Blue White Weekend '08

Bill Corbett '88 gives a big thumbs-up to our Treasurer Eli Bohemond '09 as he presents our financial's showing our first profit in over 7 years

Just one year ago, the Pennsylvania Theta Chapter of Phi Delta Theta was on a roll. We were just finishing the 3rd year of our 5-year Return to Glory Campaign to make our chapter the top fraternity in the country and a model for all others to follow.

At our Blue-White Stockholders Meeting last Spring, our Active Chapter President, Dave Dunn '08, proudly took the stage and opened the meeting by listing our chapter's incredible accomplishments and explaining how our Actives worked together and solved the many problems facing our chapter that our Alumni had considered impossible to solve...

"Our outstanding House Managers have refurbished and restored the capacity of our house back to 45 members causing the Fire Inspector to report on his last visit, 'This is perhaps the best inspection I’ve ever done on a fraternity house!'"
"Our incredible Rush Teams have set all-time recruiting records resulting in our 2006-07 Composite containing more photos than any other Composite in PA Theta history."
"Our Vice Presidents led the charge to “fill the house”, so we’re starting Fall Semester 2007 at capacity, with 45 brothers living in the house - the most in over 15 years."
"Our Treasurers have have remained focused on our bottom line and just reported our first profit in 7 years proving that PA Theta is now financially viable - something previously considered impossible."
"Alumni of all ages are beginning to return once again, proud to say they are members of the Pennsylvania Theta Chapter of Phi Delta Theta."

A photo of the Award Applications Notebook we submitted to Headquarters for 17 Awards

Dave also reported that they just concluded a very successful 3 day visit with Jesse Moyer and Ken Colby from Phi Delta Theta General Headquarters. Dave reported that Jesse praised our chapter for all our many accomplishments and Ken followed-up the visit with a very positive Leadership Consultant Report. Dave also mentioned that they planned to devote much of the next 2 weeks to apply for GHQ awards for the first time in many years as suggested by Jesse and Ken.

Inspired by Jesse and Ken's visit, they developed and submitted an Awards Application Package worthy of our chapters great accomplishments. It's a 265 page notebook containing applications for 17 awards. As many of our brothers from other chapters have requested, we just unprotected this file so you can now download it without a password. This gives a good overview of our methods and accomplishments in the first 3 years of our Return To Glory Campaign.

Unfortunately, this is where our troubles began. Instead of even considering us for the awards we deserved at ELI last summer, the General Council put us on probation and tried to shut us down. They forced us to write a show cause letter to keep our charter and kept us on probation all through fall rush.

To this day, they will not give us a reason for this action. With no new alcohol violations, the only conceivable explanation is because they learned that our Actives dared to offer an exemption option to their Dry-Housing Policy at the convention this summer.

Now, just one year later, the General Council has suspended our charter and expelled all of our Actives along with our Alumni Corporation President and has threatened to sue us over copyright violations. GHQ has also informed us that they plan to start another chapter of Phi Delta Theta at Penn State with our Bond Book and Charter completely ignoring our chapter house, our alumni, and our 104 years of history on the Penn State campus.

Many thanks to all our brothers from other chapters who have contacted us and pledged to support us and our mission to stop the madness being perpetuated by Phi Delta Theta General Headquarters. Please join our undergraduates and our alumni for a beautiful weekend in State College as we work together in the sprit of our great fraternity and exemplify the true teachings of our bond.

Blue/White Stockholders Meeting - Saturday, April 19th, 2008 @ 9:00 AM
Come watch the Azure take-on the Argent to prepare us for another great century!

Can you join us? (everyone is welcome but only PA Theta Alumni can sign-up below since a password is required)

Our Stockholders Meetings are now part of our culture and a key component of our new Chapter Management Plan. Twice a year, at Homecoming Weekend in the Fall and Blue-White Weekend in the Spring, our Undergraduates are required to take the stage and present a comprehensive State of the Chapter Report covering all aspects of our chapter including a complete financial report.

Just by attending one meeting, you will know exactly how our chapter is doing. Our Actives want and need your knowledge, expertise, support and input. Alumni attendance is critical for our continued success.

If you haven't been back to Penn Sate for a while, one of the first things that will shock you is the brand new IST (Information Sciences and Technology) building that sits directly adjacent to our property. The IST building is designed to be the center point of the Penn State campus and is why our property is so valuable - now one of the most, if not the most valuable property on the Penn State Campus.

Just prior to Homecoming '04, Alumni Corporation President, Randy Thompson '83, asked Active Chapter Vice President, Elliott Skrinjar '05 to locate a screen and projector for the planned Homecoming Alumni Corporation presentation. Elliott, an IST major, had just listened to a presentation by Michael Dell in the brand new, sate-of-the-art Cybertorium in the IST Building. Elliott thought that this new high-tech venue might be a great location for our meetings and pitched the idea to his professor, Dr. Gerry Santoro. As it turns out, Dr. Santoro (a Penn State alum) was very familiar with our situation and gladly volunteered the Cybertorium for our meeting, stating something to the effect: “I was really happy that you guys were able to keep your house. I remember when I was in college and would come over to the Phi Delt house. I always had a great time over there.”