July 2012 . Issue 06
Cross & Crescent
FROM THE EDITOR Happy Canada Day and Independence Day for 2012! Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity has a long and storied history of brothers who have served in the military, with many dying or wounded. In this issue, we feature some of our military brothers and their firsthand opinions about the role Lambda Chi Alpha has played in their daily lives as they have performed their duties to protect our freedoms and our global safety. We also have included an amazing story about our wounded veterans and the sacrifices they have made...and the love and support they continue to need and deserve from their families, friends, and brothers.
Tad Lichtenauer Director of Communications/IT (317) 803-7322
We hope you will take the time to enjoy, appreciate, and reflect upon the comments these brothers have taken the time to share with us. If you have the chance, thank a military veteran this week. And thank you to all our military brothers, past and present. In ZAX and friendship,
tlichtenauer@lambdachi.org Tad Lichtenauer Managing Editor Cross & Crescent Magazine
Cross & Crescent
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YOUR ONLINE SOURCE FOR ALL LAMBDA CHI ALPHA NEWS July 2012 ISSUE 06
Features 06
Departments Chapter News Chapter news, alumni news, and reports of death.
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Fraternity News
New Director of Chapter Services Hired
Fraternity News
6th Annual Steward Summit
IN THEIR OWN WORDS How Lambda Chi Alpha helped shape the lives of these military brothers. By Tad Lichtenauer (Denison)
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PROTECTING OUR OWN Two injured soldiers, a former Senator, and an orthopedic surgeon- all Lambda Chi Alpha veterans- shed light on the treatment of America’s wounded warrior. By Andrew Talevich (Washington State)
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ANSWERING THE CALL OF DUTY Relying on his personal credo, ‘strength and honor,’ Jamie Sclater (Elon 2002) has quickly risen through the ranks of the Navy during his four tours of duty in Afghanistan and Iraq. By Andrew Talevich (Washington State)
16 CREDITS Publisher: Managing Editor: Assistant Editor: Layout & Design: Photographer: Research: Historian: Editors:
Bill Farkas Tad Lichtenauer Andrew Talevich Thomas Roberts Walt Moser Jon Williamson Mike Raymond Jono Hren Bob McLaughlin
CONTRIBUTIONS Content for consideration should be submitted by the 25th of the month (except Aug/Jan) Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity 8741 Founders Rd Indianapolis, IN 46268-1338 (317) 872-8000 editor@lambdachi.org www.lambdachi.org/cross-crescent
MAINTAINING THE BOND OF OUR BROTHERHOOD Rick Lehmann (Alabama-Birmingham 2003), currently with the U.S. Army in Germany, writes about how Lambda Chi brothers must stay bonded. By Rick Lehmann (Alabama-Birmingham 2003)
CHAPTER NEWS
Chapter News Chapter news, alumni news, and reports of death
Alfred (Kappa-Sigma)
Denison (Gamma-Iota)
Mitch Feldman (1983), president of the chapter’s alumni association, organized an impromptu gathering of alumni brothers during the university’s three-day reunion weekend.
The chapter won the Fraternal Commitment Award, the top prize from the Greek Awards. Joe Romanowski was named the Best President and Greek Man of the Year. He also received an honorable mention for Greek Athlete of the Year. Patrick White won the Best New Member Award. Alex Daniels was the only male to win the Distinguished Leadership Award. Dr. Woodyard was named the Top Greek Advisor while Fraternity Advisor Bill Froehlich won a prize for alumni involvement. The chapter also received the award for the most improved GPA.
Ball State (Iota-Alpha) Dave Brunk (1971) is the commissioner of the NCAA’s Peach Belt Conference. He was formerly the commissioner of the Northeast 10 and before that was a director for the NCAA.
Drexel (Epsilon-Kappa)
Coe (Zeta-Alpha)
The chapter held an Initial Ritual Exemplification for four brothers.
The Strohm Family Endowment, generously established in 1995 by Coe College Trustee John Strohm (1979) and his wife, Mary Pat Link, continues to provide awards to the top female and male athletes.
The chapter earned fourth place in Greek Week. On June 2, 2012, the chapter hosted CPR/AED class to allow interested students to earn a valid certification.
Frank Bosh (1947) died January 22, 2012. After serving in World War II he owned College DX, Bowes Wholesale Auto Parts, and Midwest Dynamics.
Eastern Illinois (Phi-Alpha)
Edwin Wisnousky (1959) died November 22, 2011. David King (1965) died February 1, 2012. He worked in the optical industry.
Connecticut (Zeta-Lambda) Calvin R. Lucas (1951) died April 27, 2012. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean Conflict and was honorably discharged with the rank of private first class in 1954. Following his military service Lucas worked as an engineer for the Blakeslee Arpaia & Chapman Construction Co. in Branford, CT. He retired as vice president of estimating in the mid 1990s.
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Chapter brothers celebrated their 35th anniversary on April 21, 2012, with a golf tournament and banquet in Mattoon, Illinois. Brothers from all eras, including founding fathers Don Coplea (1977), David Williams (1977), and John Schmitt (1976) were in attendance.
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CHAPTER NEWS
Chapter news, alumni news, and reports of death
Louisiana-Lafayette (Iota-Omega)
Edinboro (Beta-Delta)
For the second semester in a row, the chapter earned the highest all-fraternity grade point average with a 2.786 GPA.
The chapter raised approximately $2,400 for its philanthropy, Fulcrum For Food. The event included teeter-tottering for 72 consecutive hours and raised money for the Second Harvest Food Bank.
Millsaps (Theta-Eta) This past spring semester Garrett Wilkerson was tapped for the Order of Omega, joining Andrew Marion as the second Lambda Chi Alpha member at the Millsaps chapter. Brother Marion was elected president of the Order of Omega Chapter and Brother Wilkerson was elected treasurer.
Georgia (Nu) Prosper Buchhart (1955) died May 22, 2012. He was the owner/ president of Buchhart Appraisal Services and Buchhart Realty & Development; companies he established in Closter, New Jersey, approximately 43 years ago.
High Pi Marsh Nippes was awarded the Greek Alumni Advisor of the Year at the Student Life Awards.
Georgia Tech (Beta-Kappa)
Watermelon Bust will occur on August 24, and Bid Day at will occur on September 1, 2012.
The chapter has the following new FASET leaders: Trond Liu, Tyler Lucas, Trey Blanden, Chad Collins, Kevin Arpin, and Craig McCown. FASET, which stands for Familiarization and Adaptation to the Surroundings and Environs of Tech, is Georgia Tech’s orientation program for new undergraduate students (freshmen and transfers) as well as their parents, family members, and guests.
Mississippi State (Epsilon-Chi) Alva L. Brothers Jr. (1939) died May 11, 2012. He served in the Army Air Corps during World War II. His last duty station was Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton, OH.
William R. Prince (1961) died May 17, 2012.
Missouri-Kansas City (Sigma-Rho)
Kentucky (Epsilon-Phi)
The chapter won Greek Week and took first place in three of the five events.
Craig L. Merimee (2000) died March 18, 2012. He was a branch manager and loan officer for BB&T for 11 years.
The chapter remained undefeated in intramural soccer
Don Waggoner died March 27, 2012. He was a retired Navy captain and was buried with full honors at Miramar in San Diego.
Alumni Brother Scott Ezell has agreed to become the chapter’s faculty advisor. Chapter brothers participated in Relay for Life, raising money for the fight against cancer. Michael Williams was nominated for Greek Man of the Year while freshman Dylan Clark was nominated for Greek Scholar of the Year.
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CHAPTER NEWS
Chapter news, alumni news, and reports of death
Missouri S&T (Alpha-Delta)
North Carolina-Greensboro (Phi-Theta)
Tom Green (1985), president and owner of Key Sport Shop in Rolla, was named “Honorary St. Pat” by the university’s St. Pat’s Celebration Committee. He also served as the parade marshal.
The chapter conducted an Initiation Ritual Exemplification for four brothers.
Missouri S&T will break ground on the 68,500 square foot James E. Bertelsmeyer Hall at 11th and State streets in April 2013. The building is named for brother James E. Bertelsmeyer (1966), who made the lead gift for the project.
Oklahoma City (Theta-Delta) James B. Blevins (1952) died June 4, 2012. He was a retired Oklahoma County District Judge. He was inducted into the U.S. Army near the end of World War II. He returned to civilian life, attending both Texas Christian University, to play football, and Oklahoma City University. While at Oklahoma City University he began a life of public service by being elected the County Weigher of Oklahoma County at age 22. He also joined the 45th Infantry Division and was with the Division on active duty in the Korea Conflict. Upon returning to civilian life he finished both college and law school at Oklahoma City University. He practiced law with his friend Marvin York as the firm of Blevins and York until he was appointed district judge. In addition to his life as a lawyer, he was a Mason for sixty-three years, Boy Scout leader, and a past president of the Capitol Hill Kiwanis Club.
The treasurer of the Miner Alumni Association is Jerry R. Bayless (1959).
New Hampshire (Alpha-Xi) Forrest D. McKerley (1957) died April 29, 2012. An Order of Merit recipient and a member of the Educational Foundation Board of Directors, he was CEO of Secure Care Products, Inc. Prior to the purchase of Secure Care in 1988, Mr. McKerley was active in the McKerley Health Care Centers operations from 1967 until its sale to Genesis Health Ventures, Inc. in 1995. From 1967 to 1979 he was a nursing home administrator at McKerley Health Care Centers, becoming president in 1979. Prior to this, he was district manager with the American Express Co. In 2006 he was awarded the Hubbard Award, which is given to recognize individuals whose philanthropic leadership and gifts have strengthened the University of New Hampshire and/or who have promoted philanthropy throughout the state. He endowed the Forrest D. McKerley faculty chair in health economics, established the Everett B. Sackett Professorship Fund, and was a founding board member of the UNH Foundation. He served as a member of the Whittemore School of Business and Economics Executive Board, UNH Advocates for Higher Education, and the School of Health and Human Services Dean’s Leadership Council. He funded The Forrest D. McKerley Simulation and Education Center at Concord Hospital and the 32° Masonic Children’s Learning Centers for Children, Nashua, benefiting dyslexic children. He was a 33° Mason, Past Grand Master of the NH IOOF, and received the Citizen of the Year Award from the Concord Chamber of Commerce in 2005.
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Purdue (Psi) J. Kent Gourley (1976) died May 30, 2012. He had worked with various investment firms as a stockbroker for the last 40 years.
Rhode Island (Eta) The chapter officers held a retreat to make plans for next year.
Richmond (Alpha-Chi) This summer various chapter brothers are traveling to Jordan, China, Botswana, and Germany. Others are working or interning at investment firms, doctors’ offices, and on senatorial campaigns.
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CHAPTER NEWS
Chapter news, alumni news, and reports of death
San Diego (Delta-Kappa)
Tulsa (Epsilon-Upsilon)
Anthony Pavlovic graduated cum laude on May 27, 2012. At graduation he received the Alcala Award, given to one female and one male graduate for excellence in scholastic achievement, leadership in academic and extracurricular activities, and service to the university community. At the university he was president of Associated Students during his senior year and also received the Thomas J. Cosgrove Award for Outstanding Contributions to Student Government. Pavlovic has accepted a position as a recruiter for Insight Global Inc. and will be working in its San Francisco office.
Thomas A. Turner (1981) died June 2, 2012. He died unexpectedly after suffering a massive heart attack during an 80mile bike ride. After graduation he was employed by Getty Oil Co. in Tulsa for two years. During this period he attained an MBA degree from the University of Tulsa and also received his CPA license. In 1984 he accepted a position with Pacific Enterprises Oil Co. in Tulsa. He was then transferred to Los Angeles and in 1993 moved to the Bay Area, working for Ernst & Young and Zia Information Analysis. He later began his own business, specializing in consulting services to the energy transportation industry. Over the next five years he accepted two partners, Erik Wetmore and Brett Collins, which evolved the company name into Turner Wetmore Collins, LLC.
San Diego Area Alumni Association The San Diego Area Alumni Association now has a Facebook page. If you would like to gain access to the page please email Richard Burch at rburch7082@aol.com. On this page brothers will find updates and locations for quarterly luncheons, quarterly Meet and Greets in North County, and homecoming information.
Valparaiso (Iota-Sigma) The chapter held the inaugural Rock for Rations, organized by former chapter Vice President Derrick Wessels. The event included a number of local and other small rock bands playing outside the university’s Harre Union. Instead of charging an admittance fee, attendees were encouraged bring food items to be donated to the North American Food Drive.
St. Joseph’s (Phi-Lambda) Ian Klinger was selected to serve as the university’s mascot for the 2012-13 season, becoming the 34th student to represent the university as its men’s basketball mascot in the tradition that spans 56 years. Klinger served as a student manager with the Hawks’ basketball team in 2011-12. A Dean’s List student, Klinger is a member of the Student Senate and is the chapter’s vice president.
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Wabash (Alpha-Kappa) As part of Wabash College’s Summer Business Immersion Program, Rob Shook (1983), the chief strategist/industry solutions executive for IBM, spoke about his professional career experience. Shook outlined his career path; starting with an internship in Texas, then work in New York, back to IBM labs in Texas, NBC in New York, to Florida for management training, a three-year stint in London, three years in Australia, and eventually rising to his current position.
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CHAPTER NEWS
Chapter news, alumni news, and reports of death
Wake Forest (Theta-Tau) Seventeen brothers graduated.
Wisconsin-Whitewater (Lambda-Iota Colony) Colony brothers are working on fall recruitment plans after which they hope to submit their charter petition to the Fraternity Board. Two colony brothers, Jeff Martin and David Olmos, graduated.
Wittenberg (Nu-Zeta) Wearing Lambda Chi Alpha commemorative cords, 21 brothers participated in the university’s graduation ceremony on May 12, 2012. The chapter used funds collected from alumni and undergraduate brothers to purchase new bushes for the front of the chapter house. Michael DeCourcy (2012) was hired as an educational leadership consultant for the General Fraternity. John Meszaros graduated with a 4.0 GPA, one of only six such students in a graduating class of 410. Alec Biehl, Kevin To, and Garrhett Via participated in a campuswide effort to clean up a local bike trail. The chapter raised $400 to benefit the Second Harvest Food Bank with a Reading Day Cookout. Two chapter brothers currently hold a cumulative 4.0 GPA.
Worcester (Pi) Nineteen brothers graduated.
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In Their Own Words How Lambda Chi Alpha helped shape the lives of these military brothers. By Tad Lichtenauer (Denison)
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my service as a junior enlisted soldier and then as a leader with subordinates of my own. Today, I am a sergeant in the Army Reserve and again a full-time student at the University of Alabama. Though I am not an active member of Alpha-
s we celebrate our independence this July, we asked our
military brothers to tell us how Lambda Chi Alpha has helped shape their values and leadership skills. Below is a collection of the responses we have received so far. If you’d like to share your military and Lambda Chi Alpha experiences, please post a comment at the bottom of this story or send us an email at editor@lambdachi.org. We would like to thank all of those brothers who serve in the
Phi, I use the leadership skills I learned as a Lambda Chi and a soldier in my position as president of the University of Alabama Campus Veterans Association.
Canadian and United States military and pay tribute to all of the brothers who have been injured or lost their lives fighting for our freedoms and safety.
Jordan Carpenter (Alabama)
I was initiated in 2005 into the brotherhood of the Alpha-Phi chapter at the University of Alabama and served as the High Rho (alumni chairman) in 2006. In December 2006 I enlisted in the United States Army as a psychological operations specialist and left both school and the chapter. After 16 months of training, I deployed to Helmand Province, Afghanistan, for eight months in support of Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Afghanistan. After returning home (stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina) for six months, I deployed to Joint Base Balad, Iraq, for seven months. I never forgot the lessons I learned as an associate member, brother, and leader in my Fraternity. I incorporated the meanings of our mottoes and the lessons learned from my big brothers into
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Charlie Johnston (Southeastern Oklahoma) I am currently at Camp Gruber in Braggs, Oklahoma, for pre-mobilization training. I am with the Oklahoma National Guard and assigned to the 120th Engineer Battalion. We are deploying in just a few short months to Afghanistan. Lambda Chi Alpha has enabled me to improve my leadership skills by leaps and bounds, which has helped advance my military career. I was initiated at the Pi-Sigma chapter in Spring 2010.
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Doug Keown (Ohio)
centers and 150 Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles. Prior to this assignment I was the commander of the 319th Missile Squadron, directly responsible to the President of the United States for the positive control and execution of 50 Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic
I am currently serving in the Navy working for USCENTCOM. I was in the Middle East during my mobilization from February 2007 to February 2008. I have the good fortune to be working in Orlando right now, supporting operations in the Middle East. I also have the pleasure of being the High Pi (chapter advisor) at the ThetaGamma Colony at Rollins College. Both of these positions are extremely rewarding. The opportunity to help keep our country safe is a blessing. The Navy values of Honor, Courage, and Commitment are ones I learned many years ago while an undergraduate at Ohio University and part of the AlphaOmega Zeta. I find the blending of the Navy’s values and the fraternity’s seven core values to be interchangeable. The young men in the Theta-Gamma Colony remind me of why this country is great and worth protecting and fighting for. They are a great group of guys with a very bright future. I am honored to be a part of our military and a brother of Lambda Chi Alpha.
missiles. My wartime service was in Baghdad, Iraq, in 2007. I was the director of the Iraqi equivalent of the Secret Service, responsible for protecting Iraq’s top seven leaders. My experiences in Lambda Chi Alpha afforded me a solid foundation of leadership, ethics, teamwork, and dedication. I will always be grateful for the character-building experiences I had in Lambda Chi.
Matthew Priest (Tennessee-Chattanooga)
David Martinson (Central Florida)
I am in the Zeta-Phi Chapter at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. I am currently the High Rho (alumni chairman), but am taking another year off from school to serve our country. I leave for Afghanistan later this year. I served in Iraq in 2009, in Baghdad and Basra. Included is a
I am currently serving in the U.S. Air Force as the deputy commander, 90th Operations Group , F. E. Warren AFB, Wyoming. My group operates 15 nuclear launch control
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FEATURE photo of my friend Clayton Smith and me in Basra, Iraq. He is a part of the University of Alabama chapter and one of the main reasons I joined the Lambda Chi Alpha family when we returned home.
from wearing a uniform and was required to grow a beard as part of my duties. I have found that the positive messages in Lambda Chi Alpha and leadership lessons have had a daily impact on how I conduct myself and trust in my fellow man.
Michael Roberts (South Carolina-Aiken)
Lorenzo A. Villa (Texas-El Paso)
I am from the Zeta-Epsilon chapter at the University of Texas-El Paso. Our chapter has a very strong military presence and background. Currently we have four combat veterans that served in Iraq or Afghanistan or both. The others are Roman Sandoval, Orlando Sandoval, and Wayne Landry. We have two active duty U.S. Army officers: 1LT John Kluesner and 2LT Manny Del Castillo, as well as active duty enlisted members: U.S. Air Force Airman A1C Miguel Acosta, U.S. Army CWO Brandon Tipton, U.S. Navy Seaman Xavier Vasquez, and U.S. Army National Guard Sgt. Jesus Acosta. We have two brothers who are leaving our chapter: Justin Doreck is going to West Point and Matthew Murphy is going into the U.S. Navy. I am proud of all of them, and God Bless America in ZAX.
I’m a brother from the Pi-Alpha chapter. I’m currently on month 15 of this deployment and have one more month to go. After I left Iraq in December I moved to Kuwait to conduct shipboard operations protecting ships in the Arabian Gulf. My unit redeployed back to the states in May, but I stayed to do a short tour at the Combined Air and Space Operations Center (CAOC) in Qatar.
Richard A. Vickery III (Wyoming)
Bryant Vogt (Ferris State)
I am an infantryman in the U.S. Army. I was in Afghanistan for 12 months from March 2011 to March 2012. I was in Kunar Province, RC East. The included pictures were taken at OP Avalanche, which sits on a ridge line, watching FOB Blessing in the Pech River Valley. I was at Ferris State University’s Iota-Psi chapter. The brotherhood has been a lifetime experience I’ll never forget. One of the first things I do when I go home is spend time with my brothers.
I am a founding father of the Wyoming chapter. I am currently a major and the senior intelligence analyst for the Joint Information Operations Warfare Center. I served two years in Afghanistan as the special intelligence advisor to the deputy chief of staff. I conducted over 70 combat missions in support of compartmentalized operations across the country, and ran around the country for three months with a broken wrist because I couldn’t get to a decent hospital. I was exempt www.lambdachi.org/cross-crescent
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Protecting Our Own Two injured soldiers, a former Senator, and an orthopedic surgeon - all Lambda Chi Alpha veterans - shed light on the treatment of America’s wounded warrior. By Andrew Talevich (Washington State)
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carcely three months ago, on the night of April 15,
Pitcher’s subsequent recovery has been a display of the
2012, Josh Pitcher (Eastern Kentucky 2011) was leading
difficult processes that injured veterans endure, but the acts of
his platoon for the first time in the province of Kandahar,
love he encountered from Lambda Chi Alpha brothers have
Afghanistan. With one misstep Pitcher’s life would change
been a testament to how veterans should be treated.
forever. The 23-year-old 2nd Lt. would trigger an improvised explosive device, an unconventional bomb that packs an explosive punch and that would sever Pitcher’s lower left leg.
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Damaging Wounds
Perseverance and Determination
At the time of Pitcher’s accident - but over 7,000 miles away - Joe Strauss (St. Joseph’s 1993) was working in his clinic in Maryland. Strauss has considerable insight into Pitcher’s recovery process. In his 14 years with the Navy, Strauss achieved the rank of commander. In 2010, during his last deployment to Kandahar, he served as the chief orthopedic surgeon at the Role 3 Multinational Medical Unit. Strauss has performed upwards of 4,000 surgeries on soldiers, many of which that were the result of IEDs. Strauss recently left the Navy but still works with many veterans recovering from orthopedic injuries at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. “I see how these soldiers have progressed through the process of multiple surgeries and it’s quite an accomplishment,” Strauss said. “It’s really inspiring for me to be part of the process.” Currently, more than 95 percent of soldiers wounded during the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan have survived. This high percentage of surviving veterans can be attributed to better body armor and technology that protects soldiers from fatal wounds. However, over half of veterans returning from Afghanistan and Iraq have sought disability benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs, meaning that they have sustained some sort of injury. Of those who are currently seeking medical benefits from the VA, 1,600 have lost a limb. Additionally, 19 percent of veterans have needed orthopedic surgery consultation and four percent have needed surgery after returning. This influx of veterans returning from the war with serious injuries shows they need support more than ever to help aid them in the difficult recovery process.
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After stepping on the IED, Pitcher was sent to Role 3 Multinational Medical Unit where his injury was stabilized, then to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany and, finally, to Walter Reed. Despite Pitcher’s misfortune he has been able to keep up his morale as he continues to progress through the steps of recovery at Walter Reed. “There’s no issue about keeping an upbeat personality,” Pitcher said. Pitcher is enduring a path similar to that which P.J. Glavey (Denver 2006) has traveled. Glavey served with the 2nd Battalion, Fox Company of the Marines. In November of 2010, Glavey was conducting an operation to clear mines in Helmand province of Afghanistan. He stepped on a buried mine and lost both his legs above the knee. He went through intensive rehabilitation at Walter Reed then transferred to Naval Medical Center San Diego, also known as Balboa Hospital, for his outpatient care. Perhaps Glavey’s most significant challenge during his recovery has been adjusting to the limitations of living with prosthetic legs. Glavey’s previous hobbies included hiking, running, and surfing. He has adjusted his activities and now enjoys both sailing and monoskiing.
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“The reality is that a challenge like this makes you a better, stronger person who is better rooted in the goods and the bads of life. I have a better appreciation for the simple things of life,” Glavey said. Glavey’s advice to Pitcher is to keep a positive attitude through it all. “You focus on a singular goal, which for me was learning how to walk again on prosthetics. There are undoubtedly limitations for walking on prosthetics but mobility on them is a very achievable goal if you are hard-working and determined,” he said. These strong qualities that Pitcher and Glavey have both exhibited during their rehabilitation are not uncommon among soldiers who have returned from Iraq and Afghanistan. “To just see these individuals with the enthusiasm and inspiration to stay motivated, to want to get better, to want to get back in the fight, and basically to get to a point where they are recapturing their lives, it’s really unbelievable to see that,” Strauss said.
With Open Arms Senator Max Cleland (Georgia 1964) is an expert on the treatment of veterans in our country and sees the tremendous challenges they endure after an accident such as Pitcher’s. Cleland served in the Vietnam War where he sustained an injury from a grenade that forced doctors to amputate both of his legs as well as his left forearm. Upon returning from the war, Cleland had a lengthy www.lambdachi.org/cross-crescent
career in politics as a Georgia state senator, as the Secretary of State of Georgia, and as a United States Senator. He was also the Administrator of the United States Veterans Affairs (now known as the VA) from 1977-1981. He is currently the Secretary of the American Battle Monuments Commission. Cleland is a strong proponent of the G.I. Bill. By supporting this initiative, Cleland said, Americans can continue to support the future of returning veterans. “That’s the best social program known to the mind of man because it conveys the opportunity that they missed while they were in service; that society says go ahead and make the most of your life,” he said. According to the VA, more than 720,000 veterans have used the G.I. Bill to take college courses over the last three years. The G.I. Bill also includes the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment VetSuccess Program (VR&E) that provides jobtraining, post-secondary training, independent living services, medical referrals, and counseling. Glavey has taken advantage of this program and is currently earning his Master’s Degree in accounting at Stetson University through the VR&E Program. Cleland also urges Americans to welcome veterans home with open arms and to help them get back to their regular schedules. “The best thing we can do for our veterans when they come back, when they are wounded, is to love them,” he said. “I know they have had to live the life of their nightmares but now they can live the life of their dreams.”
A Lifetime of True Brotherhood Pitcher is still healing from his wounds. At Walter Reed he is in the presence of his family and his fiancée, Michelle, whom he met at Eastern Kentucky. His recovery hit a speed bump a few weeks ago after doctors found an infection in his left
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leg and had to perform surgery to remove it. He is looking forward to being fitted for a prosthetic leg this week. In following Cleland’s sentiment of caring for injured veterans, Pitcher’s brothers from the Phi-Beta chapter at Eastern Kentucky, many of whom had never met Pitcher, came forward and showed him support. Twenty-eight chapter brothers donated money for a basket that included miscellaneous items that would benefit Pitcher during his recovery. These included headphones, a Netflix subscription, a GoPro camera, a backpack, a Visa card, and an iPad with a Lambda Chi Alpha case. Michael Robinette (Eastern Kentucky 2001), who was the closest alum to live in proximity to Walter Reed, delivered the package to Pitcher last month. He describes the experience as surreal. After seeing Pitcher, Robinette gave him a handshake and a hug and thanked him for his service. Despite being under heavy medication and in pain, Pitcher wanted to know about Robinette’s family and how he was doing. “That just shows his character,” Robinette said. Scott Jackson, chapter advisor of the EKU chapter, helped rally support for Pitcher’s care package. “It was something that we felt like we just needed to do. Here is a guy that went over to Afghanistan and did this for all of us, so we just wanted to show him our support,” Jackson said. Pitcher is very grateful for the items he received from his Eastern Kentucky brothers. “The support was amazing. They put a lot of money and effort into that and I could not thank them enough for what they did. It was just fantastic,” Pitcher said. The actions of the Eastern Kentucky alumni who supported Pitcher show that the Lambda Chi Alpha experience is a lifetime of true brotherhood. When a brother is in need of support, the bond of brotherhood is often the strongest.
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Answering the Call of Duty Header Relying on his personal credo, ‘strength and honor,’ Jamie Sclater (Elon 2002) has quickly risen through the ranks of the Navy during his four tours of duty in Afghanistan and Iraq. By Andrew Talevich (Washington State)
Perhaps Jamie Sclater’s strongest attribute is his versatility. It’s his versatility that has equipped him for combat scenarios in four tours of duty and has helped him progress in the Navy from a sailor to a corpsman to a Marine Sniper. Before Sclater joined the Navy he was an undergraduate at Elon University where he was a member of the Delta-Pi chapter of Lambda Chi Alpha and served as the social chair. After graduating, Sclater worked as a bartender in Elon, North Carolina. He eventually moved to Virginia Beach and became roommates with a Navy SEAL named Jon. The two became friends and Sclater was inspired by Jon’s stories of military life. “I always wanted some purpose. I wanted to challenge myself physically and mentally every day and I wasn’t getting that as a bartender. I’ve always been spontaneous and one day I was just fed up and decided to join up,” he said.
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Up the Ladder After enlisting, Sclater would experience a rapid progression through various roles in the Navy. Sclater first became a Navy corpsman after completing Hospital Corpsman Training. He then went on to serve as a corpsman with the Marines in Afghanistan after finishing Field Medicine School. Next, Sclater was presented with a unique opportunity. A spot had opened up for a corpsman in a Marine sniper platoon. Sclater had to try out for the Battalion Scout Sniper platoon and earned the spot. Sclater’s next accomplishment would be becoming a Marine Sniper. To earn the Marine Corps sniper designator, he was the only corpsman to go through grueling sniper school. The thirty-two year old Sclater has a diverse military background and his position as both a Navy corpsman and a Marine sniper is extremely rare in the military. “In my heart I believe that I have a lot of Marine in me; but at the end of the day I am a Navy sailor,” he said. Sclater has been through four tours of duty: as a grunt corpsman in Afghanistan in 2006, an Assistant Sniper Team Leader in Iraq in 2007, a trauma corpsman and anesthesia technician in Afghanistan in 2009, and a lead petty officer in Afghanistan last year. During this last tour of duty Sclater had an administrative role where he oversaw the operations of 65 grunt corpsmen fighting alongside Marines.
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Sclater has made it one of his goals to bestow the versatility that he has gained on the individuals that are in his corps. He believes that each Marine needs to have the skill-set to save lives, operate a radio, and engage in combat. “Marines need to be versatile. If your radio operator goes down, somebody else better know how to use that radio. If someone needs medical attention and the medic goes down, you are in a world of hurt,” he said. “If you don’t know how to shoot, you are in a world of hurt.” “You must be versatile.” During Sclater’s third tour of duty, his versatility and ability to adapt to difficult situations earned him the Army Commendation Medal. While working at Camp Bastion Role III Multinational Medical Unit in Helmand, Afghanistan, in 2009, a serious mishap occurred. Halfway through Sclater’s tour, a British team of doctors switched with a Danish team, but there was no one to replace the British anesthesia technicians who left. “So four corpsmen including me were nabbed, based on our work performance. They said, ‘We need you to go in and learn anesthesia right now because casualties are inbound and we need you,’” he said. Relying on volunteer experience with anesthesia during a previous tour, Sclater was able to assist with over 200 surgical procedures ranging from simple gunshot wounds to appendectomies to multiple amputations and serious burns.
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Sclater remembers the seven month tour of duty as the most complete he’s ever experienced. Even with the intense environment around him Sclater was able to bond with his team and knew he was making a significant difference by saving lives. “It was because of those brotherly and sisterly bonds that we were able to forget about all of the trauma around us,” he said. “It was just a humbling experience to be a part of.” In the eight years since Sclater graduated from Elon and left the Delta-Pi chapter, he has made significant strides as a young enlisted soldier. In light of these strides, Elon University recognized him with the Top 10 Under 10 Award, an acknowledgment of what successful young alumni can receive from Elon. He has also received the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal.
Sclater is currently in a transition in his life. He is quickly approaching the ten-year mark in the military and is trying to decide what path to pursue next. He is attempting to get in shape for a clandestine special operations support element, but he is limited in keeping up with the physical demands of this new position by medical issues he incurred from his time in the Navy. “All these things have compiled over the years, from hiking up the mountains in Afghanistan to sniper school, and it’s kind of holding me back from pursuing what I want to do,” he said. Regardless of Sclater’s future, he is pleased with the versatility that the Navy has offered him in the past eight years. “It has been the completely different experiences during each of my four tours that have molded me and my men into the Marines and Navy men we are today. I would not trade these experiences for anything in the world,” he said.
Sclater looks back at his undergraduate experience at Elon and compares his time in the Navy with that of Lambda Chi Alpha. The two organizations are similar in structure, and military men and women experience the same bonding as do Lambda Chi Alpha brothers. “You eat, sleep, and breathe together. You know everything about the guy next to you, what makes him laugh and what sets him off, but you also know you are going to cover his back no matter what, and he is going to die trying to doing the same for you,” Sclater said.
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FEATURE
Maintaining the Bond of our Brotherhood Rick Lehmann (Alabama-Birmingham 2003), an alumni brother from the Sigma-Chi chapter, is stationed currently with the U.S. Army in Germany. By Rick Lehmann (Alabama-Birmingham 2003)
I think there is a need for us to improve our attitude towards living as an alumnus of Lambda Chi Alpha. I am guilty of not wanting much to do with the Fraternity since I graduated from college. It was a lot of work. Work that was well worthwhile, but work nonetheless. Graduation is the gate to the next part of all our lives, but that does not mean that it should close us off from everything that we as alumni can offer the fraternity and from what the brotherhood can offer us. I owe a lot of who I am and my success to the positions I held within the Fraternity, the brothers I worked with that I may have never met, and the shared experiences we had during our time in the fraternity. I know many of you can say the same thing. If you look at it we were a bunch of 18 to 22 year olds trying to run a small business in which we were charged with recruitment, training, maintaining, and financial management. All while working to attain a college degree. The parties, tailgates, formals, cookouts, campouts, road trips and nights www.lambdachi.org/cross-crescent
hanging out on the porch were all products of the hard work we put into our chapter. Unfortunately, that is the only side of most fraternities that the general public sees, mostly from movies and television shows written by people who never even went through rush. This bad advertising is what has created the stigma that people think of when they hear that I was a member of a fraternity. It is this stigma that we need to rise against and talk about with pride in our membership in Lambda Chi Alpha well after we leave college. I think the distance from the brotherhood is part of the reason I let people get away with talking down about “frat boys� because the movie version is all they know. My fellow officers in the Army shake their heads whenever I bring up my time in the fraternity, but it is me they come to with a problem that needs a creative solution or to find a way to liven up a social event that has become awkward and stuffy.
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This line of thinking all started out by watching how my best friend received help from an alumni chapter of a fraternity that he joined six weeks ago. He was in a bad working
how to handle it. I came up empty. I looked at the Lambda Chi Alpha website and the My Lambda Chi site to see if there was any information on Lambda Chis in my local area (a bit of a stretch since I am stationed in Germany), but it seems that only the biggest cities in the States even have alumni groups. In my time in the Army I have run across only one fellow soldier who was a Lambda Chi. I think the stigma placed on traditional fraternities such as ours shames us into understating the bond that we all share. We need to work to continue to strengthen the bond with each other, especially as we all navigate life after college. I think building a stronger network within the mylambdachi. org to where it becomes the place to look up brothers in a particular field or area, will help us to reach out and continue to enjoy the bond of brotherhood we lived in college. At work I hate it when people point out problems but do nothing about it - until recently I was that guy. Now I am trying to be part of the solution. I have logged into lambdachi. org and volunteered to serve as a mentor to anyone who reaches out. It’s a small start, but it’s about all I think I can do from Germany. If we can make the social site successful, it may lead to the development of alumni chapters or groups that will continue the bond that stems from our amazing ritual. I am also willing to bet there are a lot of smaller groups of brothers out there who still meet up on a regular basis. They are just not formalized and listed on the website. I know the group of guys I was in college with in Birmingham still see each other all the time. In ZAX, Rick Lehmann
environment and receiving a raw deal from his commander. Within three weeks of his initiation the brothers of his chapter worked to get him an interview for a General’s aide job; they arranged the opportunity; he still had to succeed in the interview. This made me think of who could I turn to in such a situation, maybe not for help but at least for some advice on www.lambdachi.org/cross-crescent
University of Alabama Birmingham 2003
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FRATERNITY NEWS
New Director of Chapter Services A Greek Life professional, Nick Zuniga is a Master Steward and alumni brother from Ball State University.
By Tad Lichtenauer (Denison)
On June 4, 2012, Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity hired Nick Zuniga (Ball State 2001), the former Texas A&M University assistant director of student activities, to serve as the Fraternity’s new director of chapter services. In his previous position with Texas A&M, Zuniga served as the second-in-command in the university’s Department of Greek Life that included overseeing a staff of seven, four Greek Governing Councils, 57 student organizations, and more than 3,500 students. “We are very pleased to have an alumnus with Nick’s credentials join our professional staff,” said Bill Farkas, executive vice president of Lambda Chi Alpha. “One of the fundamental elements of our strategic plan is our ongoing partnership with higher education, and Nick’s institutional knowledge and experiences at Texas A&M will help us tremendously in that regard.” In his new role, Zuniga will be in charge of planning, directing, and coordinating services to the Fraternity’s 200 chapters across North America. He also will be responsible for training and managing the corresponding chapter services staff, educational leadership consultants, and certified alumni volunteers.
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Over the last decade, Zuniga has had an extensive record of service to Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity. As an undergraduate at Ball State University he served the Iota-Alpha chapter as vice president and president. After graduation he became an alumni volunteer and most recently served as a Master Steward, training and mentoring undergraduates on both regional and international levels.
Ryan Haboush (Ball State) -- Haboush is the new compliance manager and will report directly to the associate director of harm reduction. He is a recent graduate from Ball State University.
Zuniga earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from Ball State and a Master of Science degree in higher education from Texas A&M.
Additional Staff Updates Matt Roy (Drury) -- Roy re-joins the Professional Staff as the associate director of chapter services in charge of the educational leadership consultants and expansions. He previously has served as an ELC and as the associate director of harm reduction. Justin Fisher (North CarolinaGreensboro) -- Fisher is the associate director of chapter services in charge of the alumni volunteers. He is a former ELC. Marcus Kelley (Angelo State) -- Kelley re-joins the Professional Staff as the associate director of education. He is a former ELC and just completed his master’s degree in higher education from Ball State University.
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FRATERNITY NEWS
6th Annual Steward Summit Approximately 50 brothers attend alumni training event in Indianapolis.
By Tad Lichtenauer (Denison)
The professional staff of the International Headquarters hosted approximately 75 alumni brothers from across North America during the sixth annual Steward Summit in Indianapolis, from June 14-16, 2012. The kick-off to this year’s event was a Welcome and Charge address from Executive Vice President Bill Farkas (Butler 1988). He spoke about the increased importance of alumni brothers in helping to implement Lambda Chi Alpha’s educational programming at all of our chapters. As a component of Lambda Chi Alpha’s educational programming, Fraternal and Master Stewards are approved by the Board of Directors based upon their service, experience, geographic location, and willingness to participate in ongoing education and training. Fraternal Stewards The primary purpose of a Fraternal Steward is to support Lambda Chi Alpha through involvement with Lambda Chi Alpha’s educational programming at a local level. The focus of this position is the implementation, stewardship, and advancement of the Fraternity’s values-based educational curriculum at the chapter level. The Fraternal Steward is responsible for providing assistance, and supporting the Outer Circle Curriculum, TRUE Leader I, II, & III, or the Inner
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FRATERNITY NEWS Circle Journey. A Fraternal Steward should model the way of a TRUE Brother at all times in front of the undergraduates.
Training & Education
As a partner to the professional staff and Master Stewards this assignment will provide chapters with immediate, consistent, and bolstered support in their aspirations to take full advantage of today’s Lambda Chi Alpha experience.
Role of Master/Fraternal Stewards University Co-Partnering Facilitation Techniques TRUE Leader II & III Harm Reduction/Facilitation Member Discipline Feedback on Outer/Inner Circles General Assembly Overview/Facilitation/Legislation Review Best Practices for Chapter Officer Retreats Evolutions Associate Director of Chapter Services Justin Fisher is the liaison for the steward program. If you have any questions or comments, or would like more information, please contact him via email at jfisher@ lambdachi.org.
Key training and programming highlights from this year’s summit included:
Master Stewards The primary purpose of a Master Steward is to support Lambda Chi Alpha through involvement with Lambda Chi Alpha’s educational programming and curriculum. The focus of this position is the endorsement, stewardship, advancement, and support of Lambda Chi Alpha as the co-curricular leader in the Greek movement through the education and development of our undergraduate brothers and alumni volunteers. The Master Steward is responsible for teaching the components of Lambda Chi Alpha’s educational curriculum, introducing Outer Circle programming to chapters and modeling the way of a TRUE Brother all times in front of undergraduates.
Alumni Volunteer Attendees The following brothers attended this year’s Steward Summit:
As a partner and adjunct to the professional staff, this assignment will provide chapter support, continue the development of educational materials, and ensure the General Fraternity has a strong cadre of brothers to support operations at local, regional, and international Lambda Chi Alpha events. Furthermore, specific Master Stewards may be selected to support the Chapter Services Department as a “lead Master Steward” in the management and accomplishment of conclave objectives. At the approval of the executive vice president, Master Stewards commit to three-year terms of service in this capacity, with potential opportunities to continue on for additional terms if conditions are such that warrant continued service at this level.
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Elgan Baker (DePauw) Eric Berger (Boston) Mike Brady (Eastern Michigan) Justin Browne (Missouri State) John Bryant (North Carolina-Greensboro) Greg Braun (Cincinnati) Joseph Chavez (St. Mary’s) Chris Corrigan (High Point) Robert Disinger (Indiana) Kent Donaldson (Truman State) Johnny Douglas (Western Kentucky) Jeff Emrich (Iowa) Jeromy Forshee (North CarolinaGreensboro) John Glass (Louisiana-Lafayette) Milo Gonser (Northern Michigan) Roger Grice (Rensselaer Polytechnic) Drew Hunter (Denver) Scott Jackson (Eastern Kentucky) Mike Kellar (Simpson) Ben Kamph (Oregon State) Ed Keglovits (Kutztown) Dave Leathers (Oregon State) Mike Malter (Widener) Bobby McDowell (Georgetown)
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Scott Medley (Louisville) John Minasian (Worcester) Chris Moreno (North Carolina-Greensboro) Marc Mores (Iowa State) Walt Moser (Central Missouri) Robert Nippes (Milsaps) Bill Norton (Louisville) Scott Reikofski (Northern Colorado) Rodney Roosevelt (Eastern Illinois) Bill Ryan (California-San Diego) Mike Saunders (Central Florida) Ken Schultz (Iowa State) Todd Shoemaker (High Point) Mike Smith (Denver) Jeff Steele (Washington) Steve Swafford (Oregon State) Jon Williamson (Maryland) Brannon Wright (Simpson) Terry Zinn (Oklahoma City)