by James J. Moylan (Gamma Lambda/University of Denver '69)
President of the Foundation Chapter, Inc.
Reprinted from the Spring 2006 Rattle
June 10, 2006

El Ahlwardt, our Director of Development and Editor of The Rattle, contacted me in early January 2006 prompting me to write my column for this issue. Writing the column is not difficult because I start to compile ideas for the ‘next’ Rattle column even as I am completing a column for the ‘current’ issue. Basically, I just have to think up new ways to ask or encourage you to share your time, talent, and/or treasure with our Fraternity and hope that I am effective.  Under the circumstances, which I trust you will understand when you get to the end of this column, I decided to take a slightly different tack to encompass some things that we should all remember to talk about from time to time in Theta Chi.

I am repeatedly asked the question that is the title of this column on various ways from individuals who are members of Theta Chi and from many whom are not. The questions range from the pejorative, “Aren’t you a little old to still be playing ‘Frat boy’?” to the insensitive, “Aren’t you getting too old for that sort of stuff’? But those questions, and variations on the theme, (often from people unencumbered by any modicum of social grace) all boil down to the column’s title. Frankly, the first time I heard that question, I had to admit that I really never thought about it in those terms. For me, being involved with Theta Chi as an alumnus just seems to be the natural course to follow after being involved in Theta Chi as an undergraduate.

The question, however, is a good one, Let me tell you why I am “still” involved with our Fraternity. (And let me make this perfectly clear, serving in an alumnus capacity with our Fraternity is decidedly unlike anything from the movie “Old School”!) Perhaps those of you who are not involved may see yourselves in a thought or two and become involved in some fashion or another. Those of you whose involvement today is on the periphery, or who are slightly/somewhat involved, may consider stepping it up a notch or two as you are able.

Certainly, there are a number of brothers, my seniors and my peers, who are deeply involved with Theta Chi and have been so for decades and decades. Brothers Alter, DeVol, Bulliner, Taylor and Hamilton come quickly to mind. I met both Brother Alter and Brother DeVol as an undergraduate in the mid-1960s. Our friendships are now going into their fifth decade. (Creed: “It inspires true friendship.”)

I had the privilege of becoming involved on the National level (I had been involved with my chapter and its alumni from the time I joined Gamma Lambda Chapter at the University of Denver in 1966) in 1992 when Brother Dave Westol, whom I had not yet met, called to ask if I would be willing to be considered among several candidates as a replacement for Father Phil Bowers as National Chaplin on the Grand Chapter. Father Phil’s pastoral duties had changed necessitating that he step down from the Grand Chapter. I said I would be honored and, ultimately, the Grand Chapter selected me from among those other worthy and deserving candidates, for which I will be eternally grateful.

Joining the Grand Chapter provided the opportunity to serve as a National Officer for a total of seven years with a truly outstanding group of brothers. When I was appointed, Brother Carlton Bennett served as the National President and Brother Al Calarco served as National Vice President. I got to know and become friends with the as well as with Brothers Warren Hoffman, Don Fine, Bryan Holcomb, Lindsay Olsen, and Brother Pat O’Connor, who went on from that Board o become National President. I was serving with Brother O’Connor when Brother Jim McEachern joined the Grand Chapter and I later served with Brother McEachern as his National Vice President, joined the Grand Chapter and I had an opportunity to serve with him and Brothers Gehring, Hall, Maloney, Raasch, Richardson, and Vanstrom, all of whom continue to serve on our Grand Chapter.

Then there are all the brothers who were serving contemporaneously on the Boards of the Norwich Housing Corporation (“NHC”), Theta Chi Funds for Leadership and Education, Inc. (“Funds”), the Foundation Chapter, the brothers who served on the staff in the International Headquarters, (“IHQ”), the brothers who head or serve on our various national committees, our Regional Counselors, Alumni Corporation officers and chapter advisors, all of whom comprise “The Official Family” of Theta Chi Fraternity who, also, have become good friends.

Of course, I have my Gamma Lambda Chapter Brothers, some of whom live in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, where I now live, or in Denver and its suburbs, throughout the state of Colorado, and all over the United States and, indeed, the world. And there are those hundreds of Theta Chi Brothers whom I have met at Convention, CLC, Mid-Years, Deranian, etc., many of whom have also become good friends.

So, why am I still involved?

First, it is all about the people. There is almost no place in the United States I can go without knowing someone in our Fraternity with whom I can get together.

Second, as Brother Bennett says: “We are a values based organization.” (Creed: “Promoter of knowledge, an advancer of culture and a builder of character.”) Look to our Initiation Ritual, The Creed, our Maxim, and you will see aspiration, inspirational, and all the positive expressions of what being involved in our Fraternity are all about. In turn, you will see what it can mean to be a man, duty-bound by our Oaths as brothers, to be positive contributors to our families, friends, community and our society. (Creed: “…and I shall do all in my power to perpetuate its ideals thereby serving my god, my country and my fellow man.”) One simply does not obtain these values in the college dormitory, chess club, rugby club, by playing in the band, or by living in an off-campus apartment. Fraternity and brotherhood of Theta Chi inspire these values. (Creed: “…ennobled by a high and sacred purpose…” “…extols virtue, exacts harmony, and extends a helping hand to all who seek it.”)

Third, Theta Chi did wonders for me when I was an undergraduate. I remain committed to do all I can to pay back all that Theta Chi did, and continues to do, for me. I have told the story many times of how my 21 year old pledge father, Jim Murphy, set this wayward 17 year old on the correct path, enabling me to be where I am today. (Creed: “…teaches Truth, Temperance, and Tolerance.”) As my former Grand Chapter Brother, Danny Kaiser, said, “Theta Chi creates he unrepayable debt.” I stay involved so I can continue to make deposits against that debt, but I also know I will forever be in debt to Theta Chi because I am a Theta Chi for life. (Creed: “I believe in…the usefulness of my Fraternity, in its influence and its accomplishments…”)

I am still involved because I think Theta Chi is on the best things that can happen to college-age men. To the extent that I can help make this opportunity available to out leaders of tomorrow, I will continue to stay involved. (Creed: “Born of sturdy manhood, nurtured by resolute men… .”)

Inspiration for this column came from the recent retirement announcement by our Foundation Chapter’s Director of Development and editor of The Rattle, El Ahlwardt. After retiring as a Commander following a 21-year career in the Navy and after an additional decade of service to our Fraternity in the above capacities, El stepped down on January 31st to take a position with the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida, at the Joint Military Science Leadership Center, where he will be on the ground floor organizing and administering that institution. I took this occasion to reflect on the title’s question because I have served with El these past 10 years. As Director of Development, first for Funds and than for the Foundation Chapter, El has been my right-hand man. On average, we were in contact at least once a day, with the goal each day of moving Theta Chi that much more forward. We have enjoyed many events, meals, meetings, and other social occasions together and I know we will continue to do so in the future. We are friends and we are brothers. I know that El now intends, to shift his fraternal focus to helping his undergraduate chapter, Gamma Rho at Florida State, return to campus where El met his wife, Kathy, more than three decades ago. Their daughter, Heather, is a sister with Kathy in Alpha Chi Omega. Their son, Ryan, is a brother in our great Fraternity. They live their respective fraternal ideals I their daily lives and infuse the people around them with their energy and passion. Godspeed, El.

Why am I still involved with Theta Chi? Because, like El and like hundreds of other men around men world, we have come to know that Theta Chi today, as it was April 10, 1856, is, in the final analysis, a vision. It is possessed of magnificent principals, standards, ideals, and ideas, but it is only a vision until it is brought to life by people…our brothers…my brothers. We are joined in that journey by those significant others who understand how important it is to us that we live them out daily, at work and at play. Indeed, living the principles of Theta Chi is laudable way to begin and end each day of life’s journey.

“Why are you still involved?”

How can I not be involved?

Brothers, there is room for everyone to get on board the good ship “Theta Chi,” (I could not resist one last nautical metaphor for El!), and I trust you will. The rewards for exceed the obligation.

BETTER BECAUSE OF THETA CHI!