Cross & Crescent
a Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity publication
Our Sit-Down Interview with
Bill Rasmussen Founder of
June 2009 路 XCVI 路 Issue 6
and
Cross & Crescent a Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity publication Features Chapter News 3 Chapter and Alumni News History 9 Tribute to Jerry H. Krenmyre. True Brother 11 2008-2009 Results Update
ESPN Founder Bill Rasmussen After launching ESPN in 1979, Bill Rasmussen has moved on to his latest venture, CollegeFanz.com, a social networking site geared around college sports. A graduate of DePauw University, he started ESPN on a fluke with his son, Scott. By Chris Barrick
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Fraternity News 20 Basketball Champs 22 Tribute to Howard Alter Jr. Centenial News 24 Registration Updates
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World Karate Champion Master Steven Franz began training over 31 years ago at the age of 7 in Goju Ryu Karate. A graduate of Vincennes University, he is considered one of the best traditional karate instructors in the United States and was inducted into the International Budo Society in January 2009 to honor him for his dedication to preserving, teaching and representing only the best of the martial arts in the world today. By Tad Lichtenauer
Credits
Contributions
Publisher: Bill Farkas Editor: Tad Lichtenauer Assistant Editor: Chris Barrick Illustrator: Jeff Reisdorfer Layout: Thomas Roberts Photographer: Walt Moser Assignment Editor: Jon Williamson Historian: Mike Raymond Contributing Editors: Jono Hren George Spasyk
Content for consideration should be submitted by the fiftenth of the month. Lambda Chi Alpha 8741 Founders Rd Indianapolis, IN 46268-1338 (317) 872-8000 editor@lambdachi.org www.lambdachi.org www.crossandcrescent.com
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Cross & Crescent
June 2009
CHAPTER NEWS
Chapter News Chapter news, alumni news, and reports of death Appalachian State (Sigma-Upsilon)
Please email your reservation to Chuck Chambers at chuck@ signsnowarlington.com or call 817-265-7446. If you are not receiving alumni association updates, are new to the DFW area, or are looking to relocate to DFW, please contact Greg Coon to receive information about the group at greg@eyeconvideo.com.
Dr. Thomas H. Furman (1987) died. John D. Benbow (1977) died June 15, 2009.
Auburn
Spence McCracken (1971) retired after 35 years as a high school football coach, most recently at Opelika High School in Alabama. He has previously won three state football championships. In 2004, he was inducted into the Alabama High School Hall of Fame, and in 2008, he received the Jack Meagher Award from Auburn University.
Denison (Gamma-Iota)
Fredric M. DuBois (1952) died March 25, 2009. He was the owner, president, chairman and general manager of DuBois Book Store. His father, John Harold DuBois, started the bookstore in the early 1930s, buying and selling books out of the back of his truck, but Fred had been running it for more than 50 years. He was recently honored by the National Association of College Stores for 50 years of service to the college textbook industry. Among other awards, he was a longtime member of the Kent State President’s Club and was recently recognized as a member of the President’s Medallion Society and Herrick Society. He was also recognized as a friend of the Kent State Honors College in 2006.
Central Florida Area Alumni Association
More than 30 undergraduate and alumni brothers attended the Central Florida Area Alumni annual golf scramble. The association’s annual Family Picnic will be held on July 12, 2009, at Moss Park in Southeast Orlando.
East Tennessee State (Iota-Omicron)
Former chapter President Alex Greer has been inducted into Who’s Who Among College Students Chapter Alumni Chairman Jordan Huffman was elected as state vice president for the Tennessee Federation of College Democrats and he was also elected vice chairman of the Washington County Democratic Party. Chapter President Nicholas Mitchell was re-elected to a third term as a senator for the Student Government. Chapter Vice President Josh Jenkins has been inducted into Gamma Sigma Alpha, the Greek honors society.
Colorado-Boulder (Gamma-Mu)
Lt. Cmdr. Eric J. Purvis (1994) died June 19, 2009. He and five crew members were killed aboard a Navy helicopter that crashed near the Coronado Islands during a training exercise off the aircraft carrier Nimitz.
Denver (Alpha-Pi)
Jordan DeHerrera (2009) has been honored as a member of the USA Today 2008 All-USA College Academic Second Team. This marks the seventh consecutive year that a University of Denver student has been named to one of the USA Today All-USA College Academic Teams. DeHerrera will graduate in June with a bachelor’s degree in economics and master’s degrees in business administration and accounting. He is the founder of Students Engaged in Social Entrepreneurship
Dallas/Ft. Worth Area Alumni Association
Approximately 30 brothers, representing more than 12 chapters, attended the June alumni reception, with plans to held monthly gatherings. The next event will be at the Texas Rangers vs. Houston Astros baseball game on June 18, 2009.
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Cross & Crescent
June 2009
CHAPTER NEWS and has created and led an international service-learning trip to Juarez, Mexico. DeHerrera has applied to a summer PhD preparation program sponsored by the American Economics Association; he hopes to pursue a doctorate in economics and a career with a public policy think tank.
addition, the chapter received more than $600 in donations from parents and different people. For their efforts, the chapter members received one of the Volunteer Organizations of the Year awards from the Atlanta Community Food Bank. More than 80 alumni and undergraduate brothers attended a golf tournament on June 3, 2009, in Atlanta. The winning team consisted of Adam Harlow, Kevin Thorstad, Prem Shetty, and Narayan Gowda with a score of -10. The event hosts were Michael Leonard, Prem Shetty, Andy DeVries, Chris Walzer, Nick Carloni, and Ryan Lahm.
Joseph H.G. Berger (1943) died April 11, 2009.
Drury (Theta-Sigma)
At the 2009 Greek Excellence Awards, the chapter won the Living Your Values Award (Fraternity). In addition, Zachary Tusinger was named alumni of the year and Craig Williams was named Outstanding New Fraternity Member:
Selman Dan Waller Jr. (1958) died April 17, 2009. He was a former employee of Florida Power & Light Co. in Miami and retired from Mingledorff’s Inc. in Atlanta. He served in the U.S. Air Force Reserves
Randell Wallace (1982) represented the Springfield Business Development Corporation (SBDC) at the Area Development Consultants Forum, “Optimizing Success: What Your Board Needs to Know” in Chicago April 1516, 2009. Wallace is president of the SBDC board for 2009, and is also treasurer and board member of the Missouri Partnership, the state’s organization dedicated to economic development and business attraction.
James S. Kavanaugh (1983) died June 6, 2009. He worked with Northrup Grumman from 1985 until 2000, and since 2000 has been a liaison engineer at Gulfstream Aerospace.
Gettsyburg (Theta-Pi)
Dr. J. Michael Bishop (1957) will retire as the chancellor of the University of California, San Francisco in June. He is a Nobel laureate and has served for many years as chancellor at the University of California, San Francisco.
Florida (Epsilon-Mu)
Mark Brown (2009) is featured in BlackListed Magazine, the University of Florida black student-run magazine.
High Point (Iota-Phi)
Florida State (Zeta-Rho)
The chapter hosted Rock-a-thon from April 24-26, 2009, and raised more than $2,300 to support the Acairdi Foundation which is a foundation set up by one of our alumni brothers whose daughter has Acairdi Syndrome. The foundation supports families who have daughters unfortunate enough to be stricken with this disease. The chapter has hosted the event for more than 20 years. In addition to the Rock-athon, the fundraising event included a dunking booth, a jail cell, a DJ booth, and cookouts on both evenings.
Bruce Blackwell (1969) is a civil trial lawyer in Florida and has been listed in the peer reviewed publication “Best Lawyers in the U.S.” for the last several years, which is an honor accorded to less than 1/4 of 1 percent of the lawyers nationally. Similarly, for the last five years, he has been listed as one of Florida’s “Legal Elite,” one of the top 2 percent of lawyers practicing in the State of Florida. In the last year, he was honored with a national award from the American Bar Association, The Grassroots Advocacy Award, for sustained work on behalf of the poor throughout the United States; received the Outstanding President Award from The Florida Bar Council of Bar Presidents; served as the president of the Florida Bar Foundation overseeing all legal aid organizations in the state of Florida; and received the George C. Young First Central Florida Inn of Court Judge James C. Glazebrook Memorial Award as the most outstanding member of the Inn.
Christopher Thurley (2009) will be leaving to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on July 25, 2009, for the 3rd annual Anthony Burgess Foundation Symposium. He was selected to present his senior thesis paper on Inter-cultural writings from British writers between the period of 1960-1966 and Anthony Burgess’ dominance in this tradition.
Indiana (Alpha-Omicron)
Georgetown (Kappa-Omega)
Lt. Col. Karl R. Johnson (Ret.) (1947) died June 4, 2009. As an Army lieutenant in World War II, Karl led a combat infantry platoon (2nd Inf. Regt., 5th Div.) during the Battle of the Bulge, crossing of the Moselle and Rhine, and captures of Fort Driant, Frankfurt, and the Ruhr Valley among other actions. After the war he completed bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Indiana University and accepted a Regular Air
The chapter initiated 16 men this spring and again won the President Cup Award as best fraternity on campus.
Georgia Tech (Beta-Kappa)
Thanks to the help of over 100 brothers and a lot of hard work, the chapter collected more than 13,000 pounds of food for the North American Food Drive, beating last year’s total. In www.crossandcrescent.com
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CHAPTER NEWS
Miami-OH (Zeta-Upsilon)
Force Officer’s Commission in 1947. He taught AF ROTC at Indiana University and served at the Pentagon, in England, at Offutt AFB (SAC) and in Vietnam (MAC-V); he survived the bombing of his quarters in Saigon in 1964. He was awarded the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Bronze Star, and Silver Star (WW II), Purple Heart (Vietnam), and AF Commendation Medal. After retirement from active duty, Karl served as a civilian in the Foreign Technology Division, Wright-Patterson AFB (196784), and is fondly remembered as an effective, considerate supervisor. In retirement after 1984 he devoted himself increasingly to the administration and fellowship of the 2nd Infantry Regiment Officers’ Association. He helped campaign for reactivation of the Regiment and traveled as the Army’s guest to reactivation ceremonies in Vilseck, Germany in 1996.
After attaining its goal of 40 members, the colony has received its charter and is scheduling a chartering banquet. Malcolm Barringer (1952) died. John W. Douds (1950) died. Arthur Stone (1950) died.
Michigan (Sigma)
On June 20, 2009, C. Robert Kidder (Michigan 1967) was named the new chairman of Chrysler Group LLC. He also serves as CEO and chairman of his co-founded private investment firm, 3Stone Advisors LLC. He is also a board member of Morgan Stanley and Schering-Plough, Columbus Children’s Hospital, and Ohio University. Kidder is a graduate of the University of Michigan and went on to earn his master’s at Iowa State University. After graduation, he joined the U.S. Navy and served as an officer in the Naval Civil Engineering Corps. He joined Duracell in 1980 as the Vice President of Finance and Administration for Duracell Europe and then president of Duracell, Inc in 1984. In 1988, he became the president and CEO Duracell International, Inc. Kidder became the chairman and CEO of Borden where he led the restructuring of the corporation that created new companies including Borden Dairy, Borden Food, and Wise Foods. At Lambda Chi Alpha’s 52nd General Assembly in Phoenix, Arizona, Kidder was awarded the Order of Achievement.
Kansas State (Gamma-Xi)
Former Grand High Alpha Fred W. Suggs Jr. (1969) was installed as the 2009-10 president of the South Carolina Bar Association on June 14, 2008. He is a Greenville, South Carolina attorney at Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. Suggs is a certified specialist in labor and employment law and is a fellow in the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers. He has extensive experience advising clients on preventive measures to avoid formal charges and lawsuits, handling union campaigns, negotiating collective bargaining agreements, representing clients before the National Labor Relations Board and the United States Courts of Appeal, and handling discrimination cases before administrative agencies and in state and federal trial and appellate courts.
Kettering B (Lambda-Epsilon)
The chapter is currently searching for a new chapter adviser, an alumni brother who lives in the Flint area that can commit two hours every Sunday night six months out of the year. The chapter held its semi-formal on June 30, 2009, at the Hard Rock in Detroit on June 30, 2009, and a Brotherhood Retreat on June 5, 2009, in Ludington, Michigan.
Maine (Beta)
Robert L. Morey, Jr. (1944) died March 2, 2008. Maryland-Baltimore County (Phi-Delta)
Millersville (Delta-Tau)
On June 5, 2009, the chapter celebrated the 30th anniversary of its founding.
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The chapter was recognized as Organization of the Year for Volunteerism for partnering with the Horseshoe Scout Reservation to help with their conservation practices.
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June 2009
CHAPTER NEWS
Missouri S&T (Alpha-Delta)
one of the most hungry counties in the state, the chapter wanted to be sensitive to not waste or destroy food. Raising over $6,000, this amount placed the chapter’s philanthropy among one of the three highest fund-raising efforts in the Oregon State Greek Community this year. In conjunction with the philanthropy, the chapter also chose to revive selecting a chapter sweetheart, the Lambda Chi Alpha Crescent Girl and selected Miss Amanda Hoidal of Chi Omega as their 2009 Crescent Girl. Congratulations to Event Chairmen Kevin Aquas, Ryan Walker and Alex Waite.
Richard Gasaway’s (1990) book, “An Inconvenient Purpose Linking Godly Stewardship and Alternative Energy,” will be published in June. The book looks at the climate change debate and the energy debate from a different perspective.
Nevada-Reno (Epsilon-Iota)
Irvin R. Wanke (1938) died June 2009.
New Mexico (Zeta-Mu)
At the 2009 Greek Awards, the chapter won the 2009 Peavey Plaque. The chapter was singled out for its noted improvement in academics, recruitment and most particularly reviving Watermelon Bash.
Robert Davidson (1993) and his advertising design firm, Phoenix-based Davidson & Belluso, was recognized for its healthcare design work on two recent campaigns. The firm was awarded gold and bronze 2009 National Aster Awards for its designs. The same designs also garnered silver and merit awards respectively from the 26th National Annual Healthcare Advertising Awards.
Chapter members teamed with Delta Gamma and won Best Vocals (a new category) and 2nd Place overall at the Oregon State University performed in the 78th Annual IFC/Panhellenic Sing.
Northwestern (Alpha-Iota)
At the 2009 Greek Awards banquet, Mike Casas (2009) was the recipient of the University’s Greek Leadership Award. He is a former chapter president, IFC Executive Committee member, and the larger Northwestern community as the Dance Marathon Executive Board member. In addition, the chapter was a finalist for the Outstanding Community Service award.
Almost 40 Lambda Chi mom’s spent the weekend with their sons enjoying a silent auction that helped raise close to $5,000 for house improvements, a brunch, and our annual Mom’s Club meeting. The Mom’s Club, currently led by Mrs. Rexene Waite has been in continuous operations for more than 50 years and does a fantastic job of making our chapter house more of a home.
Ohio (Alpha-Omega)
Jeffrey L. Kryk (1977) died April 8, 2009. He was employed with CH2MHill, a global engineering firm, for three years in their Somerset, New Jersey office. He had previously been employed at Foster Wheeler and Kvaerner and had worked throughout the eastern United States.
Pittsburg State (Lambda-Chi)
During the Greek Week events, the chapter won the Greek God competition in which each Greek organization put one student in the spotlight as a famous character.
Rensselaer (Epsilon-Eta)
Oklahoma (Gamma-Rho)
During the 203rd Commencement ceremony on June 16, 2009, class President David Drew, a student who majored in biochemistry and biophysics, addressed the class. The Freeville, N.Y. native has “strived to be a force in the community,” for while at Rensselaer and also in his hometown. He served as the chapter’s external vice president and created a new philanthropic event in which members of the fraternity and sisters of Alpha Gamma Delta would rock in sponsored rocking chairs for 36 straight hours. He is the recipient of the 2008 Frederick M. Nussbaum ’30 Memorial Award for Outstanding Volunteerism. Drew is also a member of Order of the Omega, the Greek Honor Society, and actively participates in intramural and intrafraternity sports. Following graduation, he will pursue his doctorare in biochemistry/biophysics at Rensselaer.
Ramon E. Williams (1968) died June 21, 2009. As a captain in the U.S. Air Force he managed special intelligence/covert operations in Southeast Asia --awarded the Silver Star and Bronze Star and the Order of Million Elephants and White Parasol decoration from the Kingdom of Laos. After his tour of duty in Vietnam he was Command Intelligence Briefer for Strategic Air Command in Omaha, Nebraska, where he briefed Henry Kissinger and Gerald Ford. A graduate of The Univ. of Texas Law School Ramon was admitted to the State Bar of Texas, the Supreme Court of Texas, the United States Supreme Court, and other federal fora.
Oregon State (Alpha-Lambda)
The chapter revived its Watermelon Bash after a seven year hiatus and designated Community Outreach as the recipient of their efforts. Of particular note was the emphasis the chapter placed on preserving watermelons in the philanthropy. Since the Linn-Benton County area of Oregon is designated as
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June 2009
CHAPTER NEWS
Rose-Hulman (Theta-Kappa)
St. Louis College of Pharmacy (Pi-Lambda)
The chapter held its 33rd annual Pig Week, a weeklong alumni event that ends with a pig roast for alumni and undergraduate brothers. More than 80 alumni brothers attended.
The chapter held its second annual Watermelon Bash (http:// www.stlcop.edu/about/newsevents.asp) on June 1, 2009. The rain didn’t stop 14 teams of students, staff, and faculty from competing in various watermelon-themed events, which raised more than 15,000 pounds of food and benefited the local Arnold Food Pantry. The Watermelon Bash is held as part of a large-scale North American Food Drive that Lambda Chi Alpha chapters across the nation put on each year.
At the annual Volunteer and Business Appreciation Dinner for Big Brothers Big Sisters hosted on April 21, 2009, the chapter was recognized for its fundraising efforts by Lambda Chi Alpha for their annual Walk for Kids, a 24hour marathon completed by the fraternity members at Rose-Hulman were honored along with the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity at Rose Hulman, which sponsored a Comedy Night with proceeds donated to Big Brothers Big Sisters. Elio Oradei (1985) died June 5, 2009.
San Jose State (Zeta-Nu)
George H. Yeager died June 21, 2009.
Simpson (Theta-Lambda) The chapter was named Organization of the Year for the second year in a row and was awarded a $1,000 check to continue our successful community service and philanthropic events. Among some of our events were taking out the recycling almost every week on campus, raising about $1,200 for the Mid-East Area Agency on Aging for adult medical supplies.
Dale Thompson died. Southeast Missouri (Delta-Phi) From June 23 to June 1, 2009, Brian Gee (2006) will be traveling and touring with the Southeast Missouri State University Symphony to China. They land in Beijing and perform at the China Conservatory of Music, which is the Chinese version of America’s Juilliard School. They will then travel and perform at The Great Wall, before going to Shanghai where they will give their final concert.
Jason Wang was selected to join the National Community Pharmacists Association’s Student Executive Committee. Brian Ogweno was elected as president-elect of the St. Louis College of Pharmacy Student Council. Evan Schnur is serving as the current vice president.
Joe Gholson (2006) was Phi Kappa Phi Slater fellowship winner, the top national biology student.
Tennessee-Knoxville (Epsilon-Omicron)
The chapter initiated the Hall of Fame program in honor of Lambda Chi’s Centennial and the chapter’s 20th Anniversary. Five brothers were inducted into the inaugural class.
Bobby Tucker (1973) was named to the all-century baseball team for the University of Tennessee.
Texas State (Lambda-Phi)
The chapter was named Fraternity of the Year.
Truman State (Phi-Psi)
An alumni golf tournament will be held on June 6, 2009, at the Sunset Lakes Golf Course in Sunset Hills, Missouri. Half of the proceeds will go towards the Purple, Green, and Gold Fund to help build a new house, while the other half will go towards the active chapter’s general fundraising account.
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June 2009
CHAPTER NEWS
Vanderbilt (Gamma-Delta)
Washington & Lee (Gamma-Phi)
Conrad Lucas, an attorney with Huddleston Bolen, has been admitted to the West Virginia Bar. He will practice in the firm’s Huntington office, with an emphasis in the areas of education and commercial law. Lucas joined Huddleston Bolen in 2008, after having spent one summer in the firm’s clerkship program. Prior to joining Huddleston Bolen, Lucas worked as a policy analyst for the Cowen Institute at Tulane University where he was part of the efforts to rebuild the education system in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. He also previously served as an aide to U.S. Representative Shelley Moore Capito.
As part of the opening of the assembly At Washington & Lee University’s 2009 Reunion Weekend, W&L’s chapter of Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Fraternity the Rupert Latture Award was bestowed upon Scott G. Centorino (2011) of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He is a member of the Executive Committee and was recently elected as secretary for 2009-2010. He is the president of the College Republicans, a resident advisor to first-year students and a writer for the Ring-Tum Phi. He is also a member of the Canterbury Fellowship and Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. The Latture Award, named after one of the 15 original ODK founders, Rupert N. Latture ’15, is given each year to a sophomore who has demonstrated outstanding leadership potential and a commitment to the ODK ideal of unselfish service.
Washington (Alpha-Psi)
James W. Olsen died April 12, 2009. He was a familiar face in the real estate industry throughout the Puget Sound area. He developed properties in King, Lewis, Grays Harbor, Thurston, Pierce, Mason and Jefferson Counties, and also was member of the Realtors and in partnership with Windermere Hood Canal. He was an active member of the Free Masons of Washington, George Washington Lodge #251 and Quilcene Lodge #184. He was continually active as an alumni brother with the chapter and for the last 10-15 years hosted the over 65 year old reunion at his waterfront home on the Olympic Peninsula.
Western Carolina (Beta-Zeta)
At the 2009 Greek Awards, the chapter won the Highest Academic Award, Outstanding Commitment to Philanthropy Award, Community Service Award, Chapter of the Year Award, and Greek Week Champions. Taylor Callicutt was recognized as Greek Man of the Year, and
Washington D.C. Area Alumni Association
On June 30, 2009, the brothers from the Washington, D.C. Area Alumni Association donated a Saturday volunteering with “Honor Flight” to help support more than 541 U.S. military veterans and family members from around the country to visit the World War II, Korean and Vietnam memorials. When asked about why Honor Flight was chosen to volunteer for Michael Husband, president of the association, said, “Even though this is just one day out of the year it really shows our veterans just how much their sacrifice means. What a great way to give back to those who put everything on the line.” There will be future philanthropic events planned throughout the year so if interested please our website (http://www. dclambdachi.com/) or email dclambdachi@hotmail.com.
Joseph Kellerman was given the Unsung Hero Award. Steven Johnson was elected IFC president and Joseph Kellerman was elected as vice president of judicial affairs.
Every third Thursday of the month, the brothers gather for an alumni reception at different locations. On June 18, 2009, the brothers will gather at the in Georgetown, with the exact location yet to be determined.
- Don C. Baucom II (1989) died April 23, 2009. He worked as a computer consultant. Retrieved from “http://staging.crossandcrescent. com/index.php?title=09jun_Chapter_News” Search
The alumni association has purchased a block of ticket for the June 25, 2009, Washington Nationals baseball game against the Boston Red Sox. Please contact Pete Forsberg at ptforsberg@gmail.com for tickets.
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Cross & Crescent
June 2009
HISTORY
Celebrating Lambda Chi’s Legends & Leaders As part of a 12-month series, our seventh month pays tribute to Jerry H. Krenmyre Editor’s Note: The following is reprinted from the Lambda Chi Alpha: A Historical Perspecive.
Peyser (South)
of the Fraternity were at timies appalled by his "cruditeies." "Dad" attracted many because of his ability to discuss fraternity matters without personal jealousy or rancor. He was responsible for the Theta News during its first decade, and a regular contributor through 1938. He might be describred as combining the easy rapport of
"Dad" Krenmyre: Inspiration Personified Jerry Homer Krenmyre was the only man to serve as an officer of Theta Kappa Nu throughout its history. He was elected Grand Oracle at the Springfield founding, a post he held until elected Grand Chaplain at the 1938 Grand Chapter. He then served as Associate Historian for more than two decades -- from the union until his death.
Remember the race between the tortoise and the hare? The tortoise kept his mind on going until he got there. He didn’t know where he was going but he was on this way. The tortoise had more hope than hop. The tortoise had finishing strength. The tortoise said, “Always at it will win any man’s race.”
"Dad" stated that his only claim to naitonal prominence was that – like Lincoln – he was born in a log house. He assembed the largest collection of Lincoln lore in the Midwiest. "Good luck" hit the family when he was young and he ws compelled to work his way thorugh high school. He built his first barn at the age of 17 after eight years of successfully operating a construction company in southern Iowa, he entered college at Ioaw Wesleyan. His favorite extracurricualr activity was forensics; he won all his intercollegiate debates unanimously. After graduation he did four years' work in rural sociology at the University of Iowa as perparation for rual church work. His official occupation was pastor of rural Methodist Episcopal churches, but he was a popular speaker on the Chautauqua and Lyceum circuits with many return engagements.
Warren Cole, the idealistic pedagogy of Jack Mason (although on an experiential rather than intellectual base), and the ever-present nosefor-news of Linn Lightner. The esteem in which this good and gentle man was held is indicated by the assigment shared with Jack Mason at the union: to design the new ritual and emblems.
Krenmyre was a large man, raw-boned in appearance and careless in dress. He was a spellbinding speaker putting forth a homespun philosophy. The audaciousness of his "corn-belt mannerisms" attracted most people, but a few so-called sophisticated members
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By Chuck
"Dad" was a Mason and a Shriner and somehow found time to lecture to these groups in the Midwest as well as contribute to
Cross & Crescent
June 2009
HISTORY
The Sage of Possum Hollow Speaks... The other day we were out on a rifle range. The men were shooting a thousand yards and hitting the bull's-eye. I noticed the rifles seemed to be pointing upward instead of directly at the target. The sergeant explained by saying, "You see, gravity pulls the bullet down and the farther the target, the longer time gravity has to work. For that reason we have to adjust the sights for what we call elevation. Elevations means that the muzzle of the gun is pointed above the target, and the bullet travels in a curve. The rear sight has an adjusting screw which must be set accurately or the target will be undershot." Four months from now the final reports for this year's work will be filed. That is a long way off. Gravity will have a long time to pull down. At the beginning of the semester the aim must be high. A chapter that aims at B will do well to get C. Get together, adjust the sights, and get the bull's-eye next spring.
by Dad Krenmyre, March 1938 Theta News
Masonic journals. His son Lewis was initiationed into Theta Kappa Nu at Iowa Weslyan.
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TRUE BROTHER
2008-2009 Results Update Building better brothers – Building better men By Tim Reuter (Simpson 2003) and Dr. Elgan Baker (DePauw 1971) Editor’s Note: In June, Student Advisory Committee member Ted Panagiotoulias wrote about the qualitative results of the True Brother Initiative from his Epsilon-Epsilon Zeta at the University of Toronto. For June, Director of Education Tim Reuter and Dr. Elgan Baker -– clinical professor at Indiana University School of Medicine, Master Steward, Order of Merit winner, and Butler University chapter adviser -- report on the updated quantitive results.
These programs, along with others, the Core Values, and learning model ensure consistency, direction, and developmental outcomes that span the entirety of our General Fraternity programming and ensure that each of our brothers knows what his crescent is growing towards.
Developmental Competencies The underpinning of the True Brother Initiative is the maturational structure focused on five specific developmental competencies: self awareness, self esteem, intimacy, empathy, and altruism.
The True Brother Initiative is a comprehensive member development initiative, focusing on a Lambda Chi Alpha brother’s entire journey – from the pre-affiliation phase of rush/recruitment, through initiation and even the alumnus experience.
The rollout of True Brother has taken place in phases, beginning with the Outer Circle in July 2007 at the Stead Leadership Seminar. The Outer Circle encompasses all three phases of the Lambda Chi Alpha experience prior to Initiation (recruitment, associate member education, and preInitiation), and programming was created to ensure chapters have the opportunity to administer each phase of the Outer Circle “the Lambda Chi Alpha way.”
Self awareness is the capacity for introspection and the attunement and analysis of inner experience.
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Self esteem is the ability to maintain a positive and robust sense of self even in the face of stressful situations.
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Intimacy is the capacity to develop and maintain close connections to others characterized by authenticity and reciprocity.
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Empathy is the ability to be fluent and comfortable with the experience and expression of emotions in self and others.
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Altruism is the ability to sincerely invest in the welfare of others.
Since the initial rollout in 2007, and even during the pilot phase during the 2006-2007 academic year, the General Fraternity has worked to measure our brothers levels and/or capacities across each developmental competency via Internet-administered surveys; thus, providing quantitative outcomes regarding the maturational development of our brothers.
The Cole Recruitment Institute (rush/recruitment), Call to Brotherhood (associate member education program), and Exoteric Mysteries (approved approach to pre-Initiation) were developed through the collaboration of volunteers, staff, and undergraduate brothers. The foundation of each program is Lambda Chi Alpha’s Seven Core Values (Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Service & Stewardship, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage), and the necessary component to each is Lambda Chi Alpha’s experiential learning model.
Lambda Chi Alpha has used standardized measures, delivered over the Internet, and analyzed outcomes and their impact on chapter operations and the maturation of individual brothers (the latter of which is reported on later in this article). Lambda Chi Alpha looks at the data for all brothers that complete the surveys, the 50 chapters most completely implementing the Outer Circle, the 50 chapters least implementing the Outer Circle, and the top 10 chapters most completely implementing the Outer Circle and then compares the information against the wide amounts of normative data found in college students.
The learning model begins with purposeful experiences followed by a threepart debrief (self reflection, understanding/meaning making, and sharing/ discussion). The combination of the Core Values and learning model ensure consistency across the board in all programming, including the Inner Circle Programming (continual developmental opportunities for initiated brothers) rolled out in January 2008, and the Mastery Circle programming for alumni (the Neville Advisers College and Master Steward Program).
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Recently, at the Conference on College Men, hosted by NASPA (Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education), a clear need for developmental programming targeted at college men was discussed. Specifically, Dr. Frank Harris, assistant professor of postsecondary
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TRUE BROTHER
educational leadership and student affairs at San Diego State University, recommended the needs for college men to find opportunities to be themselves, participate in self reflection, participate in group engagement, learn from adult role models, and learn from student role models (2009).
In summary, the results have largely replicated and extend important findings from analysis of the first year of the True Brother Initiative. When compared to normative data for college freshmen, our brothers show significantly greater maturation on most of the developmental competencies assessed. The difference becomes larger and increasingly significant as chapters more fully integrate and implement each of the True Brother Initiative’s component features.
Dr. Harris’ research clearly identifies data and trends that provide validity, from the academic community, that the True Brother Initiative fills a void in the college experience for men.
Further, the degree of change and amount of growth from association to Initiation increases as chapters more fully utilize and more effectively implement all of the programs of the Outer Circle and each of the components of Lambda Chi Alpha’s learning model.
2008–2009 Results During the second year of the True Brother Initiative, nearly 1,200 brothers representing all of our chapters and colonies have participated in our assessment project, completing online surveys at association and again at initiation.
While our young brothers do not appear to be significantly different from comparison norms at association, they do show significant and remarkable growth from their participation in the True Brother Initiative, which sets them apart from their peers and which potentiates adjustment, health, and success into the future.
Analysis of these data allows us to evaluate the impact of our initiative, the learning model, and our Outer Circle programming components. These data have again demonstrated the significant influence these variables are having on the developmental maturation of our undergraduate brothers in core competencies related to psychological health and personal success.
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Here are some of the most exciting results from our data analysis from the second year: * Brothers demonstrated a significant increase in self awareness from association to initiation with a mean score of 44, compared to the normative mean of 37.5 (significant at the .01 level). For chapters that have not integrated Outer Circle components, no significant change is noted in this developmental competency. * Brothers demonstrated a remarkable increase in capacity for empathy from association to Initiation with a mean score of 68.7, compared to a normative mean of 35.3 (significant at beyond the .001 level). Chapters most fully implementing Outer Circle components evidence an effect size almost eight times greater than chapters that have not integrated Outer Circle components.
the competencies are correlated with many measures and predictions of personal and relational health and success. These data again demonstrate how Lambda Chi Alpha’s preferred undergraduate experience is operationalizing our Fraternity’s ritualistic and programmatic commitment to continual growth for every brother and our shared investment to help every man develop to his full potential. This research and assessment project will continue into the third year with an additional focus on evaluating the impact of the Inner Circle on the operations of chapters that implement it and on the development of those brothers who choose to participate in it. We anticipate an even larger impact for this level of the in
* Brothers demonstrate a significant increase in altruism from association to Initiation with a comparison mean of 69.6 vs. the normative mean of 52.3 (significant at beyond the .001 level) with chapters most fully implementing Outer Circle components showing the greatest change. * Brothers demonstrate a significant increase in capacity for intimacy from association to Initiation, with a mean score of 64.1 compared to the normative sample mean of 57.5 (significant at the .001 level). Chapters most fully implementing Outer Circle components evidenced almost six times the amount of growth compared to chapters not implementing Outer Circle components. * The usual trend to decreased self esteem documented in studies of college freshmen did not occur among our brothers implementing Outer Circle components, although statistically significant changes were not demonstrated in any group.
Summary In summary, our brothers evidenced significant, meaningful, and often remarkably large growth on four of the five developmental competencies that are the focus of True Brother which have been longitudinally assessed. The greatest changes have occurred for brothers in those chapters that most fully utilize and implement Outer Circle components of the Initiative. The implications of fostering such maturational success are far-reaching, since
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Cross Cross& &Crescent Crescent June June2009 2009
FEATURE
ESPN Founder Bill Rasmussen After launching ESPN in 1979, Bill Rasmussen is now focused on his latest venture, CollegeFanz.com Chris Barrick (Butler 2004)
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FEATURE On August 16, 1978, Bill Rasmussen (DePauw 1954) and his son, Scott, came up with the idea. It was Bill’s daughter’s 16th birthday and father and son were driving to see her at the grandparent’s summer home. “We were on our way down and we got stuck in traffic,” says Rasmussen. “We had already talked to RCA and had a satellite but didn’t know what we were going to do with it.” In Waterbury, Connecticut, stuck on Interstate 84, the two discussed how they would fill 24 hours of programming on the new technology that was cable. The car was hot, finally in exasperation, Scott exclaimed, “Play football all day for all I care.” And ESPN was born. “When ESPN went on the air, we said ‘This is going to be the headquarters of sports’ and we went after it.” The Early Years of ESPN Rasmussen had been working for the Hartford Whalers for four years and in 1977-1978 the team missed the playoffs for the first time in the team’s short history. This sparked management to clean house, firing nearly everyone, including Rasmussen. It was a blessing in disguise.
a population of 9,000, was a mill town that manufactured a lot of semi-conductors before ESPN came to town. It has since spread like a wildfire, now on engulfing 165 acres. “I think putting it there added to the mystique of Bristol. This little hole-in-the-wall town, New York a 130 miles away, why would you do it there,” says Rasmussen. “Well, nobody in New York would talk to us; they thought we were all crazy so the first four ESPN buildings were literally built on a dump.” The big problems the young company faced were money, a place to market, and programming. ESPN and other early cable stations were about letting the viewer decide when they wanted to watch sports or news, in the case of Turner, and movies, in the case of HBO. The ESPN anchor show was the inception of “ sportscenter” that was created that afternoon in the car. “We said we were going to half-hour sports news shows at 6:30 p.m. across from the networks’ newscasts,” says Rasmussen. “Once we put all the papers together and started to sell it everyone said, ‘wait a minute, no one does a half-hour sportscast, especially up
“If it hadn’t happened ESPN probably wouldn’t have happened -- cable TV was just beginning to break on the horizon in Connecticut,” says Rasmussen. “The stars were aligned. If we had waited a year later all the transponder space would have been taken because the big companies found out what was going on with the technology.” In 1977-78, Ted Turner started talking about his Superstation and one thing led to another and more people started to get interested in cable. Rasmussen met with the cable operators in Connecticut, and then the RCA sales person, and they couldn’t give transponder time away. They got a satellite for $35,000 a month, which is nominal compared to what the price is today. “They couldn’t give away satellite time,” jokes Rasmussen. “Due to that fact they gave a long leeway before they sent you any type of invoice. By that time we had financial backing from Getty Oil. We never had to pay a cent.” They bought an acre of redeveloped land in Bristol, Connecticut, to build the headquarters of the new station. Bristol, which had
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“There was a moment at 6:30 at night the night we went on air when my son and I walked around the building. It was all dirt and mud near with a jack hammered whole in the back wall because we did not get the control done in time for the launch of ESPN and actually launched ESPN from a remote truck outside,” says Rasmussen. “We had been going so frantically and were pretty pleased for what was about to happen. We walked around the building and looked at each other and it was one of those special moments. In 30 minutes, for better or for worse, whatever we are going to put out was going to be seen around the world. I could still take you to that spot behind the building.” ESPN was the new kid on the block and had a number of critics in the media. CBS and Channel 39 in Boston wanted to sue the ESPN for using highlight clips in its broadcasts, which were considered public domain. When an executive from NBC heard about CBS’s complaints he bought the ESPN staff bright red jackets and tickets to all the games CBS was covering.
against the news.’” At the time ESPN started, networks controlled 93 percent of the television market. “We said ‘so,’ and we went after them,” says Rasmussen, “and I guess it worked.”
“The young guys stayed on the side of the field and the camera followed the ball, follow-upped with their backs to the cameras,” says Rasmussen. “On the back of these bright red jackets was a big white ESPN. We did that two weeks in a row and CBS said ‘forget the suit.’”
To this date there have been more episodes of “ sportscenter” uninterrupted than any other program in the history of TV. The networks now control under 20 percent. The Rasmussens thought the NCAA was the best source of programming because the preceding year there had been 116,000 sanctioned events by the NCAA. That’s 232,000 hours of programming, and the new station would handle only 8,640 hours of programming a year.
We have reunions and it’s within the Fraternity, not so much the school. I don’t really go back to see people from other classes. I go back to see my Fraternity brothers and their wives.
“We went to the NCAA headquarters in Kansas City and said we will do every single championship event that the networks don’t take,” says Rasmussen. “I remember Walter Myers, executive director of the NCAA, saying to me. ‘You mean if Lamar plays Weber State you will televise it?’ Yep.” The CBS contract with the NCAA at the time only aired a 60 second clip of various sport’s championships including hockey, soccer, and lacrosse. It also only covered five of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament games. “The final four of lacrosse to lacrosse people is every bit as fascinating as the final four in basketball,” says Rasmussen. “The frozen four in hockey, the final four in soccer, we said we are going to do them all. We didn’t really know what we were committing to, but we said we would do them.“
Life after ESPN
Ironically, in 1980, the first covering of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, ESPN aired a first round matchup between Weber State and Lamar.
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In 1984, Texaco made an offer to purchase Getty Oil, the major stockholder of ESPN. Texaco didn’t want to take on Getty’s nonoil entities and planned to sell ESPN and other properties. 16
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“During the process, Ted Turner called me and said he wanted to make a run at buying ESPN away from ABC,“ says Rasmussen. “When that heated up they moved us up the pecking order of companies to sell. ” After the sale to ABC, Rasmussen was retained as a consultant for a year and placed on the board of directors. He then started his own company, Rasmussen Sports. The new company produced consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod incididunt ut and many live events for ESPN, including Big tempor Monday Basketball, labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim minim veniam, quisHe also the Maui Classic, and had rights to alladthe Big Ten Games. nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo did consulting for the Big Ten. consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in College Fanz deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. culpa qui officia Loremwas ipsum dolor siton amet, adipisicing elit,watch sed do sports ESPN founded the consectetur idea of letting viewers eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut when they want. That is the thought behind Rasmussen’s new enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi brain child CollegeFanz.com. The site is part sports information ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in and part social networking withcillum chatdolore and discussion boards. reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse eu fugiat nulla The virtual press sint boxoccaecat includes scores non from all sports pariatur. Excepteur cupidatat proident, suntfrom in all divisions of college athletics. Each school has its own homepage culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. as doesipsum eachdolor sportsitinamet, which the school participates. Lorem consectetur adipisicing elit, sedThe do site is introducing new widgets for customization of one’s fanz page. eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo aute irure dolor in III, and “There is something likeconsequat. 281 NAIADuis schools, 442 division reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum eu do fugiat nulla 239 division II,” says Rasmussen. “ESPN dolore doesn’t a lot of work pariatur. Excepteur occaecat cupidatat non proident, with Division II andsint III and NAIA, so we started out to sunt give in a place culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. for people to talk to each other under one roof.” Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut Holding true to giving a voice the smaller divisions, in March enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi when hosting March Madness ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.brackets, Duis auteCollegeFanz irure dolor in had 10 options, one in forvoluptate each of the and NCAA andnulla women’s reprehenderit velitNAIA esse cillum doloremen’s eu fugiat divisions. The grand prize was $25 million, with secondary pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt inprizes of trips the Maui Classic, and plasma culpa quitoofficia deserunt mollit anim id estTVs. laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor ut labore18etNAIA dolorecollege magna football aliqua. Utgames CollegeFanz willincididunt be broadcasting enimfall ad minim exercitation ullamco laboris nisi this online,veniam, kickedquis off nostrud with the First Down Classic double ut aliquiponexAugust ea commodo Duisofaute irure dolor in header 29. Itconsequat. is this type online broadcast that reprehenderitsees in voluptate velitevolution esse cillumofdolore euentertainment. fugiat nulla Rasmussen as the new sports pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. “Kids that play at smaller institutions play just as hard and are Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do competitive but don’t get much credit outside of campus,” says eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut Rasmussen. “The morequis variety weexercitation give to parents alumni, enim ad minim veniam, nostrud ullamcoand laboris nisi everyone likes it.” ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in
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One of the cornerstones of CollegeFanz is its intern program. It recruits students from campuses to write or broadcast stories, market and maintain their university’s site, and maintain a Facebook presence. Rasmussen believes this gives the fans a voice. “We want this site to be developed by the students and the young alumni, “ says Rasmussen. “ESPN gives viewers a lot of reprehenderitbut in voluptate dolore Once eu fugiat nulla information, doesn’t velit give esse the cillum fan a voice. again we are pariatur. occaecat cupidatat non proident, the smallExcepteur guys andsint don’t have to worry about that.” sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do Lambda Chi Alpha eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quisLambda nostrud Chi exercitation ullamco When Rasmussen joined Alpha in 1950 laboris he feltnisi he ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in was part of the greatest pledge class. He boasts that the four reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla years of his class the chapter was No. 1 in athletics and won pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in intramurals three times. mollit anim id est laborum. culpa qui officia deserunt Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do During freshman year,utRasmussen learned lessonUtabout eiusmodhis tempor incididunt labore et dolore magnaa aliqua. brothers and a university pulling together. A fire broke out in nisi the enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris chapter house and his roommate Chuck Reed stayed cool and ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit voluptate velit esseoutside cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla collected. He insent Rasmussen and under their room’s pariatur. Reed Excepteur sintdropping occaecat cupidatat non proident, in window. began all their belonging as sunt Rasmussen culpa quithem officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. stacked neatly. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do tempor incididunt labore dolore magna aliqua. worked Ut “Ieiusmod hope you never relive theutfire partetof it, but everybody enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi together and the campus really came together and worked with ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in all the Lambda Chis.” reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in “While weofficia weredeserunt doing itmollit I don’t of us ever thought culpa qui animthink id estany laborum. itLorem was going to last a half century,” says Rasmussen. ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed“We do have reunions and it’s within the Fraternity, not so much the I eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.school. Ut don’t really go back to see people from other classes. I go back enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi utsee aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duiswives. aute irure dolor in to my Fraternity brothers and their reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla sintand occaecat proident, sunt in Ifpariatur. I hadn’tExcepteur gone there hadn’tcupidatat lived in anon fraternity house, I don’t culpa Iqui officia deserunt animkind id estof laborum. think ever would havemollit had that memory of people. I don’t remember that from grade school, and kids...when you have a best friend....”
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FEATURE
World Karate Champion Master Steven Franz began training over 31 years ago at the age of 7 in Goju Ryu Karate
By Tad Lichtenauer (Denison 1987)
Master Steven Franz (Vincennes 1991) began training more than 31 years ago at the age of 7 in Goju Ryu Karate.
more girls, teaching guys, teaching kids. Was working doing computer programming part-time....I decided to walk away and do it full-time. Karate has always been a main focus for me because it’s fulfilling.”
Over the many years, he has attained Master Black Belt rank in five martial art systems along with everything from colored rank (kyu) to black belt level (dan) in 10 more.
He has seen that students who study karate tend to have higher grades. “It’s a great reward,” he says. “I hardly make any money but I don’t place the value of dollars with what I offer and what I do and what I get back on it.”
Franz is considered one of the best traditional karate instructors in the United States today and was inducted into the International Budo Society in January 2009 to honor him for his dedication to preserving, teaching and representing only the best of the martial arts in the world today. A nine-time Hall of Fame inductee, Franz spent his early years training and competing all over the world. He has attained World Karate Champion status a total of five times in Kumite, Kata, Weapons Kata and Self Defense and won numerous national, regional and state championship titles. In 2000, Franz was coach for the U.S. National Martial Arts Team at the USA vs. the World event held in Waikiki, Hawaii, where the United States brought home more gold medals than any other country. During this event, he retired from active competition to refocus on training, learning, and teaching his students to become their ultimate best. In 1992, Franz Karate was opened as a private martial arts school in Hicksville, Ohio. Originally it was Franz’s intent to only teach people part-time and on a private basis, but word of his abilities as a teacher quickly spread and in February 1993 he opened his dojo to the public. Over the last decade, Franz Karate martial arts studio was rated in the top 20 schools in the nation by the Professional Karate Commission for quality, integrity, and teaching the true spirit of Budo (warrior).
Franz doesn’t have a large, mass karate school that makes a lot of money so he figures out other ways to make ends meet. “I have to do triple the work to accomplish my goals,” he says. “I always tell my students that anything worth doing, is going to be hard. You are going to have to sacrifice. You’re going to scrape your knuckles and barely get by but in the end it will pay off.”
Early Beginnings Franz studied computers at Vincennes University and then worked as a bouncer at a bar to pay for college. “I met a girl who said she had been sexually assaulted and she wanted to be taught self defense,” he says. “I started teaching her, teaching
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“Even though a lot of them, they’ve moved on with their lives and they no longer do karate, but they still come back to the karate school. Or they still come to my house for a cookout,” he says. “I think that ideal that Lambda Chi had on developing that bond of brotherhood and camaraderie was invaluable for me.”
Joining Lambda Chi During his time at Vincennes, a chapter brother invited Franze to come to the house. “Lambda Chi was the only one that was down to earth, not cliquey,” he says. “They were very open and honest with you....everyone seemed to be on equal terms.”
Martial Arts Brothers Unite Franz encourages other brothers involved in martial arts to contact him so they can work together to help local communities and undergraduate brothers.
Todd Joyner, a former chapter adviser, asked if Franz wanted to join, and he accepted.
“If they do or they teach it, I would like to try to get a group going through our Fraternity where we as Lambda Chis and karate instructors can benefit our communities and work together in a forum or something and just get together once in awhile,” he says.
“I really enjoyed it,” he says. “I spent my first semester full-time as High Tau, which I really enjoyed but it was a lot of work. I made a lot of good friends. It was just an amazing experience. Franz does keep in touch with the chapter brothers from his time in school.
Recently, he was in Indiana going from school to school to school, teaching five seminars, when he met four Lambda Chi brothers and black belts from Indiana University.
“I talk to those guys all the time,” he says. “When we talk on the phone it’s like we’re just back in college together. I don’t think I’ve honestly ever met as good of friends. We have that common bond and that’s something I was looking for.”
“I challenged them. I said you’re a black belt in karate, I know the economy and times are tough, but my question to them was, what are you doing with your skills as a black belt to help other people as a Lambda Chi Alpha member?”
“Joining Lambda Chi Alpha was definitely a pivotal part of my life,” Franz says. “I was in the Army, got injured, received an honorable medical discharge, and was very depressed. The Army was all i wanted to do.”
Franz believes it is important for all alumni brothers to remember that if you don’t have money to give to Lambda Chi, you can help by providing your time and talent. “If there are more guys out there who own karate schools, we should get together and work together,” he says. “There is so much we can accomplish because we all have the same Core Values. And that common bond is there.” Retrieved from
When Franz needed it, Joyner was there to hold his hand whenever he was doing something stupid and put him back in line, he says. “He was a big brother but he also was a guiding light,” Franz says. In addition to life lessons, Franz also learned how to do fundraising, which would come into play for his martial arts business later in life. “I learned about raising money for valuable things...teeter-totter-athon, car washes...I do those things here in Bryan,” he says. “We donate money to the Humane Society, United Way, American Cancer Society.... serve on boards.” His black belt program is actually structured around volunteerism and service to the community. The students have to propose a project and have it approved before they can start. “I think that’s extremely valuable,” Franz says. “One of the reasons why I liked Lambda Chi was the fact that they seemed to care about more than just about their own little world. And that was a big focus for me.” Over the years, Franz has seen many of his students go on to lead successful lives, and then send their children back to him for instruction.
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Fraternity News
Reunion Basketball Champs Forty-five years later, Ball State brothers fondly recall tournament memories by Jon Williamson (Maryland-Baltimore County) that the guy said to take two blankets because the room had a lot of natural air conditioning. He was sure right, as it got quite cold at night.” The coach, King adds, “One of the reasons we were so alert the day of the Michigan game is that it was so cold in that barracks that you could see your breath and nobody could laze around.”
Champions! Towards the end of June, I enjoyed lunch with 10 Lambda Chis from Ball State University. I wasn’t there for the food. No, it was the memories of 30 and 40 years ago that I was after, together with the laughter, entertaining stories, and warm feelings that are the essence of brotherhood.
The Road to Victory Twenty-one teams participated in the tournament from as far away as Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute. The two carloads of brothers from Ball State arrived on Thursday and on Friday there was a welcoming dinner. This was followed by a dinner-dance on Saturday night at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds.
The story begins at the Lambda Chi chapter house at Ball State with the delivery of mail on a cold January day in 1965. Rick Reeves, the chapter’s athletic director, opened a letter from our chapter at Oklahoma City University. It was an invitation to participate in the 10th Annual All Lambda Chi Oklahoma City Basketball Tournament from March 5-7. It was with a great deal of excitement that Rick presented this opportunity at the next chapter meeting requesting that the chapter sponsor a team and pick up travel expenses. Jere Humphrey, the High Alpha at the time, remembers that Rick made the request through the High Zeta. It was approved that the chapter would fund the registration fee, gas money and some meal money. The team was chosen, primarily from the brothers who had won the Ball State University basketball championship. The members of the team, who were coached by Tom King, were Jerry Grimes, Errol Hurst, Rodger Macy, Tom Maddox, Dennis (Luke) McCoy, Fred Price, Reeves, Tom Reiter, Jack Shafer, Jerry Williams, and Don Willsey. It was also decided that they would be named the Lambda Chi Cougars.
In attendance was Dr. John F. Olson, president of the University. Dr. Olson shared these thoughts: “The fine cooperation and conduct of the Lambda Chi’s made the tournament one of the greatest achievements in fraternity life that I had observed. It was an admirable answer to the poor publicity fraternities have been receiving in some instances on the national scene.”
The trip was over 800 miles in length and the weather was treacherous with ice and snow on the roads. Reiter remembers, “We stayed in a large hall of some kind, into which the local chapter had jammed more cots than the room should have held. I remember that it was a chilly Friday night and we could detect no source of heat.”
The Cross & Crescent reported that “The tournament was well publicized. Extensive mention was made in the university
Grimes added, “We stayed at the fairgrounds which was an old World War II army barracks. I remember when we got our bed linens www.crossandcrescent.com
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newspaper, in the three major papers of the metropolitan area, and by Oklahoma radio and television stations. A television interview with representatives of the 43 man Oklahoma City chapter featured the tournament trophies.”
In the semi-final game they defeated Iowa Wesleyan, which was playing with three starters from their varsity team, 77–50. The championship game was played in the university field house before 400-500 fans. The Ball State Cougars defeated Bradley University’s brothers by a score of 77–45. The 48-inch tall championship trophy was presented to the team by George Shirk, the Juneor of Oklahoma City.
The tournament began with Ball State receiving a forfeit when the University of Missouri-Rolla was unable to travel on the icy roads. In the second round, the Cougars defeated the brothers from the University of Texas 74–44. In the third round Ball State defeated Southern Methodist University 78–62. During that round they learned that three of Michigan’s starters had participated in the Rose Bowl two months earlier.
Jere Humphrey remembers clearly the return of the team to the campus. “It was a big event when the team presented the championship trophy at the next chapter meeting. The trophy was placed in the center cabinet in the house library room and it became a center piece and bragging rights for the campus.”
Ball State Team Tom King went on to teach school in Alaska before joining the FBI and later transferring to the US Forest Service. He and his wife currently reside in Hamilton, Montana. Jerry Grimes spent his career teaching as well as coaching both basketball and track. Errol Hurst joined the U.S. Navy and saw duty during the Vietnam War. Errol was decorated for valor. He retired a captain and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. Rodger Macy was a teacher and coach, starting the football program at Madison-Grant schools in Indiana before working for Quaker Oats and doing consulting in the food industry. He and his wife now reside in Geneva, Illinois. Tom Maddox was a math teacher before spending 29 years as a supervisor with Indianapolis Power and Light Co. in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Dennis (Luke) McCoy has a CPA firm in Columbia City, Indiana. Fred Price, a member of the All-Tournament Team, presently resides in Northville, Michigan. fter spending his career in the education and administration fields, he works for Ford Field and the NFL in media and other security positions. Rick Reeves retired after 40 years as a teacher and coach. His son is a member of Lambda Chi Alpha’s Vincennes chapter. Tom Reiter initially was a teacher of fine arts before becoming superintendent of Lemont Community Schools in Lemont, Illinois. Since retirement he coaches a 16 and under traveling girls fast-pitch softball team.
Jerry Williams taught and coached at several schools in Indiana. He presently resides in Clearwater, Florida. Don Willsey taught and coached in the Lawrence Township Schools in Marion County, Indiana for 32 years. Later in the spring of 1965 the winning season continued as the Ball State Cougars met the brothers of Indiana State for the Indiana State basketball championship. They prevailed and received their trophy at a dance on the campus of Indiana University. The true prize was the lifelong friendships that have filled the lives of 11 brothers from Ball State. Retrieved from
Jack Shafter became a vice president for human resources for Wells Fargo Bank. He and his wife now reside in Omaha, Nebraska.
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Fraternity News
Tribute to Howard Alter Jr. Former Theta Chi Fraternity executive director and member of “Old Guard” died June 9, 2009
Howard joined Theta Chi at Pennsylvania State University after graduating from high school in 1936. He served as chapter treasurer and president. Once, when some of us were in State College for a Howard Alter Day, we found meeting minutes from the days when Howard was treasurer. The chapter secretary had written that Howard had been elected treasurer and in the next sentence noted that the social budget had been, “cruelly cut.” Even then his conservative ethos was at work.
They call them the “Old Guard”.
also many behavioral challenges.
There they sit at FEA meetings - the statesmen, the veterans, the men who led their organizations through some of the most tumultuous times in the history of Greek letter organizations... through the 1960s and 1970s -Vietnam, fuel shortages, keggers, disco -- and the 1980s that brought increases in numbers but
He graduated with a degree in architectural engineering in 1941. With World War II came service in the U.S. Navy -- more specifically, with the Seabees – the Navy’s version of engineers. Howard served in the South Pacific in New Guinea and reached the rank of lieutenant commander. After the war Howard returned to the Pittsburgh area and worked in the family business – the Hamilton-Alter Feed Store. More importantly to us, he became involved in the fraternity. In 1955, he was appointed a regional counselor. Fifty-four years later, his service to Theta Chi ended. In between, he served on our governing board and as national president from 1962 to 1966 ... as executive director from January 1, 1968, to July 1, 1984...as executive director emeritus from that time until his death... and on our national housing board and as president, and on both foundations that existed in the fraternity at that time.
The hair -- if it remains -- is white or grey now. The posture is sometimes stooped. Some of them lean forward to hear, a hand cupped to an ear. But the eyes remain bright, the gestures quick, the smiles genuine. The Old Guard. The names are synonymous with leadership, with interfraternalism, with awards, with hundreds of banquets and thousands of nights on the road. Dud Daniel, Phi Kappa Psi. George Spasyk, Lambda Chi Alpha. Bill Schwartz, Sigma Alpha Mu. George Beck, Pi Lambda Phi. Henry Poor, Psi Upsilon. Robert Miller, Phi Delta Theta. Durward Owen, Pi Kappa Phi. And others, of course. I suspect that our FEA will never see the likes of the Old Guard again. As with nearly all other things, our association – perhaps more accurately our organizations within the FEA – has changed and grown and progressed, but change has a price.
We will remember Howard for his service to Theta Chi. But we will also remember Howard for his strong commitment to the interfraternity movement. He was honored by eight men’s national fraternities for his interfraternal service, including the Ralph D. “Dud” Daniel Award from Phi Kappa Psi. That award – Howard was the first recipient of the award named in honor of his great friend Dud Daniel – meant so much to him. Howard also received the Gold Medal from the North American Interfraternity Conference in 1993, and he took great pride in his service on the NIC board. He treasured awards from Zeta Beta Tau, Lambda Chi Alpha, Sigma Nu, Alpha Kappa Lambda, Tau Kappa Epsilon, Kappa Delta Rho and Alpha Chi Rho. Each was significant in its own way to Howard.
This year, there will be one more man missing from the Old Guard. His name is Howard Alter Jr. Let me tell you about Howard. He was born in 1918. People often asked me, “How old is Howard?” and I would smile and say, “How old do you think he is?” Some of us on the staff cheated – we looked up his birth year on his initiation form. He was over 90 years old when he left us early in the morning on June 9th. www.crossandcrescent.com
by Dave Westol (Theta Chi)
As time passed I began to appreciate the interfraternal commitment that seemed to characterize everything that Howard did. No matter where we were or for what event, Howard seemed to know nearly everyone from other fraternities...and they knew him. Other executives
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Fraternity News
attended our events and told us how lucky we were to have Howard. It occurred to me that their friendship was based upon something deeper than coincidence or timing — that the FEA was truly a group of likeminded individuals who supported each other through difficult times. They were a fraternity within the movement.
there was Howard, sitting in a wheelchair, watching the Golf channel, and holding forth on a variety of topics. He said that he had been to rehabilitation and he was having trouble squeezing things. I suggested that he pretend the things were Democrats. reprehenderit voluptate cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla He laughed andinwe were offvelit and esse running. pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit — anim id est We talked for over two hours from thelaborum. weather to the NCAA Lorem ipsum dolor sit— amet, adipisicing elit, basketball tournament I wasconsectetur able to trump him with thesed factdothat his eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut days alma mater was playing the “Not Invited Tournament” — to the ad minim nostrud ullamco laboris nisi inenim Trenton, New veniam, Jersey to quis the FEA and exercitation the upcoming NIC meeting. As ut aliquip ex ea had commodo Duis was autegoing irure dolor always, Howard a keen consequat. interest in what on in in the NIC. reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat sunt inhome, His nephew, Bill Booth, brought acupidatat stack of non mail proident, from Howard’s culpa qui officia deserunt id est and Howard fell silent as hemollit begananim to open the laborum. letters and cards and read. Loremwere ipsum dolor amet, consectetur adipisicing elit,Assed Many from you,sithis fraternal brothers and sisters. hedo read, he eiusmodoccasionally tempor incididunt ut of labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut us coughed — a sign emotion for Howard. He handed enimletter ad minim exercitation ullamco laboris nisi each — thatveniam, was hisquis codenostrud for “I want you to know what someone ut aliquip ea commodo Duis aute irure dolordeal in to me.” wrote but Iexdon’t want you consequat. to know that it means a great reprehenderit voluptate esseand cillum dolore eu to fugiat nulla The words and in phrases werevelit special meant much Howard. pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in quiHoward officia deserunt animyear. id est laborum. Iculpa last saw on Aprilmollit 28 of this The treatment for his cancer Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur elit, sedStockland do had failed and he decided to spend his final adipisicing days at his beloved eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore dolore magna aliqua. Ut had Farm — the old farmhouse where so et many interfraternal friends enim addrinks minimon veniam, quisporch. nostrud exercitation laboris enjoyed the back I was returningullamco from one trip nisi and ut aliquipfor ex another ea commodo Duis aute irure dolor in preparing whenconsequat. Carlton Bennett, a past national president, reprehenderit in voluptate esse cillum doloretime eu fugiat called me and said, “Dave, velit he doesn’t have much left”.nulla So I went Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in topariatur. Pittsburgh. culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum sit amet, consectetur elit,He sedwas do in and Howard was indolor bed and breathing with an adipisicing oxygen mask. eiusmod tempor ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut I sat out, as they say —incididunt lucid moments followed by semi-consciousness. enim minim quisshowing nostrudhim exercitation ullamco laboris on his ad right side veniam, and began photographs I had takennisi at ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duisin aute dolor in — Dud the NIC meeting and describing the people theirure photographs reprehenderit voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla Daniel, GeorgeinSpasyk, Hank Bauer, Jon Williamson, Jim Estes — and pariatur.reacted. Excepteur sint occaecat non proident, suntWestol in Howard When someonecupidatat in the room said, “Dave is culpa Howard qui officiasmiled deserunt mollitthe anim id est here,” around mask andlaborum. mumbled, “Of dubious character”...and that made the trip right there. That was pure Howard Alter, Jr.
I met Howard for the first time at my chapter at Michigan State University on a pleasant June afternoon in the early 1970s. I had recently been elected president of the IFC — a testimonial to the profound lack of capable candidates for the position — but like many undergraduates, I was full of myself and unflinchingly loyal to my chapter. Howard, Dale Slivinske and our national president were visiting as part of a fraternity barnstorming trip of sorts. I confidently told Howard that I thought our chapter was the best on campus. In retrospect, I might as well have donned a steak suit and walked into a den of hungry lions. “Well”, said Howard – a word that usually preceded a pronouncement accompanied by his stinging wit – “I don’t know if they teach reading at Michigan State...perhaps you’d like to see what Wilson Heller has to say about that.” He handed me a copy of Heller’s newsletter that contained a ranking of the fraternities at MSU. Our chapter was rated a distant fifth. Howard then asked if paying one’s bills on time would contribute to a good rating and observed that my chapter owed the Grand Chapter “A considerable sum.” Having brought me down several notches, he then said, “I’m glad to see you involved on the IFC, David.” And that is how things usually were with Howard. We remember the humor, the wit, and the lessons taught and also the kind word. And beneath that curmudgeonly, conservative skin of a man who enjoyed saying, “Sooner or later you will vote Republican” beat the heart of...dare I write it...a liberal thinker, at least at times. When our fraternity confronted the issue of the Caucasian Clause, I was told, Howard quietly worked behind the scenes to convince key leaders that the change had to be made, and then stepped forward to help lead the effort. He was a strong supporter of Hilary “Hip” Holloway, Kappa Alpha Psi and the first African-American to serve on the NIC board. When the women’s executives began their work to be included as full members in our FEA, Howard supported that change. As FEA President Bonnie Wunsch pointed out in a recent letter to Howard, he made her feel welcome at her first meeting, introduced her to a number of people and acted as a big brother might. And that was Howard. Always a gentleman, always looking out for others.
We in Theta Chi were blessed to have Howard as a brother. Equally importantly, we were blessed that Howard believed in FEA and the greater good. If a person is measured not by days or years or money earned or empires built but by the number of times that one helps others, Howard led a remarkable life.
I visited Howard in March of this year, only a few days after I sent out a message to a number of interfraternal friends about his situation and asking you to write to him if you could. I arrived on a Friday and went to his room in a senior care facility. And www.crossandcrescent.com
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Cross & Crescent
June 2009
Centennial News
Registration Updates and Reminders Attendees should finalize plans By John Holloway (High Point 1994)
Undergraduate Brothers
The Centennial is here and 100 years have passed since the beginning of what we hold dear became a reality. Now it is time to acknowledge our present accomplishments and brotherhood at the International Centennial Celebration.
What we need is your registration in order to make this celebration as strong as possible. It is now time to hold the lamp that has been passed down to us and show our true brother potential.
The attire for each day’s events is especially important when upholding not only the look of who we are but also what we represent.
At the time you are fitted they can make arrangements to have the tuxedo delivered to the Indianapolis location and from there it will be transported to the Sheraton: Indianapolis Hotels & Suites for no additional cost.
Men’s Wearhouse will be on site both Friday and Saturday from 2-4 to make any necessary alterations for any brother or guest who needs alterations or assistance with his tuxedo. There will be a room that will be given at a later date that will be designated for suit pick-up and drop-off.
For more information go to www.lambdachi.org.
Schedule of Events
Wednesday thru Friday afternoon the minimum acceptable attire is to be collared shirts and nice shorts (NO flip flops or hats are to be worn at any session). Friday night thru Saturday morning until the celebration is to be badge attire.
Below is a list of events over the span of the Stead Leadership Seminar and International Centennial Celebration.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009 (optional for alumni brothers) Registration Begins at 11 a.m. — Riley Room 7 p.m. Welcome-Kick off — Clowes Hall 8 p.m. Sex Signals — Brother Christian Murphy’s improvised educational hit, Sex Signals, explores the male/female dynamic on college campuses History Panel Discussion — The Paed comes to life in this incredible dialogue between our wisest alumni brothers, moderated by Grand High Epsilon, Tom Cochrun
Saturday evening’s Centennial celebrations will be black tie. If you do not elect to wear a tuxedo, black suit with white shirt and black tie is acceptable. Tuxedos will be available to order at www.nationaltuxedorentals. com for $50, pick up will be at Butler chapter house.
For more information go to www.lambdachi.org,
Thursday, July 30, 2009 (optional for alumni brothers)
Alumni Brothers
8:30 a.m. Morning Convocation — Chapter Awards –Clowes Hall
Centennial is here and 100 years have passed since the beginning of what we hold dear became a reality. Now it is time to acknowledge our present accomplishments and brotherhood at the International Centennial Celebration. What we need now is your participation to show the undergraduates how we made it to 100 years and pass on the lamp.
Neville Advisers College Track — Training for High Pis and chapter advisers Outer Circle Programming Track — Cole Recruitment (LCA’s recruitment program, Call to Brotherhood (LCA’s associate member education program), and Exoteric Mysteries (LCA’s pre-initiation program)
Any alumni needing to order a tuxedo will need to visit a Men’s Wearhouse store near them and be fitted. The price will be $81.99 plus tax (tax will vary according to location). We apologize as they have no online site available to place an order. www.crossandcrescent.com
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Centennial News
Inner Circle Programming Track — For new chapters approved to begin this programming and chapters already implementing Inner Circle programming 9:00 p.m. Ritual Gone Wild — The ultimate “Closed ZAX” workshop Post Ritual Debrief
Saturday, August 1, 2009 Centennial Assembly — Commemorating 100 years, all subordinate Zetas in our history participate and roll is taken. An informal lunch will follow. Centennial Banquet — Climax of the Centennial Events at the Scottish Rite Cathedral Post-Banquet Gala — Brothers celebrate our 100th anniversary at the ultimate Lambda Chi Alpha reception.
Friday, July 31, 2009 8:30 a.m. Morning Convocation – Chapter Awards (optional for alumni brothers) True Leader Track — Level 1 (Faithful Steward) and Level II (Servant Leader) for brothers who want to begin or continue their progress through LCA’s Leadership Development program (optional for alumni brothers) 9:30 – 2:30 Alumni HQ’s Tour 6:30 Dinner — Centennial Celebration kickoff dinner at the
www.crossandcrescent.com
Scottish Rite Cathedral Sweetheart Receptio Initiation Ritual Exemplification
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International Centennial Celebration & Stead Leadership Seminar July28th through August1st
Regestration Deadline
June 15
th