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Something Great is Happening at Your Fraternity Our Actives continue to do the impossible! Two years ago your fraternity was a disaster - bankrupt with no Alumni support and only days away from being demolished. The challenges were overwhelming. Any rational person looking at the facts, like our previous board members, would conclude that it was impossible to save our chapter. If you talked to Business Consultants, Management Consultants, or Professional Fundraisers, you'd get the same answer - that it was impossible to save our fraternity. Even so, a small group of Actives and Alumni took on the impossible task of not just saving our fraternity, but making it the best fraternity on the Penn Sate Campus within 5 years.
The typical response to a situation like ours is to come in and "lay-down-the-law". To weed out the trouble-makers and impose a strict set of rules with punishments for those who don't comply. To dictate a code of conduct followed-up with a bunch of unnecessary paperwork, checklists, and stifling bureaucracy. We chose to do the exact opposite. Rather than act as police and babysitters, we chose instead to be teachers, mentors, and role models. Rather than imposing a strict set of rules, we empowered the Actives to make their own rules. Rather than telling our Actives what they can't do, we decided to teach them what they can do - the sheer power they have when they learn to work together and build on each others strengths.
The reason for our approach is simple. We're not looking for a bunch of "nice guys" or a bunch of well-behaved, obedient, brain-dead, wimps that have all the ambition and drive to graduate and live with their parents while they take time to decide what they want to do with their lives - as seems to be the trend these days. Instead our goal is to turn The Pennsylvania Chapter of Phi Delta Theta into a breeding ground of leaders. Men with a strong foundation of character and integrity. Men who know how to enjoy and get the most out of life. Men who know how to work together to solve complex problems. Men with passion and the ability to inspire others. Leaders who are ready, willing, and able to graduate and help solve the many impossible problems facing our country today.
We're now just entering the third year of our five year, Return to Glory Campaign. Based on hard data, like our record Fall Pledge Class of 21 new Freshmen and 1 Sophomore, it's clear that our plan is working. Our visions and dreams are turning into reality. There is now no doubt that PA Theta will emerge as the best fraternity on the Penn Sate Campus and a model for all others to follow. A well-rounded house that leads the campus in all aspects of college life - social, academics, philanthropy, activities, athletics, and leadership - but most importantly, a breeding ground for the future leaders of this country. Make no mistake about it, something great is happening at Pennsylvania Theta.
Alumni See First-Hand the Power, Spirit, and Potential in the New PA Theta Congratulations to our Classes '61-'65 for holding one of the most successful reunions in Phi History this past August. A complete report will be in a major update later this year. The following are excerpts from a couple post-reunion e-mails. John H. Carnwath '63 writes... Twenty five “Brothers in the Bond” made the trip to Toftress for our reunion on August 4th-6th. It was the first time many of us had seen one another for over 40 years... Saturday morning we roused the troops for breakfast at 8:00 am and Randy Thompson '83 gave a great presentation on where he thought things were headed. I must say it was impressive to hear what the young men had done saving the house from the sale of the property to The University and putting a game plan together that was truly unique. They will have a full class of freshman this year and plans are underway to do the same every year.
The house is now managed by the brothers,
similar to the way we ran things in the old days, and brothers
have become shareholders in a “turn around” business
venture. I must say that this approach is truly unique at PSU
and should serve as the model by which other fraternities will
follow. It is an awesome tool to recruit the “best of the
best” young men. After years of heavy financial losses,
the house is almost showing a positive cash flow and the brothers
have “board meetings” to assure they are on track.
One could not come way from such a meeting without being impressed.
John Coult ‘61 writes ... At the Friday evening cocktail party, the discussion quickly turned to the future of our fraternity. There was talk of plans to tear down our chapter house and build a replica in its place, having bathrooms that not only offered a little privacy, but had fixtures that actually worked. Sure, a nice thought, but to me a new House sure seemed far removed from reality. I voiced my pessimism that any real support could be drummed up from the alumni for such a hopeless endeavor. Then at breakfast the next morning, Randy Thompson with the help of several Actives, recent Alumni, and Advisors, stunned me with their presentation of the Return to Glory program that they have been driving for the last two years at the Chapter - how the actives now “own” the Chapter, run it like a business, have regular shareholder meetings, and are so enthusiastic they can barely sleep. How they're now responsible for the bottom line, run their own P&L statements, and maintain all other financial records.
As I listened, I remember thinking, “These young men will leave Penn State responsible, mature, and prepared to run a business.” We met a number of the actives and were impressed with their maturity and excitement about “their” House. They even have their own professional “business” cards bearing a handsome sketch of the House. I urge all brother alumni to get involved
and grab the new spirit that is emanating from Pennsylvania Theta
as we enter the third incredible year of the Return to Glory turnaround!
I am convinced that when the Return to Glory program is running
on all cylinders, Pennsylvania Theta will be unique and a model
fraternity chapter, not just at Penn State, but at any university.
Recent Graduates Form Scholarship to Honor One of Our Best Paul Silber '06 and Phil Donegan '05 announce the Adam Michael Hampton Memorial Scholarship One of the reasons we've been able to make so much progress so fast is due to the quality of the small group of Actives we started with in 2004. We understand that we have a brother named Adam Michael Hampton to thank for much of that. In the words of his best friend, Phil Donegan '05 - Brother Adam Michael Hampton, bond number 1398, pledged in the Fall of 2001. Everyone that pledged in this class had a dream to turn Phi Delta Theta around. At the time there were less than 20 brothers. Adam recognized the value of our location and worked creatively and with a passionate drive to make Phi Delta Theta the best fraternity on campus. From setting up creative functions with the popular sororities, to brother functions that brought us all closer together, Adam did it all. Sometimes his grades would suffer but still, he never gave up. The perfect combination of meat head, pretty boy and kindness made Adam almost impossible not to like. Adam rushed diligently and most people who jointed between the Fall 2002 and December 2003 had some kind of influence from him. He always had his hand in something that was going to better the house. The fraternity letters on the pillars, current look of the penthouse and fresh sand in the volleyball court were just some of his accomplishments.
Unfortunately, Adam never got a chance to finish the work he started. Adam died in a car accident on January 4th, 2004 on his way to work over Christmas break. Remarkably the only thing at the accident site still intact from his car was his Phi Delta Theta sticker show above. Even though Adam is gone now, I still see him in each brother when I visit. His attitude and legacy has been passed from class to class since he left us. Adam would be honored and proud to see how the house has progressed. Paul and Phil will be awarding the first Scholarship in Adam's name at our Homecoming Stockholders meeting. To contribute to the fund, make a pledge in the form below and follow the instructions to make a payment to our Educational Foundation.
Thanks for Keeping the Dream Alive! Record donations to our Annual Fund kept us in business the last two years Yes, our Actives have done all the heavy lifting, but none of this could have been possible without the record donations to our Annual Fund in the last two years. Special thanks to all who contributed. Please know that your generous donations made a real difference - our chapter would not exist and our Actives would not have this opportunity without them - Thank you. Please continue to support our efforts thru our Annual Fund this year. Your donations are still critical to our continued success. Donations this years will go towards...
Calling all Alumni! - To Those Who are Ready to Get Involved and Help It's time to follow the great example set by our Actives Most of our incredible progress over the last two years has been driven by the hard work and sheer determination of our Actives. We're now seeking Alumni ready to follow their example. We are currently seeking volunteers to serve on our new Alumni Corporation Board of Directors to help take us to the next level. Our Actives have proven that our Brotherhood is here to stay. We're now ready to address the challenges of our physical plant to ensure they have a place to live and thrive for another 100 years.
We are seeking volunteers that are ready to roll up their sleeves and pitch in with the same passion and commitment as demonstrated by our actives. We need knowledge, expertise, and help in all areas (Finance, Legal, Fundraising, Negotiating, Public Relations, Sales & Marketing, Graphic Design, Printing, Architecture, Engineering, Construction, Real Estate Development, Knowledge of our Physical Plant and current situation, and a few connections at Penn State wouldn't hurt either). We're also seeking representatives from all classes. Let us know if you want to help using the form below and we will contact you shortly. For those of you who are willing, this is a chance to make a real difference. Just think of the lives that were changed (including yours) by the work our founders did 100 years ago. This is a chance to do the same - to have a profound impact on future generations and the future leaders of our country. I will transmit the fraternity
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Yes - Great Job All! Congratulations on great Recruitment success
