The Triad of Acacia Fraternity: Summer 2023

The Times, They Are A-Changin’

In 1964, singer-songwriter, Bob Dylan, released what would become one of his best known songs, “The Times, They Are A-Changin’”. Nearly 60 years later, this song speaks to our current times just as much as the day it was written.

This Triad comes at a time of immense change. Change for students, for society, and for Acacia itself.

It is the summer when brothers have just graduated, contemplating what will come as they begin to fully ‘adult’ post-college; incoming freshman wonder if they have made the right choice of university and if they are ready to leave home, perhaps with a mix of excitement and anxiety; and Acacia Fraternity chapters across the country hit the pause button on the majority of their operations as they take on internships, summer jobs, and reflect on beginning a new academic year.

It is fitting that the Acacia Fraternity’s fiscal year runs from July 1 – June 30 as the summer is much more of a punctuation mark for our fraternity than that of the ball dropping in New York City. It is during the summer that Acacia Fraternity HQ too adapts, adjusts, and accounts for the upcoming year. What will come? No one can truly know – but the Headquarters and International Council attempt to be ready.

In this edition of the Triad you will find stories from the past to the present: the uncovered history of one Founding Father, Walter S. Wheeler; the story of a small-town brother who made big time impact in the medical field, Dr. George Rapp; as well as chapter updates and an outlook on the future of the fraternity.

Perhaps, the times are ‘a-changin’ after all. But one thing remains constant – the power of brotherhood and Acacia’s dedication to Human Service. There are some who question if fraternities are still relevant in today’s society...however, the stories and updates in this edition of the Triad should hopefully demonstrate that brotherhood is alive and well; that Acacia Fraternity is a valuable and meaningful part of the lives of brothers; and that there has never been a better time to call yourself an Acacian!

In Service,

ACACIA FRATERNITY FOUNDATION

BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2022-2023

President Kris R. Lutt Nebraska ’90

Secretary Guy Gebhardt Illinois Wesleyan ’66

Vice President Andrew Jee Oregon State ’87

Treasurer William A. Utic Cornell ’74

Executive Director

Darold W. Larson Washington State ’81

DIRECTORS

Dr. John C. Barber Purdue ’58, Emeritus

John F. Beering Purdue ’88, Emeritus

Dwyte E. Brooks Northwestern ’69

Gerald C. Cook Shippensburg ’66

John C. Davis New Hampshire ’82

Brian R. Durst Wisconsin ’87

David L. Ferguson Indiana ’74

Michael P. Fillman Western Ontario ’85

Ronald T. Hopkins Syracuse ’69, Emeritus

James N. Katsaounis Ohio ’95, Emeritus

Dr. John B. Lane Vermont ’57, Emeritus

Amos D. Meyers Jr. Shippensburg ’66

Marcus W. Mountford Kansas State ’91

David R. Quick Rensselaer ’93

Dale E. Redman Louisiana State ’67

William M. Riley Jr. Kansas State ’60, Emeritus

Robert E. Roberson Illinois Wesleyan ’74

Michael L. Rollins Washington ’87

Joshua A. Satterfield Purdue ’19

Larry E. Schroeder Georgia ’77

Donald W. Solanas Jr. Louisiana State ’68, Emeritus

Phillip S. Sutton Ohio State ’88

Byron A. Tabor Iowa ’78

Robert G. Travnicek, M.D. Kansas-Northwestern ’59

Michael C. Tu California ‘91

Dewayne E. Ullsperger Nebraska ’82

John W. Wedgwood Purdue ’60, Emeritus

Richard I. Williams Grand Valley State ‘00

AFF STAFF

Dir. of Alumni Engagement

Jeff T. Boaz Illinois Wesleyan ’89

ACACIA FRATERNITY NATIONAL HOUSING CORPORATION

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Ryan Kelly Indiana ’99

Jed Morris Washington State ’74

Ron Mitchell Colorado ’58

Robert E. Roberson Illinois Wesleyan ’74

Bill Thornton Ohio State ’89

Benjamin Turconi, California ‘12 Editor, Triad of Acacia Fraternity

Bill Utic Cornell ’74

Brother Walter S. Wheeler is one of the fourteen founding fathers of Acacia, but little

Brother George F. Rapp, Indiana ’52, was born in a small town and grew up to have a big impact in his community, in the medical field, and for Acacia.

A VISION REALIZED: IOWA STATE CHAPTER HOUSE

After years of planning and fundraising, Iowa State built a new chapter house befitting its history.

Brothers,

I hope this letter finds you all in good health and high spirits.

As we move out of a cold and dreary winter season, it is a time of growth and renewal. In March, the Council met jointly with the Acacia Fraternity Foundation Board of Directors in Denver, and I am pleased to report that we had a fantastic meeting.

It was a great opportunity for both leadership teams to come together and discuss important matters that will shape the future of our fraternity.

Growing a Strong Fraternity

During the meeting, the Council emphasized that there will be a large and immediate and focus on membership growth, financial management, chapter services, and alumni engagement. We understand that these are essential components that contribute to the success of our fraternity. As such, we will be visiting each chapter at least once a semester to ensure that they are getting the support they need to thrive. Our goal is to provide our members with the necessary tools to continue making the Acacia Fraternity a remarkable organization and the finest fraternal experience for undergraduate men.

Additionally, the Council and AFF Board of Directors have approved the creation of the Acacia National Housing Corporation. The AFNHC has been incorporated with the intent to serve as an additional resource to the various housing corporation boards. This endeavor would not have been possible without the vision and leadership of Bill Utic, Cornell ’74. Hats off to you Bill!

We are excited about the direction our fraternity is heading. I encourage all of our members to get involved and stay engaged with their chapters and the fraternity as a whole. Together, we can accomplish great things and leave a positive legacy for generations of Acacia Fraternity members to come.

A Presidential Challenge

Here in Canada, we have two seasons – hockey and golf. As we head into golf season, I challenge each and every one of you to reach out to two brothers, whether they are a pledge brother or a brother you have only briefly met at an event. Invite them to a round of golf, a round of drinks, a visit to the local chapter, or even to Conclave in Phoenix, being held between July 31 - August 4, 2024.

Take a moment to remember the feeling of brotherhood and camaraderie that you experienced during your pledgeship and following your initiation. Reconnect, rekindle, and reinvigorate each other with that same Acacia spirit and let it spread. So please, take a moment to carve out time to get together, share stories and laughs, and continue to build the lifelong friendships within our fraternity.

Fraternally,

Justin M.M. Kaplan, Carleton ’07 International President Acacia Fraternity

Acacia Fraternity Headquarters Bids Farewell to Patrick McGovern, Indiana ’99

After nearly two decades of service, with ten years of that having been served as Executive Director, Patrick McGovern, Indiana ’99, has stepped down as the Executive Director. Patrick’s leadership over the past decade - from implementation of the Cornerstones membership development program to guiding Acacia through the global COVID-19 pandemic - leaves our fraternity poised for a new era of growth and development.

Past International President Robert E. Roberson, Illinois Wesleyan ’74, stated, “Brother McGovern accepted the position of Executive Director under difficult circumstances, and within a short time he became the steady hand guiding the daily operations of the Acacia Fraternity. I cannot think

of anyone who could have managed the fraternity’s operations better through the pandemic and all of its challenges than Brother McGovern. I am sorry to hear of his resignation, and I sincerely wish him the best in his future endeavors.”

During this period, no Interim-Executive Director has been named. Instead, Assistant Executive Director Michael S. Weber, Iowa State ’06, will assume oversight of day-to-day operations of the Fraternity under the leadership and guidance of the Acacia International Council along with support from the rest of the Acacia staff.

Brother Weber and the Acacia staff will remain primary points of contact related to regular fraternity operational matters, while you may contact the International President, Justin M.M. Kaplan, Carleton ’07, personally at justin.kaplan@ gmail.com with any questions, concerns, and ideas pertaining specifically to this time of transition.

In a bid to ensure the future success and growth of Acacia Fraternity, the International Council has established a search committee dedicated to the recruitment of an exceptional candidate for the position of Executive Director. With the belief that leadership plays a vital role in shaping the direction of any fraternity, Acacia Fraternity has embarked on this crucial process to identify a dynamic individual capable of steering the fraternity to new heights.

The makeup of the Search Committee was crafted and voted on by the members of the International Council. The President of the International Council (Justin Kaplan) will serve in the capacity of Chairman with the remaining members to be as follows:

• One Alumni member of Council: Alan Scher

• One Undergraduate Representative of Council: Justin McGrath

• One nominee of the AFF: Brian Durst

• One current Chapter Advisor: TBD

• One At-Large Member: Blake Hutchison

All representatives, with the exception of the one chosen by the AFF, shall be selected by and serve

at the pleasure of the Committee Chairman, Justin Kaplan.

The Committee shall be tasked with writing a job description, marketing the opening, interviewing candidates and providing the full Council with a short list of candidates for further consideration.

The primary objective of the search committee is to identify an Executive Director who possesses the vision, leadership acumen, and dedication necessary to advance the values and mission of Acacia Fraternity.

Through a meticulous evaluation and selection process, the committee seeks to ensure that the chosen candidate will be a catalyst for positive change, promoting growth and development at all levels of the organization.

Scan this QR Code to view the full press release with additional details on the search for Acacia’s next Executive Director

2023 CHARTERS

CALIFORNIA AND JAMES MADISON CHAPTERS

The month of April bore witness to a momentous milestone within the storied history of Acacia Fraternity: charters being awarded to not just one, but two chapters!

Members and alumni alike were proud to celebrate the rechartering of California Chapter (#5) and the chartering of a new chapter, James Madison (#95), into our ranks.

After years of tireless work and dedication in pursuit of this coveted goal, the undergraduates in Berkeley, California and Harrisonburg, Vir-

ginia, have proven themselves worthy to stand as full-fledged chapters of Acacia.

Members of staff, council, and foundation attended the charterings, as well as university staff, dates, and friends of Acacia.

Sharing this moment with others was appropriate as it demonstrated that chapter members knew they hadn’t achieved these outcomes without the support of others as well as proving that they take part in the community in which they reside.

California Chapter celebrating their rechartering in the Oakland Durant-Rockridge Masonic Lodge

California Alumni with Oski (Cal Mascot)

To earn one’s charter is to secure a legacy, to make manifest the realization of immense potential and to forge bonds between brothers which time will only serve to strengthen.

In overcoming immense challenges, not the least of which was navigating the COVID-19 pandemic that was a true test of grit for these groups, these chapters have demonstrated the vision, determination, and leadership required to uphold the lofty ideals upon which our fraternity was built by our founding fathers.

The future gleams bright for these chapters with possibility and nary a clumsy helmsman in sight. We offer our heartfelt congratulations and a warm welcome to our newly chartered chapters.

Through their noble efforts, the light of Acacia Fraternity shall be carried forward into the future. We look forward with pride for all that they shall achieve in the future.

The labors of past and present alike have joined

to provide us this most precious gift – a gift that is now in the hands of the active members of the respective chapters.

For over a century, this sacred charge has strengthened the ties of friendship among Acacians. Tradition and purpose unite us across the ages, an eternal brotherhood bound to knowledge, virtue, and truth.

James Madison Chapter celebrating their chartering during their banquet

Chapter President Dominic Nguyen and International President Justin Kaplan

NEWS & UPDATES

(as submitted by chapters during Spring 2023)

The updates below have been submitted by chapters. If you have any questions or would like to get in touch with the chapter, please reach out to communications@acacia.org.

94 ARIZONA STATE VENERABLE DEAN RONAN THOMPSON

The brothers of ASU Acacia initiated 14 amazing brothers this spring, and look forward to having a great fall of recruitment, human service, and leadership. We are excited to continue extending our connections to our community and making the school and its environment a better place.

NEW AUBURN VENERABLE DEAN ALEX HARRIS

The brothers of Auburn Acacia had an eventful semester. Continuing our monthly service at our local girls ranch helping with labor and renovations, strengthening brotherhood and creating a better vision for the future. Eager to do fall rush and work with our partners to make the upcoming year a successful one.

05 CALIFORNIA

The California Chapter currently sits at a record number of members since the recent rechartering with 49 active brothers after our most recent initiation in Spring 2023. These men of action strive to make the best of themselves and the community in which they reside. They continually host many successful philanthropic events, on and off campus, including Acacia Claus, Seven Days of Service, Campus and City Cleanups, Food Packing, and Fundraising Events. The active brotherhood has also been working very hard to expand Acacia’s influence on campus and Greek row, having garnered much attention with fun social events, sorority exchanges, and community outreach. This is all on top of every brother’s dedication to scholarship, as they have proudly maintained a 3.58 house GPA and only plan to improve.

The chapter recently celebrated the 118th anniversary of its original chartering with a banquet that included over 100 alumni and friends excited about the current chapter’s success. If you are interested in getting involved with the active chapter or would just like to stop by to say hi or take a tour of the house, please reach out to cal@acacia.org

83 CALIFORNIA OF PENNSYLVANIA VENERABLE DEAN GAVIN WINGARD

After having a very successful fall semester, we knew that the spring was going to be extraordinary. To start things off, the chapter decided to host our well-known fundraiser, Acaciadillas. This turned out to be a huge success and brought more potential members to come up to the house and learn more about us.

To follow this up, we picked up three new, high-quality members this spring. With the money we made during our fundraiser, we came together and made a group decision to save our spring rush shirt for the fall but in exchange we decided to get Greek Week jerseys and a fraternity shirt. With all the attention on us from community engagement, we decided to host another fun event with the campus, Pie a Brother. On April 1st, we had our Founders’ Day.

For one of our philanthropy events, we held a school supplies drive. We had over three big moving boxes filled with school supplies and six fifty-gallon trash bags full of clothes and shoes. All of this was donated to the Salvation Army, so all donations will go to kids in Africa. Every spring semester, Greek life has a Greek Sing event and we took 1st Place!

Overall, it truly has been an outstanding semester and we look forward to more great things to come!

85 CARLETON VENERABLE DEAN NOLAN PRATT

The Carleton Chapter has started the 2023 year with great momentum. While our last house was fantastic, we have just moved into a new house that, if we may say so, is the finest Greek house in all of Ottawa.

We currently have 24 members and aim to recruit 20 more next semester. Although that is an ambitious goal, the brothers have worked together all summer to hold recruitment events and build relationships.

We have elected a new Chapter Advisor, Antonio Johnson, who is currently working with Greg Lawson to transition into the role. We thank Greg for his many years of service. We owe our current success to his dedication throughout the years. He has truly given his fair share of effort and can now retire, knowing he has left us in a better place. Thank you, brother!

We hope to see all alumni at our 35th Founders’ Day. Details to come! We’re looking to have our biggest one yet, so we hope to see as many brothers as possible.

If you do not currently receive our newsletter, please reach out to chapteradvisor.acaciacarleton@gmail. com to be added. We send out monthly updates on our progress, upcoming events, and other important information about the chapter.

VENERABLE DEAN LUKA SAMARDZIJA

ASSOCIATE CHAPTER CLOSURES

UNC-Wilmington

Despite two semesters of efforts, Acacia Fraternity’s expansion to UNC-Wilmington ultimately stalled due to a lack of membership growth needed for sustainability. Recognizing the project’s barriers, Acacia Fraternity Headquarters decided to cease operations there by Spring 2023. While hopeful for future expansion, establishing a stronger foothold first at nearby UNC-Chapel Hill could better position the fraternity for growth into Wilmington when the circumstances are more favorable to support it.

25 COLORADO

VENERABLE DEAN PAUL BEZNER

Chapter membership stands around 30 members as of the Spring 2023 semester. The chapter is focusing their time on recruitment going into the fall semester and reengaging with the alumni board to strengthen their overall chapter operations.

14 CORNELL

VENERABLE DEAN VASILIOS ZAHARIOUDAKIS

I believe it is important to acknowledge and celebrate our successes. Despite facing difficulties recently, Acacia has achieved much over the years. We have supported each other through hard times and enriched our communities in impactful ways. These accomplishments are worth celebrating, as they can serve as a foundation for future progress.

We want to express our commitment to continuous improvement by working with members and national leadership to build a more robust and sustainable organization. By admitting failures, gaining wisdom from errors, and playing to strengths, we can surmount present challenges to reach future aspirations.

Together, we can create a legacy of which we can all feel proud.

9 ILLINOIS

VENERABLE DEAN MARKI NOTARDONATO

I want to start by congratulating the ’26 class on a successful initiation as we come to the end of another good semester. We initiated 28 new members in the fall and 7 in the spring semester. Thank you to everyone who assisted during the process; without the successful former executive team, this would not

have been possible. Justin Topp (Venerable Dean) and Manas Gajjela (Treasurer), who did an exceptional job for each member, led the way for the previous executive team. The newly appointed executive team is led by Marki Notardonato (Venerable Dean) and Nick Chung (Treasurer). Both of them have been working so hard to bring in new residents to carry on the fantastic legacy of Acacia!

Every member of Acacia demonstrated what it meant to be part of the community throughout the semester by upholding our ideals and promoting them daily. The following brothers deserve recognition for their first semester academic performance: Kyle Oroni is a sophomore with a 4.0 grade point average. Kyle, who is from Batavia, Illinois, is a business finance student. He also oversees our scholarship program—that makes sense! Ryan Vyverberg, an Illinois native majoring in business marketing, deserves special recognition for his remarkable academic success with yet another 4.0 semester grade point average. Congratulations to these two, who have demonstrated great leadership throughout the fraternity!

Finally, we conducted yet another successful blood drive with the assistance of our former Philanthropy Chair (Noah Issac, Jr.). To save lives, about half of the brothers donated to the cause. Thanks to Nate Grahn (Sophomore), we have already finished our spring break drive. Our biggest charitable event continues to grow stronger and bigger each year!

73 ILLINOIS STATE

VENERABLE DEAN MATT BELCZAK

The Illinois State Chapter of Acacia initiated 32 members in the fall of 2022 and 20 in the spring of 2023, bringing the active membership to 118 members! This current school year, we have seen many improvements in our chapter, and we are heading in a great direction for the future.

We improved our semester GPA average, introduced a new DEI chairman position, and won an award from the school for our commitment to community service. We also had Senior Brother Alex Rothschild, #199, win the Fraternity Man of the Year award, presented by the Sorority and Fraternity Life office at the Greek Gala.

I, as well as my fellow newly elected executive board members, am excited for the future of this chapter and expect many more great things to come!

27 INDIANA OF PENNSYLVANIA VENERABLE DEAN NICHOLAS HURLEY

We have accomplished a lot in the last couple of months. Throughout this semester we have been in contact with our alumni to establish an alumni E-Board. We are hoping this will play a crucial role as our chapter continues to develop and expand.

In addition to working on the chapters management, we have also been more involved in the community. We were not only the leaders of four Greek Organizations for Greek Week, but our team also raised 400 dollars for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

20 IOWA VENERABLE DEAN JACK OSSENKOP

In recent years, Iowa Acacia has thrived, and it feels good to say that we’ve had another great year of growth. Last fall, we surpassed 70 members, which is fantastic. This spring, we were excited to add four more to our roster. Two areas in which we excelled last semester were philanthropy and academics.

We achieved the highest GPA in our chapter’s history at 3.24 and raised over $9,000 for our Acacia Claus fundraiser for the University of Iowa’s Stead Family Children’s Hospital. Spring semester always poses a challenge with a new executive board and busier schedules, but we’ve been killing it! Our executive board got up to speed quickly and is leading the chapter well.

We were also proud to host our first Founders’ Day in some time this year in mid-April. It was a great time, and we were excited to welcome alumni back to the chapter again!

19 IOWA STATE

VENERABLE DEAN NATHANIEL HARTER

The Iowa State Chapter had an eventful Fall 2022 semester!

For Homecoming, we partnered with Alpha Chi Omega and Delta Upsilon. We had the tallest banner on central campus, but we lost points when the wind broke it. Sadly, we did not place overall, but we did receive a mini award for ‘Yell Like Hell’. We also had an enjoyable Dad’s Weekend.

Acacia Claus was hosted in November with a new reception-style event where we served hot chocolate and cookies to attendees and collected toys and donations for YSS to distribute in the community.

The Spring 2023 semester has been good so far. We had a fun Mother’s Weekend and local Founders’ Day celebration. We held many of our bigger events in April, including Greek Week, our Acacia Acai Bowls philanthropy, initiation, and our formal.

We have already began our fall 2023 recruitment with scholarship interviews. We look forward to seeing what the rest of 2023 brings!

95 JAMES MADISON

VENERABLE DEAN DOM NGUYEN

We are officially chartered! After five long years and initiating just over a hundred brothers, the chartering ceremony took place on Easter Sunday. It was a great celebration of brotherhood and a look to the future.

We are looking to be a strong voice on campus to help foster great university and Greek relationships. The brothers are looking forward to the coming year where we will work on making our chapter even better!

27 KANSAS STATE VENERABLE DEAN MASEN KINDLER

Over the past year, our chapter has achieved many outstanding accomplishments. We were one of three chapters awarded gold in every category for the KSU Interfraternity Council Community Standards Report, including GPA, retention, brotherhood, programming, and more. We placed in the top five in GPA among other fraternities and received many awards, including runner-up for Chapter of the Year at Kansas State’s Fraternity Excellence Awards (FEAs).

Christian Taulli won the Roy C. Clark Award, and Grant LaPeyronnie received the Order of Pythagoras. Terrance Ruona also won Chapter Advisor of the Year for LSU. We recently received a pool table from Brother Orlesh, played daily since; and the housing corporation along with Brother Brett Perrier finally finished constructing the basketball court.

For all alumni, we are planning a Founders’ Day celebration and alumni tailgate for a 2023 home football game. We hope to see you there!

84 MILLERSVILLE VENERABLE

DEAN NATE BRADY

The Millersville Chapter enjoyed a very successful school year. We upheld our longstanding tradition of supporting important philanthropic causes like Walk Like MADD, Salvation Army, and Breast-A-Ville. These events build brotherhood within our chapter and strengthen bonds with the local community, allowing us to make a meaningful impact each year.

We have maintained strong relationships with organizations such as our local Masonic Lodge. We also focused on strengthening ties with other Greek life groups on campus. By fostering Greek unity, we aim to increase our reach and better serve the campus as a whole.

We also had two members win individual awards at the FEAs: Hugh Sidabutar won Outstanding Community Involvement, and Max Immenschuh won Influential Leader of the Year. Our chapter is full of individuals involved in leadership positions across campus. We highlighted all of their accomplishments at our annual Triumvirate event.

Our current executive team is striving to make an impact on the house by emphasizing leadership development and open communication. I am truly proud of the direction our house is headed and will continue to serve Acacia to the best of my ability.

52 LOUISIANA STATE

VENERABLE DEAN PHILIP

MELTON

In the fall of 2022, the LSU chapter of Acacia initiated 57 members, bringing our total membership to 150 active members. In the few short years since returning to the LSU campus, we now stand as the sixth largest fraternity. We have hosted multiple blood drives, collected over 250 toys for Acacia Claus, held a philanthropy golf tournament, and built a house for an unhoused family. All members can now join a “career club” where older and younger members with similar interests connect productively and alumni visit to discuss internships and career opportunities.

At the 2022 Conclave, our chapter won seven awards, including the Superior Chapter Award. Terrance Ruona was awarded Chapter Advisor of the Biennium.

One of our proudest service accomplishments this year was organizing a local highway cleanup. The highway project allowed us to demonstrate this commitment to taking an active role in the community in which we reside.

4 NEBRASKA

VENERABLE DEAN DAMON BENNETT

The Active Chapter is proud of our accomplishments so far this semester! Our goals for the semester included improvements and updates to the Chapter house and a devotion to human service. During our 7 Days of Service project, we accumulated over 100 service hours at several local nonprofits. Those organizations included the Malone Center, F Street Community Center, Matt Talbot, and the Barnabas Community.

Founders’ Day was also a huge success this year! We also want to thank everyone who came to recognize another great year of the longest standing Chapter of Acacia Fraternity. We were honored to have several prominent alumni in attendance.

We hosted our formal with our brothers from the Iowa State chapter, and it was an incredible chance to meet brothers from another university and share our stories. We couldn’t be happier about these opportunities to expand our brotherhood and share our love for Acacia across state borders. We look towards the Summer Rush season with excitement! So Live!

32 NORTH CAROLINA VENERABLE DEAN KENNY LIM

Our chapter completed its first recruitment this spring and initiated seven new members, bringing the total number of active members to 17. We we very excited to co-host our first event with the UNC Ski Team, with over 250 attendees. The chapter sent five officers to the Officer Summit in January, where many other chapters praised our enthusiasm and motivation to build something great at UNC Chapel Hill.

We have also secured a campus house previously leased by Alpha Sig and KA with 10 bedrooms. This fall, we will move in and aim to fill the house. Eventually, we plan to convert rooms to doubles, lowering rent and allowing more members to live in. We currently have four alumni advisors and one faculty advisor training for their roles. Thanks to the support we have received from headquarters and local alumni, the future is bright for Acacia in Chapel Hill!

Greek Philanthropy Challenge, highlighting our strong collaborative spirit.

We also raised our average GPA over 15% from last year, demonstrating our dedication to academic excellence. This year we had one actively deployed brother and one returned brother. We extend our gratitude for their service to Acacia and country. So live!

6 OHIO STATE

VENERABLE DEAN ROB WALKLEY

Chapter membership stands around 70 members as of the Spring 2023 semester. The chapter has experienced a challenging year with a drop in membership numbers, but they are focused on recruitment and strengthening internal operations going into the fall semester.

35 OREGON STATE VENERABLE DEAN MATTHEW LITTLE

The Oregon State chapter had the pleasure of initiating 16 new members this fall and winter along with 4 in the spring for a total of 20 new members this year. This past winter, the chapter participated in Greek Week, a competition involving all Greek life on campus. Our team of Tri Delta, Delta Chi, and AEPi won first place, our best result since 2017.

The chapter organized a rose-selling philanthropy event on Valentine’s Day in partnership with AOPi, with whom we are participating in IFC Sing this spring. We also organized an Easter egg hunt philanthropy event this spring. We are excited to continue serving our community through human service!

21 PENNSYLVANIA STATE VENERABLE DEAN ROCCO BOGNET

This past semester has been exciting and eventful for Acacia’s Shin Chapter. In February, Acacia participated in THON, the largest student-run philanthropy, raising over $250,000 for children battling cancer. Four seniors in our chapter danced for 46 hours straight raising money to help families afford treatments for their children.

42 OHIO

VENERABLE DEAN RYAN JUNKO

The Ohio Chapter of Acacia Fraternity achieved notable milestones this semester, reflecting our members’ hard work and brotherhood. Our philanthropy now supports testicular cancer research and a local women’s shelter, aligning with our values to positively impact our community.

In addition, we won both the IFC flag football and basketball championships, showcasing our impressive athleticism and exceptional teamwork. Our collaboration with Delta Gamma led us to win Ohio’s

In March, we had an incredible Parents Weekend. All brothers were able to invite their families to the house to enjoy a weekend of food, drinks, and live music!

As the semester comes to an end, we are happy to welcome our newly initiated Spring 2023 class.

15 PURDUE VENERABLE DEAN JARED YOUNG

The 2022-2023 school year has been an exciting time of growth and change for the Purdue chapter!

This year, we initiated 25 new members – a record high for our chapter in recent years – bringing our active membership to 61. Our chapter achieved our highest recorded semester GPA of 3.24, ranking us in the top 10 of over 40 fraternities at Purdue.

The fall semester focused on alumni engagement. We hosted many alumni events and cornerstone events where alumni spoke, strengthening bonds between our active chapter and alumni brothers. In the spring, we focused on strengthening relations within the active chapter and increasing community involvement. We hosted an all-day “lock-in” with presenters speaking about our chapter’s past, present, and future. We developed work projects for the house and created a new vision statement.

Our chapter hosted our first large philanthropy event, a water pong tournament, and our first formal in years, both successful. Overall, 2022-2023 has been one of our most successful years! We look forward to continuing this trend next fall.

44 RENNSELAER

VENERABLE DEAN TIMOTHY MILES

This year has seen major updates to the chapter house. The largest project was replacing the house boilers. It only took two extra days for the boiler contractors to address the issues with the old ones, which were older than every active brother! We hope the new ones will last just as long. We thank our gracious alumni, who contributed over $35,000 to the project through donations.

Over the next year, we hope to undertake equally ambitious projects so that the chapter house will remain one of the best on campus for even more reasons than it currently is.

80 SAINT CLOUD STATE

VENERABLE DEAN NICHOLAS SCHLICHTING

Our chapter has done an outstanding job of maintaining our GPA this year under the leadership of our Executive Dean. Through his guidance and encouragement, we have maintained our commitment to academic excellence. Our brotherhood is strong and we love spending every free minute we have hosting fundraisers, mixers, philanthropies, or participating in intramurals.

While we operated on a slightly reduced budget for recruitment events this spring semester, we have devised a schedule of rush events throughout the summer months and an even more robust plan for the upcoming fall term.

By intensifying our summer recruitment efforts, we aim to continue the momentum of attracting high-quality members to our ranks.

28 TEXAS

VENERABLE DEAN SEBASTIAN ASTRAN

The University of Texas Associate Chapter has enjoyed a great year. We will be coming into the fall with 7 active members who are ready to continue to recruit and build Acacia at UT. If any Texas alumni ever want to get involved please reach out. We would love to show you the chapter facility and have you meet the guys!

67 TRINE

VENERABLE DEAN ALEC LOVELESS

This year has been good for the Trine chapter of Acacia. We are working to increase membership and alumni engagement. Our chapter gained eight new members this year for a total increase of +1 from the previous year. We also had four people attend the Officer Summit to learn proper chapter management.

We have hosted several community events in Angola, Indiana, including cleaning up Pokagon State Park, helping at the Carlin Park Elementary school dance, and working with the local homeless shelter to do some painting. For alumni engagement, we held a reunion dinner, Night on the Nile, and played paintball at a local field. We also aimed to strengthen brotherhood through events like a VR night and a Jeopardy night with our newest pledges. Overall, this year has been great!

38 WASHINGTON STATE VENERABLE DEAN OWEN MURRAY

The Washington State Chapter is extremely excited for the year to come. The past semester brought struggles with it but working through them to understand the plans for success for the chapter in the fall. Working with many recent alumni to boost our recruitment efforts and continue to grow the brotherhood is our emphasis this year. Go Cougs!

12 WISCONSIN VENERABLE DEAN SPENCER STONE

After another successful semester, the Wisconsin chapter is looking better than ever.

In the fall, we initiated 22 new members and another 15 in the spring. Our chapter continues growing not only in numbers but also in the quality of our men.

During the spring semester, our chapter came together to brave the elements for a cause greater than ourselves in our time-honored Polar Plunge tradition. Despite the icy waters, our hearts were warmed by the generosity of donors who enabled us to raise thousands of dollars. We look forward to more opportunities for human service and serving our communities.

We look forward to an excellent fall semester!

Acacia returned to the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill during the Fall 2022 semester and began a new expansion at the University of North Carolina-Wilmington in the spring of 2023. For the Fall 2023 semester, we have an expansion project lined up and will be returning to Illinois Wesleyan University. Our Expansion Coordinators, Christian Taulli, Louisiana ’18, and Sean Garity, Louisiana ’18, are spending the summer learning new skills and preparing to grow Acacia! Associate Director of Growth & Development, Kodjo Awadjie, Washington State ‘16, is hard at work this summer to develop our expansion strategy as well as growth for existing chapters. In addition to the planned expansions, Acacia Headquarters will also be placing focus on chapters that have room for growth, with a special emphasis being placed on Cornell and Washington State.

Current Chapters: 26

Current Associate Chapters: 4

Fall 2023 Initiates: 334

Total Active Members: 1265

FUTURE EXPANSIONS

54 ILLINOIS WESLEYAN

FALL 2023

Illinois Wesleyan University

13 MISSOURI

FALL 2024

University of Missouri

40 WYOMING

FALL 2026

University of Wyoming

76 PITTSBURGH-JOHNSTOWN

SPRING 2024

University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown

30 INDIANA

FALL 2025

Indiana University

Interested in helping advise, building alumni associations, or donating to support these expansions? Reach out to the HQ for more information at communications@acacia.org.

CURRENT EXPANSIONS

NEW NEVADA-LAS VEGAS

SPRING 2022

University of Nevada-Las Vegas

32 NORTH CAROLINA

FALL 2022

University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill

The updates below are submitted by brothers. If you are interested in sharing your career or family news, go to acacia.org/update or reach out to communications@acacia.org.

CENTRAL MISSOURI STATE

Richard W. Blowers, ’67, #191 Been happily retired from teaching since 2014.

EASTERN ILLINOIS

Melvin “Rick” Jones, ’72, #5 I retired May 31, 2022 from teaching English at South Suburban College in South Holland, Illinois.

GEORGIA

Tom L. Manton, ’66, #34

Married to Linda Proctor Manton, 5 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. I have 2 daughters, Donna Lynn Knight and Staci Michelle Rich.

ILLINOIS

Dennis Hudson, ’55, #839

Retired from the United States General Service Administration. Regional Inspector General (Investigations), Chicago, IL about 1982. Magistrate, Circuit Court of Cook County, IL about 1982. Retired professor from the College of Du Page, Glen Ellyn, IL.

ILLINOIS WESLEYAN

Aaron Harris Woodstein, ’11, #539 I will be serving as Assistant Audio Supervisor at Barrington Stage Company in Pittsfield, MA this summer.

INDIANA

Matt H. Hanson, ’98, #1834

I currently serve as the Assistant Fire Chief in charge of Personnel and EMS. We staff 12 Firefighters each day out of three fire stations. I lead and oversee a daily team of fire professionals running emergency calls.

IOWA

Edwin E. Hart, ’63, #473

In retirement I founded a not-forprofit organization, Passport to

Employment, to assist the under and unemployed in overcoming their obstacles and meeting their needs in their career search. In 14 years we have assisted 2368 people into new careers.

LOUISIANA STATE

William V. Griffin, ’68, #256 Recently retired as the President of my company, W.V. Griffin Nurseries, Inc.

Warren S. Hawkins, ’66, #216 I retired from regular employment in 2020 to Asheville, NC, but continued on the board of directors for Quintana Energy Partners, LLP.

OHIO

David C. Straw, ’61, #256 First manager of a Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) demonstrated in space, the “BEAR” program in 1989. Career as a Systems Director in The Aerospace Corporation in Washington DC supporting the government intelligence community.

OHIO STATE

Matthew J. Karam, ’04, #1086 I just passed my second-year anniversary serving as Assistant Legal Counsel at Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD). OOD is an agency of the State of Ohio that is a conduit of federal funding to provide Ohio Residents with competitive, integrated employment. I provide legal counsel to our employees and also oversee the vocational rehabilitation appeal process. Prior to serving as OOD assistant legal counsel, I was an Ohio Assistant Attorney General with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office for 11 years. Additionally, I am now a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Guardian Ad Litem through the Franklin County Children Services. As a CASA Guardian Ad Litem volunteer, I

serve as guardian to special cases within Franklin county dealing with kids in abuse and neglect cases. It has been quite rewarding and is something that active and alumni brothers can participate in wherever there is a CASA program through the courts.

PURDUE

George J. Todd, ’11, #1955 I have finished my first year in the biology PhD program at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. I am a research assistant on a massive USDA grant looking at insect pollination behavior in urban orchards in the St. Louis area. My wife is the life enrichment coordinator at Clarendale of St. Peters and we just bought our first house back in January!

Robert R. Halderman, ’55, #713

Retired from active work in family business. Our family business is now managed by the 3rd and 4th generations of the Halderman Family. Our companies provide management and real estate services throughout the United States. My two sons graduated from Purdue and were very active in Acacia and campus activities.

RENSSELAER

Eric N. Bravin, ’89, #629 I’ve been in practice in Cooperstown, NY for over 20 years as a medical oncologist.

Dave Hamby, ’67, #269

Retired in 2013. Two former racing greyhounds, Missy and Rocky keep me busy and amused.

SHIPPENSBURG

Todd Hurley, ’85, #0352

After 38 years in community banking, I’ve made a career change, joining the Bucks County-based real estate sales and investment agency, the Tom Smeland Team, as a real estate agent.

When we think of our Founding Fathers, we think of men larger than life. Men who had the foresight to begin our fraternity, to write our ritual, to develop our symbols, and create our brotherhood. Whether we know a little or a lot, we feel that these are great men.

The text above comes from the Acacia Fraternity website and, previously, other than a few listed facts, was all that we had to describe one of the original fourteen Founding Fathers. How could this be?

Brother Wheeler was a founder. Surely, there must be some record, some story worth telling about a founding father of a great fraternity like Acacia!

What appeared as an obstacle to many revealed an opportunity for Foundation Director Rick Williams, and began a hunt for information to tell the story of one of the original fourteen. And what he found out was a story worthy of a founder and what we previously could only imagine.

Born in 1875, Wheeler grew up in Massachusetts before studying at Tufts College and the University of Maine. He then transferred to the University of Michigan Law School. A student by day, he worked his way through college at a hamburger stand in the evenings.

In Ann Arbor, he became friends with fellow Masonic Club members that shared his values of virtue, knowledge, and truth. When the group formalized as the first chapter of Acacia Fraternity, Wheeler emerged as a natural leader.

As one of the original fourteen Founding Fathers, Brother Wheeler had a hand in creating the traditions we cherish nearly 120 years later. He was one of the strongest supporters of a new Masonic fraternity, as indicated by this quote from the Acacia Journal:

“By constant association with men imbued with Masonic principles and ideas, as well as by practicing the fraternalism taught in Masonry, its members may derive a substantial benefit. In a sense it will be exclusive even among Masons.”

After graduating law school, he spent a year practicing in California but soon returned to Michigan.

From 1907 to 1912, Wheeler ran a successful Detroit law practice. He became an active figure in the city’s legal and Masonic circles. But another adventure was on the horizon.

devastated the Acacia and Masonic brothers to whom he had associated with over the years. He was returned to Detroit for his funeral, and one can imagine that badges on black suit coats bore silent witness to the many lives Wheeler had touched through his work, wisdom, and fraternal bonds.

Wheeler’s was a life that shaped a legacy. His part in Acacia’s story lives on at the University of Michigan and beyond — a call to purpose, growth, and understanding built to last.

Drawn by prospects in the mining industry, Wheeler began acquiring interests in Arizona silver and iron ore mines. Specifically, Brother Wheeler purchased the Gunsight Mine as well as the Bluebird Mine. His financial gamble paid off, allowing him to build a comfortable life with his wife and two sons.

Tragically, while on a business trip to Muncie, Indiana in 1941, Wheeler suffered a fatal heart attack at age 66. We can only assume that the news

Though details may fade, Wheeler’s spirit endures in the heart of our brotherhood. His is a timeless example of how we can each embark upon life’s grand adventure, build beauty from uncertainty, and make our lives matter through service and care for others. Generation after generation, Acacians follow in Wheeler’s footsteps. Our journey is yet unfolding but the path before us is clear. We have but to live with eyes, hearts, and hands as open as the brother who showed us the way and first gave us this place to call home.

So Live!

by Benjamin Turconi, California ’12

the Wabash River, New Harmony is unknown to many. Founded by George Rapp (unrelated to our Brother George F. Rapp), New Harmony is an unassuming town, surrounded by cornfields and farmland; what many would probably refer to as “fly-over country”. However, despite being located far from the bustling cities and suburbs of nearby Indianapolis and Chicago, New Harmony is a center of progressive thought. The town values education, equality, and communal living, much as does fraternity. From New Harmony came the first free kindergarten and infant school in America, the first trade school, the first public school system to offer equal education to girls and boys, and the first free public library system – rejecting the common conceptions of what many imagine when they think of small towns!

If you want to know the answer to what the purpose of Acacia Fraternity is, Dr. George F. Rapp, Indiana ’52, has the answer. Even more so, I would argue that he is the answer. After a lifetime of service and dedication to his community, I would offer that he likely even holds the answer to the purpose of life!

Brother Rapp was born in the small town of New Harmony, Indiana. Founded in 1814 along

After digging into the founding principles of his utopian hometown, it is no surprise then that Brother Rapp is from New Harmony. The son of a teacher and a school superintendent, the Rapps valued education. In a class of 30 that resulted in 17 graduates, George had the opportunity to have many and varied interests. From band to 4-H to sports, he participated in all the activities one can think of that a high school would provide. This gave him opportunities to develop skills, work ethic, and purpose to serve his community. Growing up, he noted how much people relied on the town doctor, leading him to choose medicine and choosing Indiana University for his studies.

As is the case with many, it was an existing member, Joe Thomas, who brought George to the fraternity house. George had no idea what a

fraternity was, but was familiar with the concept as his father was a Master Mason and had stayed in the Wisconsin Acacia chapter house during summers while studying for his master’s degree. For Brother Rapp, the fraternity’s 70 instant friends helped him overcome a smalltown mindset. From academics to formal dinners and socials, George learned what it meant to be part of a brotherhood.

While in school, George met the woman who would become the love of his life, Margaret, or “Peggy” as she was known by her friends and family.

It was a ‘meet-cute’ and story worth of a romantic comedy that almost went nowhere! But nudged on by friends and family, they began to date and eventually got married. Their early married life consisted of George attending medical school while Peggy was working as a teacher. Peggy supported the young married couple while George was still in medical school and Brother Rapp clearly respected her immensely for this.

After receiving his medical degree from Indiana University, George served as a Major in the US Army Medical Corps. Brother Rapp then practiced as an orthopedic surgeon for 35 years. For the majority of that time, he served as chief of orthopedic surgery and the orthope dic residency program at St. Vincent Hospital, clinical professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Indiana University School of Medicine,

Director of the Scoliosis Clinic at Riley Hospital for Children, and served as the team doctor for the Indianapolis Indians baseball team. Wanting to help the medical community, he co-founded the Mid-America Orthopedic Association.

As he began to specialize further in orthopedics, he developed an interest in new joint and spinal instrumentation. From this, he started Sofamor Danek with his business partners. The company thrived and became the world’s largest manufacturer

Leadership Award for his service to Indiana University.

Brother Rapp believes that life’s meaning comes from living responsibly. Through facing difficulties, fraternity gave George Rapp friendship and guidance to grow and develop. Though he grew up valuing service, Acacia strengthened this value in him, and his life has always included service to others. He says that he wouldn’t change a thing about his life. Each path is unique; and it is through adversity that you build character. His advice to young brothers is to explore options by continuously learning and never giving up in the face of failure. Some careers may require early commitment, but life is long, and you can always change paths.

of spinal instrumentation. Surgical hardware he developed were granted patents! It is because of his work that patients today enjoy a better quality of life. Eventually he sold this company to Medtronic and it is still an innovator in orthopedic treatments to this day.

George Rapp has won many honors and awards. The most meaningful to him were for leadership roles, like president of organizations and those recognizing service, like the Maynard K. Hine Medal for leading the medical school alumni organization and the Otis R. Bowen

George’s fraternity experiences forged timeless lessons and understanding, enabling a lifetime of meaning, growth, and generosity in turn. By tempering vision with virtue, any ordinary person might change lives and find their voice. Brother Rapp’s journey reveals brotherhood’s ultimate gift: a call to something greater than one’s self.

From virtue and knowledge, comes truth. And knowing the truth, we can spread light to others, taking an active part in our communities, becoming a force for the greater good. Brother Rapp truly is the best of us. From his life we can see that the purpose of life is likely to live in service of others.

George and Peggy Rapp

Acacia has created a national housing corporation to assist local chapter house corporations with housing solutions and services. The new non-profit Acacia Fraternity National Housing Corporation (AFNHC) is based on models and best practices that have been in place with other leading fraternities and sororities in the housing field. The AFNHC has three basic purposes:

Provide support and advice to local house corporations, including recommended housing policies and procedures.

Offer optional housing support and management services through preferred vendor arrangements.

Accept voluntary transfer of chapter house ownership or leases from local house corporations that no longer wish to directly manage their chapter houses.

The AFNHC, together with the Acacia Fraternity Foundation, are integral parts of the mission of Acacia Fraternity. The AFNHC will handle issues and activities related to housing on behalf of the Fraternity. The Foundation will continue to provide a tax deductible means for alumni to support Acacia’s educational and leadership activities.

symbol of Acacia’s shared fraternal values. Acacia’s chapter houses are also our largest financial investments and need to be stewarded well. The dedicated alumni volunteers who run our chapter house corporations are invaluable, and our chapter houses could not succeed without their efforts. However, not all alumni have the expertise needed to manage a chapter house.

complex regulations and financial liabilities. The board members of the AFNHC are experienced with real estate, property management, and house corporations. We are available to share our experience and provide advice.”

Acacia’s chapter houses are visible evidence of Acacia’s presence on campus. More than simply another slice of the collegiate housing market, our chapter houses are a

A group of alumni interested in the future of chapter housing have been working together over the last two years to explore how to better support our local house corporations. These discussions led to the decision to move forward with creating a national housing corporation for Acacia with the support of the International Council, headquarters staff and Foundation. “We believe Acacia’s alumni volunteers want to be in the fraternity advising business and not in the real estate and property management business” says AFNHC President Bill Utic, Cornell ’74. “As landlords, house corporations are businesses that must comply with

To provide additional assistance to our chapter house corporations, Acacia’s new national housing corporation has negotiated discounted fees and a preferred service provider agreement with Alpha Fraternity Management. Alpha has been helping fraternity house corporations since 1989 on 61 campuses. Alpha currently provides services to Acacia’s Washington State and Wisconsin chapters. Working with Alpha is optional, and house corporations can sign up for all or just some of Alpha’s services. In addition to chapter house property management, Alpha offers a wide range of services for house corporations from budgeting to financial analysis, to managing room leases and rent collection, recruiting house directors, contracting for food services, building project management, financial management, accounting, and tax preparation.

Wisconsin Acacia Facility in Madison, WI

Alpha’s licensed property managers, licensed builders, and licensed real estate brokers can also assist house corporations with building condition assessments, property improvement and preventative maintenance planning and implementation, and locating, leasing, or purchasing chapter houses.

AFNHC director and Washington State House Corporation President Jed Morris, Washington State ’74, shares that “Alpha was a great help to us in locating and negotiating a lease for our Washington State chapter house.”

An important AFNHC goal is to ensure Acacia retains chapter house properties when chapters face financial difficulties or become inactive. “Once a chapter house is sold, real estate market price increases can make it impossible to afford a future chapter house” says AFNHC Director Ron Mitchell, Colorado ’58. The AFNHC can take responsibility for the property to help prevent the loss of a chapter house from temporary financial issues. The AFNHC can also

Founding

manage vacant chapter houses, ensuring Acacia retains the property for a future return to campus.

As its property portfolio and financial resources grow over time, the AFNHC may also be able to help Acacia acquire chapter houses for chapters without chapter houses, help finance the non-educational portion of chapter house renovation projects, and ac quire chapter houses on campuses where Acacia wants to expand.

“We are excited about how the AFNHC will help Acacia become a stronger fraternity” said International President Justin Kaplan, Carleton ’07

“We believe a well-run and well-maintained chapter house is essential to reflecting Acacia’s values to prospective members,

parents, and the community; being a source of pride to alumni; commanding respectful as well as responsible undergraduate behavior; and ensuring safety and legal compliance” says AFNHC director and Acacia International Council Treasurer Bill Thornton, Ohio State ‘89. “I encourage our house corporations to explore how the AFNHC and Alpha can help.”

Directors of the National Housing Corporation

For more information, the AFNHC can be reached through Acacia’s headquarters office in Carmel, IN at: 317-872-8210 or communications@acacia.org

Ryan Kelly, Indiana ’99 | Commercial Real Estate Broker and Vice President, Colliers International Commercial Real Estate Services

Jed Morris, Washington State ’74 | Attorney, Past Acacia Leadership Consultant, Past National Judge Advocate, and current Washington State Chapter House Corporation President

Ron Mitchell, Colorado ’58 | Business Owner and Real Estate Developer, Past President of the Colorado Chapter House Corporation

Rob Roberson, Illinois Wesleyan ’74 | Compliance Examiner for the FDIC (retired), Past International Council President and Treasurer, Current AFF Director and Illinois Wesleyan Chapter House Corporation President

Bill Thornton, Ohio State ’89 | Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Interlake Steamship Company, Current International Council Treasurer and Ohio State Chapter House Corporation Director

Bill Utic, Cornell ’74 | Director Corporate Real Estate for Pacific Gas & Electric Company (retired), Past President of AFF and Current Foundation Treasurer, Past California Chapter House Corporation President

When the Acacia Fraternity Chapter at Iowa State University was re-colonized during the Spring 2000 Semester, the Corporate Board of The Acacians discovered in April 2000 that it had an opportunity to repurchase its former chapter house located at 138 Gray Avenue in Ames, which

had been sold in 1991, following the closure of the chapter at that time. With a rejuvenated undergraduate chapter of Acacia, the Corporate Board completed the purchase of the chapter house property and the undergraduate chapter moved-in to the chapter house on August 1, 2000, which

was originally constructed in 1928.

Over the course of the subsequent decade, the Corporate Board (with support from our alumni brothers) renovated various areas of the chapter house; but one aspect was slowly becoming a reality—the old chapter

house simply had reached the end of its useful life. And so, in the early 2010s, the Corporate Board began initial discussions regarding a potential opportunity to build a new chapter house. By 2015, the Corporate Board decided to move forward with developing a plan for a new chapter house and it contracted with Pennington & Co. to conduct a fundraising feasibility study. In March 2015, at the annual Iowa State Acacia Alumni gathering in Arizona, Corporate Board President Harold Zarr Jr., #814, Chapter Advisor Jeremy

Davis, #969, and then-current undergraduate chapter Venerable Dean Joe Webb, #1111, (along with several undergraduate brothers who also attended) shared the condition of the old chapter house and desire to build a new chapter facility with the approximately 20 alumni in attendance. The overall sentiment from alumni brothers was in support of building a new chapter house.

Following the completion of the fundraising feasibility study, the Corporate Board retained SB&A, an Ames-based architecture and engineering firm, to finalize a comprehensive building and site plan for the new chapter house. SB&A began the design process by meeting with the undergraduate brothers of the chapter to determine their thoughts and concepts that they’d prefer to see in a new chapter house. After initial designs for the chapter house were completed, the application for a demolition permit was submitted to the City of Ames for approval—the City of Ames has an ordinance that prohibits the demolition of a fraternity or sorori-

ty house without approval by the Ames City Council. Once approval by the City Council was received, the Corporate Board was able to ‘publicly’ announce the initiative to build a new chapter house.

As the design phase progressed, the initial construction estimate for the new chapter house was determined to be $4.1 Million. Recognizing the need to have a dedicated group of brothers to undertake the fundraising initiative necessary in order to raise the funds needed to build the new chapter house, the Corporate Board approved the creation of the “Building a Cornerstone for Our Future” Campaign Committee, which was Chaired by Brother James Davis, #489, along with Co-Chairs Brothers Neil Woodley, #567, and Harold Zarr Jr., #814. When this committee was established, the Corporate Board believed that it was extremely important that the campaign committee was comprised of brothers from the various eras of time—thus the committee’s full membership included: Richard Taylor, #506, Jerald Ball, #633,

John B. Pugh Library and Study Room

David Fifield, #671, Kerry Fladung, #896, Jeremy Davis, #969, Craig Buske, #1009 and Ben Dirks, #1130. Additionally, the Honorary Co-Chairmen for the campaign were: Brothers John Pugh, #442, Richard Cone, #557 and Calvin Hultman, #638.

Based upon the initial cost of the new chapter house, a campaign goal of raising $2.9 Million was established, which included an anticipated $1.4 Million being able to be funded through charitable/tax-deductible funds. As the plans for the new chapter house were finalized and financial plans determined, the construction startdate of Summer 2018 was delayed one year to Summer 2019 due to delays encountered with the City of Ames permitting process and remediation of asbestos discovered in the old chapter house. As a result of the unexpected delays and further impacted by increased construction costs, the campaign goal was increased to $3.7 Million, due to an updated all-in cost to build the new chapter house of $5.5 Million.

Following final approval of permits by the City of Ames, the demolition of the old chapter house occurred in the Summer of 2019, with construction of the new chapter house beginning immediately following demolition in late July 2019. Wisely, the Corporate Board had utilized a design-build process from the beginning of the initial concept of a new chapter house, which allowed for the gen-

eral contractor, Integrity Construction, to work in-tandem with the architecture and engineering firm, SB&A. This design-build process proved to be extremely prudent as the construction of the new chapter house was underway during the onset of COVID-19 in March 2020. Amazingly, even with the COVID-19 pandemic affecting nearly all facets of life, the new chapter house project remained on-track and was officially completed on August 1, 2020 when the general contractor presented the keys to the chapter house to the Corporate Board. Immedi-

house in early August 2020 in advance of the Fall semester. Due to COVID restrictions implemented by the University on Greek houses, the undergraduate brothers who moved-in were limited as to the type of activities that could occur—for example, in the Fall 2020, the University told chapters that Greek houses were not able to have non-members in their facilities due to COVID concerns.

ately thereafter, furnishings for the chapter house were delivered, including dining room tables and chairs, classroom tables and chairs, room furnishings (beds, dressers, desks), couches, chairs, and TVs, Billiard and Foosball tables, just to name a few of the many items.

Although the pandemic was affecting colleges, Iowa State University chose to proceed with in-person classes for the Fall 2020 semester, and thus the undergraduate brothers were able to move-in to the new chapter

From the launch of the campaign to build a new chapter house in 2015, and throughout the construction phase, the campaign committee worked diligently to secure the financial donations necessary to meet the financial plan established—which included a mortgage loan of up to $2.5 Million. The campaign officially closed on December 31, 2021, after having exceeded the fundraising goal. Overall, 251 out of 525 brothers contributed to the campaign which received financial commitments totaling $4 Million, with $3.8 Million received as of December 31, 2021.

To reach this fundraising goal, the campaign was anchored by eight lead gifts totaling just over $2 Million. These major gifts truly are why the new chapter house was able to become a reality. Further, Brother James Davis, was instrumental in leading the fundraising campaign, as he personally contacted each of our alumni and worked diligently to secure the financial gifts necessary to meet the campaign goal. Additionally,

GRIT

Group-Thomas Whitney Heritage Library

brothers James Davis and Harold Zarr Jr., met regularly with the architect and general contractor throughout the design and building process.

It goes without saying, the Corporate Board and Undergraduate Chapter are truly appreciative of the financial support from our alumni brothers along with several ‘friends of Acacia’ who donated to our campaign to build the new

chapter house. Having exceeded the fundraising goal, the mortgage originated at $2.25 Million.

Overall, the new chapter house for the Acacia Fraternity Chapter at Iowa State University is truly a state-of-the-art 42-man fraternity chapter house, and we were proud to officially dedicate the new chapter house on March 19, 2022. With an unrivaled kitchen – second-to-none of any Greek house at Iowa State – combined with suite-styled living for the undergraduate brothers along with various gathering and study areas throughout the chapter house—

including the Heritage Library which was made possible through a special gift from Donna Whitney, the widow of Thomas Whitney, former chapter Venerable Dean.

To view the building plans and pictures of our new chapter house, scan the QR Code below or visit: acacia-iowastate.org/?page_id=50

Acacia Fraternity Foundation ALUMNI GATHERINGS

Commonly referred to as Alumni Gatherings, in 2013, the Acacia Fraternity Foundation began a new initiative to reengage our alumni. Since that first gathering, nearly 2,000 alumni have enjoyed the spirit of brotherhood, strengthening the ties...

The goals are three-fold; to enjoy the company of Brothers, spouses, and friends of Acacia, to build local interest in creating alumni associations, and to recognize alumni for their dedication to Acacia and their community successes.

Often, they include presentations for the Order of Pythagoras, Award of Merit, or induction into the Order of the Apron, which honors our heritage and past alumni who promoted those ideals. Now 50 events and growing, accompanied at each gathering is the famed ‘ritual bar’ owned by George F. Patterson, Cincinnati, ‘42.

Ritual Bar? After a long day of meetings or perhaps issues of debate, ‘It was common for Broth-

er Patterson to propose a motion, “Gentleman, I propose we adjourn for the day and reconvene for further discussion at the ritual bar. As many know, George was a dedicated volunteer serving Acacia for nearly half a century and was a link to our Founding Fathers.

We are building local interest for increased alumni participation by educating them about current programs. We want to motivate local alumni to promote the programs and mentor undergraduate members to maximize what the Fraternity offers.

Further, a gathering is significant as a vehicle for introducing and gaining local support for expansions or returning to a campus where the Acacia

flag had flown proudly in the past. The activities have indirectly led to two expansions and one chartering since its launch. Gatherings are an opportunity to tell the epic story of Acacia and its fraternal relevance in today’s ever-changing landscape.

Are we coming to a city near you?

Please visit the Foundation’s web page at acacia. org/upcoming-events, where you can view photos from previous events and the fall schedule thus far. If you would like to consider helping host an event, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Darold Larson at dlarson@acacia.org

Team Acacia - Not four years but for life!

Team up to make a difference for the Black & Gold

Brothers,

On behalf of the Directors of the Acacia Fraternity Foundation, I am sending a special thank you to the scores of alumni who continue to impact the Fraternity with your leadership and financial support. As I begin my third and final year as President, the Foundation has focused our attention on three main goals; increased outreach to our alumni, more frequent and timely communication, and the role of estate planning in building for the future.

Like me, I encourage you to join the growing number of Acacians who have committed to a lasting legacy by naming the Foundation in their estate planning. There are many creative ways to give that have a tremendous impact on Acacia and simultaneously return some positive benefits to the donor. You might find that silver lining in a planned gift.

Over 67% of Americans die without a will, living trust, or other critical estate planning documents. Their voices remain unheard. Their legacies are lost. Too often, the cost of creating an estate plan contributes to this situation. But estate planning doesn’t have to be expensive.

Legal fees are the most significant portion of estate planning costs. To reduce the time an attorney spends gathering information from you, you can make your estate planning more affordable. The confluence of rising interest rates and depressed asset values has created an ideal environment for a sophisticated gift plan that can support Acacia now and pass the inheritance to your heirs nearly tax-free.

Is your objective to save more in taxes? Increase your retirement income? Or make a more substantial difference in the work of Acacia. A well-planned gift may be your solution. There are many ways to give and structure a gift to meet your philanthropic and financial goals. But sometimes, the simple tried, and true gifts are the most effective way to make a difference in our work while bringing you and your family deep personal satisfaction.

As you confer with your financial advisors’ post-tax season, remember the Acacia Fraternity Foundation. Thank you for including Acacia in your will or another planned gift. A bequest by will extends your philanthropic vision and expresses a profound commitment to our shared mission. By providing for Acacia in this way, you have done a lot.

Please reach out to the Foundation staff at (317) 695-3142, dlarson@acacia.org, or visit our website at acacia.planmylegacy.org to learn more about the Acacia Fraternity Foundation’s Evergreen Society. Team Acacia – not four years, but for life.

Fraternally, Kris R. Lutt, President Acacia Fraternity Foundation

About Kris: a 1990 initiate of the Nebraska Chapter, Kris served his Chapter as Venerable Dean; As a volunteer, he was elected to the International Council for the position of Undergraduate Councilor, serving from 1992-1994. In 2016 he was elected as a Director of the AFF. His service to the Fraternity has been above and beyond, gaining him the recognition of the Order of Pythagoras and the Award of Merit. Kris is the President-Sweeteners, Starches, and Acidulants, Archer Daniels Midland Inc.; he resides in Decatur, IL with his wife Becky and two daughters.

LEADERS

3 Reasons Why Legacy Giving Matters

You may have heard that “leaving a legacy” is important to fraternity foundations like Acacia. But what makes legacy giving so different from writing a check or donating online? Legacy gifts…

1.Focus on the future.

The support we receive from annual gifts each year is critical. But a legacy gift is like a support system we can count on to help us continue to offer valuable training and programming for our brothers for generations to come. Ask yourself: If you could live forever, would you continue to help student Acacians pursue virtue, honor, and truth? If the answer is yes, a legacy gift can immortalize your support.

2.Don’t affect your current finances.

You can take care of your top priorities—yourself and your loved ones—now while providing for the Acacia Fraternity Foundation (AFF) in the future.

Two of the most popular gift types:

• A gift in your will: A few sentences are all it takes to include AFF in your will.

• A beneficiary designation gift: Name the Acacia Fraternity Foundation as a beneficiary of your retirement plan, IRA, donor advised fund, or life insurance policy.

3.Help you recognize Acacia’s role in your life. If Acacia has significantly impacted your life or the life of someone you love, a legacy gift is a heartfelt way to honor that relationship.

Through your legacy gift, you have a special chance to reflect the steadfast and resourceful leader you are today far into the future. And, if you tell us about this gift now, we can ensure it’s used exactly as you intend.

Please contact Darold Larson at (317) 695-3142 or dlarson@acacia.org to discuss how helping future Acacians become transformative leaders can establish your legacy.

Start Your Journey Today

Estate planning allows you to create a legacy that you and your loved ones can feel good about. Our FREE guide, Your Personal Planning Road Map, breaks the planning journey into simple steps. Reach out to dlarson@acacia.org to request your copy today.

Thank You!

The best message is the simplest one; thank you! On behalf of the Board of Directors and staff of the Acacia Fraternity Foundation, thank you to those who continue to support our continuing mission, “Preparing Tomorrow’s Leaders.”

A most heartfelt thank you to the MVPs of our Fraternity, our alumni, as your contributions helped us meet our funding goals for the just ending 2022-23 fiscal year. This marks the sixth consecutive year of raising over a million dollars in funds. I am proud of the generosity of our alumni. The Foundation distributed $184,000 in scholarships to over four-hundred undergraduates the previous year. Further, the Foundation presented over $1.1 million in grants to the chapters and the Fraternity headquarters for bricks & mortar projects and educational programming. The Foundation underwrites one hundred percent of the Triad, and educational grants can support approximately one-third of the Fraternity’s operations. These grants lessen the burden of costs associated with undergraduate dues.

Alabama’s legendary Paul “Bear” Bryant, one of the greatest college football coaches, once said, “You can’t make chicken salad without the chicken.” In an interview, Bryant stressed the importance of recruiting good players in developing and maintaining a successful football program. He cited other foundational elements for a winning team; preparation, planning, practice, and the most critical element, creating a ‘winning attitude’ in players.

It is easy to draw a parallel (or straight-line

for the geometrically challenged) between a successful football program and a successful fraternity operation. The key is the recruitment of ‘good players.’ Every spring, come signing day, there’s a lot of talk about football recruits who are graded by the scouting services on a five-star basis, with five being the best.

Unfortunately, too many chapters recruit well one year and then rest on their laurels the next. The results make for cyclical operations, ups and downs, wins and losses. To lessen the peaks and valleys, the Fraternity takes pride in offering two programming events each year – annually, the Leonard (Lee) W. Kearney Summit (January) and the alternating biennial Leadership Academy (ALA) and the Conclave and Leadership School (August).

Coach Bryant called it a ‘winning attitude’ – we call it enthusiasm and courage! The programs mentioned above aim to instill a sense of pride, history, knowledge,and confidence!

But courage? Winston Churchill said, “The prime virtue is courage because it makes all the other virtues possible.” To a degree, it takes courage to go Greek; it takes courage to take a slightly different track and join a Fraternity that can spell and can lay claim to being three to four letters better than our contemporaries, it takes courage to take a leadership position among your peers, and it takes courage to dare to be different, striving to be the best.

To paraphrase Coach Bryant, “you can’t make a winning fraternity without alumni leadership!”

Thank you for investing in Acacia’s present and future leaders of tomorrow and making our star recruits into a winning team. For more information and any inquiries on the Foundation’s operations and goals, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Team Acacia - Not for four years, but for life!

Fraternally,

Darold W. Larson Executive Director

Acacia Fraternity Foundation

email:

dlarson@acacia.org

mobile: (317) 695-3142

ARIZONA STATE

Francis M. Brennan, #61

CALIFORNIA

Carlisle M. Moore, #349

Donald H. Scott, #523

CALIFORNIA OF PENNSYLVANIA

John D. Spaher, #126

Bertram J. Forsyth, #127

Timothy L. Glover, #283

CENTRAL

MISSOURI STATE

Roy A. Beers, #16

Larry W. Neil, #150

CINCINNATI

Richard A. Birnbaum, #230

Arthur J. Baltau, #250

COLORADO

Gerald E. Coffey, #473

CORNELL

Robert E. Baker #537

David W. Bills, #590

John Male, #600

Robert T. Franson, #636

Kevin D. Ashman, #843

DENVER

Glenn W. Fritts, #165

EAST TEXAS STATE

David J. Phipps, #52

EMPORIA STATE

Gregory W. Jacobson, #30

FRANKLIN

William M. Anderson, #549

Samuel C. Williamson, #700

ILLINOIS

Delos Detar, #550

Richard L. Storer, #715

Robert A. Lincicome, #735

Larry F. Lewis, #871

James P. Flanders, #932

Douglas J. Bush, #1117

Gregory A. Heiser, #1411

INDIANA

Robert E. Marshall, #545

Thomas E. Weaver, #674

Denver L. White, #786

George S. Gruber, #938

IOWA STATE

Edward F. Beard, #889

KANSAS STATE

William C. Hart, #311

Robert L. Derstein, #458

Russell E. Hodges, #469

Dalton B. Funk, #1216

LONG BEACH STATE

Robert N. Jones, #125

LOUISIANA STATE

Richard L. Brooks, #108

Ralph F. Braun, #8

MEMPHIS STATE

Donald H. Griffin, #23

MIAMI OF OHIO

Ronald K. Buhr, #39

Ralph E. Kah, #84

Harry T. Flasher, #102

John J. Strayer, #128

Mark A. Rose, #310

MICHIGAN

Warren P. Williamson III, #529

Frank V. Windes, #555

William F. Bos, #579

MISSOURI

Dennis F. Bryant, #702

Timothy J. Puchta, #801

MORNINGSIDE

William L. Heubaum, #30

Fred Erbes, #38

NEBRASKA

Lennis W. Keyes, #937

NEVADA - LAS VEGAS

Erich D. Weese, #2

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Roland A. Jesseman, #99

David D. Buttrick, #172

NORTHERN COLORADO

David K. Brandebery, #10

NORTHWESTERN

Charles M. Sayre, #316

Richard S. Stam, #383

James T. Kolbe, #635

OHIO

John F. Jewett, #103

Charles R. Atkinson, #125

OHIO STATE

William H. Schremp, #586

Ronald F. Wachtmann, #620

OKLAHOMA

James G. Billingsley, #550

OREGON STATE

William D. Bain, #264

Jerry G. Lear #274

PENN STATE

Marvin A. Yeager, #397

William L. Brubaker, #448

Lee R. Sell, #487

John E. Cribbs, #491

Phillip G. Steinhauer, #577

PENN STATE - ALTOONA

Craig T. Waldron Jr., #202

PURDUE

William R. Dufendach, #643

Robert D. Nation, #684

Jack P. Sindt, #840

Jay B. Brosz, #1172

RENSSELAER

Donald B. Brink, #51

Albert S. Bergendahl, #193

David W Dehaven, #196

William C. Jerome VIII, #341

Stephen D. Lent, #351

Jerry R. Siemian, #420

Kenneth P. Olsen, #490

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

William L. Sweet, #104

SYRACUSE

John P. Howe, #446

WASHINGTON

Frank W. Scott Jr., #400

William B. Proctor, #436

Thomas C. Adams, #460

WASHINGTON STATE

William V. Swanland, #126

Vernon W. Towne, #242

Thomas J. Curry, #305

WISCONSIN

Carmen N. Hesselberg, #551

John H. Stade, #608

Dean C. Toda, #1006

WYOMING

Herbert W. Gilbert, #67

Robert F. Peterson, #125

Leroy C. Feusner, #235

This is a list of all brothers reported between 9/29/2022 and 6/15/2023. Please contact Acacia Headquarters at communications@acacia.org for more information about a brother or to inform us of a brother’s recent passing.