December 1948 Loudspeaker
As we wanted to shout a little louder than the Omegaphone - there was only one thing to do - get a LOUDSPEAKER - so here it is. This news sheet will be published "sometimes" by the Alumni Corporation of Omega Chapter - Theta Chi of Penn State - so lend your ears and eyes for this first issue.
Thirty-Fifth Anniversary
No matter how you look at it, 35 is a lot of years - so your Directors decided it was worthy of a celebration. So mark this date on your calendar - APRIL 23, 1949.
On this date we will revive the custom of our Theta Chi Spring Alumni Day and meet at Omega Chapter for a BIG celebration. The Northeast Club, forerunner of Omega Chapter, was founded in 1914 which gives us the 35 years, and Omega Chapter was installed on March 14, 1919, thirty years ago.
A lot of watev has gone over the Omega dam since then. The chapter has acquired an alumni membership of over 500, the college has grown from an enrollment of 1,500 to an on campus enrollment of over 10,000, and Theta Chi has grown from a struggling fraternity of 24 chapters to one of the leading fraternities on the American campus with 82 active chapters mild 10 colonies and petitioning groups which will probably be taken in this year.
Our celebration will take the form of an informal open house all day on Saturday with trips arranged to various campus buildings for those interested, probably a college athletic contest or meet in the afternoon, a dinner in the evening followed by a meeting of the Alumni Corporation. The active chapter is going over-board in making preparations for this - the largest gathering of Omega men ever held. There will be special entertainment, prominent college and fraternity guests, presentation of awards, burning of the second mortgage, prize drawings, and many other things to interest and amuse you.
So mark down the date and plan to attend. Details later as to hf,using, cost, reservations, etc. Make a date at Penn State for APRIL 23, 1949
Omega Fund Drive
During the war years the Alumni Corporation trek a beating financially. Norm Horner, the Alumni Corporation Treasurer, through careful management and intelligent planning managed to save the house, but it was tough sledding for a while with everything going out and little coming in. Money was not available for upkeep and repairs. Now that things are back to normal repairs are being made as money becomes available. The house has been painted, plumbing repairs have been made, and other things have been done. There is still much to do. We have not been able to accumulate sufficient money to purchase badly needed furniture for the club room. Drapes are needed, lamps, rugs, and other things. Our house makes a poor appearance in comparison with other houses on the campus.
Last year the Active Chapter started a fund drive in an effort to secure money for furniture and other things. The drive got off to a poor start and wasn't followed through. In spite of that a total of $1,085.07 was raised and placed in a special account.
Alumni Contributions
The following alumni have contributed to the Fund: Stapleton, Kreider (2), Horner, Chapman, Bristol, Ciallela, F. Grun (2), Rauch, Blackwell, N. Miller, Gilmore, R. Grun, W. Grun (2), Geary, Frankenfield, Alter, Tingle, McEvoy, Willard, Wallace.
Purpose of Fund
You'll naturally be interested in what the money you contribute will be used for. Here it is: Rugs for club room, $1,000.00; Drapes for club room, music room, and landing, $500.00; Furniture for club and music rooms in-cluding four davenports, two chairs, four lamp tables, two table lamps, four floor lamps, six smoking stands, one credenza (for foyer) one mirror, one magazine table, etc., $2.060.00; paint for first floor, $50.00, or a grand total of $3,630.00. This is a minimum requirement. Additional money will permit us to do other things.
The rugs have already been ordered. Through the kindness and interest of John Irwin we were able to buy these at wholesale prices at a great saving. The boys expect to do most of the painting, thus saving considerable in labor costs. We expect to spend the money as it comes in, getting what furniture our funds will permit.
We Need Your Help
The Directors of the Corporation have now taken over this drive for funds. In the 35 years of our existence we have seldom, if ever, asked for financial contributions. Some Alumni Corporations put on fund drives every year, some have alumni dues, some have active members sign notes payable after the man has graduated. We collected money during the War for publications of the Wartime Omegaphone, but we are sure nobody objects to the money contributed to this worthy cause. In addition to publishing the Wartime Omegaphone, Abe Doan used the money to retire a couple of second mortgage bonds, erect a bronze memorial plaque to the five Omega men who lost their lives, and to purchase $1,000.00 in war bonds which were turned over to the Alumni Corporation to be held for future emergency use, and turned the balance of $134.97 over to the furniture fund.
Now there is no sense in establishing quotas, or trying to tell each man how much to give. That's your personal business. Give as much as your interest and your finances permit you to give. Let's get the chapter what it needs and more - but let's do it quickly. Send what you can - but send it now. Make your checks out to OMEGA FUND and mail in the enclosed envelope. Each contribution will be acknowl-edged, and those contributing will be listed in the next issue of the LOURSPEAKER.
NFWS
We're sorry but we have little news to pass on now. Send us information about yourself so we can include it in the next issue.---Norm Horner has resigned as Alumni Treasurer after more than 20 years service. He just completed a term as President of the National Board of Trustees. His place as Alumni Treasurer has been taken by Al Frey---George Chapman is Executive Secretary of the Fraternity ---Murrell McKinstry and Bill Lange are Deputy Regional Counselors for the Fraternity in the Pennsylvania Region -- At the present time Penn State is in 4th place scholastically of all colleges in the country, First and second place are held by schools with less than 500 enrollment --- Our chapter didn't help much in this, being 33rd out of 40 fraternities---The Alumni Award was presented to Abe Doan by the Grand Chapter for his wartime efforts in the chapter's behalf --- This award was also presented to Norm Horner at the Boston Convention in September --- The Fraternity now has 82 active chapters - Reactivation has been started at Nebraska U. and U. of West Virginia --- We have flourishing colonies at Florida State, U. of Georgia, Randolph Macon, Bradley, Drake, and Vanderbilt. Petitions are on hand from Duke, and and Buffalo U., and two more petitions are on the way --- Most of these chapters will come in before the close of school if all goes well.
Thank you to all those brothers that shared their news.
Checkout past issues of the Omegaphone by clicking here.