in me a curiosity about the larger organization.  I developed a thirst to know our brotherhood beyond the buildings of Kent, Ohio.  This curiosity lead me to intern at the General Headquarters, which lead to employment on the GHQ staff.  While working for GHQ I met my wife.  To this day, Jim’s gift returns to me ten-fold daily.  I can’t imagine my life without Phi Delta Theta.   I can’t imagine my Fraternity experience without the deep, gratifying experiences I’ve had serving the General Fraternity.  And, I can’t imagine being a Phi without Jim as my brother, mentor and friend.

Thanks Jim!

Brother Fabritius is the General Council Reporter. His other volunteer service to Phi Delt has included Education Commissioner and Province President. Rich lives in Atlanta with his wife, Heather, and their daughters, Austin and Reese. A past consultant and Director of Chapter Services for the General Headquarters Staff, he is a graduate of Kent State University and a member of the Ohio Lambda Chapter. Rich is Vice President, Managing Director of Brunner, an advertising and marketing agency. His hobbies include travel, golf, and boating.

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Phi Delta Theta is no mere campus interlude.  We’ve all heard it.  We’ve probably all said it at one point or another.  The real question is, have we all lived it?  My guess is probably not.  Another question: If we’ve all heard and probably said it, why don’t we live it?  My best guess?  Because we didn’t have alumni role models who showed us, as undergraduates, how to live the three Cardinal Principles after graduation.

I was one of the lucky ones.  I have two amazing role models that paved the way.  The first is my first chapter adviser, Dean Clark.  Dean is a 1963 graduate of the University of South Dakota and former Samuel V. Stone winner.  Through his presence at the chapter house, I knew he cared about us.  It wasn’t until his son James was initiated that I realized how much Phi Delt meant to him.  I had the honor of being James’ big brother and was never happier to let someone else pin the badge on my little brother’s chest as the night James signed The Bond, especially when I saw the look of pride in Dean’s eyes.  That was the first time, but certainly not the last, that I thought about my sons being initiated into the Fraternity.  It was also the first time I really understood transmitting the Fraternity to those who follow after, not only not less, but greater than it was transmitted to me.

My second role model is Doug Peterson, also my chapter adviser.  Doug was the chapter adviser while I was serving as chapter president.  During my first term as president, the University instituted a policy around alcohol consumption and left it to the chapter presidents to enforce.  The first weekend of the new policy coincided with one of the biggest “party weekends” of the year at USD.  After hearing about this, the first place I went was Doug’s office because I knew that if I enforced this policy I would be extremely unpopular with my chapter brothers, especially the seniors who were a year ahead of me.  Instead of brushing me off or letting me off easy, Doug held me accountable as a leader.  This event sticks out as it was the first time I learned one of the most valuable lessons on leadership: Often times, a leader can be liked or be effective and, sometimes, these two things are mutually exclusive.

These two events may seem like no big deal to some.  To me, they are two of the biggest reasons I went to work for the Fraternity and continue to volunteer for our organization.  I know I’ve made several guesses throughout this post, so here’s one more: If we had more volunteers to mentor the young men in our chapters, we would produce more volunteers to mentor young men in our chapters.  As a volunteer driven organization, this is about as important as it gets.  So, I ask one thing. If you’re able to volunteer, please do.  You never know what kind of impact you can have a young man’s life.

Jesse Moyer currently works at KnowledgeWorks, an education-focused social enterprise, as Manager, National Advocacy and Partnerships.  Prior to joining KnowledgeWorks, Brother Moyer served General Headquarters as a Leadership Consultant and as the Director of Chapter Services.  He is a 2003 graduate of the University of South Dakota where he earned a B.A. in contemporary media and journalism.  He went on to earn a Master of Education at Xavier University.  Jesse has held several volunteer positions within the Fraternity including serving as the current Zeta Province President.  Jesse, his wife Courtnee, and two sons Cooper (3) and Bentley (1) live in Hamilton, Ohio.

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Founders Day season is here. This year, on Robert Morrison’s 188th birthday, Phi Delta Theta celebrated its rich history throughout the United States and Canada. While events often occur on March 15, typically Founders Day events are scheduled from March-June depending on a chapter or alumni club’s traditions or schedule.

The great thing about Founders Day is that outside of practicing our Ritual, it is probably the most uniting and common thing that we do as Brothers of Phi Delta Theta. While chapters have many local traditions throughout the year, come spring time, brothers in California, Canada, and Connecticut are all  participating in a very similar event involving a Founders, Gold, and Silver Legion Ceremony, that was preceded by a banquet or golf outing. The words of those ceremonies remind us of our commitment to the Fraternity and honor those who have come before us.

The Golden and Silver Legion ceremonies in particular commemorate those who have remained committed to Phi Delta Theta well beyond graduation. While GHQ does send Golden Legion certificates to all that qualify, many alums don’t make it to an event to actually participate in the ceremony, see other alums, and to connect with the active chapter. It isn’t because they don’t want to connect, it’s just because they feel like they don’t have a relationship. GHQ can send as many emails, solicitations, or emails but the bottom line is that alumni, for the most part, want to connect with the individuals who signed the same Bond that they did and/or who lived in the same house as they did. But things change, and the longer you are out of school, the more distant you feel from your alma mater and chapter because you don’t know anyone and don’t have a clue of what’s going on at the chapter. That is unless the chapter is going out of their way to maintain that relationship.

And why should the chapter try to maintain a relationship with their alumni? Outside of the fact that as Fraternity brothers it is our obligation, there are terrific benefits to the active chapter as a whole and its members in communicating with our graduate brothers. Phi Delta Theta alumni are leaders in industry, government, and communities and would love to support a chapter by serving as a volunteer, mentor, or by offering networking and possible opportunities for jobs or internships. And you never know, alums might throw a couple of bucks your way as well.

So how does a chapter build that relationship with alumni? The Fraternity provides a number of terrific resources in this area, and I will highlight a few of them in the rest of this post. However, there are three terrific presentations on PDT U that discuss this topic at great length. The first is an Alumni Relations Webinar hosted by Pennington and Company’s Patrick Alderdice that was recorded last fall.  We also have two brand-new on-demand presentations prepared by Leadership Consultants, Justin Dandoy and Tucker Lee about Communicating with Your Alumni and Planning Alumni Events.

But in the meantime, here are a five basic concepts that I discuss with chapters whenever alumni relations comes up:

#1 – An alumni newsletter isn’t the only way to communicate with alumni

For years the only way we as a fraternity, felt we could communicate with our chapters was to send out a newsletter a few times a year. While newsletters are still a great way to communicate and should be regularly sent out, there are a number of new ways with technology that chapters can maintain that relationship with regular updates.

Considering we all spend a good chunk of our day on the world wide web, chapters need to be out there and to have a great website that they regularly update. A chapter website, social media activity and periodic e-newsletters are crucial. Leverage technology and get info out there to be consumed by your alums, they’ll love hearing about all of the great stuff going on and can check on you as frequently as they like, not just 3 times a year when that newsletter hits their mail box.

#2 – The old 80/20 Rule and we’re not talking Pareto’s Principle

We  just talked about broadcasting chapter oriented information through technology and sharing that is mostly chapter-oriented, but when you’re actually putting together that alumni newsletter that will supplement your positive web touches, you want to keep it all about the alumni. Usually 80% of the content should be alumni centered and 20% should be chapter oriented. So how do you write about alums when you aren’t one? First off, utilize your own chapter advisory board and house corporation for updates, then ask them to help you reach out to alums in their era for updates and to help profile alums who have gone on to do great things and should be profiled. Typically you can find one alum in each decade who is connected or aware of the rest of his contemporaries, establish decade captains and have them help you gather these updates.

#3 – Don’t Lead With your Hand Out

While I mentioned earlier that a positive alumni relations program might lead to donations, that doesn’t mean that should be the focus of your efforts. It means that if you are effectively communicating with alumni, it will be a byproduct of what you’re doing. Never have donations be the centerpiece of your communication. Instead talk about contributions as one of the many ways that an alumnus can contribute. Also, understand that alumni want to contribute to things like scholarships, a library, or ritual equipment, not a big screen TV or for the general fund.

#4 – Just Because You Build It Doesn’t Mean They’re Going to Come

This goes back to communication, but essentially, chapters can plan the greatest Founders Day in the history of Phi Delta Theta, but unless they inform alumni about it, well in advance, no one is going to show up. Alumni have lives, families, and jobs and unless they know about an event well in advance, you aren’t going to make their calendar. The Alumni Secretary’s Manual does a great job of providing event time lines as well as lots of other great resources. But generally you should start planning a major event at least eight months prior to your scheduled date and should have a “Save the Date” out to alumni 4 months prior to the date. I mentioned decade captains previously; these same guys can be utilized to reach out to folks in their era to attend.

#5 – Start Early

Does your chapter conduct the alumni induction ceremony?  If you don’t, you should consider it for the last chapter meeting of a semester prior to graduation for all of your seniors. By doing it  you are reminding them of a similar ceremony they took following their time as a Phikeia and sending them off as an alumnus with a positive feeling about Phi Delta Theta regardless if they were chapter president or your laziest member.

While I could go on forever, I hope that I’ve provided you a few basic rules and plenty of resources and ideas to help revitalize the alumni relations program at your chapter. Part of my responsibilities here at GHQ is to oversee our alumni and volunteer programming, if you would like help with your efforts, please feel free to contact me or your leadership consultant. We’ll also be featuring a breakout session this summer at ELI all about Alumni Relations.

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So my deadline to submit a blog came and went because I wasn’t exactly sure what I wanted to write about.  But then it occurred to me, 2009 marked 10 years for me as a member of our fine, Fraternity.  Since there is no distinction for this occasion, I visited with our great historian, Mr. Robert J. Miller, and after a short conversation he decided that this was my “Aluminum Legion” (I was pushing for Bronze).

So what has my first 10 years of Phi Delt been like?  While I fully understand that my PDT experience has been somewhat atypical (having spent nearly 6 years of it working here in Oxford, Ohio) it has still been similar to most, filled with plenty of Phi Delt Weddings, a couple of homecomings, and lots of memories and great friendships in-between.  My unique experience is that as a staff member I do get the honor of coming to work every day to make an impact on an organization that I love, but with my specific role as Associate Executive Vice President, I also have the distinct privilege to work with hundreds of talented volunteers who don’t get to “play fraternity” at work as I do, but instead take hours, days, and weeks away from their jobs and families to make Phi Delta Theta what it is today.

During my “Aluminum 10”, I’ve seen the impact of this dedication as I spent some of my own time as a volunteer for Penn Zeta (Penn) and most recently Ohio Theta (Cincinnati) as a member of their advisory boards.  While our job as staff is mainly to communicate and educate, volunteers have the ability to mentor, advise, and empower, while ultimately getting the payoff of seeing the “light bulb” come on when a young leader figures out how to put his ideas in action.   And isn’t that what it’s all about?  We initially joined this organization for what we could get out of it, but ultimately found out that anything that was going to be worthwhile in our Phi Delt experience was going to be for someone else.

So whether you’re an Aluminum (like me), Silver, or Golden Legionnaire (or somewhere in-between), if you care enough about Phi Delta Theta to take a few minutes to read this blog, you care enough to spend a few hours a month working with an undergraduate trying to figure out how to recruit more men this semester, balance the budget, or find an alternative to hazing.  I guarantee you that we can find a chapter where you will have a rewarding, impactful experience.  If this sounds like something you might be interested in (An Entourage reference for my Aluminum Brothers) contact me at swagner@phideltatheta.org.

Sean has been a member of the Fraternity’s GHQ staff for six years serving as a Leadership Consultant, Director of Expansion, Director of Alumni Services, and is currently the Associate Executive Vice President.  He is a member of the Pennsylvania Mu Chapter and a graduate of Widener University and is pursuing his Masters in Public Administration and Nonprofit Management from Northern Kentucky University and currently resides in Cincinnati.

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