SNAPS
The Alumni Newsletter of the OH Beta Tau Chapter of Pi Lambda Phi Fraternity Vol. 11, No. 2
Summer 2011
Convention 2011 in Philadelphia by Delegate Cole Metzger Pi Lambda Phi OH Beta Tau Executive Board
Jeffrey Jackson, Rex Matt Ciha, Archon Derek Newbould, K.O.E. Travis Elliott, Marshall Max Schaefer, Scribe Rich Teel, New Member Educator
Ohio Beta Tau Wins George Beck Award For Most Outstanding Chapter Our delegates’ experience at Convention in Philadelphia was highly rewarding and sparked a flame in all attendees to make Pilam even stronger on the campus of BaldwinWallace and across North America. We connected with Brothers from chapters all across the US and Canada and built especially close ties with interested students from Carroll University who are beginning the process of bringing Pi Lambda Phi to their campus this fall. Again this year, Pilam elicited the help of the Recruitment Experts from Phired Up to train our delegates on recruitment. They impressed the need for a “Names List” which will help our chapter secure information on potential new members (PNMs). The “Names List”, and the information we gather, will also help us decide which Brother is best to make initial introductions to PNMs based on shared interests and experiences.
Cole Metzger, Recruitment Director
B-W Alumni Association Officers Brendan Sorg, President Corey Clay, Vice-President Al DiFranco, Treasurer Jason Mansfield, Secretary
Correspondence and gifts can be mailed to: Pi Lambda Phi B-W Alumni Association, Inc. 177 Front Street, STE 102 Berea, OH 44017 USA
Phired Up also stressed Values Based Recruitment, which taught us how to identify students on campus that fit the values that we strive to represent. Josh, Phired Up’s CEO, talked about how to have recruitment events that will attract B-W’s best students. Instead of having big events (which are typically ineffective), we will focus on smaller events that will attract students and encourage the kind of quality interaction we want. Experiencing Phired Up improved recruitment skills and will be used to help show our chapter the socially excellent steps we can take towards becoming a true gentleman. Rich Teel, one of our delegates, said “Personally, I walked away most excited to apply the concepts of Social Excellence in my everyday routine both in and out of Pilam. I also saw the success of the Elimination of Prejudice program and am excited by the plans to expand it on our campuses and in the community over the coming months.”
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What’s Inside?
Message from the Rex
Convention 2011 – OBT Wins George Beck Award
1
Message from the Rex
2
Mark Your Calendar: Upcoming Alumni Programs
2
The BW Effect
3
Pilam 2011 Ovation Winners
4
Alumni Golf Outing Recap
5
Convention (continued)
6
OBT Dominates BW Greek Awards
7
April Reign
8
PLP PLoP
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OBT Welcomes Alpha Nu Initiation Class
9
For the Good and Welfare of Pi Lambda Phi
10
Golf Outing Photos
11
Gridiron Classic 2011
12
Mark Your Calendar: Upcoming Alumni Programs
B-W Homecoming & 4th Annual Alumni v. Undergrad Gridiron Classic Date: October 15, 2011 Game Location: Metroparks Game Time: 4:00pm (See page 12 for more information) Interested in Playing on the Alumni Team?
Please contact Brendan Sorg at brendansorg@gmail.com to Reserve Your Roster Spot!
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Congratulations Class of 2011! Your years of hard work, drive, motivation, and creativity will be missed greatly. In the coming months we will strive to fulfil the footsteps you have left behind. I know I echo the sentiments of the entire brotherhood as we wish you well on your new beginnings. As for the plans for the Ohio Beta Tau Chapter this fall, we are attempting to stretch ourselves in a new way by introducing a re-dedicated effort to Philanthropy, Scholastic Achievement, and Restoration of the Website. We look forward to sharing detailed plans over Homecoming Weekend at the next OBT Alumni Meeting on Saturday, October 15th. Returning to the B-W Fraternity Community this past spring was Lambda Chi Alpha, and they have modelled themselves after none other than US! While this is flattering, it will also be a great challenge. While our group improved our GPA from the fall, so did Lambda Chi. We are excited for a healthy recruitment competition with them and other B-W Fraternities beginning in late September. Lastly, I want our Alumni to know we will be making big progress this fall with our website. Currently, we have plans to create a Brothers Page and an Alumni Brothers page. This will have a brief biography of everyone from OBT Pilam history. Be on the look-out for these, and all the other great events and chapter news this fall. We hope to see you at an Alumni Event this fall! Fraternally, Jeff Jackson, Rex Ohio Beta Tau
Are you an Alumnus interested in sharing your time and talents with our undergraduate chapter? Please contact Nick (Alumni Relations Chair) or Brendan today to learn about volunteer opportunities! Nick Rhines • nrhines10@mail.bw.edu • 440.213.2723 Brendan Sorg • brendansorg@gmail.com • 216.219.3009
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A Post-Convention Message from IEC President Jeff Buhler As President of the International Executive Council I want to formally congratulate OH Beta Tau for winning the George A Beck Outstanding Chapter of the Year Award. To achieve this recognition requires significant time and effort from many student and alumni members. Your chapter performed extremely well over this 2010-2011 academic year. Thank you for setting the standard for our great Fraternity. In addition, I want to congratulate Brendan Sorg on his Chapter Advisor of the Year Award. His efforts with the Chapter, Alumni Association and with the Founder's Day/EOP/Big Pi Celebration in March are truly amazing. I wish that you all could have been with us at Convention in Philadelphia. You would have enjoyed the humble pride of your fellow student and alumni members when the Beck Award was announced and during the moments after the banquet. You also would have appreciated your four student members changing out of their suits and sitting down to complete their assignment for Sunday morning which was an official kick-off to the planning for a Beck Award in 2012. I joined our Fraternity in 1990 at the University of Florida. I've had the wonderful opportunity to live the Kovner quote many times over as a student, paid staff and volunteer. I've had the opportunity to open numerous Chapters and the difficult task of closing Chapters. I've been able to spend time with some of the most wonderful Pi Lams in our history including Jules Lennard and Rafer Johnson. I've also been at several funerals of student members lost well before their time. I've had the opportunity to gather at Yale with our Elders on our 100th Anniversary in 1995 and develop a deeper appreciation for our Founders and the Creed they crafted all those years ago. I've met famous Pi Lams in locations like the Friars Club in Beverly Hills and Radio City Music Hall in NYC and I've had embarrassing conversations with University Administrators and parents due to immature hazing. I've seen the joy in an alums eye as he committed $250,000 to a fundraising project and walked through three chapter houses after they were devastated with fires. I've had the fortunate opportunity to see and experience many things during my time with Pi Lam. I am thankful for everything I have received. However...in my 21 years as a member of our Fraternity, I have never witnessed anything as impressive, memorable or inspiring as what I have experienced with the students and alumni of your Chapter. I want to thank you for the vision several of you shared just a few years ago to accept responsibility for the current conditions, chart a new path for success and execute with fierce commitment and devotion. Some of you know this...others need to hear this...I expect when the history books of Pi Lambda Phi Fraternity are written there will be a portion dedicated to the "BW Effect". The students your Chapter is producing are so far ahead of the curve in academic performance, leadership development and ability to adapt to the "real world" than most other colleges/universities graduates. The lessons your student members are taught about taking responsibility for themselves, holding each other accountable and getting involved in their community are just as critical as the academic skills they learn in the classroom. Your Alumni Association has strong competent leadership that is just beginning their fraternal alumni journey. Your Big Pi table grows with men of character and integrity that act with class and grace. The IHQ Staff is filled with BW alumni and BW influence that is having a more profound impact on our Chapters that any professional staff in my two decades. For me and my personal journey, I was fortunate to meet a partner in Shawn Upchurch five years ago at a Convention in Cincinnati and have been in awe of his commitment, ability and devotion to all things Purple and Gold. The international eye of Pi Lambda Phi is focused squarely on your Chapter. There are some that are jealous. There are others that are oblivious. For this simple man, I am thankful for you...thankful for your chapter’s vision and commitment...and thankful for the impact your group is making across Pi Lam Nation. Together we are Ensuring the Longevity of Pi Lambda Phi Fraternity. It's a Great time to be a Pi Lam! Jeff Buhler, President Pi Lambda Phi International Executive Council
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Pilam’s 2011 Baldwin-Wallace College Ovation Winners! v As a campus-wide celebration of student creativity, research and academic and artistic achievement, Ovation 2011 brought together students, parents, benefactors, alumni, guests and members of the B-W community on April 30 at the Kleist Center for Art and Drama for the college’s end of year awards ceremony. This year, more than 200 students participated and over 125 projects were featured. Work within all seven B-W academic divisions was part of this outstanding campus celebration that showcased the best of Baldwin-Wallace College. The annual event included students’ presentations and performances, a spring poster session, and the traditional Honors Awards Ceremony. Below is a list of B-W Pilams that were recognized that day for outstanding accomplishment. The following Brothers were recognized for their student presentations and poster session submissions: Dani Fribourg - Biology - Identifying the Functional Role of Amyloid Precursor Protein and c-Jun N-Terminal Kinase Interacting Protein-1 during Zebrafish Development Grant Hesselbart - HPE - Lake Erie Monsters - Regal Entertainment Group Partnership Proposal Alan Noll - Biology - An In Vitro Investigation of the Effects of Amyloid Precursor Protein on Neurite Elongation in Embryonic Mouse Cortical Neurons. Bryan Young - Computer Science - Automated Guidance of Student Course Selection Using Local Search. The following Brothers were recognized with the following recognitions at the Honors Awards Ceremony: Alan Noll – Received the Ruegsegger Prize in Biology and was named an Outstanding Senior - Class of 2011 Mario Giacomazzo – Received the Alan Blumenthal Prize in Student Government and the J.E. Adams Scholarship Rodney Hildebrand – Received the Dr. Mark G. Noffsinger Award for Leadership John Karlock – Received the Barbara H. Fortin Award for Outstanding First-Year RA Matt Ciha – Received the Dr. E. S. Loomis Mathematics Award
Dani
Grant
Mario
Rodney
Alan
John
Bryan
Matt
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Alumni Summer Golf Outing 2011 On Saturday, July 16th Pilam held its annual Alumni Summer Golf Outing at Springvale Golf Club in North Olmsted. More than forty-five Brothers participated in the event, and money raised at the golf outing contributed to OBT sending four undergraduate Brothers to our International Convention in Philadelphia in August. The golf course played great and the weather was ideal for golf, making it the perfect day to enjoy the summertime with Brothers. There were two contests: Closest to the Pin and Longest Drive. Al DiFranco was within three feet on number 6 hole while Raymond Sirochman enjoyed the day’s longest drive on the Par 5 11th. Our winners, a team consisting of Eric Courtney, Steve Gatsch, Fred Gage, and Tom Lischer shot 66 (-4) to beat Corey Clay, Sam Filkins, Brendan Sorg and Dave Poeschl by two strokes. Rounding out our foursomes was our perennial “Pink Ball” winning team of Shane Spencer, Dave Heckathorn, Eric Groesch and Matt Ciha. We’d like to thank Springvale for helping put on a great event and for a tremendous Steak Dinner. The event was a true testament to our motto “Not Four Years But a Lifetime.” (See more pictures from the golf outing on page 11)
The Winners! (from left) Fred Gage, Eric Courtney, Tom Lischer and Steve Gatsch (and honorary teammate Mark Metzger)
2nd Place Team! (from left) Brendan Sorg, Sam Filkins, Corey Clay and Dave Poeschl
Pink Ball Recipients! (from left) Shane Spencer, Dave Heckathorn, Eric Groesch and Matt Ciha
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Summer 2011
Convention 2011 (Cont.) Throughout Convention we were provided information in the categories of Obedience, Scholarship, Character, Finance, and Leadership; the same content and information that will be infused consistently throughout New Member programs internationally via Pi Lambda Phi University. This undoubtedly will be a great program that will help onboard New Member in a consistent manner across all our Pilam chapters. All undergrads were excited when they were told this, due to the high interest from everyone that was present. The winner of the Elimination of Prejudice Video Contest was also announced at Convention. Elizabeth Smurlick of Canada was the winner of our inaugural contest and the recipient of the $5,000 Grand Prize. You can view Elizabeth’s winning video on the Elimination of Prejudice homepage at www.eliminateprejudice.org. We are excited to have a philanthropy so directly aligned with our creed and what we stand for.
At convention, our chapter was also challenged to discuss our most pressing issues and evaluate potential solutions. Ohio Beta Tau can be proud of the work that went into finding creative and sustainable fixes to the challenges that we face. Within fifteen minutes of leaving the banquet, where our chapter received the George A. Beck award, OBT delegates were hard at work crafting and collaborating on how we can make the best chapter of Pi Lambda Phi even better. I look forward to executing a stellar recruitment in the fall, expanding the Elimination of Prejudice program, and integrating Pi Lambda Phi University here at B-W. Among the list of improvements we plan to implement are: better chapter leadership transitions, fostering a more engaging recruitment environment, and using dynamic new tools to educate our new members. #ChapteroftheYeartoOhioBetaTau?
Let
the
trending begin!
Article Author, Cole Metzger, will serve as Ohio Beta Tau’s Recruitment Director this Fall. Below (left) are OBT’s 2011 Convention Delegates; (from left) Rich Teel, Cole Metzger, Van Haddad and Travis Elliott.
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OH Beta Tau Dominates B-W Greek Awards as told by Leadership Consultant, Phil Spence In April, Baldwin-Wallace College awarded our OH Beta Tau brothers with the Chapter of the Year Award for achieving the following indicators of excellence: • Chapter GPA above 3.0
• Excellence in philanthropy
• A high level of campus involvement
• A strong sense of brotherhood
• Commitment to overall Greek unity
• Strong interest and dedication to recruitment
• A commitment to upholding the standards of its International organization, the Inter-fraternal Council, and the Greek Judicial Board In addition to taking home the crown of Chapter of the Year for the 4th consecutive year, our Brothers earned the following awards: Lee J Tressel Community Service Award
Highest GPA Spring 2010
Outstanding Risk Management
Outstanding Scholastic Achievement
Outstanding New Member Program
Outstanding IFC Officer - Devin Basile
Outstanding New Member - Gianni Giacomazzo
Outstanding Fraternity President - Alan Noll
Outstanding Chapter Development Program
Outstanding Chapter Improvement
Rex Jeff Jackson felt relieved when he heard Pi Lambda Phi announced as chapter of the year. Jeff felt, “proud that in 2010 all the work that was put in and everything that was strived for was recognized, especially having 25 brothers there to share the moment with.” With a 4th consecutive Chapter of the Year Award, and 5 out of the last 6, the OH Beta Tau chapter of Pi Lambda Phi has made excellence their standard. Jeff attributes this excellence to the high expectations placed on each individual brother within the chapter and the expectation that they WILL be the best chapter on campus. The chapter has individual expectations for each brother based on GPA, community service hours and involvement on campus, and by doing so, helps create a culture of excellence. “The Brotherhood pushes everyone to do all these things and because they are pushed and supported they achieve them.” “The continual drive to be the best we can be and looking to recruit people who want those same things,” is a big reason for OBT’s continued success. But success is not accomplished without work. Jeff acknowledges that there were times over the past year when the chapter got complacent in different areas of the Fraternity and as a whole they had to work at those areas to ensure they lived up to their expectations. The Chapter Improvement Award was the achievement Jeff was most proud of since Pilam has been at the top since returning to campus in 2005. When asked what has to be done by the chapter to keep this level of success next year, Jeff said “Not taking our foot off the pedal, looking at everything we did last year and determining what are three things we didn’t excel at, why did we not and how do we address it. We need to make sure we do not get complacent.”
Summer 2011
Vol. 11, No. 2 April Reign 2011 If this year is an indicator of what lies ahead for Pi Lambda Phi at April Reign, good things are just around the corner. For Alumni that do not know, April Reign is yesterday’s “May Day.” Today’s version is a two-day competition with four campus-wide events: chariot, obstacle, boat race, and tug. Our chariot team came in fifth place, and was only one spot away from placing. Later Friday, the obstacle event was held at Finnie Stadium. Well one of the fastest teams, we fell victim to too many penalties, so our team again finished fifth. On Saturday morning, everyone woke up early and went to Wallace Lake to watch Tug and Boat. In inclement weather, Pilam engaged in an epic tug battle in the rain and hail against reigning Tug Champion, Sigma Phi Epsilon. Our tug team showed tremendous grit and determination, and were classy in close defeat. We finished fourth overall in tug. The Pilam boat team did well coming in fourth as well while racing in the rain. That night there was an amazing concert from Emerson Drive put on by CEP. We would like to thank all of the team captains, participants, and spectators for all of the work you put in to make that a great weekend for Pilam.
Follow Pilam on Twitter!
@pilambdaphi • @BWPiLambdaPhi
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OBT hosts the 7th Annual PLP PLoP This past April, the brothers of OH Beta Tau hosted our 7th Annual PLP Plop. This has been our signature philanthropy event and is always a highlight of the spring semester for both brothers and the campus at large. It is essentially our take on "cow-patty bingo" in which a farm animal (a miniature pony this year) is let loose in a fenced in area. The area is divided into a grid of squares which are sold two weeks prior to the event to students and staff of Baldwin Wallace. Eventually, "nature will call" for the animal and whoever owns the square in which the animal relieves itself, that person wins a cash prize. It has also become tradition in the past few years that PLoP is held on the Saturday of initiation for the Spring recruitment class. Between set-up, tear-down and the actual event, PLoP is a pretty big part of the day and it is great to have practically the entire brotherhood (plus alumni) together to not only celebrate EOP but also to celebrate the initiation of new brothers into our chapter.
OBT Welcomes the Alpha Nu Initiation Class OH Beta Tau welcomed its two newest brothers (Scott Simmerer and Luis Valdez) this Spring. Both these men have proven they bring unique skills and experiences that enrich Pi Lambda Phi here at Baldwin-Wallace and the fraternity as a whole. Scott served in the United States Air Force and served two terms of duty in Iraq. Both Scott and Luis express a deep appreciation for the Creed and how it applies in a modern context. Their commitment to our values was shown through their involvement in community service events, voluntary study table hours, and a commitment to engage both in Pi Lambda Phi and Baldwin-Wallace. During their New Member period, these men showed exemplary character and a devotion to the fraternity and its values as they actively discussed our fraternal history, the Creed, the Elimination of Prejudice, and the expectations that are associated with being a brother of Pi Lambda Phi at Ohio Beta Tau. Both Scott and Luis are active members of the Baldwin-Wallace community, as highlighted by their involvement in activities outside of Pi Lam. Scott is currently serving as Chief Justice of the Student Supreme Court and President of Criminal Justice Club and Luis is proudly serving as Director of GAMMA (Greeks Advocating the Mature Management of Alcohol) and was awarded a grant for his proposal to improve the lives of residents in Slavic Village. When it comes to Pi Lam, these men know what it means to “work for it, sweat for it, curse it and love it, as well as the men in it� and on behalf of the brotherhood, welcome Scott and Luis! Not four years, but a lifetime.
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For the Good and Welfare of Pi Lambda Phi‌ Josh Booth '02 married Abby Cosma on June 11. His groomsmen included fellow Pi Lams Joe Kenderes '02, Al DiFranco '99 and Jason Tirotta '01. Joe Kenderes '02 and his wife Jill are expecting their first child in November. Joe also recently took a position as a Talent Acquisition Manager at Moen Incorporated in North Olmsted, OH. Raymond Sirochman '03 was promoted to Production Supervisor at Nestle in February. Adam Dedrick '06 took a position as a Project Manager with Fairfield Information Services in Columbus, OH Mick Steiner '08 was accepted to Bowling Green State University where he will pursue a Master's Degree in College Student Personnel Ben Schaefer '09 took a position as a Legislative Aide with the Ohio House of Representatives in May. Greg Ballash '09 married Amy Baratuci on July 9, with Aaron Phillips ’08 serving as one of his attendants. Nathaniel Maier '09 will be marrying Theresa Langan on September 10. Nathaniel also graduated from Baldwin-Wallace College with a Master's Degree in Business Administration in May. Jon Young '09 graduated from University of Georgia with a Master's Degree in Marketing Research. He has taken a position as a Consumer Insights Analyst with Altria Group in Richmond, VA. Jason Mansfield '09 married Natalie Schmidt on May 29 in Chantilly, VA. His groomsmen included Dave Thewlis '09, Jon Young '09, Tim Davey '09 and Derek Newbould '12
Sean Curry '10 was admitted to The Ohio State University Veterinary School's Class of 2015 Alex Brikmanis '10 married Bethany Twarek on July 22. Mike Schambs '11 took a position as a Business Consultant for Dr. George D. Poulos & Associates Optometry in Strongsville, OH David Tran '11 will be attending Bowling Green State University to begin work on a Master's Degree in Criminal Justice in Bowling Green, OH. Dani Fribourg '11 was accepted to Ross University's School of Medicine in the West Indies.his M.D. Rob Neiss '11, Devin Basile '12, and Jeffrey Jackson '12 were B-W Summer Orientation Leaders for summer 2011. These leadership positions demonstrate Pilam's strong leadership presence around campus throughout the academic year and serve as an invaluable recruiting tool for the upcoming fall semester. Matthew Kiessling '13 is an Undergraduate Athletic Trainer (student) for the Lake Erie Crushers in Avon, OH. Cole Metzger '13 spent the summer working with Shawn Upchurch as a Social Media Intern for UpSearch. Learn what Cole is doing at UpSearch by following him on Twitter at @MetzgerCole. Max Schaefer '13 attended the Undergraduate Interfraternity Institute (UIFI) Session at Indiana University in Bloomington, IN. This annual summer conference encourages attending Fraternity and Sorority men and women to become dedicated, courageous, and principled builders of the future through deliberate, focused, valuesbased programming.
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Summer 2011 Golf Outing Group Photos
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2011 Annual Alumni vs. Undergrad Gridiron Classic
th
Join your fellow OBT Alumni in the
4 Annual Gridiron Classic! Undergraduates and Alumni compete for bragging rights in a seven-on-seven flag football game in the Cleveland Metroparks, When: Saturday, October 15, 2011 @4 p.m. Where: Cleveland Metroparks near Wallace Lake in Berea
Post-Game Celebration @ Mike’s Bar & Grille 130 Front Street, Berea, OH After the Game (Approximately 6:00pm) Ensure Your Roster Spot on the Alumni Team TODAY! RSVP to Brendan Sorg at brendansorg@gmail.com / 216.219.3009