Delta Tau - Spring 2008

JMU DELTA TAU CHAPTER ARTICLES

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State of Chapter

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3rd Annual Paul’s Walk for ALS

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Pi Kappa Phi News S P R I N G

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COMPILED BY CLAYTON CAPIZZI, HISTORIAN

Address from New President

Journey of Hope Returns to Delta Tau

The Delta Tau chapter of Pi Kapp has been up and running full speed this semester. After being hit with $15,000 worth of debt in spring of 2007 that put our charter in dire jeopardy, it is with pride and enthusiasm that I can announce we are officially out of debt and ready to get in to the green. Our new house, which is known widely around campus as “the gingerbread” house has allowed the majority of the brothers to live together this year. This has definitely encouraged and allowed stronger bonds to be formed and serves as great appeal to potential rushes. We are always looking for ways to improve different aspects of our chapter and your input and involvement is always appreciated. I hope your memories of Pi Kappa Phi are as fond as the ones I’m making now and I look forward to seeing some of you at our 3rd annual Paul’s Walk!

Sincerely, Elliott Armstrong Pi Kappa Phi, Delta Tau Chapter Archon

NEW AND IMPROVED WEBSITE WILL BE UP IN JUST A FEW SHORT WEEKS AT HTTP://ORGS.JMU.EDU/PIKAPPAPHI

3rd Annual Paul’s Walk

By David Hebda Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity and Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority of James Madison University have teamed up once again with the ALS Association to put on the 3rd Annual Paul’s Walk for ALS. In the past two years Paul’s Walk has not only raised awareness of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease) in the JMU and Harrisonburg community, but has raised a grand total of over 21,000 dollars.

ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative and fatal disease that attacks the motor neurons, making even the simplest movements – walking, speaking, gesturing – difficult and eventually impossible. Paul’s Walk is held as a tribute to the memory of Paul Massey, who lost his life after a five year battle with the disease. Like all victims of ALS, Paul’s mind remained unaffected. He was a perpetually strong and loving husband to his wife, Sue, and father to his four children Amanda, Peter (JMU, Pi Kappa Phi ’05), Matthew and Kristen.

ALS affects 30,000 people nationwide each year. In the past year, the Harrisonburg-Rockingham community lost two respected members to this disease, leaving five still affected in the area. It is very important to make the entire community aware of this disease. We need help from sponsors and donors like you to help beat this disease for those victims in your community, for victims all over the world and victims like Paul Massey.

Event: Paul’s Walk for ALS Date: April, 5th 2008 Time: 11:00 am (10:30 check-in) Location: Festival Patio, James Madison University Distance: 5km, or 3.1 miles

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Our goal this year is to raise $15,000 and we can’t do it with out you! Please consider making a tax deductible donation to benefit the ALS Association. Checks can be made payable to Paul’s Walk. We would also like to invite you to participate in our third annual walk. Please visit our website www.paulswalk.com for more information and registration. Thank you, in advance, for your generosity and support.

Two Members to Participate in Journey of Hope

By Jason Lewris This summer Chris Gascoigne and Jason Lewris, both members of our fraternity, will be participating in our national philanthropy PUSH America’s annual Journey of Hope this summer.

The Journey of Hope is a 4000-mile road bike ride this summer across the United States. Every day we will have friendship visits, which consist of participating in activities with other national organizations that support our mission of helping people with disabilities.

Not only do we participate in these activities, we will personally benefit from learning about their specific needs so that we can assist in improving their lives with funds that our efforts will raise.

Our 4,000-mile journey begins early June in San Francisco, CA, and ends mid August in Washington DC. On average we will be covering about 75 miles a day over the course of 67 days. However, in order for me to participate in the bike ride this summer, I must raise at least $5,000. I have set a personal goal of

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$10,000. With your help, I will reach this goal. Please understand that all of this money goes to the national philanthropy and is then distributed to local disability programs.

Since 1988 Pi Kappa Phi students have been cycling across the United States to promote awareness on behalf of people with disabilities. Our cycling events have raised funds of over $500,000 every summer. I hope that you will help me in my effort to raise $10,000 by April 1st. Any contribution is greatly appreciated no matter how small. All donations over $25 are tax deductible.

There are a number of ways to donate, the simplest being visiting their personal webpage’s and clicking on the link that says CLICK HERE TO SPONSOR ME. The address to the page for Jason Lewris is snipurl.com/lewris. Chris Gascoigne’s page can be found at snipurl.com/chrisgascoigne.

Another option would be to write them a check. Simply write the check out to PUSH America, and in the memo line

put Jason Lewris and Chris Gascoigne. You can send the check to Jason’s home address, which is 9312 Fitz Folly Drive, Great Falls, VA 22066. If you have any questions, you are more than welcome to contact Jason at lewrisjj@jmu.edu, or Chris at gascoict@jmu.edu.

For more information on the Journey of Hope 2008 and our philanthropy Push America, please visit them at: www.pushamerica.org. Once again any donation would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much!