Alumni Newsletter Published by the Beta Mu Chapter at The University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa
Spring 2008
First Newsletter
Connecting With our Past for a Stronger Tomorrow I am pleased to announce the introduction of an alumni newsletter. Our goal is to produce one semi-annualy to educate and strenghten the bond between the men who once called 630 N. Dubuque St. home. The majority of this newsletter was composed by the active members who recognize that the strongest chapters are the ones with the greatest alumni involvement. You may be wondering why now? Formal rush this year was very disappointing and made
us re-evaluate our place on the Iowa campus. Instead of shrugging it off, we have been proactive. In just one semester we have taken many positive steps that most are unaware of. We improved our grades to above the UI mens average, began taking meetings more seriously, improved attendance at socials, removed members not fully committed from exec positions and ultimately the house, and renovated areas to make our house feel more like a home.
It makes me very proud to be a member at this time; a smaller chapter makes us closer and a zeal of self improvement is being nurtured. Previous conversations about how to improve were merely ideas that never took shape. That has changed and an outgrowth of that is this newsletter. Ultimately though, this newsletter is not about the active chapter. As we graduate and move on with our lives, we have more important things to worry about. For this reason, an alumni newsletter is needed more than ever. It will be your forum to break away from monotony, remain in contact with friends, to forge new relationships with future alumni, and hopefully organize events where you can remember old stories about your time at Iowa.
Inside This Issue: Central Iowa Alumni Club Renovations Alumni Spotlight Old photos By the numbers Alumni Spotlight Call to Alumni Visit the Chapter Calendar of Events New Website Ways to get involved
Alumni Relations Board Matthew Warren Newsletter editor Alumni Database Manager (847) 508-4895 matthew-warren@uiowa.edu Dino Ranieri Active Alumni Chair (847) 732-8672 dino-ranieri@uiowa.edu
A successful newsletter is going to require your support. You can help by giving us suggestions for improvement, contributing articles and photos, updating us on things that happen in your lives, sharing stories, and contacting the people to the right and let them know you want to be more involved.
John Morgan III Chicago Area Alumni Chair (773) 315-6090 jjmorgan3@gmail.com Jerry Jewett Central Iowa Alumni Chair (515) 277-8866 jerryjewett@yahoo.com Continued On Page 2
Members Attend Central Iowa Alumni Club On December 5th, four undergraduate members attended the annual Central Iowa Alumni Christmas Dinner held in Des Moines. The event was a success with more than 35 alumni attending for cocktails and dinner. The Sigma Nu Alumni Club of Central Iowa has been convening the first Wednesday of each month at the downtown Holiday Inn for lunch for almost 10 years. On a whim, the club director sent an inviation to several Iowa active chapters for the first time; the only response coming from Beta Mu. Almost all of the members are in their 50’s or older as a knowledge gap occured and the club was unable to contact any younger alumni.
“E Even tho ough we we ere the only chapter to attend d , they were th hrilled d to se ee us. The ages of the alumnii ran nge e anywhere e from 50’s to late 80’s and they stilll kn new w ho ow to throw wag go ood party.” p y Chris Lago go, BM 16 602
Interested in attending or learning le more about when the club meets? Contacts: Con
The actives who attended recalled many stories told that evening. Their favorite was learning about the Lilac party held every spring. Sigma Nu’s would scour Iowa City in search of Lilacs to pick from homes and fields. Sometimes they would get caught in the act and have to run away, but for the most part, everyone made it back safe. The heavy scented flowers were supported above the ceiling of the front room by nets and their aroma would drift down and create the perfect atmosphere for dancing next to the fireplace with candle and moonlight shining through the three sets of french doors to provide the ambiance.
Chapter House Receives $20,000 Renovation During the winter break, the Sigma Nu chapter house received a makeover to several key areas.The study received new carpet, new paint, and furniture to help support the educational needs of its members. Two new computers were purchased thanks to generous donations from the Parents Club. The Honor room was entirely redone and includes new flooring, a social room, and a meeting table for exec. Hallways received new carpet and our composites were hung on the wall to remind us of our past. The least used room in the house, the Brotherhood Room, has been turned into a social room thanks to the creation of a media centre by the ‘08 class project. We hope you will be able to see the renovations for yourself as we have immense pride for our home.
Bill Garten (515) 279-0317 3000 Grand #213 Des Moines, IA 50312 Kenton M. Klein (515) 224-6535 3660 Grand Ave #740 Des Moines, IA 50312 klklein@dwx.com
Jerry Jewett (515) 277-8866 100 35th Street Des Moines, IA 50312 jerryjewett@yahoo.com
Continued Co C Cont ont ntin nu ue ed O ed On n Page Pa ag ge 3
Alumni Spotlight p g James Ehrmann
We Need Alumni Contact Information Know somebody that did not receive our e-mail? Give us their contact information so we can reach them. Contact: matthew-warren@uiowa.edu
By The Numbers After serving as Eminent Commandor from ‘05-’06 and IFC president thereafter, it is no surprise that James has continued to work towards bettering the Greek Community. He is currently traveling across North America to serve as a Leadership Consultant for Sigma Nu international. Just recently he announced his engagment to Kelly Anderson, a nursing student and ADPi sorority member here at Iowa. Congratulations!
Tell Us Your News Graduating college is an accomplishment for every individual. It gives us the opportunity to explore the world and start our professional careers. Many do not know where they may end up after college. We have brothers working in cities across the United States. Some of us are working in finance, consulting, and the military. A way to keep us updated with each other for years to come is through this new Sigma Nu newsletter. We need information from YOU! It has been proven that newsletters help fraternities keep friendships and also strengthen brotherhood. Please do not hesitate to contact us via email with new and exciting information! We look forward to hearing from you soon. We want this newsletter to be about our alumni, just as much as our current members. With that being said, we want your old pictures, stories and new contact information. There was a great gathering at the NIU game this past September, and probably much more that we didn’t hear about, so contact us with whatever you can give because all is welcome.
Continued On Page 4
Beta Mu Alumni Spotlight Craig Haesemeyer BM 998, joined the Sigma Nu Educational Foundation Board as a Director in 1997. He has served the Foundation as Secretary (2001-2003), President-Elect (2003-2005), President (2005-2007) and, currently, as Chairman (2007-2009). Craig earned his master’s degree in business from Harvard University and went on to pursue a career in investment banking in San Francisco. In 1991, Craig founded Transcontinental Capital Partners, a boutique investment banking firm in Palo Alto, California. He is also the principal owner and Chairman of Central State Bank in State Center, Iowa. Craig and his wife Wendy live in Menlo Park, California with their son, Christian.
Calendar of Events
March -15th-24th, Spring Break April -12th, Parents Weekend -14th-18th, Greek Week with Theta -25th, Formal @ Eagle Ridge May -15th, Graduation June -TBA July -TBA August -25th Fall Classes Begin September -7th-12th, Rush -12th, Bid Night -13th, Fall Alumni Event, ISU Game Iowa City
Visit Beta Mu in Iowa City This year is filled with great opportunities for Sigma Nu, Beta Mu chapter at the University of Iowa. We feel we had a small pitfall in the past couple years with a lot of brothers graduating that possessed true leadership for our chapter. Even though we may have struggled, we are turning this chapter around for the better. We have made many improvements and hope to keep bettering ourselves. We have had 9 members on the Dean’s List and our active member GPA was a 3.0. Sigma Nu was fifth in grades this semester and we were above the all men’s average for the University of Iowa. We are currently working on starting up a permanent scholarship for potential new members as well as active members in our chapter. Even though this is a small step, we know that we can maintain the level of achievement that has made Sigma Nu a fixture on the Iowa Campus. Chapters that have been awarded the Rock Award do not achieve it relying solely on their active members; it takes the entire Sigma Nu chapter to achieve. We look forward in seeing many of you in the near future. If you’re planning on coming to Iowa City in the near future, please let us know. We would love to have you stop by the house to see all the great improvements. Our doors are open to all alumni, so come by and meet our actives.
Wanna Help? Here’s How!! -Send us feedback on the newsletter -Contribute articles, photos, suggestions for the newsletter and alumni events -Update your contact information on the new website -Forward the newsletter to people who did not receive it -Provide us with e-mails of people who did not receive the newsletter -Visit the Beta Mu chapter -Help us during rush to make sure we get the best members possible -Mark your calendars for the ISU game on September 13th and arrive a day earlier to participate in the Bid Day festivities, or even earlier to help with rush. -Join the scholarship committee where you will help decide who receives the new scholarship we are forming (Contact matthew-warren@uiowa.edu) -Help us form an 8-person Alumni Advisory Board to assist the active chapter run smoothly, carry on traditions and focus on their academics instead of structural improvements. Alumni from around the Iowa City area preferred. (Contact Kevin Kamp, bm1335@mchsi.com) Continued On Page 5
We’re Online! Come visit us online at http://www.sigmanuiowa.org/ What you can do with it: Update your alumni profile Keep track of alumni events Communicate with active members Check on the progress of the house Upload photos Give feedback
Alumni Corner When we became initiated members of Sigma Nu fraternity we made a promise to perpetuate lifelong friendships and commitment to the fraternity. While in college it is quite easy to be fully dedicated to the fraternity, but as we get older and have families it becomes harder and harder to stay involved. The Sigma Nu, Beta Mu Alumni Association is one way that an active member can continue to fulfill their promise. With a revived interest in the Beta Mu Alumni Chapter, a group of alumni and undergraduates have decided to reform the chapter. Along with this new formation we have decided to create an alumni website, set up social outings, and create a new annual (or semi annual) alumni newsletter. Some of the events that we are in the process of planning are a family picnic, Cubs or Sox day outing, an alumni golf outing, and an alumni formal. We also hope to have a few members of the alumni chapter attend this summer’s Grand Chapter in Austin, TX. By re-opening the doors to this alumni chapter we can expand networking opportunities, become more involved with the undergraduate chapter and build on those relationships that we made while in Sigma Nu. If you have any interest or know other alumni that are interested in being involved in the alumni chapter, feel free to contact me at jjmorgan3@gmail.com or at (773) 315-6090. John Morgan III BM 1537
1982
2006
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Message From the President I hope you enjoyed our first edition of what hopes to be a long run of newsletters. I am very excited about this coming semester. Our newly renovated house looks great, we have quality members, and we are already well on our way to a strong spring pledge class. It is an exciting time for Sigma Nu, Beta Mu and I encourage you to come by the house, take a tour, and just say hello to some of the guys in orur house. Strong alumni realations is key to the continued success our fratenity, so you are welcome anytime. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please e-mail me at brian-underwood@uiowa.edu, and I will be happy to reply. Thanks for reading! Brian Underwood, ‘09 Eminent Commander
If only those old walls could talk. They would have quite a few things to say. Some of Iowa’s Greek chapter houses have been around since the turn of the century. They’ve seen wars, bathtub gin, depressions, flattops and T-birds, Vietnam protests, men on the moon, bellbottoms and flattops again. In a sense they are a landmark of stability at the University of Iowa. Tens of thousands of students have called them home. Each chapter house has Its own style and tradition that it has built up over the years. Tradition gives a sense of identity and security to both active members and alumni. No matter where a student lives throughout his college career, they still have a place where they can occasionally touch base; a place they can call home. This sense of security is very important with the stress and pressure facing today’s students. Knowing they will always have a place to turn to that is always full of friendly faces is a comforting thought. And when you finally graduate, pursue a family and a career and return in 20 years to show your son or daughter the University of Iowa and where you spent your undergraduate years, the old chapter house will probably have new carpet, a fresh coat of paint and excited young faces. But as you stand in an old familiar room where many friendships and memories were made, you will say to yourself and to your children, “if only these old walls could talk.” -Brad Homstron, Hawkeye1986 Matthew Warren Newsletter editor Alumni Database Manager (847) 508-4895 matthew-warren@uiowa.edu
Dino Rineri Active Alumni Chair (847) 732-8672 dino-rineri@uiowa.edu
John Morgan III Chicago Area Alumni Chair (773) 315-6090 jjmorgan3@gmail.com
Jerry Jewett Central Iowa Alumni Chair (515) 277-8866 jerryjewett@yahoo.com