Here are some of the articles I’ve read over the past week:
The inaugural Phillip A. Cox Volunteer Institute honors Sigma Phi Epsilon’s immediate past Grand President. Cox served from 2013-15 while at the same time battling cancer. The institute was funded during the 2015 Conclave earlier this summer (see http://www.sigep.org/blog/sigeps-announces-phillip-a-cox-volunteer-institute.html). Six institutes are planned for this fall. The first took place in Bloomington, Indiana last week. The Indiana University chapter is the chapter nearest and dearest to Cox’s heart. He was initiated into the chapter and has worked closely with it over the years since his initiation. An article from the Indiana University student newspaper talks about the chapter’s relationship to Cox.(see http://www.idsnews.com/article/2015/09/phil).
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Teresa Mendez has spent 30 years living in the University of Illinois Delta Gamma chapter house. As House Director, she has been a surrogate mom to hundreds of Delta Gamma members. She is the longest serving GLO house director on the University of Illinois campus. At the end of the academic year, that distinction will go to someone else. Mendez, who became an alumna initiate of Delta Gamma, will retire (see http://www.news-gazette.com/living/2015-09-20/she-fits-dg-t.html).
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When the members of the Phi Kappa Psi chapter at UC Berkeley found out that the home of active member Jacob Gill was destroyed by one of the recent California wildfires, they quickly sprung into action and set up an on-line fundraising campaign. The home was also the location of the family business and the chapter knew that their brother’s college career might be in jeopardy. Gill’s father Tim is also a Phi Psi. He was initiated at California Polytechnic State University. The campaign started September 14 with a goal of $10,000. It closed eight days later with more than $16,000 collected from Phi Psi brothers and chapters across the country. The funds will be used to help pay for Jacob’s tuition, room and board expenses. (see http://www.phikappapsi.com/news/gillstory phi psi)
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Indiana State University recently honored the family of past National Panhellenic Conference Chairman (2005-07) Elizabeth “Betty” Ahlemeyer Quick, Gamma Phi Beta*. The Ahlemeyer family was the fifth family recognized for the university’s Legacy Award. The award honors multi-generational ISU alumni. Quick earned a Master’s degree from ISU. (see https://www2.indstate.edu/news/news.php?newsid=4479) And in case you missed it, last year Quick was awarded Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors’ Jack L. Anson Award. (*The pot was up for about 24 hours when a Gamma Phi friend alerted me that I had neglected to include that information. I apologize for the oversight.)
2015 Indiana State University Legacy Award
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Some very sad news crossed my path. Kappa Kappa Gamma’s governing council voted to sell their historic headquarters in Columbus, Ohio. I’ve written about the Snowden-Gray House and Heritage Museum of Kappa Kappa Gamma in previous posts (see https://www.franbecque.com/2012/10/12/happy-founders-day-kappa-kappa-gamma/ and https://www.franbecque.com/2014/09/22/church-library-masonic-temple-governors-home-repurposed-buildings-glo-style/). It is heartbreaking to me, a non-Kappa, to read about the sale. While I understand that it is expensive and difficult to adapt an old structure to modern purposes, I hate that the historic structure will be discarded by the organization. There are also many Kappas who are concerned about the sale. They have started an on-line petition (see http://chn.ge/1KGHly9).
The Snowden-Gray House, Kappa Kappa Gamma’s Headquarters
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Yesterday, General Robert Neller, a Theta Chi, became the 37th Commandant of the United States Marine Corps.
