The Auburn Phi by Phi Delta Theta

WINTER 2020

THE

AUBURN PHI

Official Newsletter of the Alabama Beta Chapter of Phi Delta Theta at Auburn University

ALUMNUS SPOTLIGHT

LEADERSHIP AND FELLOWSHIP LED TO SUCCESS AND LIFELONG FRIENDSHIPS

r. William “Amo” Amoroso III 1580 was raised in Chevy Chase, Maryland and attended The Landon School from grades three to twelve. Amo played varsity soccer and lacrosse at Landon and is an avid snow skier and fisherman. Amo’s father, Dr. William Amoroso Jr., a renowned cancer surgeon, did not want his son to follow in his footsteps due to malpractice costs and issues. When Amo applied to medical school against his dad’s wishes he was told in no uncertain terms that his father would not be paying for his medical school tuition. Amo realized “the writing was on the wall” and applied to veterinary school at Auburn University and was accepted as an elite out-of-state student. Amo chose Auburn Veterinary School because of its top ten national ranking. Upon arrival on The Plains, Amo was attracted to Phi Delta Theta Fraternity because of it’s fun-loving, diverse group of brothers. “I was lucky enough to be surrounded by a strong pledge class with solid leadership—we had a feeling of true fellowship.” The Phis always had something going on campus, located on College Street, across from Ralph Draughon Library, “the house was a central place to have a vibrant social life and still have time to study.” The Phi house was truly a “hub of activity.” While at Auburn, Amo met his wife, Rhonda Childs ’85, from Crawford, Alabama. They enjoy returning to The Loveliest Village whenever possible to visit with family and attend football games. Amo has had a successful career in veterinary medicine. He started his business in 1988 with three employees in a 500 square foot office in a shopping center. In 1990 he expanded his practice and built a free-standing clinic with 155 employees. He was subsequently awarded The Veterinary Economic Hospital of the Year Award. In 2000, he broke ground on thirty acres and built the largest luxury pet boarding facility in the country. On any given day they can house up to 450 pets in a state of the art facility. The Greenbriar Veterinary Resort took five years to complete and currently has over 125 employees.

Amo Amoroso and his wife, Rhonda

“My wife and all three of my children have worn the blue and orange since birth. We enjoy coming back to Auburn to cheer on the Tigers and to tailgate with all of our old Phi friends. The Phi and Auburn family have been a large influence on me and my family for many years, and I hope for generations to come.” Amo and his wife live in Potomac, Maryland.

REFER A PHI! Know any young men who would be great Phis? Refer them to Recruitment Chairman Henry Meehan: henrymeehan@gmail.com. Then, send them to our Greatest U recruitment campaign: futurephidelt.org.

HOUSE CORPORATION UPDATE

he house corporation, as presently constituted, has been operating since May 2019, with members Buck Marsh 884 (emeritus), Bud Powada 1547 (secretary), Robert Miller 1921 (treasurer), Russell Cunningham 1938 (legal counsel), Marvin Thomas, Emory ’67, (at-large), Tim Hunt 1570 (legal counsel), and myself, as chairman. Upon resuming occupancy after a two-year lease to the ATOs, we found our house in poor condition, with little usable furnishings, and expensive mechanical systems in various states of disrepair. The good news is that the house corporation owns and operates a debt-free property with a healthy operating budget and an alumni-funded Century Club that brings in modest annual donations. Many thanks to our exceptional Chapter Advisory Board (CAB) for not only holding onto the property during suspension but retiring our debt! In prioritizing needed improvements, we found many needs to be mundane but essential to maintaining a safe, functional, and aesthetically pleasing property. We operate in concert with the chapter’s executive committee and CAB to tick off numerous tasks at hand. Listed at the bottom are significant completed and in-progress tasks largely funded from our operating budget. As for future needs, our chapter is thriving, and both the house corporate and CAB have set ambitious goals for the next three years to build momentum and put the Alabama Beta Chapter of Phi

Delta Theta back in the top tier of Greek organizations at Auburn. To that end, we have established three levels of alumni giving which will be needed to reach our goals: (1) Century Club at $100 annually, (2) 1848 Club at $200 annually, and (3) 1879 Club at $500 annually. Please, donate to the club of your choice and the house corporation will get these improvements implemented!

• Q2 2020: Paint Exterior of House including all retaining walls. Paint exterior PDT letters in highlights. • Q3 2020: Install a workable, multifaceted, study hall in the “bunker” room. Paint the kitchen. Build out a masonry mailbox with street number and inlaid Greek letters, crest, or coat of arms. Upgrade furnishings and art. Relocate and double stack composites to hallways. • Q4 2020: Landscape planting at lower parking lot to arrest erosion and enhance the view. • 2021: Re-roof the house (approximately $30K). • 2022: Pave the lower parking lot (approximately $35K). • 2023–24 Capital campaign: Build out a four to six room dormitory (for officers and live-in adviser) with chapter room and study halls. Rooms will be private and with competitive amenities (cost TBD). Continued on page 4

ABOUT US

CHAPTER ADVISORY BOARD Jimmy Webb, Chairman Ray Briscuso, Secretary Dwight Bassett Jeremy Burns Bill Busbin Greg Harris

Auburn Phi » Winter 2020

John Hornsby Donald Jackson Charles Maynard Buck Marsh Michael Ramsey Mike Rogers

Upcoming Events

Casino Night: February 27 Derby Day: March 20 Social: March 26 Rasta Phi: April 3–4

In order of priority and only possible with generous club donations:

The Auburn Phi is published two times per year by the Alabama Beta Chapter of Phi Delta Theta at Auburn University for alumni and parents. ©Copyright 2020 Alabama Beta. All rights reserved. Send news, address updates and photos to: Alabama Beta Chapter of Phi Delta Theta 2 South Campus Avenue Oxford, Ohio 45056

SAVE THE DATE 2020

STAY UP-TO-DATE /phideltauburn @PhiDeltAuburn auburnphidelt.com Ken Stephens Matt White J.R. Wright Tyler Wilson

Photos from the 2019 Annual Reunion last September. We’ll have the reunion date for 2020 in the next newsletter. The two most probable dates are October 3 vs. Kentucky or October 17 vs. Texas A&M. Hope to see you then.

CHAPTER OFFICERS Hunter Cunningham, President Thompson Klingman, Vice President Nicholas “Nick” Casson, Treasurer Declan Feely, Secretary Austin Reese, Warden Henry Meehan, Recruitment Eric Marburger, Risk Management Philip Rehm, Phikeia Education Jacob Ugo, House Manager

Stone Favrot, Social Geoffrey Mitchell, Scholarship Bay Cummings, Alumni/Parents Ryan Lambert, Chaplain William Dasher, Brotherhood DeClan Harris, Awards Sam Honeycut, Greek Relations Will Root, Philanthropy

HOUSE CORPORATION Malcolm Marsh, Chairman Robert Miller, Treasurer Russell Cunningham Tim Hunt

Frank “Bud” Powada, Secretary Marvin Thomas Buck Marsh

Alabama Beta

PRESIDENT’S LETTER

WE ARE GROWING INTO THE MEN WE WANT TO BE

eing the president of a fraternity is no easy task and I am sure everyone that has been and will be in this position would say the same. That being said, we are all familiar with Robert Morrison’s famous words: “To do what ought to be done but would not have been done unless I did it, I thought to be my duty.” Looking back over 2019 I can say that our chapter has significantly grown in countless ways. For a start, we faced difficult challenges that weighed heavily on every member of our organization and with support from our alumni and headquarters we were able to overcome and grow from our mistakes. We strengthen our brotherhood by initiating twenty-seven strong men

who embody and exude our core values and principles. With the help of these new members and strong leadership we were able to lift our GPA. With continuous strong leadership we plan to be back in the top third of Greek organization GPAs on Auburn’s campus. However, this year did more than better the chapter; it helped every brother grow into the men we want to be. Personally, I have learned more about life and leadership over the course of 2019 by being Continued on page 4

UNDERGRADUATE SPOTLIGHT

Chelsea, Alabama native, Will Root 2427 graduated from Chelsea High School and is now a sophomore at Auburn University. He is a member of the Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society and the Alpha Sigma Pi Leadership Society. Root also hosts his own local variety show on 91.1 WEGL Radio. His hobbies include playing sports such as ultimate Frisbee, baseball, football, and basketball. He currently serves as Alabama Beta’s philanthropy chairman. Root is currently majoring in computer science and has a 3.8 GPA, one of the highest in his class.

OUR NEWEST CHAPTER ADVISORY BOARD UPDATE MEET MEMBERS

he chapter continues to grow and become a more vibrant group on campus. The members have worked hard to produce an outstanding new member class and improve all aspects of the Fraternity. The chapter advisory board strives to further guide and give input to assist the growth of the chapter.

The chapter advisory board has met via conference call every two weeks since 2015 to discuss the situation and concerns of the Alabama Beta Chapter. In addition, we have two face-to-face meetings with the executive board annually to discuss the inner workings of the Fraternity. One is in January with the new officers and the other is in the fall at our annual reunion weekend. We need help from all of you to continue to grow the chapter with outstanding new men. It’s always a pleasure to see legacies in the new member class. Please send recommendations of relatives, as well as neighbors and friends of the family, anyone who might want to become a better part of themselves. Please auburnphidelt.com

include name and cell phone number of any recommendation. Most new contacts are made by texting.

It’s always beneficial for an alumni to attend dinner or a chapter meeting to speak briefly regarding how being a brother in the bond has affected or impacted you or just to give a little advice. Along those lines, we would like to add some new members to the chapter advisory board, perhaps someone from the 1960s, 1990s, and a couple from the first two decades of this century. Contact Ray Briscuso at RayBriscusoJr@gmail.com or me at jkwebbjr@aol.com if you would like to participate. Although separated by distance, I remain yours in the bond. Jimmy Webb 1509, Chapter Advisory Board Chairman

2019 FALL INITIATES

Jackson Bridges 2428, Huntsville, AL Sam Honeycutt 2429, Mobile, AL Jordan Agagan 2430, Mobile, AL Ben Maggard 2431, Marietta, GA Blake Milligan 2432, Roseville, CA George Phillips 2433, Mobile, AL Will Jackson 2434, Clarkesville, GA Bay Cummings 2435, Mobile, AL Jake Darling 2436, Richmond, VA Emmett Smith 2437, Union County, NJ Tommy Lozick 2438, Auburn, AL Tyler Noles 2439, Birmingham, AL Lance Muller 2440, Marietta, GA Zane Springer 2441, Pike Road, AL Tristan Lines 2442, Hudson, WI Cade Arras 2443, Mobile, AL J.O. Thompson 2444, Birmingham, AL Chandler Jackson 2445, Sandy Springs, GA LJ McLemore 2446, Hoover, AL Connor Mulligan 2447, Richmond, VA Reilly Gilbert 2448, Birmingham, AL Ethan Kelly 2449, Palatine, IL Pat Terrell 2450, Farmington, IL Chris Paschetto 2451, Dunwoody, GA Michael Croft 2452, Plano, TX Garrett Murray 2453, Norcross, GA Connor Sanders 2454, Winter Park, FL Auburn Phi » Winter 2020

HOUSE CORPORATION UPDATE: continued from page 2 Completed and in-progress (Q2 2019 to present): approximately $45K Rewrite of bylaws and articles of incorporation, building HC/CAB website, furnished alumni room, added artworks and plaques throughout, rebuilt exterior/ interior doors and locks, replaced light fixtures and 100 percent of all bulbs converted to LED, poured sidewalk at band room entry, replaced all exterior awnings, relocated storage unit, tile surround at beverage dispenser, painted all interior rooms, installing interior and exterior security cameras, serviced HVAC/plumbing/kitchen appliances, utility work to repair all exterior lighting, procured kitchen cookware/service pieces, replaced and re-keyed locks, repaired roof leaks, replace ice machine, excavated underground grease trap vault, major pruning of shrubs, and more

PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT #1315 DAYTON, OH Alabama Beta Chapter of Phi Delta Theta 2 South Campus Avenue Oxford, Ohio 45056 Address Service Requested

Many thanks to our invaluable house corporation board members for their dedication and gifts of talent and time! Yours in the bond, Malcolm Marsh 1519, House Corporation President PRESIDENT’S LETTER UPDATE: continued from page 3 able to lead this great brotherhood than I have in the classroom. I am sure that most every other officer, chair, and member could and would say the same. If I had the chance to go back in time to nominations on the last Wednesday of October 2018, I would still be proud and excited to lead the best Phi chapter in the nation. I am damn proud to be Phi and War Eagle! Yours in the bond, Cameron Hodgeman 2343, Former Chapter President camhodgeman@gmail.com

RECRUITMENT UPDATE Alabama Beta’s highest priority is the recruitment and initiation of the finest men Auburn University has to offer. In order to achieve this goal, alumni are urged to support the chapter by identifying and recommending quality young men that meet the standards of Phi Delta Theta.

to use their network of friends, neighbors, and relatives and submit recommendations. As Alabama Beta alumni we play a critical role and your support and participation is integral as we attempt to identify extraordinary Auburn-bound high school seniors from your community.

Please reach out to Recruitment Chairman Henry Meehan at henrymeehan@gmail.com or by cell at 205.837-2905, or use the contact form at auburnphidelt.com. Henry leads a committed committee of brothers who are eagerly seeking recruits among Auburn’s incoming freshmen as well as enrolled students. It is critically important for alumni

Alabama Beta legacies (young men that are the offspring or related to Alabama Beta or any Phi Delta Theta alumnus) are given a top priority in the selection process.

UPDATE YOUR CONTACT INFO! Please visit phideltatheta.org/members/update-your-info/ to update your contact information.

Be part of the process and help a young man from your community or circle become a Phi and “the greatest version of himself.”

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.