Alpha Star - Fall 2009

University of california, berkeley

FDQ

California Alpha Chapter

Fall 2009

Established 1873

Emerging Leaders Institute For the last 19 years, Phi Delta Theta has hosted its Emerging Leaders Institute at none other than Miami University of Ohio. This year, I got the honor of representing California Alpha with brother Nima Rejali. Held over the first weekend in August, the institute is geared towards building Phi pride and giving emerging leaders the tools and skills they would need to strengthen their chapters. Most chapters send two representatives, and with nearly 200 chapters, the institute hosted roughly 400 Phis from all over the nation, and even some from Canada.

I have many memories from that weekend, from my Iraq-veteran roommate from La Verne to a few hilarious speeches by a fellow Greek. However, the one that stands out most was doing ritual in the Founder’s Room. I don’t think there is anything that could make one more proud to be a Phi (except maybe Burt Reynolds). The entire experience was great, the high point of my summer, and hopefully Nima and I are up to the challenges of being leaders in this house. Yours In The Bond Jack Odlum

1338 Arriving early in the morning on Saturday, August 1, brother Rejali and I were greeted by a Phi Delt representative, and shortly thereafter boarded a bus to Miami. Throughout my pledge semester, I wondered if I would ever get the opportunity to see all the sights Miami has to offer: Founder’s Room, GHQ, the local chapter, and everything else in the pledge manual. The institute failed to disappoint. The first day was mostly mingling, letting the Phis of the world chat about their chapters, schools, and lives in general. The following days were a series of speakers and meetings that successfully got us proud as anything to be a Phi.

2726 Channing Way • Berkeley • California • 510-540-9036 • www.calphidelts.org

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PHI DELTA THETA

Alpha Star

Alpha Star

Fall 2009

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The SF Alumni Club holds a luncheon on the first Friday of every month (the next one will be on October 2nd). Lunch is served at the famous Schroeder’s Restaurant, which is located at 240 Front St. in downtown San Francisco. Lunch is informal and begins at noon.

Brothers, We once again find ourselves at the start of an

To improve the house, the chapter has

exciting and eventful semester. The actives

redone the backyard, cleaned up the back

have really come together to pull off a great rush

basement area and painted the front deck. We

and kick off the gameday season against

are all committed to making the house better

Maryland. Let me be the first to invite you all to

and upholding the cardinal principles of our

support our Cal Bears by attending the game

fraternity. Many of the younger members are

events at the chapter house. I am looking

going to be serving on the executive committee

forward to seeing many of you there and at

and it is great to see the level of enthusiasm that

our annual Duck Dinner.

has proliferated around the house.

I am happy to report that the chapter remains

highly

decorated

and

I would like to thank all the alumni for

respected

their continued support and involvement over

throughout the campus community. We have

the years. It is your dedication that makes Phi

been working with the Interfraternal Council and

Delta Theta the great fraternity that it is and

the university to foster positive relations by

ensures that our legacy stays strong. Our valued

participating in sponsored functions like the

housing corporation in particular, remains an

officer training camps, Greek move in day,

inspiring and essential part of keeping the

Greek Carnival, and others. We are also looking

chapter running successfully. I am grateful for

to hold an additional fundraiser for ALS at the

your continued commitment and look forward to

house this semester and increase parent

another awesome semester.

relations by organizing a parent weekend. This will raise the level of parent involvement and

Daniel Pitsch #1327

celebrate the community that is Phi Delta Theta.

2726 Channing Way • Berkeley • California • 510-540-9036 • www.calphidelts.org

“One Man is No Man”

President’s Report

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Alpha Star

Fall 2009 House Furnishings — Got Junk? The Chapter House is constantly in need of new supplies and we graciously accept donations of furniture and other equipment in working condition. We are continually trying to improve the appearance of the house and would gladly accept any donations. If you would like to make a contribution, please contact Matt Mueller at (818) 486-7527 or at mattmueller@berkeley. edu. We could use the following: Kitchen Appliances - Furniture - Electronic Appliances - Tools

The Transition After a month, I was used to wearing my black collared shirt and pants around campus. Although the Delta Chi pledges also wore a black shirt and black pants, the white tie let everyone know that we were the pledges from Phi Delta Theta. Looking back on the pledge process, I realize that I learned so much about the history of Phi Delta Theta, and I also learned a lot about myself. It took great courage to hold my guitar and sing with my three pledge brothers in front of hundreds of girls from various sororities. It took great diligence to mop the floor with muddy footprints and dust. It took great strength to realize that the pledge process was preparing myself for becoming a better man, and an honorable Phi. I understand now exactly how the pledge process works. It unifies the pledges forcing them to work together under their common goal, to one day become loyal members of Phi Delta Theta. Now that I have transitioned from the pledge phase to the brotherly phase, I appreciate how the process made me stronger, and how it drove home the reasons to become a Phi. Yours in the Bond, Matt Mueller #1345

Fall Recruitment The Rushing period of Fall 2009 will be a time to remember. From barbeques to sushi night to the hog roast, the brothers and new recruits were having a blast. During the rush period we met fellow Cal students ranging from their freshman year to their senior year, and invited them to join the festivities at our beautiful house. We are excited to announce the admission of seven new pledges, all of which we greatly believe have the potential to become honorable Phi’s. I am extremely excited to see what this next semester will bring, but until then, I believe that our new pledges will serve the house well, and see what it means to be a part of Phi Delta Theta. Yours in the Bond, Alex Tenorio #1325 2726 Channing Way • Berkeley • California • 510-540-9036 • www.calphidelts.org

Alpha Star

Fall 2009

Phi’s Just Wanna’ Have Fun As your returning External Social Chair, I am excited to start a new semester with my brothers, new pledges and new opportunities for social interactions with our fellow Greeks here at Cal. Unlike previous semesters, I plan on exploring new ways of conducting exchanges with sororities and enhancing relations with our fraternal neighbors. Plans are currently underway for Karaoke, Sushi outings, and other exciting events to strengthen the reputation of our great Fraternity (and have a little fun as we go). I am also beginning talks with other fraternities and sororities to plan a block party on Channing Way as a dual fundraising event and social outing for the residents of the street. The semester has just begun, yet I am very pleased with the manner in which our Fraternity is conducting itself externally and very pleased with the quality and energy of the brothers in the house. With such a dynamic, talented, and determined brotherhood, our house’s future remains bright. Yours in the Bond, Matthew LaCoste

Euro-Trip!

Bond #1323

Early this summer brothers Tom Moran, Konrad Knusel, Todd Andrich and I made a 3-week trip across 9 cities in 5 European countries. The trip started earlier for me as I spent a week prior in my birth country of Armenia. Although not as modernized, Armenia proved to be fun and cheap, which is nearly as important. Aside from the city life, Armenia provides a beautiful countryside, with an amazing view of Mt. Ararat, Lake Sevan, and the centerpieces of its tourism industry, the churches that are nearly 2000 years old. Our group united in Zurich, Switzerland on the 3rd of June, where we spent the first couple days of our trip. The city is beautiful, the quality of life is very high, but in turn so is the cost of living. Luckily we were able to stay with Konrad’s grandparents. His grandmother was generous enough to make us lunch every day, which ultimately led to our introduction to Swiss tuna mayo (Yeah! It’s tuna flavored mayonnaise). Outside the quarters, our time in Zurich was primarily spent at the Lake, where we swam, rode on pedal boats, and enjoyed the view of the amazing city and most importantly, its beautiful women. 2726 Channing Way • Berkeley • California • 510-540-9036 • www.calphidelts.org

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Fall 2009 The next stop was Italy, where we visited Rome and Florence. Rome seemed like a city built for tourism.

Full of Americans, English, and

people from all over the rest of Europe, it definitely boasted the biggest youth crowd.

Our sightseeing ranged from the Coliseum and Ruins to

the Pantheon and Spanish Steps to the Vatican, each with beautiful architectural design, crowds out the entrance, and numerous street performers and gypsies surrounding the perimeter (except at the holy site). Our only day in Florence was highlighted by the trip to Academia

Phi Delta Theta Current House Officers 510-540-9036

and the chance to see Michelangelo’s David. France was the next country on the list, with stops in Lyon and Paris. Paris proved to be the most diverse and biggest metropolitan part of Europe and a sightseeing galore. We visited the tower, the palace and

President Daniel Pitsch #1327 Vice President Nima Rejali #1342 Secretary Veer Bawa #1329 Alumni Secretary Matthew Mueller #1345 Treasurer Jack Odlum #1338 California Alpha Association Board of Directors President Dennis Sidbury #1150 Vice President Adam Garfinkle #1203 Secretary Terry Maiken #1060 Treasurer King Tuck #860 Chapter Advisor Evan Basakis #1301 Directors Rodney Pimentel #1050 Derek Molnar #1191 Decker Flynn #1139 Daniel Pitsch #1327

the Arc of Triumph. We also had the chance to visit Louvre and Orsay museums, getting to see the Mona Lisa and multiple Monets. The most amazing thing about the museums was the shear massiveness of the Louvre.

The last country that we ventured to was Germany, visiting

Munich, Dresden and Berlin. In Munich we split up with Konrad and were united with alumnus KC Cagney. The final stop before we all split was Berlin, the largest city we visited. Our last day was spent at the zoo, largest in Europe, and let me tell you, watching a tiger feast is really something. From there we went our separate ways, Todd and KC to England, Tom and I back home. Robert Yegiazaryan, # 1304

Brothers Tom Moran, Konrad Knusel, Robert Yegiazaryan, and Todd Andrich (left to right) in Europe with Alumnus KC Cagney (second to the far right).

2726 Channing Way • Berkeley • California • 510-540-9036 • www.calphidelts.org

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Alpha Star

Fall 2009

Thank You from Cal Alpha We would like to thank the brothers listed to the right for their generous gifts to the Building fund last semester. We hope that you will consider a contribution to the California Alpha Building Fund as part of your annual donations.

Lost Phis Bond # 627 649 661 667 691 710 736 757 818 829 832

Name

#526 Mr. Edward F. Willi* #552 Mr. Edwin C. Callan* #722 Mr. Sidney R. Petersen #741 Mr. Donald F. Dorward #803 Mr. Jerry L. Becker #1150 Mr. Dennis D. Sidbury *Posthumously

PLEASE HELP US LOCATE THE FOLLOWING PHIS. IF YOU KNOW THEIR CURRENT ADDRESS, PLEASE SEND IT IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE OR EMAIL IT TO [email protected]. Bond # Name

Mr. Jack D. Griffith Mr. Gordon W. Nelson Mr. Richard W. Henley Mr. George A. Leatherman Jr. Mr. Ben E. Foster Mr. Ruben L. Navarro Mr. Nathaniel M. Ball Mr. Robert A. Smith Mr. Donald B. Shea Mr. Donald M. Howard Mr. James D. Rhoades

868 897 918 954 957 959 965 1128 1159 540 706

Mr. John B. Nance Mr. William E. Dempsey Mr. Jeffrey M. Brennan Mr. Joseph A. Wharton Mr. Richard A. Potts Mr. Alan C. Doscher Mr. Craig S. Nelson Mr. Lasse B. Kjelsaas Mr. John M. Houkom Mr. Edmund R. Sewell Mr. Robert N. Whitehead

Brothers, Take a close look at the names on the list. Every year this list becomes smaller. Let’s make sure that every Phi is found!

2009 HOME FOOTBALL SCHEDULE Date

Time

Opponent

10/03

5:00 p.m.

10/24

TBA

Washington St.

11/07

TBA

Oregon St.

11/14

TBA

Arizona

2726 Channing Way • Berkeley • California • 510-540-9036 • www.calphidelts.org

Alpha Star

Fall 2009

What’s New? Has something interesting happened to you in the past year? If so, please contact us and let your brothers know what’s new. We are always curious to learn about the various experiences or accomplishments of our fellow brothers. Please contact Matt Mueller at [email protected]

Duck Dinner! A Night for Brothers and Alumni to Enjoy a Hearty Meal Please mark you calendars. The annual Duck Dinner will be held at the Faculty Club. We are hoping for a great turnout like last year, so come enjoy dinner with your fellow brothers. If you plan on attending, please return this form or send an email to [email protected] by October 31st. WHEN: Thursday, November 19th WHERE: Alumni House

Yes, I will be attending Duck Dinner. Enclosed is my check payable to California Alpha Association for $60.

Name: Please select an entrée: Roast Duck

N.Y. Steak

Fish

YES! I would like to make a lasting commitment to the Brothers of Phi Delta Theta, Cal Alpha! Please accept my donation of: $500

$200

$100

$______

Please make your check payable to the California Alpha Association, with a memo entry of “Building Fund” and mail to: California Alpha at P.O. Box 4338, Berkeley, CA 94704. Thank you for your generous support. 2726 Channing Way • Berkeley • California • 510-540-9036 • www.calphidelts.org

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Alpha Star

Fall 2009

Phi Delta Theta 2726 Channing Way • Berkeley • California • 510-540-9036 • www.calphidelts.org

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PO Box 4338 Berkeley, CA 94704