THE ALUMNI NEWSLETTER OF PI KAPPA PHI AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS
SPRING 2008
STAR & SHIELD Clockwise from left: 1) Richard Franklin, ANDe Demetriou, and Kim Hunter. 2) Alumnus Henry Groves gives the keynote for Founders’ Day. 3) Brad Hogue, Scott Haff, Ryan Barnes, and Chris Connelly. 4) Matt Lipscomb, Chris Clary, Rob Lackey, Eric Pratt and Tom Carter.
event commemorates GAMMA DELTA’s 41st founders’ day Gamma Delta marks its 41st Founders’ Day On Nov. 18, 2007 with an event at the University Club of Memphis. The evening began at 6:00 p.m. with a cocktail hour for associate, active, and alumni members to mix ,mingle and reminisce. At 7:00 p.m., the program officially started with an introduction by Gamma Delta Alumni Chapter President Doug Littlejohn. Immediately following, Gamma Delta Chaplain Daniel LaPlante, gave the invocation and reflection on the reason for our gathering. Alumni, actives, and associates then proceeded to a traditional dinner buffet. The evening continued with a state-of-the-chapter address from Gamma Delta’s then-current Archon Brett Heinrich. Kim Hunter, current chapter advisor, reported on additional milestones and achievements of the chapter since our last Founder’s Day. Newly appointed Gamma
Delta Housing Corporation President Rich Franklin gave a report of the current initiatives that are slated for 2008. Primarily, these initiatives will address the transfer of the house from Curt Heaslet back to the Gamma Delta Housing Corporation, major repairs including a restroom renovation, and security improvements to the doors of the house. Doug Littlejohn gave a brief report on the Gamma Delta Alumni Chapter and its initiatives to promote and reconnect fellow alumni. ANDe Demetriou, regional governor of the Smoky Mountain Region and Gamma Delta alumni, reported on the initiatives that the national office is spearheading to improve support for alumni chapters and active chapters alike. Alumni Henry Groves gave a motivational keynote address, primarily aimed at the active and associate membership. Immediately following these reports, Kim Hunter called forward the incoming officers for the active
chapter and initiated them into office. The incoming executive officers are as follows: Archon Vice Archon Treasurer Secretary Historian Warden Chaplain
Jake Shaffer Rob Lackey Stephen Hensley Kyle Bailey Zach Hunter Hunter Hataway Will Stephens
Scott N. Haff was awarded the Warren B. Cruzen Distinguished Alumni award for 2007. Following the distinguished alumni award, alumni Tom Carter recognized three active brothers and presented them with scholarships from the Gamma Delta Chapter Investment Fund. Those brothers receiving scholarships were Chris Clary, Rob Lackey, and Eric Pratt. Founder’s Day is held traditionally on the Sunday prior to Thanksgiving. Please make plans to join us this November!
CHAPTER ADVISOR’S REPORT PI KAPPA PHI
GAMMA DELTA
STAR & SHIELD publisher
The Star & Shield of Gamma Delta 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
GAMMA DELTA HOUSING CORPORATION
The GDHC manages, maintains, and rents the current fraternity property on Brister St. Housing Corp. president Richard Franklin (rf8442@aol.com) Housing Corp. vice president Richard Crews Sr. Housing Corp. treasurer Scott Haff (upuhat@aol.com) GAMMA DELTA BOARD OF ALUMNI ADVISORS
BY KIM HUNTER
We had an excellent fall rush at Gamma Delta. We were able to initiate 11 new brothers (from a pledge class of 13) and one alumnus initiate, Steve Heinrich , the father of the previous Archon Brett Heinrich . The fall grade point average for the actives was 3.03 and 3.01 for the associate class. Gamma Delta ranked fourth among male Greek organizations, but we know our chapter can do better. The national fraternity has established grade point standards that the undergraduate brothers need to maintain to keep in good standing with the chapter. The spring 2008 grade point standards have been set at 2.35. The fall standard is 2.4 with a national goal of a minimum of a 2.5 in 2009. Actives who do not maintain the minimum standards cannot participate in chapter activities. Also, associates must have a semester G.P.A. of 2.5 to be initiated. Both actives and pledges have a great incentive to make their grades, and that is really why they are in school, right? I wonder how many of us “old guys” would have been initiated had they had these requirements back in the day? There are ongoing developments with the transfer of the current fraternity house from private ownership to the Gamma Delta Housing Corporation. Hopefully in the next few months we will have a firm plan and direction. We anticipate there will be a capital campaign for repair and upgrades to the existing structure in the immediate future. The current chapter house is situated adjacent to the university’s master plan for development of the campus. You may be called upon to assist in the long-range goals to ensure the financial stability of the housing situation for Gamma Delta. This will also support the long term viability of a Pi Kappa Phi chapter at the University of Memphis. It is a great time to be an undergraduate and alumni from the University of Memphis and Pi Kappa Phi. Go Tigers, and Go Pi Kappa Phi!
The BOAA provides guidance and support for the active chapter. Alumni Advisor Doug Littlejohn (douginmemphis@yahoo.com) Chapter Advisor Kim Hunter (Kim.Hunter@BMHCC.org) Finance Advisor Scott Haff (UPUHAT@aol.com) Rush Advisor Gary Bridgman (gary@creativeinferno.com) GAMMA DELTA ALUMNI CHAPTER
Officially recognized by the Pi Kappa Phi National Office, the GDAC serves as an outlet of communication between alumni by coordinating alumni affairs and outreach to the active chapter, providing annual newsletters to all alumni, and organizing alumni events. The annual dues are $25. President Doug Littlejohn (douginmemphis@yahoo.com) Treasurer Gene Mangiante (gene@mangiantephoto.com)
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HOUSING CORPORATION UPDATE
BY RICH FRANKLIN
All of you who were able to attend Founders’ Day know that the Alumni Chapter made some promises to the active chapter to address some of housing and security issues. Believe it or not, we have not forgotten but the holidays have delayed some of our efforts. Rick Crews and I have finally been able to make contact with Regions Bank. Rick had tried several times before the Holidays but received no response. Rick and I met with Fred Hardeman on January 11 and discussed what documentation would be needed to proceed with our plans. Mr. Hardeman was forwarded the documents on record at the County Registrar’s office. This should allow the Bank to research the present loan. We are collecting our Housing Corp. documents and those will be sent as well. This may have already been done by the time of publication of the Newsletter. Nonprofit corporations and loans require finesse that might not be required for conventional financing. As prudence demands, we will also submit our documents to at least one other lending institution. We must still replace the exterior doors that cause a security issue. If anyone knows someone with experience installing commercial doors it would be a great help even if all we get are instructions how to do so. We, the Alums, have all been very busy and we have not forgotten the active brotherhood. We shall continue to press ahead.
alumnus spotlight
BY DAVID YAWN
alumni updates Josh Russell #479 Russell and his wife Melissa are expecting our first child April 6. It’s a boy! His name is Caden Andrew Russell. Melissa is doing great heading into the home stretch. Gene Mangiante #441 Mangiante and his wife Denise live in East Memphis with their two beagles. Gene operates Mangiante Photography, LLC, a special events photography studio with operations in Tennessee, Mississippi and Florida.
Alumnus Scott Haff (L) is presented with the Warren B. Cruzen Alumnus of the Year Award by Chapter Advisor Kim Hunter (R).
Scott Haff has been involved with the Gamma Delta chapter since he was initiated in 1975. He faithfully attends the chapter’s Sunday night meetings every week. Scott has served on the housing corporation and as a financial advisor for the chapter. He has worked at First Tennessee Bank for 20 years this April and currently he serves as an operations supervisor. At the last Founders’ Day at the University Club of Memphis, this Gamma Delta Number 184 was accordingly awarded the Warren B. Cruzen Distinguished Alumni Award. “When I was an active, the most memorable time was my pledge semester with the fun that I had,” Scott said. He has seen many changes and trends in the chapter over the years, including the big move from the old site on Spottswood to the current location. Another Other major milestones he witnessed was the flooding of the old house (twice), a positive turnaround with finances and increased alumni involvement. “I think that it is interesting seeing successive generations of students come through over the years and how that changes over time,” Scott says. “I like to think that I have made a generational imprint on the chapter and value those I have met through the years in doing so.”
Doug Littlejohn #177 Littlejohn is in his twenty-first year working in Information Technology at FedEx. His son should be starting medical school next fall and his daughter is pregnant with her second child, due midJune. And yes, he is spoiling his 3-year-old granddaughter. Frank Holmes #154 Holmes and his wife Maria, a former Little Sister and Rose Queen, are proud to announce that their oldest son Alex graduated from Sam Houston State University in December 2006. Their daughter, Maggie, is a freshman at The University of Texas at Austin where she is a member of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority and a member of the UT Pom Squad. ANDe Demetriou #375 Demetriou is serving as Regional Governor for the Smoky Mountain Region, which includes Alpha Sigma (Tennessee), Gamma Delta (Memphis) and Delta Iota (Middle Tennessee State). He recently started a new job with Countrywide Home Loans in Southaven, Miss., as a home loan consultant.
chapter eternal James Ronald Morgan #127 James Ronald Morgan, 54, of Texarkana, Texas, passed away on January 27, 2007, at his home. Morgan was born May 22, 1952, in Oxford, Miss. He was a graduate of the University of Memphis and a member of the Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity. He was preceded in death by his father, James R. Morgan. He is survived by his mother, Joy Chandler Morgan of Texarkana, brother and sister-in-law, Robert Allen and Jacqueline Morgan of Tuscaloosa, Ala.; sister and brotherin-law, Mimi and Joe McMichael; a niece, Elizabeth Joy McMichael; and a nephew, James McMichael all of Texarkana.
THE 51st SUPREME CHAPTER DENVER, COLORADO
JULY 25-29, 2008
R E G I S T E R AT D E N V E R . P I K A P P. O R G 3
Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity P.O. Box 240526 Charlotte, NC 28224
STAR & SHIELD GAMMA DELTA
31 YEARS AGO
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GAMMA DELTA chapter IN fall 1977 In celebration of their new property, the Pi Kappa Phis of Gamma Delta proudly pose with the flag for a chapter photo.
PI KAPPA PHI
REMEMBER