Several young Zete's enjoying the hospitality of the Philadelphia Phillie's Ballpark; a terrific event hosted by Bill Buck, Tau '50.

Philadelphia was an incredible Convention - with nearly 200 Zete's & Dates in attendance throughout! All enjoyed a series of truly exceptional events (Duck boats, Dave & Busters, the Spirit of Philadelphia Cruise, and a private visit to the Ballpark) and one of the best Leadership Training Programs yet!

See you next year in Lincoln, Nebraska, for our 160th Annual International Convention!

Showing off their well-earned Gold Chapter Award and the Prestigous Comstock Trophy are Alpha Pi/Virginia Tech Chapter Phi, Trevor Johnson (L), Alpha Phi Perry Cosier (R), and IHQ Development Director Dan Backer (C).

A round of hearty and well-deserved 'Snaps' to our Alpha Pi Chapter at Virginia Tech! Despite a tumultous year that started with the serious damage to their Chapter House as a result of a major fire, this group has consistently represented the best in Zeta Psi!

Individual & chapter honors awarded at the 159th convention included 30 individual Gold Escutcheon awards and a Chapter Gold Escutcheon award, a Phi Alpha's award for graduating past Phi John DiLeo and a Certificate of Appreciation for Alumni VP Christopher Fazio, and a Gold Chapter Award.

Perhaps most astonishing was, in the face of such adversity, there continued adherance to the Vision of Bill Comstock and their earning of the Comstock Trophy! A well-deserved honor for one of our consistantly finest chapters!

The Alpha Pi is also looking ahead to an incredible Fall Semester when they host the Ms. Virginia Tech Pageant (a fundraiser for ZeteKidz) and the Rededication of the Chapter House on October 6th & 7th!

Last year, the Ms. Virginia Tech Pageant raised over $1000 for ZeteKidz, and they hope to double that this year! The competition consists of three rounds, Talent, Evening Gown, and Question and Answer, judged by Celebrity judges Frank Beamer (football coach), Seth Greenberg (basketball coach), the past Ms. VT, and others. As a new feature, this year will see the “Ms. Popularity” prize for the contestant that gets the most donated in her name for ZeteKidz. Plus, popular local band, Star Fell on, will be playing the intermissions. All Zete's are welcome to come to Blacksburg October 6th, at 7 PM, and join in the fun! click here for more Pageant info

The next day, October 7th at 1pm, will be the Chapter House Rededication & Ribbon cutting hosted by Trevor Johnson (Phi), Brian Ferrenz (Alumni Association President), and featuring Executive Director Dave Hunter and other prominent local & international alumni. An open house & tour, a Cookout for all Brothers, Family, & Friends and the presentation of awards will cap off this great day of Zete fun.

Sept. 23 – Pacific LTI at UCLA/Sigma Zeta, plus an alumni event at the Chapter for all local alum’s

Sept. 30 – FALL CHAPTER FEES AND INSURANCE DUE.

Nov. 4 – Southern LTI at UVA/Beta

“Men don’t join Fraternities – they join groups of Men they like, have fun hanging out with, respect, and feel the same in return.”

Recruitment has begun strong throughout Zeta Psi – and this is part of the message we seek to deliver to our chapters, and hope they will embrace as we stop ‘RUSH’ and start ‘RECRUITING’. Using the plan originated at Psi chapter/Cornell, many chapters have seen terrific progress from this effective program!

“Rush is throwing up fliers and hoping guys come to us. That’s nuts – and a REALLY poor way to grow our Brotherhood and run our ‘Business’. Recruitment is about being smart and organized in the time and effort we put in to meet & befriend a much larger pool of potential members and pulling the greatest quality member from amongst them.”

Dan Backer was at Purdue University visiting the Tau Gamma the 7th through 11th, “getting to know the chapter and seeing their evolution from an ineffective ‘RUSH’ to a solid ‘RECRUITMENT’ plan – and particularly the energy, enthusiasm, participation, and unity of the chapter behind this course. With strong leaders in Phi Mike Kincaid and Recruitment Chair Alec Hoffman, and a motivated chapter, this will be one of the big success stories this year! Good events, great turnout, and a Pod of Dolphins helped make for a good weekend of Recruitment activities.”

Chris Bond was in Michigan the 8th through 11th, “meeting with the Xi actives as they prepare their recruitment, and attending a great Alumni event that Saturday at the chapter house, which saw a strong turnout. Xi has a great recruitment plan under the leadership of Recruitment Chairman Mike Berland and Phi Rob Trombley, and things are already rolling along well!"

“That’s how we can Recruit – not by selling our Letters and the idea of Zeta Psi, but by meeting and making new friends.”

The Washington Scholars Fellowship Program has on- going openings for both Republican & Democrat positions on Congressional Staff. Send Washington Scholars application to Zach Cikanek. Also contact him with any ?'s. Zach works on the staff of Congresswoman Judy Biggert of Illinois so he knows the requirements for Congressional Staff "backwards & forwards".

We also have one intern position for a criminal justice or law enforcement major on the House of Representatives Sergeant-at-Arms Staff working direct with the Capitol Hill Police in their mission to protect the U. S. Congress. Send queries direct to Admiral James Carey.

For anyone graduating in December or January, applications for federal agency Spring Internships are mostly due in late October or early November, so if you plan on beefing up your resume with a federal experience or credential, this is aGREAT route to go. Visit the Washington Scholars site for further guidance!

Applications for the WS internship on the staff of Former Attorney General Ed Meese at the Heritage Foundation in Winter/Spring [i.e. late January - early May] are due by 15 October. Send interest direct to Darren Littell, who is the current Washington Scholar on Mr. Meese's staff, so also go to him with any questions re: this position.

The Zete Kids USA Silent Auction was held during the Grand Chapter Banquet in Philadelphia on Saturday, August 26th. The final results were unprecedented. Over 65 items were donated for the silent auction and subsequently auctioned off to raise over $5,800. This amount is a record high since the auction's inception in 2003 and over double the amount raised last year. The proceeds will go toward the education, leadership and medical assistance of children.

Some highlighted items auctioned included a Wildlife print by Zete artist - Peter Mathios, Iota Delta '93 (www.mathioss tudios.net), the Story of Zeta Psi (1928) signed by over several past Phi Alpha's present during the convention, a Senate VIP tour package of Washington DC, Tiffany Bracelet with Zeta Psi engraving, Zeta Psi collectors playing card box, poker set and car mats, Old Westbury Golf Package, Golf with Past Phi Alpha Mike Freiman, Merion Golf Club Package, Golf Packages donated by golf pro and Zete Mike Maloney, hand made gold Zeta Psi pin crafted by Toronto Brother John Aire, Bolova watch, Boston Red Sox autographed baseballs, 1914 Chicago convention pocket knife, Brother Geoff Vitale's Hot sauce, Penn State Golf Outing and Gift Basket, Vietnam tribute Clinton Gregory music video - unreleased copy of Writings on the Wall donated by Bill Sommerfeld, Mark Brunell football, American flag flown over the Capitol building in honor of the Zeta Psi Philadelphia convention, Zeta Psi collectibles and many, many more items.

Special thanks to the auction item donors including: James Best, Rich & Carrie Breeswine, Dave Hunter, Peter Mathios, Brian Eaton, Stephen Halperin, Andy & Heather Nunez, Mac Butcher, Tom Roerden, MacLane Key, Mike Maloney, Mike Freiman, Tony Hodgson, The Stott family, Dan Backer, John Aire, Geoff Vitale, Bill Sommerfeld, Paul Skoglund, Andy O'Brien, the Pi Sigma chapter (Penn State), Zeta Psi Fraternity of North America, and especially Emily Belcher.

On behalf of Zete Kids USA, thank you to the many who donated auction items and to the many who bid on them.

If you were lucky enough to attend Convention this August, you might have had the privilege of meeting one of Zeta Psi’s accomplished young alumni, Dillon Green. A brother of the Beta Tau chapter, Dillon is currently representing our fraternity’s good name across the Ocean as he blazes a trail towards his Master’s degree at the London School of Economics.

Despite his many interests, which range from economics, to marine biology, to stem cell research, to business, to politics and government, Dillon found the time to travel stateside and deliver a truly inspirational speech on the tenets of sincerity and the role that they play in the development of successful and respectable individuals. Standing in the limelight, before many of the alumni who have helped to sculpt our fine institution, including the very man for whom the luncheon and our Undergraduate Leadership Training Insititute is named, Dr. Louis J. Capozzoli, Dillon certainly rose above and beyond the greatest of expectations.

Expanding upon appeals to the importance of qualities such as Love, Fidelity, and Truth, Dillon relayed the importance of staying true to one’s own beliefs, moral groundings, and pursuits of interest, advising the younger members in the audience to not “get frustrated if you’re not always sure of your next step,” that “life’s unpredictability is what keeps it interesting,” and finally, that this “direction may not always be apparent to others, but if you are confident in where it’s leading you, stay true to it.” Judging by the standing ovation he received, not to mention the innumerable congratulations thereafter, the brothers of Zeta Psi were certainly moved by Dillon’s message.

A man of great integrity, and an inspiration to any brother who has ever found themselves questioning the road down which they may trod, Dillon Green certainly shines a light of truth upon the path set forth by the Founding Fathers of Zeta Psi.