2023 Spring Meeting Minutes

Meeting Called to Order - Sunday, April 23, 2023 – 1:00 pm

Alumni Attendees:

  • Br. C. Bartnik

  • Br. J. Damcot

  • Br. J. Hoffman * 

  • Br. J. Marshall

  • Br. C. Scheible*

  • Br. A. Speagle*

  • Br. E. Wallace*

*Alumni board member 

REPORTS

Undergraduate Reports

  • As of spring 2023, the cumulative chapter GPA is 3.18, right below the IFC average

  • The chapter has 39 brothers as of next week (04/28), with only 1 graduating in May

    • 19 brothers are expected to be living in-house in fall 2024

  • Accomplishments for the 2022/2023 Academic year:

    • Homecoming champions in Fall 2022

    • Greek Sing runners-up

    • THON total: > $21,000

    • Br. K. Sobczak is the Overall THON Executive Committee’s Supply Logistics chair for 2023-24

Alumni Reports

  • The state of the chapter has stabilized, and the undergrads and Alumni Board are excited for the future

  • The Board extends its deepest gratitude to those who have contributed time or funds over the past few years to get us through a chapter restart, vacancy, and COVID. We could not have survived without your support

  • House-related upgrades recently accomplished:

    • Fixed the routers issue and obtained upgraded Wi-Fi mesh system

    • Purchased new couches/furniture to welcome residents back

    • Re-felted and refinished the pool table

    • New laundry machines

    • Purchased and began install of exterior security CCTV system

Financials

  • Alumni Accounts

    • The Board is now sufficiently funded for several months’ expenses, including a large tax bill and this year’s mortgage payments

    • Normal mortgage payments have resumed as of January 2023

      • A sizable mortgage principal remains outstanding with Norwich

    • 6-12 Month Outlook

      • Rebuilding funding - needed now as there are more brothers in-house

      • Norwich Housing Corporation [the mortgage owner, National] is being extremely flexible, in no small part due to Br. Alter’s legacy.

New Business

  • The Board is transitioning to a more forward-looking stance now that the chapter financials and membership numbers have stabilized.

  • 2-5 year Outlook – Rekindle/build alumni relationships & involvement

    • Increased focus on alumni engagement:

      • Alumni group events – please tell the board if you have outings/or trips with your fellow alumni!

      • Social media outreach

      • Encouragement to visit chapter house & meet undergraduates

      • House improvement work (carpet replacement, landscaping, painting, etc.)

      • Alumni & undergraduate shared events/activities

    • WE NEED YOUR HELP - The Board is looking for brothers with background or strengths in PR or outreach that is willing to help coordinate alumni engagement. 

    • The Board will continue to make small improvements/repairs to the property to ensure the house is safe, as comfortable as possible for undergraduates, but substantial renovations are needed.

  • 5-7 year outlook – Chapter house revitalization

    • Formal fundraising period – Focus on substantial chapter house repairs and improvements to support the next 100 years of Omega

      • Bathrooms, Kitchen, Plumbing, electrical, insulation, brick re-pointing, mechanical systems, all need replacement and modernization

      • Board will hold several open discussions to gather input for items/changes that will be set as goals for fundraiser

      • The Board will leverage any and all alumnus brother connections to the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry to help plan and enact these updates

      • Br. Bartnik asked if there were any historical societies that could provide money or support

      • Br. Bartnik’s wife knows a preservation firm in Hollidaysburg that could assist

      • The Society for the Preservation of Greek Housing (SPGH) is a potential option

  • Communications

    • Steve in Portland reach-out per Br. Bartnik

    • Br. Bartnik will be assisting the alumni board of The University of Tennessee - Knoxville chapter with founding & chapter building

    • Br. Rich Green needs a kidney transplant

  • Awards/Recognition - Alumni

  • Chapter Eternal

    • Br. Dick Jones—Memorial Service in Connecticut is to be held, Br. Speagle to attend

Open Discussion:

  • N/A

Decisions:

  • N/A

Actions:

  • N/A

For the Good

  • Manny Diaz, the current Penn State defensive coordinator, is a Theta Chi from the University of Miami

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