THE ALMICRON THE ALUMNI NEWSLETTER OF PI KAPPA PHI AT IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
SUMMER 2009
alpha omicron Alums held in esteem at National office
On December 6, 2008, Alpha Omicron chapter figured prominently in the Founders’ Day Celebration at Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity headquarters during the dedication of the Kelly A. Bergstrom Leadership Center of Pi Kappa Phi. The new building is part of a live/work/play development in Charlotte, North Carolina, and is designed to resemble the Fogarty Residence at 90 Broad Street in Charleston, South Carolina—the birthplace of our fraternity. The larger structure and development is called Charleston Row. Alpha Omicron alumni Kelley A. Bergstrom and Eldred J. Harman were honored at the dedication event for their leadership and service to our fraternity and their efforts to make Pi Kappa Phi’s leadership center a reality. The Kelley A. Bergstrom Leadership Center includes several conference rooms, the Eldred J. Harman Museum, and the
administrative offices for the national staff of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, Pi Kappa Phi Properties, the Pi Kappa Phi Foundation and Push America. Within the new Eldred J. Harman Museum, you can learn about many Alpha Omicron brothers who have played significant roles in Pi Kapp Phi over the past 80 years. We have had a profound impact on the larger fraternity for many decades. Currently, brothers from Alpha Omicron serve on three of the four governing boards of Pi Kappa Phi—corresponding to the four entities of our fraternity. In addition, we have had many brothers who have gone on to serve as national staff memebers as well as national council members. Brothers Bob Lane (AO 422) and Eric Almquist (AO 652) are both past chairmen of the Push America board. Plan a trip to see the building when you are in or near Charlotte! This is the first National Headquarters of Pi Kappa Phi that was designed to be both a national office, and a destination for brothers to come and have a meaningful connection to the history, values, and future of our fraternity.
a note from mom The undergraduates of Alpha Omicron are already planning for the 80th anniversary of the chapter. Hopefully many of you will return to Iowa State to be honored and to inspire the men who now represent your fraternity. The highlight of this year was winning
BY CHERYL “MOM” DRURY
first place at Varieties. The hours of practice, talent, large participation, and dedication were appropriately rewarded. What an exciting time! We also won in 2005. This strong tradition is continued. This is my fifth year as house mother to these fine gentlemen who chose Pi
Kappa Phi to be their fraternity. Watching them mature and find their career and personal direction is my pleasure. I have experienced many proud moments. We welcome all of you at any time, but hoping especially to meet you at our 80th anniversary celebration this September!
A message from the ARchon PI KAPPA PHI
ALPHA OMICRON
THE ALMICRON publisher
The Almicron of Alpha Omicron is published and printed by Pi Kappa Phi National Headquarters through the fraternity’s alumni newsletter program. Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity P.O. Box 240526 Charlotte, NC 28224 (800) 929-1904
contacts
ALPHA OMICRON BUILDING CORPORATION II
The AOBCII manages, maintains, and rents the current fraternity property on Welch Ave. Housing Corp. president Emerson Linney (linney@cfu.net) Housing Corp. treasurer Brett Toresdahl (btoresda@dwx.com) Housing Corp. Secretary Cesar Vega Sr. (cvega@us.fujitsu.com) ALPHA OMICRON BOARD OF ALUMNI ADVISORS
The BOAA provides guidance and support for the active chapter. Chapter Advisor Jeremy Galvin (jdgalvin@iastate.edu) Academic Advisor Dan Rice (drice@iastate.edu) Alumni Advisor Brad Deets (bdeets@waukee.org) Financial Advisor David Adickes (David_adickes@yahoo.com) Member Education Advisor Josh Carper (Jcarp23@iastate.edu) Recruitment Advisor Tim Hoskins (hoskinst@iastate.edu) ALPHA OMICRON EXECUTIVE COUNCIL aRCHON Taylor Noble (tnoble@iastate.edu) Vice Archon Nick Phantz (njphantz@iastate.edu) Treasurer Drake Miller (demiller@iastate.edu) Secretary Andrew Ellis (anellis@iastate.edu) Warden Lucas Droessler (lucaslad@iastate.edu Historian John Andrews (jandrews@iastate.edu) Chaplain Matthew Larson (lars87@iastate.edu)
www.isupikapps.com
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BY TAYLOR NOBLE
The Alpha Omicron chapter at Iowa State University hopes this newsletter finds you well. We had a busy year working on our academics and participating in events such as Varieties, Homecoming, Greek Week and intramurals. To start the year our executive council went to Pi Kappa Phi’s Mid Year Leadership Conference in St. Louis, Missouri. We had a great time road tripping to St. Louis and learned many valuable skills while attending the conference. Alpha Omicron welcomed in 15 new members through the ritual of initiation this spring semester. The highest AO number is now 1156. We are excited to see their increasing activity within the chapter and look forward to what they will bring AO in the future. During the weekend of February 27-28, Alpha Omicron participated in the 78th annual Varieties competition. After months of hard work and perseverance, AO, along with Gamma Phi Beta sorority, took first place overall. We also received awards for People’s Choice, Most Spirit, Best Music, Best Band, Best Male Vocalist (Chad Lewis), Best Duet (Chad Lewis and Lisa Maubach), Best Supporting Actor (Alex Erwin), and Best Actress (Ellen Wetherbee). Congratulations to all of the members who made this production a success. This summer Alpha Omicron will send three cyclists on the Journey of Hope. They are Sam Knoblauch, Francis Nguyen, and Chris Thomson. Brother Knoblauch will be cycling on the South Route and Brothers Nguyen and Thomson will be cycling on the TransAmerica Route from Seattle to Washington, D.C. If you wish to help them in their fundraising efforts, please go to www.pushamerica.org and go to Journey of Hope rosters. Please keep them in your prayers for a safe and rewarding journey. Also this summer, Alpha Omicron will be undergoing kitchen renovations. Everything in the kitchen will be new or replaced except for the refrigerator and the range. AO would like to thank the Alpha Omicron Building Corporation II for approving the kitchen renovation, and we look forward to seeing the new kitchen this coming fall. Academics, as always, continue to be the main focus for our members here it Iowa State University. We are constantly striving to attain the best G.P.A.s possible. Our active members attained a 3.2 G.P.A. (the second highest among all fraternities) and our overall G.P.A. was a 2.84. We are excitedly awaiting the results our newly implemented academic programs and hope we can continue to push our members to their fullest academic abilities. We are extremely proud of our Web site and we are continually updating it with new information. Since our alumni play such a large role in our chapter, an entire section of the Web site has been devoted to you, the alumni. If you have not already, we encourage you to register at the chapter Web site: www.isupikapps.com. In addition to registering, you can find a lot of information regarding the chapter and everything we are involved with such as Push America and recruitment. If you have any ideas, comments, or concerns regarding the new Web site, please contact me at tnoble@iastate.edu or pkp.pres@gmail.com. If it were not for our summer recruitment, our chapter would not be where it is today. Vice Archon on External Affairs Nick Pfantz and his recruitment chairs are looking forward to summer recruitment and what the recruits will bring to our fraternity. Nick’s recruitment chairs are Lucas Droessler, Kyle Price, and Axel Holm. During the school year they signed three new members and have set their goals very high for the summer. If you know any men that are attending ISU or will be attending next year, please contact Nick at njpfantz@gmail.com or (641) 751-7561. Please include the potential new member’s name and contact information so our recruitment team can do what they do best and give him the experience that only Pi Kappa Phi has to offer. The undergraduate members of Alpha Omicron would like to thank and give our best wishes to our alumni, the Alpha Omicron Building Corporation II, and the Alpha Omicron Board of Alumni Advisors. If it were not for your support and dedication to the chapter the chapter would not be here today. If you are ever in or around Ames, please stop by the chapter house at 407 Welch Ave and say hello to the members.
80th anniversary celebration alumni updates Donald Somers #309 Somers graduated from ISU in 1958 with a degree in agriculture journalism. He started at the bi-weekly newspaper in Hamton, Iowa, and then became the regional advertising manager for Wayne Feeds, Allied Mills, Inc., in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Then for 38 years, he spent his career at the Brady Company advertising agency in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he rose to vice president. Somers is married to Sylvia, and they have three children. He lives in Indianapolis, Indiana. donbanjo@sbcglobal.net
Alpha Omicron has had a grand history of leadership. We have had members go on to become Mr. Pi Kappa Phis, alumni who have served on the National Council, the Pi Kappa Phi Properties Board, and the Push America Board. We have alumni who have served as regional governors, many who have participated in Journey of Hope events, Gear Up Florida, and worked at the national fraternity headquarters. In addition, we have alumni in key ISU positions as well. The leadership displayed is tremendous. To celebrate “80 Years of Leadership” at Iowa State University, AO will be hosting many activities including a reception, banquet and tailgate for the ISU vs. Army football game.
80th Anniverary Schedule of events Friday, September 25, 2009 Open House & Campus Tours
3-5 p.m.
Welcome Reception
6-7 p.m.
Banquet
7-9 p.m
Reception
9-11 p.m.
Dinner and Program featuring three Mr. Pi Kappa Phis Great opportunity to reconnect with old friends
Saturday, September 26, 2009 AOBCII Meeting
Business Meeting, learn about upcoming projects
8-9 a.m.
Tailgate Hosted by Undergraduates TBA Old Fashioned Cookout
Football Game - ARMY vs. ISU TBA For more information and registration, please visit www.pikapp.org/anniverary/alphaomicron
Ralph Crawford #443 Crawford graduated from ISU in 1970 with a business administration degree. Since graduation, he has worked for the Iowa Department of Transportation and is currently in Ankeny, Iowa. David Franklin #473 Franklin graduated from ISU in 1974 with a degree in biology. He has spent his career as an educator. Franklin has his wife, Carol, have been married for 38 years and have 2 kids—a daughter who is 27, and a son who is 25. He lives in Lynn County, Iowa. carolfpalio@aol.com Michael Hermsen #665 Hermsen graduated from ISU in 1988 with a degree in occupational safety. He has spent his career working in insurance, industry, and construction. He has been married to Tiffany for 15 years and has three daughters. He is currently living in Kansas City, Missouri. mhermsen@kc.rr.com Phillip Clifton #669 Clifton graduated from ISU in 1989 from the business school. He has worked in banking since graduating. Clifton has been married to Brenda for 16 years, and they have three children. They live in Winterset, Iowa. p.clifton@fmnsbiowa.com James Hart #769 Hart transferred to Colorado State in 1993, and graduated in 1994 in psychology. James has worked at Sea World, the US Navy marine mammal program, the San Diego Wild Animal Park, and is currently working at the San Diego Zoo. Hart, living in San Diego, has one daughter who is 3 years old. jimhart6@yahoo.com Ian Burk #808 Burk graduated from ISU in 1996 in Animal Ecology, has been a high school science teacher ever since. Burk has been married for 12 years and has two sons, ages 3 and 1. They live in Eagan, Minnesota. iburk@ffpps.org Justin Wittkopf #850 Wittkopf graduated from ISU in 1997 in zoology. Then continued on to medical school at the University of Iowa. Then he spent the next five years at residency in head and neck surgery at Vanderbilt Medical Center in Tennessee. Then he joined the Fellowship in Neurology where he conducted brain surgery through the ear. This summer Wittkopf is joining a group of surgeons in the Chicago area. He is married to Maria and they will be moving to a Chicago suburb soon. Justin.wittkopf@gmail.com
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Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity P.O. Box 240526 Charlotte, NC 28224
THE ALMICRON ALPHA OMICRON
30 YEARS AGO
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alpha omicron at the 50th anniversary In celebration of the 50th anniversary, the Pi Kappa Phis of Alpha Omicron proudly pose with the flag for a chapter photo.
PI KAPPA PHI
REMEMBER