December 1988 Omegaphone
President’s Message: "A New Direction"
by Hugh D. Cadzow '83 Alumni President
Happy Holidays to all my brothers! This message is a note of appreciation to all of you. I extend a sincere thanks for all your untiring financial assistance in the recent years in establishing a capital fund that enabled us to repair the roof and fix the bathrooms at the house. I also thank you for representing us well in the National Fraternity fund drive, But I still wish to ask one more thing of you....to assist me in setting a new direction for Theta Chi of Penn State.
This new direction is one of more personal alumni involvement in the events of Omega Chapter. In my ten years of being a Theta Chi I have noticed a steady decline in attendance of alumni at both Homecoming, Founder's Day and throughout the year. This lack of alumni visits has disheartened the undergrads because they feel as if they are somehow alienating us. Of course this is far from the truth as evident in our giving to the capital fund but we must go a step further and show our personal care for Omega Chapter.
The plans I have for increasing alumni involvement can only be achieved with your support. Some of my ideas are:
Class Contacts: Form a volunteer crew that will be responsible for various class years so classmates can keep in touch.
Winter Meeting: To have an annual winter corporation meeting away from Penn State at a hotel where we can meet, discuss and have lunch.
Delegation: Get those alumni who wish to help involved.
Communication: Improve alumni communication with the class contacts, more frequent Omegaphones and regular Rattle articles.
Older Alumni: Structure events at the Chapter to be attractive to the older (over 30) alumnus. Such as featuring 5, 10, 15 year reunions, etc.
Penn State Alumni Assoc: Tie Omega events into Penn State alumni functions heside homecoming and the blue-white game.
These are in no way a final list of ideas. I would like to hear from you on what you would like to see to increase alumni attendance throughout the year. Please write your thoughts down on the inclosed alumni news form and send them in. Hopefully I will be seeing you soon!
The following were the alumni brothers that attended the 1988 Homecoming Meeting:
Anthony Panichelli '85 - Ed Brown '87 - Joe Kopetsky '86 - Tim Paulson '87 - Owen Fishman '85 - Bob Scavello '88 - Alan Vladimir '85 - Gary Hicks '82 Stan Lunde (Phi) '51 - Doug Craig '88 - Sean Tirney '88 - Ron Biernacki '81 - Kerry Becker '83 - Steve Dodge '88 - Paul Formichella '86 - Dave Ferro '86 - Steve Martin '88 - Rob Price '87 - Hugh Cadzow '83 - Doug Burry '88 - John Stagliano '88 - Mark Holst '88 - Jamie Coppersmith '88 - Rick Grande '86 - Dan Tsurtsuris '83 Todd Fortier '77 - Leo Sugg '88 - John Wszalek '77 - Steve Spinazzola '81
In Search of A Helping Hand
by Chris Heidrick, Omega President
Omega Chapter is in search of the helping hand... the many hands of their alumni to assist them through what is becoming a trying time for fraternities here at Penn State as well as across the country.
Recently many small colleges across the country have banned fraternities while others are considering it. Although Penn State is likely far from that they, in 1986, "disassociated" themselves from fraternities to minimize liability. This has left the 52 fraternity system here vulnerable to the hawkish elements that exist in the public. The police are performing undercover "stings" of chapters (not Omega - yet l) to nab underage drinking and women's groups have taken an aggressive stance on issues of sexism in fraternities. All this is well intended by the -respective parties but our ability to address them is weakened by our lack of know-how in these matters.
This is where you come in. We would like your ideas and input on how to correctly address these problems facing us, The Alumni Board is very helpful in assisting us but we would like to see input from everyone of our Omega brothers. A simple phone call, visit or letter would be greatly appreciated. What we have built up over the past 70 years here at Omega (as well as other PSU fraternities) may be presently under fire but we can band together as true brothers and surmount this challenge, I hope to be hearing from you in the near future.
Capital Fund - A Continuos Effort
by Dave Ferro '86 Alumni Treasurer
Over the past two years a dedicated effort was made in developing and strengthening our Capital Fund to a point some thought not possible. As a result of a strong effort by several brothers we were able to collect $21,677,00 during this period, much of which was used in replacing our roof. While it was important for us to collect a large amount of money in a short period of time, it is now even more important that we continue to support and build a stronger Capital Fund program.
To achieve this success I believe there is one key factor - PARTICIPATION. No matter how big or small the amount, it is important for as all to participate in this program. By doing so we are able to show our concern and, more importantly, set an example for our future alumni - brothers to fellow.
Chapter Eternal
We received notification of the following brothers who have passed away:
T.T. Torok '29
John F. Lehrain '40
Pledge Program
by Robert Kramer '88 Pledge Marshal
The Fall 1988 pledge class of eight is the second group of men to go through Omega Chapter's revised pledge program. This program is more inspirational, and includes more meaningful communication of the thoughts and purposes of Theta Chi and the principals it was founded on.
We have instituted mandatory study hours for the class three times a week. This worked well last spring as the pledges averaged a 2.7 G.P.A. We also have a theme for every week of the program that is developed by input from the brothers, This involves everyone and results in a better program. Now Omega has initiates from both programs and hopes that their input will keep the revised program successful in the future.
Physical Plant
by Dennis Foley Vice President
The chapter house is going through some much needed cosmetic and structural repairs this semester. After a tough summer, repairs are being done all the time to bring the house up to looking its best.
New furniture was bought this semester with monies from the Fall 1988 budget. The living room got some much needed couches and the pool table was professionally recovered. Both the brothers and pledges are performing paint and wall repairs downstairs.
Plumbing repairs were done on all the bathrooms to replace leaking fixtures and toilets. This was possible from the capital fund monies donated by you and we greatly appreciate it. A side benefit from this work will be a savings in the water bill that rose as the leaks increased.
We would like to do more to the house but we need assistance from you. Not just financial, but creative help and even a little "elbow grease". The undergraduates can't build a strong house and chapter without their loyal alumni. Please come back anytime during the year and see what has been done to this, the best fraternity house on campus.
Omega Notes
The following are random notes about Omega and her brothers:
After Homecoming dinner, brothers (Chris Heidrick, Rich Maltz, Rob Scavello, Sean Tirney, John Buyarski, Reed Goodwin and Hugh Cadzow) called Winfield F. Smith '19 to wish him a happy birthday and thank him for his donation of memorabilia of the Chapter. They serenaded him with "It is to Thee, Dear Old Theta Chi".
Congratulations to Jim Stadler '62 on his election to the Pennsylvania Institute Certified Public Accountant's Council.
Congratulations to Gerry Kistler '89 on receiving a degree from Penn State after many tries over the past ten years.
Patrick O'Connor '83 extends Marine Corps greetings to all brothers from his new address in California.
Omega is well represented on Theta Chi's National Board of Trustees by William Renton '47 as President and Howard Alter '41 as Secretary.
-After missing for a few years Kerry Becker '83 has turned up in State College.
Rush
by Scot Kost Rush Chairman
Omega Chapter continues to improve its rush with over 100 prospective members signing up on the rush list this fall. Most all of them attended the non-alcoholic events sponsored by the Chapter on the following evenings. This new "dry-rush' format attracts a better quality man than the previous "wet" functions and the brothers are more personable with the rushees. Such things as poker, pool, foosball, volleyball and basketball tournaments coupled with rush dinners provided many opportunities for meeting the potential members.
We extended bids to twelve gentlemen and eight accepted (6 from Pa., 1 from N.J. and 1 from Va.)with one deferring to spring semester. We have set our goals for more biddees in spring and if you have a son or an acquaintance that would like to be a Theta Chi, please contact the chapter and we will do our best to show him what it means to be a brother of Omega.
Omega Facts
Although Penn State had their worst year in football in many years, Omega has had one of their best:
Chapter has 49 brothers and 8 pledges.
Finished 27th out of 52 fraternities in academics.
Finished 9th in I.M. sports, 8th in Greek Week and 3rd overall for Homecoming events.
Four brothers hold five positions in the I.F.C.
Attended the Theta Chi National Convention in Atlanta in August.
Participated in initiation of the new Theta Chi Colony at Bloomsburg University.
Was one of the fraternities involved in the "TKE TAAP Out" where no alcohol was consumed at the house for a week to promote alcohol awareness.
Had members in the I.F.C. Dance Marathon.
Thank you to all those brothers that shared their news.
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