UpZete 4.08 - Convention wrap-up, our new Phi Alpha David Busacca

You know, I really didn't plan it like this. I mean, who would, right? McElroy has been "Mr. Zeta Psi" for, like, a zillion years! So, who would want to follow that!?

Well, it wasn't exactly the plan, but circumstances formed and I agreed to "step up" as Greg's Alpha Phi Alpha. At the 161st Zeta Psi Convention in beautiful Montreal, I was honored to be elected to succeed Greg as Phi Alpha.

It's not like I don't know Greg. In fact, I probably know him longer than most.

In the 70's, at the height of the Vietnam War, fraternities (and all establishment icons) were very out of favor. Many chapters were having difficulty recruiting, and some were closing. This occurred at Lehigh University as well. Virtually all 35+ fraternities were on University property in University-Alumni developed housing. Needless to say, this was an investment and a cash flow the University wanted to protect.

Part of the "solution" by the University was to allow a non-affiliated group to "take over" the failing chapter affiliation, if approved by their nationals. In 1970, one such group moved to "reactivate" the Pi Lambda Phi chapter. In 1972, a different local "fraternity" group at Lehigh University was offered the Tau Delta Phi chapter house. In graduate school at this point, I was one of the "charter" members to agree and moved into the house in September of 1972.

As is often the case, nothing goes smoothly! After discussion and investigation of Tau Delta Phi's national office, we decided not to join them and began the search for a new national. That's how I met Greg.

I believe he was in his second year with the IHQ as Executive Director. He, and the expansion chairman, Jay Rothberg (Past Phi Alpha) came down for a meeting. When I met them the first thing I thought was.."Gees, these guys are my age! (Greg is one year older than I.) How solid is THIS national?"

Obviously we were sufficiently impressed and in May 1973, 44 guys were initiated into Zeta Psi at the Tau (Lafayette) Chapter house. I graduated in June and became the Elder Phi.

Over the years, I continued some contact with Zeta Psi, always through Greg (as practically the only person I knew at IHQ). That association and interest developed through the years as an Elder Chapter advisor; committee work; eventually election to the Foundation and Fraternity Boards. When asked if I would be interested in becoming an officer, I demurred, as my work at Chrysler as Manager of Consumer Litigation for North America was rather time consuming. But when I was able to take an early retirement in 2006, it seemed the right time. But I did not plan on following Greg!

Sort of like a guy saying he's going to get one more gold medal than Marc Spitz! No one's ever done that, but someone finally did. I don't plan to "one-up" Greg. I am just hoping I can do a comparable job that leaves the wood pile a little bit higher-something I learned about commitment 35 years ago from a tall blonde guy one year older than me.

Always in Tau Kappa Phi,