July 15, 2004
Dear Brothers:
The Fraternal Link is the electronic newsletter for
alumnus members of our Fraternity. As Executive Director, and given
the changes noted below, I
will serve as Editor Pro Tem for the next few issues.
James L. Hosterman, who had the longest tenure on
the current staff of the International Headquarters-a total of 18 years
of service to the Fraternity and the Foundation Chapter-stepped down
from the staff on June 30th, 2004. Jim will move to Irving, Texas,
near Dallas.
Jim is a 1986 graduate of East Stroudsburg University
in Pennsylvania. He served Theta Chi as a Field Representative for
two years and then became our combination "computer guy",
website coordinator, and fundraising and development assistant along
with many other duties. Jim started the Fraternal Link several years
ago and has helped our undergraduate and alumnus members in many other
ways.
We thank Jim for his many, many hours of work for
our Fraternity. Our volunteers at the national level appreciate the
fact that Jim did nearly all
of the work on our website on his own time-evenings and weekends-from
his home. Jim served the boards of Theta Chi Funds for Leadership and
Education (now merged with the Foundation Chapter) and also the Foundation
Chapter, and worked with Dr. Wesley K. Wicker, Alpha Phi/Alabama and
with El Ahlwardt, Gamma Rho/Florida State University, in the development
and giving programs in Theta Chi Fraternity.
Jim, thanks again for your time, effort and energy
on behalf of our Fraternity!
You will be missed!
**************************
Position Announcement: The Director of Alumni
Resources and Housing.
If it has been said once, it has been said
tens of thousands of times: "Where we have a good alumni corporation
or Chapter Advisory Board, we have
a good chapter" We are seeking an alumnus member who would like
to work with the Headquarters staff and bring meaning to that cliché.
In the autumn of 2001, the Norwich Housing
Corporation, our national housing endowment arm of the Fraternity,
approved and funded the position of Director
of Alumni Resources and Housing for Theta Chi Fraternity. This position
was created to meet two needs: the day to day administration of the
mortgage loan portfolio of the Norwich Housing Corporation, and the
development, education and support of alumni corporations and chapter
advisory boards and committees.
We are currently seeking an alumnus who can
fill that position.
The successful candidate for this position
will:
* Have a bachelor's degree and at least three
years of experience in mortgage loans, accounting, financial administration
or general business with the ability to quickly learn basic skills
in mortgage loan administration. This Director works directly with
the five officers of the Norwich Housing Corporation and he is responsible
for developing resources for mortgage loan applications, evaluating
each application and assisting the Norwich Board in making decisions
regarding mortgage loan applications. He will monitor and service
over forty existing mortgage loans and will promote opportunities
for loans from the Norwich Housing Corporation to alumni corporations.
* Have a strong commitment to improving our
Fraternity through Alumni Corporation and Chapter Advisory Board
involvement. This Director will be the primary resource for alumni
working with their respective chapters. We look for this Director
to develop a manual for alumni corporations and Chapter Advisory
Boards and for individual advisors. As with other Headquarters staff
positions, we look for the greatest possible use of individual initiative
by this Director in creating and upgrading resources and helping
alumnus members and others in working with our undergraduates. Newsletters,
training tools,
* Be willing to travel upon occasion to conduct
regionally based workshops and seminars for alumni involved with
their chapters. The Director will spend most of his time working
in the Headquarters. However, in order to share information, answer
questions and most importantly hear what our alumni have to say,
this Director must be willing to travel to cities and campuses and
to participate in various national and regional events such as the
Chapter Leadership Conference, the Deranian Presidents Conference,
and Mid-Year Leadership Challenges.
* Bring enthusiasm and energy to this critical
area of operations for our Fraternity. As many a football coach has
said, we need a "Difference-maker" in this position-someone
who will bring us up and forward through his work with our alumni.
At least one-third of our active chapters do not have an alumni corporation
per se or have a "one man" corporation. Our Director of
Alumni Resources will be working with chapters and alumni to recruit,
organize and educate alumni corporation officers for these chapters
and to assist existing corporations in improving their operations.
Verbal, writing and computer skills and experience
as a volunteer will be considered in the hiring decision.
Compensation is competitive with other men's
and women's national fraternal organizations. Theta Chi Fraternity
offers a health, dental and eye care plan for employees and a very
generous Paid Time Off plan. Basic moving expenses are included in
the benefits package.
The Director of Alumni Resources and Housing
reports to and is evaluated by the Executive Director. Assignments
and specific direction will also be received from the volunteer officers
of the Norwich Housing Corporation.
Applications should include a letter stating
the interest of the applicant in this position and a detail resume'
along with contact information for three references. Applications
may be submitted by regular mail or electronically to:
David Westol
Executive Director
Theta Chi Fraternity Headquarters
3330 Founders Road
Indianapolis, Indiana 46268-1333
dave@thetachi.org
I would like to fill this position by mid-August,
if possible. If you know of any alumnus members who might be interested
in working for the Fraternity in a challenging and rewarding position,
please let them know about this opportunity.
My thanks for your assistance!
School of Fraternity Practices and
Convention
The School of Fraternity Practices and 148th Anniversary
Convention will be held from July 21st--24th, in Phoenix, Arizona.
As of this date, all but five chapters have registered for the School
and Convention.
We expect a busy legislative session on Saturday
with seven different items of legislation proposed by chapters.
Grand Chapter elections will be held on Saturday
afternoon. Three current national officers-National Historian Mike
Maloney, Delta Upsilon/Arizona State, National Treasurer Eric Raasch,
Alpha Upsilon/Nebraska, and National Counselor Dana Richardson, Delta
Psi/Kansas, have been nominated for a second term on the Grand Chapter.
Richard Partridge, Theta/University of Massachusetts
and Dr. Michael Wieting, Eta Rho/Centenary College, have also been
nominated for election to the board. Brothers Partridge and Wieting
currently serve as Regional Counselors for the Fraternity. Four of
the five men can be elected pursuant to our National Bylaws.
National Vice President Brian K. Hall, Theta Eta/Sam
Houston State, will step down from our board after eight years, or
two consecutive terms, as a national officer. We thank Brian for his
dedication and service to Theta Chi. In particular, Brian brought energy
and commitment to Grand Chapter strategic planning sessions, and we
look to continue the progress that we made with Brian leading us in
the "strat plan" during the past four years.
The Norwich Housing Corporation
James Thompson, Beta/MIT, will step down from the
board of the Norwich Housing Corporation after serving two consecutive
five-year terms, and as President the past three years.
Jim, who is an architect in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,
brought significant leadership and perspective to the board of our
national housing endowment organization. Our thanks to Jim for his
service to the Fraternity and to our alumni corporations and undergraduates.
Fast Facts
We have 134 active chapters and five colonies and
interest groups in Theta Chi Fraternity. Over 153,000 men have been
initiated into our Fraternity since it was founded on April 10th, 1856.
We are among the fifteen largest men's national fraternities in the
North American Interfraternity Conference in number of active chapters.
Recolonizations are a priority
The recolonization of inactive chapters has become
a priority for our Fraternity during the past two years.
We use the term, "Recolonization" to describe
the process of bring an inactive chapter back to life. "Expansion" is
used when we colonize on a campus at which Theta Chi Fraternity has
never had a chapter.
We currently have three recolonization efforts underway-Lambda/Cornell,
Beta Tau/University of Southern California, and Gamma Mu/Bowling Green.
We will recolonize Eta/University of Rhode Island and Gamma Rho/Florida
State University this fall and Alpha Iota/Indiana in the spring of
2005.We are colonizing at the University of the Pacific, and we will
colonize at the University of Central Florida during the 2004-2005
academic year.
Joe Wachs, our hard-working Director of Chapter Services,
has been in contact with alumnus members from a number of other inactive
chapters, including Alpha Beta/Pittsburgh, Alpha Pi/Minnesota, Gamma
Eta/Bucknell, Delta Sigma/Clarkson, Delta Phi/University of North Texas,
Epsilon Tau/Stephen F. Austin, and Zeta Psi/Western Illinois.
Clearly, we have many opportunities to bring Theta
Chi Fraternity back to campuses at which we once had active chapters.
We will continue to emphasize recolonization, and I thank the alumnus
members who have stepped forward to help us in all recolonization and
expansion efforts. If you are interested in helping us out, please
email Joe Wachs at: Joe@thetachi.org.
It should be noted that the adoption of alcohol-free
housing by our Fraternity in 1998 and implemented in final form on
July 1, 2003, has been a major factor in creating recolonization and
expansion opportunities.
The Grand Chapter voted in 1996 to require all new
and reinstalled chapters, as of January 1, 1997, to be alcohol-free
housing chapters, and that has helped immensely in our efforts. A number
of other men's national fraternities-Alpha Tau Omega is an example-have
implemented the same requirement, even though the fraternity itself
has not adopted alcohol-free housing.
No men's fraternity is guaranteed a start up or a
return to a campus, and we must go through expansion procedures in
nearly all situations and apply for the opportunity to start or recolonize
a chapter. The Grand Chapter decision in 1996 and our adoption of alcohol-free
housing as a Fraternity in 1998 have opened many doors and in some
cases put us ahead of other men's fraternities for consideration for
expansion or recolonization.
A true brother and a leader has left us.........and
a request for your thoughts.
It is with great sadness that I share the news that
Past National President George T. Kilavos, Delta Xi/Valparaiso, joined
the Chapter Eternal on April 7th, 2004, after suffering two heart attacks
while in a hospital near his home in Dearborn, Michigan.
George had been admitted to the hospital for treatment
of an unrelated medical condition.
His death came as a shock to all of us. Howard Alter,
who served as Executive Director with George as National President
for a total of twelve years, noted that, "George seemed indestructible".
For anyone involved with our Fraternity as an undergraduate
or alumnus member from the late 1960s to the early 1990s, George will
be remembered as one of the most vigorous advocates for Theta Chi and
as a brother to all, regardless of age, chapter or circumstances.
To so many of us, he was a leader and a father figure-someone
who represented our brotherhood and ideals, and someone who would listen,
counsel and advise. Past National Vice President Dick Elder, Gamma
Theta/San Diego State, noted during services for George in Valparaiso,
Indiana that, "You don't meet many unforgettable people in your
lifetime. George was unforgettable".
George graduated from Valparaiso University, where
he was an undergraduate member of Delta Xi Chapter, in 1955. The story
of how he came to be a Theta Chi served as an inspiration to thousands
of undergraduates over the years.
Brother Kilavos served as a Regional Counselor in
what was then known as Region VII, with the regional conference title
of "Ox-Bow". He was elected
to the Grand Chapter in 1970, and served as National Vice President
from 1970 to 1972. He was elected National President at our Convention
in 1972 and served in that capacity for three terms, stepping down
in August of 1978 at the Convention held in Chicago, Illinois.
George was elected to the Grand Chapter again in
1980 at the first New Orleans Convention, and as National President.
He was reelected as National President at three more conventions, completing
four terms or sixteen years on the Grand Chapter in August of 1988.
George served more years as National President-a total of fourteen-than
any other man in the history of our Fraternity.
George was the consummate brother. I had the privilege
of serving as his National Vice President during his second eight years
on the Grand Chapter, and my memories of George and his ability to
communicate with and relate to brothers of all ages are many and varied.
He was always approachable and always had time to listen.
A memorial service was held for George on Saturday,
April 10th, in Redford, Michigan, followed by funeral services on Tuesday,
April 13th, in Valparaiso. Brother Kilavos was buried in Graceland
Cemetery in Valparaiso.
Among Official Family members who attended the services
in Valparaiso were Executive Director Emeritus Howard R. Alter, Jr.,
National President Paul Norstrem, Past National Vice President Dick
Elder, Past National Marshal Tom Van Cleave, Past National Vice President
and Past President of the National Board of Trustees Richard McCauley,
Past National Counselor and Secretary of the Foundation Chapter Warren
Hoffman. Dr. Michael Wieting, Regional Counselor in the Great Lakes
Region, attended the services in Detroit and in Valparaiso. I attended
the services in Valparaiso and spoke on behalf of the Fraternity at
the luncheon that followed the services.
Pat Spires, who served as a Field Representative
for Theta Chi and who now serves on the alumni corporation, was a source
of strength for everyone during the services and a number of other
Delta Xi alumnus members were in attendance.
The outpouring of support from friends and relatives
of George for his wife Georgia and their three children, Candee, Tom
and Nick was heartwarming.
The St. Iakovos Greek Orthodox Church in Valparaiso was filled to overflowing
with people for the funeral service. Dr. Allan Hare, the President
of Valparaiso University, attended the visitation at a funeral home
in Valparaiso on Monday evening, and Jennifer Jones-Hall, the Greek
Advisor at Valparaiso, attended the funeral. Many Theta Chi undergraduates
from Delta Xi Chapter were in attendance.
The love George had for Theta Chi was sincere and
endured beyond his time as a national leader. When Delta Xi Chapter
was struggling with several challenges in the spring of 2003, George
stepped forward to rally alumni support and meet with the undergraduates.
He made a number of trips to Valparaiso from his home near Detroit,
and spent many hours on the telephone and via the internet to bring
brothers together to help the chapter. As always, George was there
for his chapter, as he was for all of us.
Letters or notes may be sent to the Kilavos Family
at 2222 Kinmore Avenue, Dearborn Heights, Michigan 48127-3417.
If you would like to contribute a message about George
that we can send to the Kilavos Family in printed form, please send
that via a Word attachment or in standard email form to GTK@thetachi.org.
Our staff will print the messages and prepare a book for Georgia and
the other family members. Was there a conversation with George that
made a difference in your life?...a speech or presentation....a letter
or note from "GTK"...any and all memories will be welcomed.
We have received a number of those messages from Official Family members
and many of those begin with, "I remember the time that...."
We would appreciate receiving your message by August
27th.
The Grand Chapter has commissioned a new award in
honor of George. It is the George T. Kilavos National Service Award.
This award, to be presented for the first time at our Convention next
week, will be given to men who have served for twenty years or more
as a volunteer at the national level of the Fraternity. Given the long
and remarkable service by Brother Kilavos, this award is indeed an
appropriate and fitting way to honor and remember George and his contributions
to our brotherhood.
***************************************
And that concludes this edition of The
Fraternal Link. If you have any comments, suggestions, or ideas for
articles or information to be included in the next edition in September,
by all means send those to me at:
dave@thetachi.org.
Thanks, Brothers!
Dave Westol
Executive Director |
