Truly a week to remember!  This is a week that always means a great deal to me, as on April 20^th, 1974, I was wed to my partner for life, my wife Bobbi, in a church in Waltham, Massachusetts, where I grew up, though the two of us met in New York in 1972 and have both lived here since.  Being that this is our anniversary week, we often go off for a week or a mini-vacation, sometimes to such exciting places as Hawaii, London or New Orleans, and this year to less exotic (but always pleasant) North Carolina, where we'll be on our anniversary for mostly Zeta Psi functions.  It's hard to forget that this week has meaning, because it recalls to me one of the happiest days of my life.  Unfortunately, it also is the week of the Oklahoma City bombing, the Branch Davidian Massacre in Waco, the Columbine High School shooting in Colorado, and now this: the worse single killing spree in this nation's history at a campus I know very well, as I helped to bring Zeta Psi to Virginia Tech 32 years ago.

I write this from the DC Metro area, where Zeta Psi Executive Director Dave Hunter and I have been since our nearly 500-miles-in-a-day odyssey began last Saturday.   We departed from Pearl River at mid-day to drive almost 200 miles to Binghamton, New York to award a charter to Zeta Psi's newest chapter, the Mu Pi at Binghamton University.  Following the early-evening chartering banquet, we set out on a 300-mile drivealong with a new initiate from Mu Pi, Jigar Gandhi, who would be attending the annual North-American InterFraternity Conference (NIC) annual meeting and the Greek Day on Capitol Hill --to Washington, DC, so I could answer the roll for Zeta Psi at Sunday morning's opening business session.  It was a good thing we left when we did as the Nor'easter which hit the East Coast last weekend dumped two feet of snow on Binghamton last Sunday, and left it wet and windy in DC.  This 500-mile journey was the third day in a row that Dave and I had been on our "road show".  We went together to Philadelphia last Thursday to attend a Board meeting of the Philadelphia Association of Zeta Psi, following by the annual Sigma Chapter Spring Banquet.  On Friday night we participated in the re-dux of the Alpha Chapter's annual Active-Elder Reception on the campus of Columbia University in honor of their reactivation in 1981. 

Sunday was a routine day of catching up on the state of the Greek World at the NIC meeting, capped by an always-delightful sit-down with Past Phi Alpha Admiral Jim Carey to update him on numerous Zete matters.  On Monday, we arranged to lunch with Jim's right-hand man for the Washington Scholars Program, Darren Littell, and we corralled the three visiting Zete undergraduates to DC (Jigar from Binghamton, Mike Bosworth from Tulane and Alex Nohr from Nebraska Wesleyan) to meet at a nearby restaurant.  What transpired is one of those "where were you when you heard" moments that we've all had in life. 

Just as we begin to sit, Darren got an email on his Blackberry from Jim Carey which said: "20 students have just been killed at Virginia Tech", so I changed the station on the TV next to our table from ESPN to CNN and we all started to get the horrendous news of what had transpired that morning in Blacksburg.  What was to follow was an exercise in how incredible this world is in terms of instantaneous news and information transfer.  By the time lunch had concluded, we knew that every Zete student at our outstanding Alpha Pi Chapter at Virginia Tech had been accounted for and had text-messaged Zeta Psi Development Director Dan Backer to send a blast email to all the Active & Elder Chapter Presidents informing them that, thankfully, no Zetes had been killed in this now-unfolding massacre that would claim 32 innocent lives and that of the very-sick young man who committed this atrocity.  As the day's events unfolded, I kept telling people I'd seen in the hotel hallways that our featured speaker at that evening's annual NIC Banquet, Wolf Blitzer (a dedicated AEPi from Buffalo), couldn't possibly be there for the evening's events, given that I just seen him on the air and that this would go down as one of the Top Three news stories of 2007.  But I give Mr. Blitzer lots of credit. He showed up and gave an engaging speech about how his fraternity experiences helped shape his life as a man and as a successful journalist--though I'm sure he was forced to revise his comments due to the events of the day.

Then on Tuesday, I participated in the now-annual (thanks to Admiral Carey) Greek Day on The Capitol, as I visited with four other Greeks (Jigar from Mu Pi and a fellow Phi Zete Josh Schoenfeld , and the Executive Director of AEPhi and one of her undergraduates) eight congressional offices-including those of NY Senator Hilary Clinton and Connecticut Senator Chris Dodd-to urge them to co-sponsor two bills that would provide tax incentives for Greek alumni to improve their chapter houses' safety, including installation of sprinklers.  A long, but productive day!

So, how has your week been?  After I write this, today I'm off to visit with two Zete Elders in the DC area, making a quick visit to our Maryland chapter, driving back to Pearl River with Dave, who is attending a Zete Lawyers Luncheon in DC, then repacking at home to travel to North Carolina tomorrow for the weekend where I'll interact with our nearly 150-year-old Zete chapter at UNC, our newest colony members at North Carolina State University, and with their colony advisor and my friend for many years, Pete Slomianyj, of the Theta Chapter.   But Bobbi and I will be together, and we will pause to reflect on our 35 years together as a couple (33 years as husband-and-wife), but also pause to say a prayer for those of our countrymen and young people from the VA Tech community who have suffered so much this week.   

With much reflection on this week, in Tau Kappa Phi,  Greg McElroy, Phi Alpha CXXI

This past week the North-American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) held its annual meeting in Washington, D.C. and Phi Alpha Greg McElroy and I attended on behalf of Zeta Psi.  In recent years a valuable part of the NIC gathering is "Greek Day" on the Hill.  On Tuesday April 17^th over 200 Greeks (active and alumni members from fraternities and sororities) held 410 meetings with members of Congress to lobby for the passage of the Collegiate Housing Infrastructure Act (CHIA).  Zeta Psi was well represented by Greg and I, Darren Littell (Executive Director of Washington Scholars), two Washington Scholars, and three undergraduate Zetes.

So what is the Collegiate Housing Infrastructure Act?  Simple - it's a bill that will allow tax deductible donations to charitable foundations to be used for life-safety renovations to fraternity and sorority houses.  Currently, any money donated to Greek Housing organizations (apart from our Foundation) is not tax deductible.  The CHIA merely levels the tax deductible landscape for donations to student housing - or better put, parity with donations to universities for dorm construction or renovations.  Imagine how much easier it will be for Zeta Psi to raise money for much needed house repairs if contributions were tax deductible!

We had a good day on Capitol Hill, but the job is far from over.  The great news is that you can help by doing a few very simple things.  First go to both www.house.gov and www.senate.gov, look up your representative and Senators and send them an email requesting their support of the CHIA.  A call is even better as it "counts" more in the office.  Second, go to www.fraternalcaucus.com and register.  You can do even more by visiting your local Congressional office and advocating passage of the bill.  Congress runs on "what my constituents want" so the more voices that are heard the better.

This is valuable legislation that can greatly aid the fraternal world.  I hope you'll help Zeta Psi and take part in the process!  --Dave Hunter, IA '80

Alex Nohr, Omicron '09:  From participating in the 2007 Greek Day Congressional Lobbying, I became a more well-rounded Zete.  Whether it was socializing with outstanding campus leaders, esteemed Zete alumni, celebrities like Wolf Blitzer, or House and Senate representatives, I gained a priceless few days.  As a political science major, the political knowledge that I gained will help me get even further in my career quest.  Going on trips like this with my international fraternity let me know just how much power Zeta Psi actually has.   I also learned just how successful the Washington Scholars program was, and how other organizations are currently trying to start up their own.  Zeta Psi and alumni, thank you for this experience. 

Jigar Ghandi, Mu Pi '08:  As both an attendee and a new Zete, the 2007 Greek Day Congressional visit showed me what it was to be a brother in Zeta Psi. I was able to meet brothers from across the country and to speak with some of our most distinguished. Participating in the visit also helped me to better understand Congress and all of its inner workings.  I learned of the Washington Scholars Program, which is the most successful D.C. Internship program of any fraternal organization. Yet, the best part of the trip was to bond with the brothers from around the nation, and to see the diversity within our international fraternity. I would truly like to thank Zeta Psi for this once in a lifetime opportunity.

Mike Bosworth, Beta Tau '08 got trapped at the airport on his way home and was unable to write up his experience, but we appreciate his contribution to this event, and are glad he finally made it home!

As respectable and educated gentlemen of Zeta Psi, we strive to make life better for our brothers as well as the surrounding community at large. By becoming a leader of his chapter and encouraging others to be all they can be in his career, Lauck Walton is an ideal example of an ideal Zete.

During his time at the Pi chapter Lauck got more than a chance to meet great people. He developed and polished exceptional leadership skills, that still benefit him to this day, while serving as vice president and on the supreme council.

In addition to helping his brothers, Lauck took action to aid all fraternities on campus. "I got involved in student government and helped found a group for Greeks." he said. "I wanted to make sure that we had fair and adequate representation as members of the student body."

After Lauck graduated with an MBA in 1986, he began using his experiences as a leader to help others realize their own potential and accomplish their goals. "For years, I have taught college classes in leadership development." Lauck said. Such courses allow others to refine their time management abilities, organization, and communication strategies. After learning these skills and putting them to use, they too may become outstanding leaders in their community.

Today, Lauck continues to help others succeed. He is President of Westwood College in Virginia and continues to teach business courses. When asked about his current job, Lauck gave the following enthusiastic response. "I love what I do. I have been working with college students my whole career. Now, I am dealing primarily with adults who have worked for years and are now going back to school. It is an underserved population, and I truly feel I am making a difference in their lives.

Because Lauck has worked hard, he always encourages his brothers and community members to do their best as well, insuring he is and will continue to be a vital part of his college, community, and classroom for years to come.

Jonathon Fagert, Nu '09, has only been Phi for a semester, but he already boasts several major achievements. He is currently studying Civil Engineering while running one of the most successful chapters in Zeta Psi.

Jon had Nu focused on recruitment this semester with innovative events. Some of the events they organized included a whirly ball night, rock climbing, pizza and wing nights, formal dinner, and ice skating.  Their hard work this semester brought in a pledge class of 10, and this upcoming weekend, Nu will initiate 8 new brothers in Tau Kappa Phi.

The Nu chapter has been leading the way for all of Zeta Psi in terms of innovative Philanthropy. Last weekend, Nu partnered with Qdoba in a burrito relay. Teams of four ran a race and ingested a burrito in between the first lap. While each individual team raised money, there was also an online component to the fundraiser that gave the winning team a taco party for forty at Qdoba. After all the dust settled, the event raised 5,000 dollars for the Children's Hospital of Cleveland. Next year they plan on expanding the event by getting more exposure in the community through increased media coverage. Nu will have their annual Golf Outing for Zete Kidz as well as continue their work with Zete Scouts next semester.

Those who have tabbed this generation as apathetic and lazy have clearly not met Jon or the brothers of the Nu chapter. Under his leadership, they are working to dismantle the image of the selfish "frat" boy. Their philanthropic endeavors demonstrate how much they truly care for their community, and they certainly are holding the torch high at Case Western. Let me be the first to say, WELL DONE!  CLICK HERE to email Jon.

The Wall Street Scholars, now in their second year, have extended nominations to 4 Brothers for summer internships. 2007 will also prove to be a milestone year for the WSS, as it marks the first International Class of Scholars with 2 brothers from the United States and 2 brothers from Canada equally represented!  They are pleased to announce the following placements:

Harrison Brand, of the University of Michigan,  and Eric Romeril of the University of Waterloo will be interning at Sibtech Inc. in Newington, CT. Sibtech, an R&D firm in the field of biopharmaceuticals, and a leader in cancer research. Eric and Harrison can look forward to participating in hands on clinical studies, as well as the opportunity to become published researchers!

Benjamin Meck, of Case Western Reserve University, will be interning at the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants in Manhattan.  Using his strengths in financial management, Ben will have the opportunity to aid in the development of investor education materials as well as improve the tracking of communications and public relations programs at the AICPA.

Finally, Christopher Reid, of the University of Toronto, has been nominated to intern at the Independent Film Channel in Manhattan.  Chris hopes to build on his marketing experience by interning at one of the fastest growing independent media outlets in the country. IFC has immersed itself in independent films, with operations that include television programming, a movie production unit, and even a full fledged film festival in New York City!

On top of the professional development that these young men can expect at these companies, the Wall Street Scholars will organize networking events in and around New York City to further our vision  of a Zete Network with more visibility for our successful fraternity not only in the Greek world, but in the business world as well. Please join us in congratulating our brothers on their accomplishments!

ARE YOU INTERNING IN NYC-AREA?  All undergrad interns are welcome to participate in the WSS networking and educational programs - CLICK HERE to let us know where you'll be!

Mu Pi Chartering - Congratulations to our 79th Chapter!

Executive Director Dave Hunter, IA'80 served as Master of Ceremonies and also spoke on Zeta Psi and what it means to be a Zete.  Development Director Dan Backer, YM, '99 presented the new chapter with a very nice brass "Zete Badge" as a gift from the fraternity.  Chapter Phi Ottavio Mannarino, Mu Pi '08 spoke for the chapter and related the experience of forming a Zete chapter from the beginning.

The evening was highlighted by Phi Alpha Greg McElroy, Phi '70 relating the history of Binghamton University and presenting a Zeta Psi charter to the Phi and brothers of our Mu Pi Chapter.  Congratulations and welcome to Zeta Psi!