Get the latest at www.zetapsi2009.com. Convention 2009 includes an Indians home game, a trip to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and a clam bake at the Nu chapter house that coincides with Cleveland's world famous Feast of the Assumption event! |
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Upcoming Events
5th Annual DC Elders Black Tie Banquet
& Chartering of the Gamma Epsilon
Chapter at Georgetown University
 Join 150 Zetes & guests on Saturday, March 7 for our annual Banquet & Chartering of a new Chapter! Space is limited and selling out fast - CLICK HERE to RSVP
More Spring 2009 Events:
February 22 - March 6: DC Expansion at George Washington & American University.
February 27 - March 1: Midwest LTI, Purdue, West Lafayette, IN
March 28: Brock/Theta Eta Installation, Theta Xi Founders Day, Toronto, Ontario
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Zeta Psi Government Relations Program - NOW ONLINE!
Zeta Psi continues to develop a strong government relations program as part of the greater Greek community. CLICK HERE to visit our new website for more info. Some highlights:
3 Undergrad Zetes are coming to DC in April for the annual CFC Lobbying Day - congratulations to Nate Stultz (Texas), Joe Lauria (WPI) and Dan Florencio (Penn State).
We now have 40 Active & Elder Government Relations Chairman (GRC's) out of 71 total US Active & Elder chapters. HELP LEAD THIS EFFORT and become or work with your Chapter's GRC. Email dbacker@zetapsi.org to learn more. |
 Circle Centennial
Sponsor-a-Circle and help put our entire 100 year legacy ONLINE!
June 2009 marks the 100 years of the Circle of Zeta Psi. We'll commemorate this major milestone - and the enduring vision of Bill Comstock - in a number of ways. CLICK HERE to learn more at our Circle Centennial webpage. SPONSOR-a-CIRCLE: Help make all 100 years of the Circle available online! This huge task will take many years and many dollars, but with your help we can make our entire history accessible - from the first prophetic words of Brother Comstock to the Historic Oxford Chartering. CLICK HERE to SPONSOR-a-CIRCLE: pick an issue and donating the cost of online archiving ($200/issue). Sponsors will be recognized in the Circle Centennial's Honor Roll.
A 'super-sized' Circle Centennial edition is being planned for Fall 2009 - stay tuned! |
Admiral Carey's Employment Advice
I'll alert you upfront: many students will NOT like this advice, so feel free to move on now if you are thin-skinned. But keep in mind that I've been hiring and firing people your age and older for almost 50 years, so I DO know a bit about how all this works. It IS a reality that none of the undergrads or graduating seniors I've ever known were ever doing the hiring, so I'd suggest you need to put yourself into a humble yet aggressive mode and start to hit the bricks NOW. If you are graduating this May, unless you began your job search efforts last September, you are already 5 months behind where you need to be. Here are some realities:
1. While most of you are smart and got good grades and scrub up nice, so does almost everyone else from American and Canadian colleges and universities. So be prepared to have to compete in a tougher environment than you've ever been in thus far in your life.
2. Don't be a "know it all". Yes, you are about to be a college graduate, but that, my young brothers, is absolutely THE BOTTOM RUNG on the ladder. Get humble but aggressive. Scrub up. Do some research on the company you are interviewing with. Network with your Elders and anyone else that might know someone at that company, so they can tell you what the company is looking for. And get it straight in your brain that EVERY PLACE YOU MIGHT WORK will be looking for someone who can produce more top notch work product or sales or profits than all the rest of the guys they are interviewing. THAT's your competition. I don't care if you are a budding research scientist or a civil engineer---- in the 21st Century in 2009, EVERYONE has to produce or they simply will not last, will not be promoted, will not get a pay raise, and will eventually be dumped.
3. Do everything possible to out-compete all the other applicants for the same job. Keep in mind that the people interviewing you will be judged on whether they pick the right applicant[s] for these jobs, and if they screw up, THEY don't get promoted or get a raise and they eventually get dumped. You have to convince them that YOU are their best bet for THEIR future. Try to put yourself in their shoes. How can you best assure them that you are their best bet to NOT pick a loser to fill this position.
4. Don't be a "know it all". Listen to those who have gone through the interview process and job search before you. Seek out last year's Seniors that did well in their job search and ask them what they did and how they did it. Go to the library and get a book about how to go about a successful job search. Join the professional society for your industry or expertise or profession. Seek their advice.
5. CLICK HERE for an excellent video on how to go about a job search from a panel of Zetes talking about employment career paths in Washington, DC. Trust me when I say that 99.9% of it pertains to you and your job search and your future career path, whether you want to be a scientist in California or a finance executive on Wall Street or an account executive for Booz Allen. PLEASE do NOT be a know it all and decide right now that it doesn't pertain to you - take an hour to watch and listen. I have had non-Zetes tell me it is THE VERY BEST ADVICE they have seen from anyone, ANYWHERE.
Good luck to you. Get busy, get organized, and don't run around feeling sorry for yourself and run off to Europe for a year because being an undergrad "burned you out". TRUST ME when I tell you that your undergrad years will be the absolute easiest thing you have every done in your life and you do not yet know BURNOUT. Working a day job in the 21st Century in 2009 in a plunging world economy is burnout. You have a GREAT education, now use it to compete with all the other college grads and win.
And if any of this advice helps you, remember that it came from a Brother Zete. Do NOT forget Zeta Psi as you grow older. Zeta Psi properly used as an Elder can do you more good than almost all the other things you're going to do with your non-work time. Pour gasoline on that fire and it will help you stay warm during your life. Ignore it and it will go out and be of zero help to you. In Tau Kappa Phi,
Rear Admiral [Ret.] Jim Carey, Phi Alpha CXXIV of Zeta Psi, Omega/Northwestern University '60. | |
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There's a lot happening in our Zeta Psi
Alumni Gatherings
Over the past few years I have been fortunate enough to attend alumni gatherings of a number of our groups. Some are annual like the Iota Banquet, the Theta Xi Commemoration, or the DC Elder Banquet. Others are special occasions like the Upsilon 150th or the Pi Kappa 40th. This month I attended the Phi Lambda Annual Banquet at the chapter house in Seattle. 105 Zetes attended. I am continually impressed by the mutual brotherhood displayed at these events. Regardless of the 70 plus year age ranges and lack of direct friendship everyone has a common bond and a common love for our organization. These events really prove what brotherhood is all about. When you have the opportunity, I encourage you to attend alumni events. Chapters host alumni gatherings, Elder associations plan either anniversary or annual events, and Zeta Psi organizes periodic Regional Alumni Clubs in cities around the country. None of these events are exclusive to the host as Zetes are welcoming of Zetes from all chapters. I hope to see you at an alumni event in the future.
Zete Recruitment
As mentioned in earlier articles, Zeta Psi had a strong fall recruitment season with 315 initiates reported. With many chapters still to report for spring, recruitment is going very well for Zeta Psi. With current trends and with two new chapter installations this spring we'll come close to doubling our fall numbers and exceeding 600 total initiates for the second year in a row. Chapters, if you have not, please report your recruitment numbers to IHQ. Also, have your new pledges complete the online registration process (go to www.zetapsi.org).
Expanding Our Circle
I trust most of you know about our planned installations of the Gamma Epsilon at Georgetown University on March 7, 2009 and the Theta Eta at Brock University on March 28, 2009. These are two fine groups at world-class institutions in North America. Further growth is on the table for next year as well as we've already met with interest groups of 11 at Queens College in Canada and of 8 at SUNY Stony Brook in New York. This next week Zeta Psi launches a new effort to establish interest groups at both American University (the former Delta Chi Chapter) and George Washington University in Washington D.C. The DC Elders and IHQ staff members are planning a two-week push to contact, meet, evaluate, and pledge young men from both these fine schools. Later this month the Psi Epsilon Elders plan to have the first of two information sessions at Dartmouth to pave the way for a fall 2009 restart. Also on tap are the pursuit of leads from fellow Zetes at the University of Minnesota (the former Alpha Beta Chapter) and the University of Pittsburg. A busy, but exciting time ahead for Zeta Psi growth.
T K Phi, Dave Hunter, IA '80 (email me) |
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Active Profile: Marc Reynolds
A founder of the soon to be chartered Theta Eta Chapter at Brock University.
My involvement with Zeta Psi began on a visit to London Ontario at the Theta Phi Chapter, where Mike Snow and I were first introduced to the Greek life. A month later I received a call from a few Chapter Consultants that they were forming an interest group at Brock University. Over the course of the following summer, I had the opportunity to attend the annual Convention, providing me with an unforgettable experience and some basic knowledge on what it was we were attempting to achieve with our interest group. The new school year had begun, and with the guidance of our Canadian Chapter Consultant, we proceeded to spread the word of our presence at Brock U. We are the first and only Fraternity on campus, so rushing was predominantly composed of informing the student body of our purpose. With the help of Theta Xi's actives and elders, and our own History Professor David Shimmelpenninck from the Eta Chapter, we were able to experience Zete culture rather than just read about it. After a few months we put through a pledge class of twenty-four guys and became colonized. Our group really began to form as we all felt we were starting something truly amazing at Brock University and simultaneously pledging to something greater than we could grasp. Since that day, we've worked hard at figuring out our rolls within our colony and worked at recruiting members to insure out sustainability for years to come. With our initiation ceremony and the Candian LTI just around the corner, we look forward to the opportunity to contribute to and be a part of the Zete community. |
On the Northern Front
This spring is looking to be very exciting for Zeta Psi in Canada. All signs are indicating that recruitments results will exceed expectations. The excitement around the Theta Eta Colony at Brock University is building. Finally, the Canadian LTI in Toronto on March 28 will be the best attended, best supported possibly ever. There are confirmed rumours that COW will be making a welcome appearance at the LTI as well.
With twenty-four pledges, the Theta Eta Colony is still actively recruiting and will be easily at thirty by the time of their installation in Toronto on March 27, 2009. Continuing on the expansion front, we have effectively started an interest group of 20 in Kingston, On. This group is looking for Elder support in the area. If you have leads of Zete worthy men at Zete worthy institutions please contact us.
Alberta has been fertile grounds for Zeta Psi. Mu Theta is planning their now annual trip to the West Coast, but it should also be noted their new found enthusiasm for recruitment. In the fall they had five new members join and it would appear that the same number will join in the spring. With a restart planned in Fall 2010, the Calgary Elders are looking to recruit elders from other chapters living in Calgary. Please Contact Bro.Muller.
The Canadian LTI this year will be a very special one. The Faculty for the LTI will consist of a Dean, the CEO of Toronto Hydro, two major bankers from TD Canada and a very highly regarded Zeta Psi Historian. With Theta Xi, celebrating its One-Hundred and Thirty Years on existence and the Theta Eta Colony will be receiving their charter, the dinner will be a very special one. The sounds of MOOOOOOOOs will be heard from Toronto Couch House, later on that evening hopefully making it a very complete and successful spring for Zetes north of the border.
In TKPhi, Ruben Vina-Garcia, Theta Xi '08 |
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Zeta Psi Active & Elder Services
Get "LinkedIn" with Zeta Psi
CLICK HERE to join our group on popular professional networking website LinkedIn.
Kaplan offers Zetes 10% discount
CLICK HERE for more info on this exclusive offer for Zetes on GMAT, GRE, LSAT, MCAT, DAT and OAT courses.
NEW: 15% off Living Language products:
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 ZETE TIES!
CLICK HERE to buy your very own Zeta Psi neck tie - Only a few dozen left, buy soon!
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Two new issues of the Circle archived online! Click below to visit our Interactive edition and select the "Archive" button in the top left to view the Winter 2006 and Winter 2007 Editions!
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 FEE, PHI, FO...
I was able to attend our recent Phi Conference at the Kirby Leadership Institute at Lafayette College a few weeks ago. I can say I was quite impressed overall.
The LTI sessions were excellent and the attention and questions in sessions indicated the guys were actually "listening intelligently".
I was a little disappointed that some Phis thought it wasn't important enough to attend; and some others had to be "buttonholed" to talk about discipline or arrearages.
But these are the current "best of Zeta Psi" and would expect high performance.
To that end, I challenged the group to participate in a program I am instituting called the Phis Council, to be chaired by the undergraduate Board Representative, Eta Phi, Jon Charest. I laid out some general observations and objectives and they had their own meeting to discuss it. The membership, the selection process, the operation is in their hands, not mine. But my objective here is to tap into the "best of Zeta Psi" undergraduates for a number of reasons.
We are "losing" men...a lot! The participation by recent alumni in their chapters, at conventions, on the International Boards, by donations is shrinking each year. We increase our alumni every year, and those that "give back" in any form, continues to fall. We cannot survive as an organization that way.
Those of us that do volunteer---treasure or time-are well intentioned. But it seems to me some of our programs, decided by Elders for actives, lack real active input. How to re-engage young Elders; how to address disciplinary issues; how to partition limited resources to competing programs for actives---these are things YOU should have input. We need you to talk with your brothers and excite them to attend LTIs and Convention; consider a consultant position at IHQ; volunteer for your Elder Board, or Zeta Psi's Board and its committees.
You will all hear more from Jon directly, but I urge all Phis (and future Phis) to make yourself heard, seen, and contribute.
Always in Tau Kappa Phi,
David W. Busacca, Phi Alpha CXXXII |
DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROGRAM INFO ONLINE: Information on Zeta Psi's Dispute Resolution Program, known as "Binding Arbitration," is now available online at www.zetapsi.org. An explantion of the program is provided. This program will be implemented this fall. If you have any questions contact Dave Hunter. | |
