Phi Kaps Initiated into the Order of Omega

Congratulations to all of those members who were recently initiated in the Order of Omega.

• Download the PKT Order of Omega 2010 list of initiated Phi Kaps.

Leadership Institute 2010 Registration Closes This Week!

Registration for the 2010 Leadership Institute closes this week! July 9th is the last day to register your chapter for this educational event. Register now!

Not Yet Registered:

• St. Francis

Registered

• Belmont Abbey College
• Buffalo
• Carnegie Mellon University
• Case Western
• Cincinnati
• Detroit Mercy
• Duquesne
• Eastern Illinois
• Georgia
• Georgia Institute of Technology
• George Mason University
• Iowa State University
• Kansas State University
• Lehigh University
• Lewis University
• Louisiana @ Lafayette
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Merrimack College
• Michigan Technological University
• Missouri University of Science and Technology
• Nicholls State
• Northern Illinois University
• Ohio University
• Ohio State University
• Pennsylvania State University
• Pittsburgh
• Purdue University
• Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
• Saint Louis University
• San Diego State University
• Seton Hall University
• Syracuse University
• Temple University
• Texas A&M University
• Texas Pan Am
• Trine University
• Truman State University
• University of Cincinnati
• University of Georgia
• University of Massachusetts at Darmouth
• University of Missouri at Columbia
• University of Nebraska at Lincoln
• University of New Hampshire
• University of Pittsburgh
• University of San Diego
• University of South Dakota
• Washington
• Washington State University
• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Phi Kappa Theta Hires Assistant Director of Development for the Foundation

Phi Kappa Theta Foundation announces the recent hire of Allyson Clarkson to serve as the National Foundation’s new Assistant Director of Development.  Prior to this appointment, Allyson had previously been working part time with the National Foundation as the Development Assistant.

Allyson’s primary role will be to work with Phi Kappa Theta’s Leadership to manage the National Foundation’s Annual Fund efforts.  In addition, Allyson will work closely to grow the engagement of alumni and collegiate members by supporting Phi Kappa Theta’s communication efforts and regionally based groups throughout the year.

“Phi Kappa Theta continues to invest resources into further developing our national and regionally based networks.” said Executive Vice President, Robert Riggs.  ”By bringing on Allyson full time, we will now have the support staff that we’ve needed to assist us in building those networks successfully.  We look forward to continuing to serve our members to the best of our abilities.”

Allyson graduated in May of 2001 from Centre College with a Bachelor of Arts in Music. As a charter member of the Gamma Psi chapter of the Delta Omicron International Music Fraternity, she remains active in music through her church’s music program, both with voice and flute.

Phi Kappa Theta actively develops men to effectively lead and passionately serve their society, fraternity and God. Phi Kappa Theta recently celebrated the 120th anniversary of its founding and the 50th anniversary of the merger of two fraternities – Theta Kappa Phi and Phi Kappa. The United Fraternity has nearly 1,500 collegiate members and more than 30,000 living alumni.

For more information, contact Robert Riggs, Executive Vice President, Phi Kappa Theta Fraternity, at 317-872-9934 or rriggs@phikaps.org.

PKTDC 1st Annual Golf Outing

On May 15, 2010, The Washington DC Area Alumni Association held the 1st Annual Golf Tournament to benefit the U.S.O. The event was held at the scenic Bristow Manor Golf Course in Bristow, VA, and was a great success. A great time was had by all with brothers from multiple Phi Kappa Theta chapters, family members, and friends, all in attendance. The course was pristine, the staff warm, and Club Manager Chris Wyant, made all participants feel at home on the course. The fund-raising portion was successful and we were able to raise a generous donation for the U.S.O., to be made in the name of our fallen brother Tom Brown, who was killed in Iraq in 2008.

We are looking forward to planning the 2nd Annual Golf Tournament next year, and we encourage brothers in the D.C. Metro area who would like to attend, or help with the planning to become involved with the association. We can be reached through out website, www.PKTDC.org, or by email at: cfmessina@hotmail.com. We look forward to seeing you all again at next year’s tournament, and hope those of you who were not able to participate this year will come out next Spring.

Fraternally,

Chris Messina
President
Washington DC Area Phi Kappa Theta Alumni Association

Leadership Institute 2010 Registration Now Open!

The Fraternity is excited to announce that the 2010 Leadership Institute will be held at the Millennium Hotel in St. Louis, Missouri August 5-8, 2010. Programming will be enhanced to provide experiences in each of the developmental areas and includes an outing to the City Museum with exclusive access to exhibits. Leadership Institute will also feature a collection drive to support Annie Malone’s Transitional Living Program. Information about the weekend including the full agenda, the collection drive, and registration is available now.

• Visit the LI2010 page

Dan Bureau Receives Sue Kraft Fussell Distinguished Service Award from the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors

During the 2009 Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors (AFA) Annual Meeting in Jacksonville, FL, Dan Bureau received the Sue Kraft Fussell Distinguished Service Award from the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors.

The Association’s Distinguished Service Awards were established in 1985 to recognize those individuals who have exhibited professional standards and achievement in men’s and women’s fraternity advising, as well as outstanding achievement in various other areas including campus programming, development and research activities, and service to the college community. In 2006, the award was renamed for AFA’s Executive Director, Sue Kraft Fussell, in honor other many talents, contributions, and leadership, her strong work ethic, commitment to the Association, dedication to our vision of a unified fraternal movement, and in recognition of her many years of distinguished service.

Bureau served as the President of the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors in 2004 and has been a volunteer for the Association since he joined. In addition to his service to the Association, Dan has served on the Board of Directors for Phi Kappa Theta and Gamma Sigma Alpha. Dan is also extremely involved with hazing prevention and promoting discussions on the topic of fraternal relevance.

One nominator states, “Dan is visionary, progressive, intelligent, and determined, yet oddly humble, humorous, and grounded. He is truly an educator, an advocate, an innovator, and a friend!”

Through his contributions to the fraternal relevance movement, Dan takes on a significant leadership role. One nominator writes, “With his challenging style, questions raised, and inspirational conversations, Dan is leading a new generation of staff, volunteers, and campus professionals to examine our collective relevance.”

The Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors (AFA) is a multifaceted professional organization providing resources, recognition, and support for approximately 1,600 fraternity and sorority professionals and volunteers from across the United States and Canada. Approximately 1,050 people attended the 2009 AFA Annual Meeting. For more information about AFA, please visit our website at www.fraternityadvisors.org

In Memoriam: Donald P. Merrifield, S.J. of LMU

For hundreds of Phi Kap Alumni, Brother Don was the face of PKT at LMU. Ten years ago he was celebrated as Phi Kappa Theta’s “Man of The Year” at San Diego National Convention.

In Memoriam (Taken from the Alumni E-Message LMU/LA)

It is with great sadness that I inform you of the death of Donald P. Merrifield, S.J. Father Merrifield passed away today in San Jose, Calif., at the age of 81.

Father Merrifield was the 11th president of Loyola University and the first president of the merged Loyola University and Marymount College in 1973. That alone would make him a pivotal figure of this institution. But beyond that part of history, so much of the university we see today is the result of his efforts. Deeper still, he helped develop the character of LMU and all those who study and work here.

Father Merrifield’s tenure as president was from 1969 to 1984. In those 15 years, he oversaw the construction of 13 buildings on campus, including the Leavey Faculty Center, the Von der Ahe Communication Arts Building, Loyola Apartments, Bird Nest, Eugenie Hannon Apartments, Doolan Hall, Gersten Pavilion, George Page Baseball Stadium, Burns Fine Art Center and Laband Art Gallery. The view from any corner of our campus will take in the influence of Father Merrifield.

No less characteristic was his passion for diversity and inclusive education. Merrifield oversaw financial aid initiatives, the creation of scholarships and recruiting drives to increase the presence of students of color on campus. Under his leadership, the university set up its first support services office for minority students and added to the curriculum courses on African American and Chicano/Latino studies. Merrifield was instrumental in the formation of the Mexican American Alumni Association in 1981. MAAA is still an integral part of the university; its top scholastic award is the Donald P. Merrifield Scholarship. Look at the many, varied faces on our campus and you see the influence of Father Merrifield.

He was also passionate about dialogue between religions and helped establish the first Interfaith Group on campus. So committed was Father Merrifield to this concept, when he was inaugurated in 1969, he turned to Rabbi Alfred Wolf to give the invocation.

Father Merrifield was born Nov. 14, 1928, in Los Angeles and graduated from Inglewood High School. He earned his Bachelor of Science in physics from Caltech, his master’s degree from the University of Notre Dame and his doctorate in physics from MIT. He joined the Society of Jesus in 1951 and was ordained at Blessed Sacrament in Hollywood in 1965. Father Merrifield taught physics at Santa Clara University and the University of San Francisco. He was also a consultant to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts in honor of Father Merrifield may be sent to: Loyola Marymount University, Attn: Alma Vorst, 1 LMU Drive, Suite 2800, Los Angeles, CA 90045-2659. There will be a memorial Mass celebrated for Father Merrifield on Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 12:00 p.m. in Sacred Heart Chapel on the LMU campus.  Additional information will be made available at www.lmu.edu/merrifield.

Father Merrifield expanded and enriched LMU and we are forever blessed by him and his work.

Sincerely,
Robert B. Lawton, S.J.

Two Phi Kap brothers participate in IFC Academy

LEARNING MODELS FOR HIGH-PERFORMANCE IFC OPERATIONS

Two members of Phi Kappa Theta joined more than 150 Interfraternity Council (IFC) officers, advisors, chapter presidents, chapter delegates, and graduate advisors from 34 U.S. colleges and universities in participating in the 2010 IFC Academy, hosted Jan. 30 in Indianapolis by the North-American Interfraternity Conference (NIC).

The one-day, 14-hour program, focused participants on their role in developing high-performing IFCs – specifically the role of the IFC in serving the needs of its member fraternities, and the role the NIC Standards play in supporting high performance.

“The fraternities of the NIC operate by an agreed-upon set of standards,” said Peter D. Smithhisler, president and CEO of the NIC.  “Developed by the membership with the goal of helping younger members clearly understand what membership means, and helping older members understand their responsibility in teaching and modeling, the Standards provide an excellent co-curricular education for every member,” he said.

On campus, the IFC’s role is to understand and promote the Standards to the leadership of their member fraternities.  Individual chapter leaders hold responsibility for interpreting the Standards to their chapter members, explaining how they apply to the chapter’s individual mission and values.  While NIC standards encourage and support academic achievement; campus involvement and leadership; risk management on topics such as alcohol use, fire safety, hazing, and sexual abuse; the value of ritual; and the importance of communicating the value of education, career preparation, civic engagement, leadership development, values, and ethics, each chapter applies them differently to accommodate their individual fraternity’s mission and values.

At the Academy, Phi Kap brothers Mike Meloro and Sam Russell, both from Carnegie Mellon University, renewed their sense of commitment to the interfraternal community.  Each completed a personalized assessment of their own council effectiveness, and each developed a task list to work through once they return to campus.  Because open (year-round) recruitment of members and open (to any interested fraternity) expansion of chapters on a campus continue to be issues IFCs have difficulty understanding and explaining to their members, the two Phi Kap participants also learned how to identify restrictive clauses in their polices and, along with NIC professional staff, discussed ways to work with campus advisors and administrators to remove restrictive policies.

The Academy offered two tracks, one for officers responsible for marketing and public/member relations, and another for executive officers responsible for operation and stewardship.  Presenters included Josh Orendi, CEO of Phired UP Productions, who led the marketing/communication track; Ben Pendry, NIC vice president for advancement, who led the executives track; Marc Katz, past chairman of the NIC, who provided a legal update for council officers; Bob Marchesani, current NIC chairman, who focused on the importance of interfraternalism; and NIC Chairman and CEO Pete Smithhisler, who led the session on the value and importance NIC Standards hold for IFC operation.

Founded in 1909, the NIC is the trade association representing 73 international and national men’s fraternities.  Through advocacy, collaboration, and education, the NIC works to ensure that fraternities can operate in an environment conducive to their success.

Bottle Caps Provide Unique Medium for Colts Fan and Brother

Jennie Runevitch/Eyewitness News

A Colts creation is creating a lot of buzz for the Blue Crew. One local fan turned his love of the team into a work of art.

It’s perhaps the unusual set of supplies that makes the artwork so unique – bottle caps. They’re a staple of tailgating and often hit the trash after game day.

But Colts fan Nathan Rues (Missouri Mu ‘01) collected bottle caps and created a piece of art. The donated design, featuring a Colts horseshoe, now hangs proudly in the Blue Crew Sports Grill in Fishers.

Read more

UIFI 2010 Participant Applications Now Available

Greetings from the NIC.  On behalf of the NIC Staff, I am pleased to announce that participant applications for the 2010 Undergraduate Interfraternity Institute are now available at www.nicindy.org/programs/UIFI.

UIFI is the premier leadership development experience for undergraduate fraternity and sorority members and brings students together from across North America for an intensive five day institute.  At UIFI students are challenged to rethink the meaning and purpose of fraternity and sorority and provided the awareness and skills necessary to elevate their chapter, council, and community.  This summer, we are pleased to offer nine sessions of UIFI.  All sessions will be held at Indiana University in Bloomington, IN.

Please join us in spreading the word about UIFI 2010.  To send a UIFI postcard to students and colleagues, go to www.nicindy.org/programs/UIFI.  From there, you can view the dates and costs for UIFI 2010 and view a list of organizations that have previously provided scholarships to UIFI.  The 2010 scholarship list will be announced in the coming weeks.

Thank you for your support and please remember that there is still time to apply to serve as a facilitator for UIFI this summer.  Applications are due on February 28, 2010. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at your convenience or seek out an NIC Staff Member the upcoming AFLV, NGLA, and SEIFC Conferences.

Interfraternally,
Will Foran