Spring 2009 Edition
The Theta Mu Sentinel Official Newsletter of the Theta Mu chapter of Pi Kappa Phi At the University of Massachusetts-Amherst APRIL 18 4th Annual 5K Race for Charity Please Consider Joining the Brothers of Pi Kappa Phi
Message from Archon Emeritus Matt Sloan: I can tell you that my involvement with Pi Kappa Phi has changed my life. I joined the fraternity as a sophomore because I felt like I was not as active as I wanted to be. I was first attracted to the organization because I learned that Pi Kappa Phi is the only fraternity that operates its own national philanthropy, Push America. After joining, I took on many responsibilities and, with the help of my brothers, was able to accomplish many things that I would never have had the opportunity to achieve otherwise.
The day my son became my brother - by Lewis Rosenthal This story is for the PiKapp ters who can have those endless dads. All you mom’s please conversations about all kinds of skip to the next article. stuff our conversations with our sons are relatively brief. When I Now that we’re alone, just would ask my son how his day guys, let’s talk about the was, the usual answer was good, special bond between father I’d say great and the conversaand son. If you’re a bit like tion was over; a very efficient me, you probably have exchange of information. Then worked hard at your careers in an instant, we turn around to or business most of your find that our children are grown son’s early years. Of course and heading off to college. When we spent that quality time the reality hit me that my oldest with our son’s on the baseson Matthew was really going to ball field, at soccer practice be leaving home for college I or one of the many other couldn’t stop thinking of the activities we found ourselves Harry Chapin song, “Cat's in the shuttling to and from. But it Cradle,” wondering where the seemed to me that I was time had gone. spending much of my quality time with my son watch- In his second semester at Aming him grow and mature herst, Matthew decided to join a from the sidelines. Unlike fraternity. I went to a New York the moms and their daugh- State University where Greek
Call to Donate! If you would like Donate to the Theta Mu Chapter of please contact Brother Greg LeMoine. (pikappumass.com)
Brothers welcoming back JOH Bikers Phil Benevides, Kegan Fielding, and Matt Sloan upon their arrival in Washington, D.C.
The Journey of a Lifetime My name is Michael Keough and this summer I will represent the men of our chapter as a cyclist on The Journey of Hope. I’d like to give you a little background on the event. The Journey of Hope began in 1987 when a man by the name of Bruce Rogers cycled from San Francisco, CA to Washington D.C. to raise money for people with disabilities. The very next year his ride inspired Push America, the national philanthropy of our fraternity, to create Journey of Hope – a cross-country trek to raise funds and awareness on behalf of Americans with disabilities. That year, twenty one members of Pi Kappa Phi raised nearly $20,000 cycling the inaugural route from the Golden Gate to the nation’s capitol. In
Life was basically nonexistent. So the whole fraternity experience was a mystery to me. I wasn’t sure that Matthew should be getting involved with a fraternity. After all, with the high cost of college I felt that his focus should be on the education and that spending time pledging for a “frat” was a distraction. Also I was worried about the drinking, drugs and hazing rituals that we have all read about. Matthew was convinced that this fraternity was different. He explained to me that Pi Kappa Phi is a responsible, community minded brotherhood that also knows how to have a good time without the alcohol and drugs. I was in-
June 2009 I will be one of over eighty members of Pi Kappa Phi to cycle one of three routes snaking their way from San Francisco and Seattle, to the steps of the US Capitol. Together we will raise over $500,000 for disability awareness. To date, over 900 men have made the journey, all because of one man’s dream. What makes the Journey of Hope remarkable is not the cycling. After riding an average of 75 miles a day, you won’t find us napping or getting ready for the next day's ride (however badly we may want to). Rather, we’ll be dancing at a friendship visit with a local group that supports people with disabilities, participating in a game of wheelchair basketball, or performing puppet shows to educate children on the abilities of people
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Journey of a Lifetime (Cont.) with disabilities. Cycling is our just our gimmick; our goal is to challenge the lack of understanding nationwide that exists for people with disabilities. In 2007, Jerome Rogich became the first member of our
chapter, Theta Mu, to participate in the Journey of Hope. I am proud to be embarking on what is sure to be a life enhancing experience. Not unlike the story above, we have been inspired by Jerome’s selflessness. Two years later it has become
one of many budding traditions in our still-young organization to send a cyclist each summer to participate in the Journey of Hope. All the best, Michael Keough #060
4th Annual 5K Race for Charity We here at the Theta Mu Chapter of Pi Kappa Phi started a tradition 4 years ago that has continued to grow and blossom into one of the best Greek-life events on the campus of the University of Massachusetts; a 5K Road Race to benefit people with disabilities. Last year we added a 1-Mile Walking course for participants who did not feel comfortable running just over 3 miles. Our
first three races have combined to raise over $20,000 all of which has gone to Pi Kappa Phi’s National Philanthropy, Push America, and the Special Olympics of Massachusetts. Push America is a non-profit organization founded by the brothers of Pi Kappa Phi in 1977, and today it remains the exclusive service learning project of Pi Kappa Phi. Its mission is to
The day… (Cont.) trigued and I wanted to know more about this organization and it members. Especially since my son was determined to pledge for this fraternity during the first semester of his freshman year. In a nut shell, I found that the PiKapp chapter at UMASS was new. The leadership and members were committed to a new vision of Greek life based on high academic standards and community service. I had the opportunity to meet a few of the members on visits to Amherst during that second semester, and then I got a call from the fraternity Archon asking if I would be willing to join the fraternity along with my son Matthew in a first of its kind father/son initiation. This was an opportunity to share an important experience with my son and become a part of a brotherhood of young men committed to excellence. I gladly accepted and on that
day my son became my brother. The experience of the ritual and the bonding with my son and fellow PiKapp brothers was fantastic. To date I have participated in three PiKapp initiations with my son Matthew, witnessing more and more fathers joining the Brotherhood each semester. On each occasion I have had the opportunity to meet some unique young men, all with tremendous potential and spend some true quality time with my son. Now when I think of the Harry Chapin song, “Cat’s in the Cradle,” I am thankful for not letting the opportunity pass to be with my son on his initiation into Pi Kappa Phi, while he was on hand for mine.
instill lifelong service in all brothers of Pi Kappa Phi and to serve people with disabilities today. Originally, “PUSH” stood for “Play Units for the Severely Handicapped,” and its basic objective was to build therapeutic play units for people with all sorts of disabilities. It has evolved tremendously, and now includes the construction of local handicap ramps at homes for people who cannot afford
4th Annual 5K Race for Charity (Cont.) them an need assistance, nationally recognized cycling events where brothers from across the country bike from the West Coast of the United States to Washington D.C., stopping daily at different sites where the brothers then spend time with people with disabilities. Over $8 million dollars have been raised for this tremendous cause. This year, we are keeping with tradition and holding our 5K Road Race and 1 Mile Walk on Saturday, April 18th, 2009 outside the Fine Arts Center at UMass. Push America and commitment to service is a big part of Theta Mu and what we do here on campus. We have been recognized for the construction of 9 handicap ramps, a 5 star philanthropy event, and our overall involvement in the community. We encourage
as many of you who can come out to the race as possible, and would love it if you are feeling ambitious enough to run in it! More information on the race and Push America can be found at www.pushrace.com, including information on how to donate and sign up for the race. The brothers of Pi Kappa Phi appreciate to the utmost extent the support that our parents have given us to this day, and we know you are supportive in our efforts that we undertake. Brian Ambrozavitch #048 Push America Executive