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| Disclaimer: This site is by and for the Alumni of the Pennsylvania Theta Chapter of Phi Delta Theta at Penn State that had it’s charter suspended on December 7th, 2007 by the General Council of Phi Delta Theta. We are complying with the rules of the suspension as we understand them and are not pretending to be or trying to represent that we are an active chapter of Phi Delta Theta in any way. This site is not affiliated with Phi Delta Theta and is not endorsed or supported by Phi Delta Theta. Like most of the content on this site, this page was written and submitted prior to the suspension on December 7th, 2007. We now acknowledge that, because of the suspension, there are no "Actives" or "Active Chapter" of Phi Delta Theta at Penn State. However, our Alumni need to continue to raise money for our Annual Fund to maintain our house and property which is owned by our Alumni Corporation. Click here for more...
Brother Phi, Thanks to all who contributed to our Annual Fund in the last 3 years. In total, we received record gifts in excess of $65,000. These generous gifts saved our fraternity. Every dollar mattered and made a real difference in the lives of our Actives - not just the current undergraduates, but also for our new brothers for many years to come. When we started just three years ago we were bankrupt with annual losses of over $70,000. Our house had deteriorated to the point its legal capacity was about 20, far below our break-even point of about 35. It's a constant struggle to stay ahead of repairs on the house and the guys are doing a terrific job and taking pride in their accomplishments. Thanks to the hard work and ingenuity of our Actives in combination with your generous gifts, we are now operating in the black once again - something considered impossible just 3 years ago. As you probably know by now, the reason for our incredible turn-around is because we've treated our Actives like adults and empowered them to run our entire organization, under our guidance, training, and support. Now treated as owners rather than tenants they've worked very hard on the house doing most of the repairs themselves - spending over $25,000 just at Lowe's in the last 3 years. Now with a complete understanding of our financial's and complete P & L responsibility, they make sure our house is always full to capacity and operating with a profit. Click here to download the complete Financial Report that was presented by our Treasurer, Eli Bohemond '09 at our Blue/White Stockholders Meeting last April. It contains a very detailed Chart of Accounts so you can tell exactly where every dollar was received and spent, including your generous gifts to our Annual Fund. Our Actives will continue to publish detailed Financial Reports and present them at our Stockholders Meetings so you will always know the exact financial status of our chapter.
To be very clear, under our new Chapter Management Plan, our Actives are now responsible for every number on this Financial Statement including your gifts to our Annual Fund. They are now responsible for soliciting your gifts as well as deciding how the money is spent. Below is their case for you to contribute to this year's Annual Fund. If you like what they're doing, please contribute. If you don't please tell them why and give them a chance to address your concerns. They need your continued support and feedback. Yours in the Bond,
The Active Chapter Has Big Plans for Our Fraternity this year! by Kevin Haslam '10 on behalf of the Actives 2007-08 As you know, the Active Chapter and its Alumni supporters have completely turned around PA Theta, progressing in ways most couldn't even fathom just three years ago. Recruitment numbers are up 61% since 2003, the year that 240 North Burrowes neared its demise. We started this year with 45 brothers living in the house, a huge improvement over the 18 we started with just 3 years ago. After losing money for the last seven years, we reported our first profit this year, something that was considered impossible just 3 years ago.
PA Theta prides itself on doing its own handy-work. Our house manager program is among the best - employing a hands-on approach to fixing some of the house's most pesky problems. Our house management team and the other actives frequent Lowe's so much that the employees know them by name! The house GPA has increased every year and our Intramural Sports records are among the best they've ever been. So many actives wish to be involved in the house that we've created new positions, which range from Auditor (the Treasurer's right hand man) to University Relations Chairman (responsible for notifying and involving brothers in big executive positions in Penn State's most prominent organizations). With all of that said, our eyes are not fixated on the past, although we can never forget it. We're looking to the future - driving towards perfection, hoping to become a model for all fraternities to follow. None of this could be accomplished without your support. Many thanks to the following who's generous contributions to our Annual Fund In the last 3 years made this all possible...
We still have a lot of work to do and we need your support! After breaking Rush records in the last 2 years, we started this year with 45 brothers living in the house - the most since some time in the early 90's and more than double what we started with just 3 years ago. More people means more manpower, but also compounds many of our issues that need to be addressed. The following is a list of projects and priorities that contributions to this year's Annual Fund will help support...
Our Bathrooms still need a lot of work A little privacy perhaps... We've told you about the great things happening at PA Theta, but there are some things we're not so proud of - our famous bathrooms. Even after all the work we've done on the bathrooms in the last 3 years, many still need a lot of work. All the problems are compounded now that we have 45 guys in the house.
We think (hope) we have most of the leaks repaired now. Here is a brief list of what still needs to be taken care of in various bathrooms:
We've focused on the priorities, an accomplished a lot in the bathrooms to make most of them usable, but we need to do much more now with 45 guys in the house.
Sharon & Her Kitchen Now cooking for 45, Sharon needs more supplies and equipment At the beginning of the school year, we bought Sharon a number of new appliances for the kitchen on e-bay for about $5,000. These items include an electric oven, a microwave, a refrigerator and a deep fryer. We also purchased and installed metal shelving to make things easier. However, one of the biggest things on Sharon's wish list is a new dishwasher. Our current dishwasher has seen better days - possibly when you were in school. We'd also like to give Sharon another raise and Christmas Bonus this year.
The Basement & the Crest Room The Fall Pledge Class did a great job refinishing a large part of the Basement last year and cleaning the crest room. But the job is not complete. We hope to have the funds available this year to finish the job and complete many much needed repairs.
First Floor Furniture We started three years ago with little to no furniture on the first floor. We've been doing the best we can with the limited funds available. We were able to replace most of the $6 Sam's Club dining room chairs purchased in '04 with the $18 version last year. We also were able to purchase some couches at an apartment sale last year. We're hoping to have sufficient funds to purchase more and better quality furniture this year.
Hardwood Flooring Over time, the hardwood floors on the first floor have grown worn and scratched. We hope to have sufficient funds to strip and refinish the hardwood flooring and repaint the faded crest. This project should be fairly simple given the man-power that we now have.
Scholarships from our Educational Foundation for our Top Performers... Inspiration, Recognition and Rewards are a key component in our new Chapter Management Plan Thanks to your generous contributions to our Annual Fund, we've been able to award over $10,000 in scholarships to our outstanding Active Leaders in the past 3 years. A very special thanks to Harry Allen '63 for his major contribution last year. We'd also like to thank Jack Cosgrove '38 once again, for his vision and all his hard work in establishing the Pennsylvania Theta Educational Foundation. With your help, we hope to award the following scholarships each and every year to our top performers...
Phi of the Year This award will honor the year's most dedicated Phi. Any active is eligible to win this prestigious accolade. Nominees must display dedication, leadership and the qualities that make an outstanding brother. A monetary award and plaque will be presented to the winner. Phi Delta Theta Member-At-Large The member at large may not hold significant positions, but is a well-respected member of the chapter and has a big voice in chapter relations. Aside from a monetary award and plaque, the Member-At-Large gets that title for the year and is named to the executive board. Phi Delta Theta Outstanding Community Service Award This member has shown his dedication to not only PA Theta, but also the community, by participating in, or running multiple philanthropic evens on and off campus. It may not be awarded to the chapter's Philanthropy Chairman.
Phi Delta Theta Academic Achievement Award Sound Learning is one of the three cardinal principles this fraternity was based on. This award goes to the member with the highest GPA in the house. This member is expected to be an integral part of the Scholarship Chairman's agenda (if he's not the Scholarship Chairman, already), and represents the house well because of his academic achievements. Adam M. Hampton Award This award is decided by those who donate to this specific award (those who had the privilege of knowing and sharing this brotherhood with Adam). Qualifications include dedication to the house's progress and being a difference-maker socially and collectively. Phi Delta Theta University Involvement Award This member represents the house well from a public standpoint. He has most likely taken one or more positions in the Intrafraternity Council, Homecoming Committee, THON, University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA, student government) and/or subsequent university committees. This absolutely gives PA Theta an advantage over many organizations on campus. Phi Delta Theta Hard Hat Award This member spends/spent a significant amount of time out of his day to better the condition of the house. The House Manager may win this award, but he must exude major dedication to the position. Thanks for your support! We can't do it without you!
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