SUMMER 2020
THE
AUBURN PHI
Official Newsletter of the Alabama Beta Chapter of Phi Delta Theta at Auburn University
CHAPTER ADVISORY BOARD UPDATE
A Alabama Beta Chapter House
PRESIDENT’S LETTER
A
s president of Alabama Beta at Auburn University, I am proud of our chapter and the alumni for helping make our community a better place. One of the ways we have been successful is through teamwork—from our scholarship chairman running study hours five days a week, to our treasurer working to keep the chapter in a good financial condition, to our social chairman who is making sure we have the best events (while striving to keep our members safe). I would be remiss if I didn’t applaud the executive committee and the brothers for elevating this chapter to one of the best on campus. I am also extremely thankful for our incredible alumni. They not only give us the monetary support for our projects but provide guidance in fraternal matters through the chapter advisory board. Their wisdom and dedication that they bring to the table is unmatched. Because of the engagement of our brothers and alumni, Alabama Beta continues to provide an extremely strong
brand on our Auburn University campus. One of the priorities for Alabama Beta is the growth of our chapter. Even with all the graduating seniors this summer, we hope to maintain a chapter size of over 100 (plus approximately a thirty-five man fall Phikeias class). The house corporation has been working diligently on renovations and improvements to the house. The biggest of these is our outdoor cooking area. With only one dorm room in the fraternity room in the fraternity house, we use our gathering for meals as a method to engage the brothers each day. Not only will this help with daily brotherhood, but Continued on page 2
labama Beta’s future depends on the ability of the chapter to recruit and initiate fine young men as brothers in the bond. The chapter needs help from alumni to help secure future members of the chapter. Use your network of connections such as relatives, friends, neighbors, or co-workers to submit recommendations. Keep in mind that legacies are given top priority in the recruitment process. The main way of contact is by text, so the cell number of any recommendation is critical in this process. The main recruitment contact is Recruitment Chairman Henry Meehan at 205.837.2905 or henrymeehan@gmail.com. Henry and his committee are working hard to produce a prominent group of new members. There is also a link through futurephidelt.org. Information of a potential new member is forwarded to Henry and his committee. Special shout out the Brother Donald Jackson 1593 class of 1982 for his help in the recruiting process. As we move through these difficult times, we as a chapter have a chance to make significant moves to become one of the top fraternities on campus. Alumni, let us do our part to help these young Phis make it happen. We just need to plow ahead while others are pulling in their reins. Although separated by distance, I remain yours in the bond. Jimmy Webb #1509, Chapter Advisory Board Chairman jkwebbjr@aol.com
RECRUITMENT CHAIRMAN UPDATE
WE NEED THE HELP OF OUR ALUMNI TO KEEP ALABAMA BETA STRONG
A
s the recruitment chairman for one of the oldest and most established chapters on Auburn’s campus, I want to share with you some of the recent activities and exciting progress we have made during the past three years. While we are proud of our 131 years history, what’s important to you is who we are today! Our focus has been, and will continue to be, finding a balance between quality new members and quantity. I have set up a recruitment plan with my committee to cover all the hotspots of the southeast for potential new members. To achieve this, we assigned our committee members geographic regions. For example, Mobile will be run by brothers from Mobile, as they will be more familiar with the young men they are recruiting and will be able to establish more meaningful relationships. By building solid relationships with potential new members, we can then tap into their friends and build an excellent Phikeias class with young men that will mesh well with the rest of our fraternity. Our main regional focus is on Birmingham, Mobile, and Atlanta, with Charlotte, Chattanooga, and Nashville as secondary areas. Our best pipelines for finding new members are our own high schools and communities where we grew up. Alumni recommendations help to connect us
with young men who might not have found us otherwise. The more recommendations we receive, the better off we will be recruiting a great fall new member class, (especially with Camp War Eagles being suspended due to COVID-19). Please send your recommendations for legacies and fine young men coming to Auburn to 205.837.2905, henrymeehan@gmail.com, or futurephidelt.org. Moving forward, this summer we are doing our best to connect with potential new members while staying socially distanced. The university is yet to allow any summer events, but we are hopeful that we will be having an event or two before the end of the summer. There have been rumors of an extended ten-day formal recruitment if summer events are not approved. I feel strongly that we are poised to have a fantastic fall new member class and fantastic next year. All for one and one for all! Yours in the Bond, Henry Meehan 2405, Recruitment Chairman henrymeehan@gmail.com
also with recruiting events such as crawfish boils, cookouts, etc. We also look forward to the fall football season as we tailgate with alumni and parents at the fraternity house.
thankful for this opportunity. I’m damn proud to be a Phi. War Eagle!
During my time as president, I’ve never been happier! It is rewarding to work with our incredible alumni base, as well as leading this great group of guys. I am
Hunter Cunningham 2368, President huntercunningham151@gmail.com
Auburn Phi » Summer 2020
ALABAMA BETA VIRTUAL REUNIONS!
E
ver wondered what became of your new member trainer/educator, first chapter president or various classmates? Find out and socialize with old college fraternity brothers by joining one or more free Zoom reunions. No politics and no solicitations, just fraternization, storytelling, and re-connecting with your Auburn Phi Delt past. Note: reunions are not class-specific; each reunion is designed to include anyone that was on campus during the published year! Join the call that overlaps with the year you pledged, or the year you graduated and any year in between. PLEASE: help spread the word to get a good turnout! If you want to help host or if you want to make sure we include you or others from your era, send an email with your year and include names and email addresses to RayBriscusoJr@gmail.com. Each Zoom call will be scheduled for forty-five minutes and most will be held in June. The majority of calls will begin at 5:00 p.m. CST, but will vary depending on the host’s schedule. Each call will be hosted by a Phi that was on campus and active during the years listed. See the Auburn Phi Delta Theta Facebook page for additional information.
PRESIDENT’S LETTER: continued from page 1
2
Left to right: Allen Walker, Greg Harris, Ray Briscuso, Tim Hunt, Jimmy Shoulders, Steve Rubenstein
Yours in the Bond
Yours in the bond Ray Briscuso 1606 Chapter Advisory Board Secretary
WE WANT YOUR NEWS!
In preparation of the next edition, we are looking for any news and updates in your life. Please email any content to Alabama Beta Chapter Advisory Board Secretary Ray Briscuso at raybriscusojr@gmail.com. Alabama Beta
HOUSE CORPORATION UPDATE
W
ith the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic the house corporation reassessed our short-term plans and long-term goals. Our short-term focus was to take advantage of down time at the house to accelerate necessary repairs and improvements. After completion of the projects below, we discontinued further spend and shifted our long-term focus to preservation of our emergency fund and operating capital. We continue to plan for capital improvements, but timing will be dictated by collection of rents from an active chapter, alumni donations, and pandemic outcomes beyond our control.
RECENT REPAIRS AND IMPROVEMENTS A major expense was repair to the beverage service area in the dining room. We had to replace flooring and counters damaged by a water supply leak, behind a wall, dating back to occupancy by Alpha Tau Omega. Another major expense was excavation and evacuation of the kitchen grease trap, a large underground concrete bunker which had not been pumped out in years. Cost was ~$3500. The chapter is now under contract for bi-annual evacuation of the trap to avoid future invasive repair. We had all shrubbery pruned away from the house and the exterior pressure washed and cleaned of years of grime and mildew. The outside appearance is greatly improved, and this is necessary prep work for painting the exterior in 2021.
Outdoor grill pavilion
Gutters and downspouts were cleaned and repaired, lighting improved in the band room, high volume ceiling fans installed in the band room to dissipate heat, basement sump and pump repaired, drainage issues in the lower parking lot resolved, exterior rot to soffit and facia replaced in numerous locations. Many minor improvements were made too numerous to list. All composites have been relocated to hallways to make way for future interior improvements and wall art. Look for more details on this initiative when we announce items for our annual fall auction! Also, if anyone has 11" x 14" composites for the years 1975, ’76, ’78, and ’79, please loan them to the house corporation for reproduction. The ATOs must have used them for a bonfire…
UPCOMING CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS Having the house in a good state of repair, we are excited to announce several upcoming projects, listed in order of priority, which will improve the appearance, functionality, and livability at the house. These projects will enhance recruitment of the class of 2024. These projects will be funded from generous alumni club dues and separate alumni donations. Please join one of our three alumni clubs and consider donating to one of these worthy causes! With enough support, we can implement the projects this fall and dedicate phase 1 of the outdoor grill pavilion at Kentucky game on October 2–3. You can donate here: paypal.me/ALBetaPhiDeltaTheta.
Study Hall: Having zero area dedicated exclusively to study, we will retrofit the current “Bunker Room” (which is adjacent to the Alumni Room) for that purpose. Budget cost: $3000. Outdoor Grill Pavilion (Phase 1): See sidebar below. Masonry Signage in Front Yard: A two-sided masonry sign with Phi Delta Theta letters and crest similar to those at most every other house on campus. Budget cost: $6000 The house corporation will continue to spend judiciously to maintain the house in good working order and to make improvements that will help Alabama Beta become the Greatest Version of Itself. Yours in the Bond, Malcolm Marsh 1519 House Corporation President
COMING SOON!
OUTDOOR GRILL PAVILION We have secured $15,000 in matching fund pledges from a small group of generous alumni to build out this exciting addition. It will reside on the patio where the fireplace now stands. Please step up and donate! Phase 1: Completion fall 2020. Cost $25,000. Appliance counter complete with two natural gas grills, natural wood barrel smoker, power burner, sink, granite countertop. Service counter to enclose chef space and to serve homemade BBQ and killer sides buffet style. Phase 2: Completion fall 2021. Cost $25,000. Pergola style covering, ~26' x 18' x 14' high, complete with ventilation fans, lighting, outdoor speakers. View in 360°: https://phide.lt/OutdoorGrill Design courtesy of Spooky Corrigan 1559, Ben Cummings AIA 1795, Campus Cooks, and your house corporation. Grand opening at Kentucky game October 3!
auburnphidelt.com
Auburn Phi » Summer 2020
3
UNDERGRADUATE SPOTLIGHT
From Atlanta, Georgia, Eric Marburger 2399 graduated from Marist School and is a rising junior at Auburn University. Eric has served Alabama Beta as secretary during his first year as a brother and is the current risk management chairman. He also serves as an assistant director of health and wellness on SGA cabinet and is a member of the Alpha Epsilon Delta national honor society. Eric loves to play golf when he gets the chance, although he won’t be getting his tour card any time soon. He is a biomedical sciences major with a pre-medical concentration and a psychology minor while maintaining a 3.58 GPA.
ANNUAL REUNION AND FOOTBALL WEEKEND
OCTOBER 2–3, 2020
Auburn vs. Kentucky
Friday, October 2: Auburn University Club, 1650 Yarbrough Farm Rd, Auburn, AL 36830 Join us on Friday for lunch (Dutch treat), a golf outing (limited to first sixteen players), social hour, and a banquet which will include awards and recognition. Banquet fee estimated to be $45 a person/$80 a couple (students/kids $20). Fee covers room rental, meal, tea and lemonade. Saturday, October 3: Phi Delta Theta Chapter House, 848 Lem Morrison Dr, Auburn, AL 36832 Kickoff time TBD: Auburn vs. Kentucky Three hours before kickoff there will be a group photo taken on the front lawn of the chapter house, followed by a meal. After we eat, there will be a Chapter Grand Ceremony and Tonsmeire Scholarship Award Presentation.
PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT #248 DAYTON, OH Alabama Beta Chapter of Phi Delta Theta 2 South Campus Avenue Oxford, Ohio 45056
CENTURY CLUB MEMBERS
I
n 2009 The Century Club was created as an annual giving fund for Alabama Beta in the amount of $100 per person per year ($2,500 one-time lifetime membership) to commemorate our long and rich history at Auburn University. The intent of the Century Club was to provide a ‘rainy day’ fund for the Chapter House. The Century Club started off strong with over fifty alumni making regular contributions over the first few years (see listing of members below). In addition, you can now join the 1848 Club ($ 200 per year for ten years) or the 1879 Club ($ 500 per year for ten years). If you are interested in joining ( or re-joining) the Century Club, 1848 Club, or 1879 Club, please send your appropriate check payable to Alabama Beta Chapter of Auburn, Inc., in the attached envelope or to PO Box 242464, Montgomery, AL 36124 or contact Robert Miller at rjmiller@cricpa.com to be added to the annual invoicing. Adam Keeshan Benny LaRussa Billy Bridell Billy Harbert Brent Barringer Brian Sullivan Carey Williams Chaz Maynard Chez Dyas Chris Sheedy Daniel Tonsmeire David Kennedy David Mostellar Dick Greco
Donald Jackson Drew Hudgens Dwight Bassett Frank “Bud” Powada Frank Feagin Frank Gunn Frank Richardson Gregory Harris J.R. Wright Jeff Lawhead Jeremy Burns Jerry Greene Jerry Rainey
Jim Bankston Jimmy Shoulders Jimmy Webb Joe Beck John Feagin John Hornsby John L. Watson III Kelly Linch Ken Collier Ken Stephens Larry Heisler Malcolm Marsh Mark Haas Marvin Thomas
Michael Ramsey Mike Rogers Miles Benton Mitch Bruhn Paul Simmons Randy Reed Raymond Briscuso Robert A. Greer Robert Drew Robert Miller Robert Smith Rudyard Smith Russell Cunningham
Sam Scalici Scott Reed Sonny Culp Tim Hunt William H. Busbin William Ireland Wilmer Poynor