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Zete Undergrads Lobby Congress on Behalf of CHIA!
Dan Florencia (Pi Sigma/Penn State), Joe Lauria (Theta/UCONN), and Nate Sultz (Iota Alpha/Texas)
 This past week, we had the opportunity to advocate on behalf of Zeta Psi and the larger Fraternity & Sorority community at the 2009 Capital Fraternal Caucus annual lobbying day. This event brings Fraternity & Sorority student leaders from across the country to Washington, DC to lobby on behalf of the entire Greek community. Our primary goal is the passage of HR 1547/S 781- The Collegiate Housing and Infrastructure Act (CHIA). CHIA would allow non-profit providers of student housing (like Fraternities) to use tax-deductible donations to buy, build, and maintain properties - a privilege that only colleges and universities enjoy today. This year, the event hosted more than 100 students and 150 alumni from across the nation, including the three of us as Zete student representatives. David Hunter, Dan Backer, and David Busacca helped guide the lobbying efforts.
We began our training on Sunday morning as Kevin O'Neil, of Patton Boggs LLP and Lambda Chi Alpha led off various lectures, guest speakers, and presentations. We studied the language of the bill, its effects, and important talking points. We learned the basics of Capitol Hill etiquette and lobbying techniques and the importance of CHIA to our community. Only 39% of Greek houses have fire sprinklers, but 80% of student housing fires take place in off-campus residences like Greek houses. Fires in Greek houses cause five times more damage and twice as many injuries than fires in other student housing. The Iota Alpha chapter knows this all too well - 2 of its 8 chapter houses have suffered fires in its thirty year history. Many cities and states are mandating installation of fire sprinklers in Greek houses, at significant cost to the alumni corporations that manage our houses. These systems can cost over $250,000 - prohibitively expensive. CHIA would allow alumni who make donations to Greek houses to write those donations off on their taxes- a powerful incentive. Many houses are also in desperate need of essential renovation and repair - weatherproofing, efficiency upgrades, capacity expansion, etc.
Zetes with Senator Richard Burr (NC)
After two days of training, we felt well prepared to make our case on Capitol Hill. Nate Sultz, for example, lobbied with Bob Marchesani, Chairman of the NIC, Elizabeth Searcy, national president of Delta Gamma, and Amanda Holloway, a DG and student body president of Oklahoma University. As a Texas Longhorn, Nate was less than amused by his team name - the Oklahoma Sooners - but big 12 rivalries aside, they made an excellent team. They met with the offices of Senators Richard Burr (NC), James Inhofe (OK), Tom Cole (OK), and Kay Bailey Hutchinson (TX), and Congressmen Frank D. Lucas (OK) and Ralph M. Hall (TX). All were previous co-sponsors of CHIA and the teams' job was to remind them of their past support and ask for renewed sponsorship. All of the offices responded positively and are expected to co-sponsor.
After the visits, we attended the Capital Fraternal Caucus reception in the Rayburn House Office Building where we rubbed elbows with many Greek members of Congress. A dozen Zetes attended including Phi Epsilon Brothers and GW colonists and several DC-area elders. From the reception we went to the Fraternity and Sorority PAC dinner, where several prominent Greek members of Congress were honored for their continued commitment and support of the Greek community. A special thanks to the many Brothers who donated to FSPAC so that we could represent Zeta Psi at this event.
This was a one-of-a-kind experience that only Zeta Psi can provide and this could be our year to finally pass CHIA.
A special note from Dan Florencia, Pi Sigma/Penn State:
 The 2009 Congressional Hill visit was the experience of a lifetime. From the reception Sunday night to the PAC dinner Tuesday, I learned more than I could ever have anticipated. I learned about networking, lobbying, and most importantly about the importance of being Greek and being a Zete. On Wednesday morning I took the shuttle from the hotel to the airport. On the shuttle I began conversation with the driver - a Pakistani man with four sons. He told me he'd become a citizen 7 years ago and that he loves the country. I told him that I was in Washington lobbying to make college more affordable, and he told me about his current struggles. He works 15 hours a day for his kids to try and afford their Community College. He told me he couldn't afford to send his sons to big colleges even though they were all very bright. As I was getting off the shuttle he shook my hand and, with the sincerest gratitude, thanked me for what I was doing.
Zeta Psi is about service and helping one another, and that moment truly made me feel as proud as ever to call myself a Zete. In Tau Kappa Phi, thank you to all those Brothers who made these five days possible for us.
Leadership gets results!
Last Monday, CHIA had been reintroduced in Congress with 56 sponsors in the House and 11 in The Senate - a far cry from our peak in the last congress of 210 and 40. After Tuesday's Lobbying program, CHIA is already up to 96 sponsors in the house and 16 in the Senate, and we expect to reach 150 & 25 soon - well on our way to majorities in both chambers of Congress! Thesee outstanding results are due to the hard work of our 3 undergrad Zetes and the many other Greek students & alumni, and the ongoing work of Zete's Government Relations program which is now becoming the model for the NIC and other Fraternity & Sororities! What we achieve as leaders makes a difference, and together we are leading the way to pass this critical bill!
For more information on Zete's Government Relations program, CLICK HERE or check out our FaceBook group by CLICKING HERE. |
A great way to memorialize a newly installed chapter is for you or your chapter to provide a chartering gift to a new group.
Zeta Psi would like to recognize the following groups and individuals for donating gifts to the Theta Eta Chapter at Brock University: Upsilon Mu Elders for the initiation book, The Theta Elders, Doug Donaldson and Pete Slomianjy for a gavel and a flag, the IHQ staff for a sword, the Theta Xi Chapter for robes, and the Iota Alpha Chapter for a Bible. |
 Circle CentennialSponsor-a-Circle today!
June 2009 marks the 100 years of the Circle of Zeta Psi. We hope to commemorate this major milestone - and the enduring vision of Bill Comstock - by archiving all 100 years of the Circle online in the coming years!
SPONSOR-a-CIRCLE: This huge task will take many years and many dollars, but with your help we can start now. CLICK HERE to pick an issue and donate the cost of archiving ($200). Sponsors will be recognized in the Circle Centennial's Honor Roll.
CLICK HERE to visit our Circle Centennial webpage. |
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Zete Kids USA Report
It's Spring, and that means it's time for Zetes to go golfing. The Phi Epsilon Annual Zete Kids Golf Outing was held April 26 in Beltsville, Maryland.
The Pi Sigma Fourth Annual Charity Golf Tournament is June 6th in State College, Pennsylvania. Click here to download the brochure and entry form.
Information on these events is at http://www.Zetekids.org/events.html. Please let us know what philanthropic activities your active or elders have planned, and we will help publicize it.
We have a heartwarming tale to share with you. Adam Amirault (Dalhousie 02) lost his pin during the 2001 Convention in DC. For 7 years he has yearned and searched for it to no avail.
When the pin surfaced on eBay this past month, Zete Kids lost no time in contacting Adam. Using superior bidding technology known only to an elite few, we were able to recover Adam's pin and send it back to its rightful owner. Snaps all around. If you see a Zete item on eBay, check with Zete Kids to see if we are buying it. Otherwise, we'll just be driving the price up.
We would like to welcome members to the Zete Kids USA Board of Trustees: Ben Meck (Case 09), Dylan Thomas (UCLA 04) and Zeta Psi Foundation Vice President Lauck Walton (RPI 84). Heartfelt thanks to former Zeta Psi Executive Director Andy O'Brien who has served on the Board for four years.
You can see the entire Board, and lots of ways to serve your community, by going to http://www.zetekids.org. |
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Going to be in NYC this Summer?
Going to be in NYC or the surrounding area for the summer? Interested in meeting up with your fellow visiting Zetes to explore the City? Looking for networking opportunities or to connect with fellow Zetes? Or maybe you've lived here your whole life but would love to meet Zetes for happy hour?
Please email NYCZeteSummer2009@gmail.com to join our listserve and keep up to date with happy hour deals, good clubs, the best restaurants, and all that New York City has to offer.
Networking events in conjunction with the Wall Street Scholars, Convention updates for those looking to carpool to Cleveland, and more coming soon to Facebook.
Admins are still wanted to grow the list. Local or visitor alike, help your fellow Zetes network and communicate. Contact Anthony at abbate@zetapsi.org |
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Upcoming Events On May 1st, Washington Scholars will host its Spring Reception and Graduation from 6:00 PM - 8:00PM in the California & New York Rooms at the Capitol Hill Club in Washington, DC (300 First Street, SE, across from Capitol South Metro).
New York City Founders' Day Event coming up! Details to follow for a cocktail hour event on Wednesday May 27th, 2009. To be added to the mailing list, send an email to abbate@zetapsi.org, and we look forward to seeing you there. | |
Get the latest update at www.zetapsi2009.com.
Convention pricing has been released - early bird pricing for August's Convention is only $350! Early bird pricing is now available for tickets to the whole Convention or shorter options for those who need them. Guest packages are available as well. Festivities begin Wed., Aug. 12 through Sat., Aug. 15 in Cleveland, Ohio with the Nu Chapter and include a Cleveland Indians Game, private reception at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and a clambake at the chapter house! Join the facebook group here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=52982755137. |
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Reunion Time
As the school year comes to an end many chapters have their annual alumni gathering. I recently attended the Theta Xi 130th in Toronto and was once again impressed by dedication and involvement of alumni spanning 70 years. On April 4th my own chapter at Texas celebrated its 30th anniversary with a really fun day at the chapter house in which many long-lost Zetes attended. Later this month the Alpha Epsilon at Illinois celebrates its 100th year with a banquet. I look forward to that event. My last stop of the month is at the annual Iota Banquet in Berkeley. That event is always most enjoyable.
Annual celebrations really can be a focal point for alumni coming back to chapter. Whether you're the Phi Chapter celebrating 162 years or the Iota Omicron at Oxford celebrating your first year, annual events give alumni a set date to mark in the calendar and a time to renew and continue Zete friendships. I encourage each chapter to continue the tradition you have going or to start it anew - your chapter membership will appreciate it!
T.K.Phi, Dave Hunter, IA '80 (email me) |
Theta Eta Chartered at Brock
On the evening of March 26, 2009, twenty-four pledged men walked into the Theta Xi Chapter house in Toronto, hours later to emerge as the Theta Eta Chapter. It was the culmination of a year's work and Zeta Psi embraces these men as they grow into what promises to be a strong Canadian Chapter at Brock University. Zeta Psi, ever a pioneer, is the only fraternity at Brock University located in St. Catharine's, Ontario. "St. Kitt's" sits 15 minutes from Niagara Falls and a mere hour from Toronto. One of its most Zete-friendly features is being surrounded by wineries, perhaps accounting for the high number of elders in the area. Theta Eta's course to becoming a chapter can be seen as a blueprint of Zeta Psi expansion. Many elements of the brotherhood were active in the chartering of this group at Brock. Hopefully this same model is used in our future endeavors at Minnesota, PITT and Queen's. For Zeta Psi to expand, strong chapters and regional groups must be at the forefront to use our resources and networks to start and foster groups. Having a core of well recommended men makes the seemingly daunting task of recruiting a large enough group easier. Once Brock formed, area elders and particularly Bro. Schimmelpenninck, sprung into action. Elders hosted events, ran pledge education sessions, and shared their tales of Zete. The actives were there as Brock received visits from Alpha Theta, Tau Theta and Theta Xi. This foundation of brotherhood showed the pledges the strength and commitment of Zeta Psi. The real work has only begun for Theta Eta. They are already working hard to overcome the sophomore slump and other hurdles that haunt young chapters. However, they know the same brotherhood that helped them become a chapter will be there to support their success. If you want to become part of the Niagara Region Elders Association please e-mail dschimme@hotmail.com. We are also actively pursuing expansion at Queen's University. If you live in the area or want to be involved with our Queen's group please e-mail ruben.vina.garcia@utoronto.ca. |
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History Guides the Canadian LTI
Anthony Shibata, Director of Operations
LTI season may be over, but our last program was certainly not the least as March 27th's Canadian LTI was one to remember. Hosted by Theta Xi, over 90 active came from across Canada and the US for a truly an excellent program. Topics ran from the current financial market to Canadian legalities and law enforcement. Questions and answers flew as all attendees were engaged.
The LTI was not the star of the show as we celebrated the 130th anniversary of the first Canadian Fraternity, the First international Fraternity, and of course the Theta Xi Chapter of Zeta Psi. The evening banquet had over 50 elders joining the actives to make a large and large crowd - a perfect Toronto engagement.
Thank you to all the Canadian Chapters and especially Theta Xi for hosting. A special thanks to the Sigma Phi and Alpha Pi Chapters for making the trek from the US to attend. It made for some great times and even better stories. |
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Summer Intern Positions at IHQ
Zeta Psi is looking for two interns for summer work at the International Headquarters in Pearl River, NY. Room and monthly stipend provided.
Work includes contacting alumni, preparing for convention, and general office work. If interested please contact Anthony Abbate at abbate@zetapsi.org by April 30, 2009. |
Zeta Psi Qdoba Relays
Nu Chapter
 On May 2nd, the Nu Chapter in Cleveland, OH will be hosting its third annual Zeta Psi Qdoba Relays.
All chapters are invited to participate and any chapter interested in
hosting a Qdoba Relays of their own can meet with this year's planners
after the event. Visit www.zetapsiCWRU.com or contact zyfiesta@case.edu to request more info.
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Pickin' For the Cure!
Sigma Gamma's 2nd annual Pickin' for a Cure.
 This event has begun to take hold as their annual philanthropy event, hosting a Bluegrass concert to raise money for the Jimmy V Foundation. Last year, the event raised several thousand dollars and had over 200 attendees. This year proved to be much bigger, effectively doubling in just its second occasion.
The concert itself was great, with three bands, a trailer for a stage, catered fried chicken, security, and a full field set up to accommodate people, complete with straw bale seating. For 6 or more hours, people enjoyed beautiful North Carolina weather and some great music, while helping a great philanthropy and increasing Zeta Psi's reputation as a solid fraternity on NCSU's campus.
Please consider joining Sigma Gamma for the third annual next year! |
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Elder Spotlight
Lt. Col. Edward Malinowski (Sigma Phi '82) helps organize Inaugural Day Parade
 No stranger to precision, safety and coordination, Zeta Psi's own Lt. Col.
Edward Malinowski led thousands through the nation's capitol for the historic inauguration of President Obama.
Malinowski, 48, is a member of the Armed Forces Inaugural Committee, a
group of about 750 military leaders who organized a mix of civilians and military personnel for the Jan. 20 event in Washington, D.C. He was in charge of organizing about 2,000 people in the AFIC's Air Force division, made up of Air Force members and civilians, for the inaugural parade.
Malinowski's mission? "Get them on time, on target through the parade," he said. It's a daunting task, but Malinowski said he's up for it, describing himself as "a person who keeps his nose to the grindstone while leading and motivating people."
A skilled aviation technician, Malinowski has a long list of military and civilian accomplishments, including delivering reports on the safety of Air Force aircraft across the globe and a critical sandbagging mission along the Mississippi River during the 1993 Midwest flood, where his squad helped save the life of a man who drove off a levy.
When asked about Zeta Psi Edward responded "I am honored to have been initiated as a Zete and to be a Zete". He also added "Zetes are great cogs in the machinery of life". We should all be proud to have Edward as a brother in our great fraternity.
Parts of this story were taken from southtownstar.com |
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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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Zeta Psi Active & Elder Services
Get "LinkedIn" with Zeta Psi - CLICK HERE to join 625+ Brothers on this networking site, or look for smaller groups for several individual Chapters.
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Click below to visit our Online Archives of the Circle magazine or our monthly e-newsletter, the UpZete.
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 Another Great Example
I mentioned last month about the new "paradigm" of planned, clustered expansion and we did it again last month. Brock University, which sorta-kinda had a prior uninstalled interest group several years ago which did not succeed, managed to do it this time.
With support from some of those "original" Elders, and local Brock University Professor David Schimel Peck (Eta), Zeta Psi is now ensconced at Brock.
The new Theta Eta Chapter's start as an interest group was more in line with our new expansion approach---significant contact with the Toronto area "Mother" Chapter, Theta Xi, staff visits and the formulation of a more supportive local Elder group, clear requirements as to member level "milestones", e.g. interest group, colony, chapter.
I had the opportunity to meet many of these men in November while attending Theta Xi's annual Commemoration dinner and was very impressed. They continued to grow in size and quality and were initiated as Brothers in Tau Kappa Phi, March 19th. As new brothers, they attended the regional Canadian LTI Saturday with a group of Canadian and US Zetes.
In some ways it couldn't have been a better "beginning" for any new group.
In one day, they were able to see the scope of Zeta Psi's organization by meeting undergraduate Actives and Elders from Chicago, Virginia, Montreal, Toronto, and Oshawa, even IHQ men representing Texas, Lincoln, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. There were more "represented" but I just can't remember them all! Many of these Elders and Actives participated in the initiation of 24 Theta Eta brothers and six Montreal Alpha Psi brothers who decided to make it an intra-Provincial initiation!
Then a wonderful banquet to celebrate Canada's oldest fraternity and Zeta Psi's first international chapter, and its newest chapter in Canada! If that does not give you a perspective of the range, depth and breadth of all that is Zeta Psi, I cannot think what would!
Congratulations to Brock! We look forward to great things coming from this newest chapter!
Housekeeping...Most chapters are returning/recovering from Spring Break, preparing for finals, or actually already out of school. Before everyone disappears, chapter officers should make an effort to attend to a few "housekeeping" chores.
Many of you have just initiated a spring pledge class. You need to get bio information to IHQ ASAP, along with initiation fees. Your year-end report and preparation for Convention should also be nailed down.
It is a lot tougher to get guys 5 states (or provinces) away to pay off their house bill; get that report in; finalize plans for beginning of (school) year activities than if you can go down the hall and bang on his door!
This could be a great time for the officers to put some planning programs into effect for the upcoming year-does the rush chair have a plan that he can hit the ground with in September, maybe a "help the freshmen move in" effort to get a jump on meeting good guys. You and your officers should think about "succession planning" you learned about at LTI and maybe have some discussion over the summer with candidates. If it's feasible, this is a great time to make some casual Elder contacts with your Elder board. They will probably have some extra time in the summer and would appreciate a casual meeting without a request for donations as the main topic!
When you come back in September, you will already be 3-4 months behind if you don't address some of these issues now. I know "long term planning" is not a typical active phrase, but some of it now can go a long way to keeping your chapter solid and improving it to the next level.
And, if any of you have a topic you wish addressed, this would be a good time to make a suggestion. While we are as busy as ever over the summer break, there are fewer "big" events to cover here. So this could be a chance to get some information about a subject or issue of particular concern to you or your chapter. Just send me an email.
Do well in exams and hope you all enjoy the start of your summer vacation!
Always in Tau Kappa Phi,
David W. Busacca, Phi Alpha CXXXII |
LEGAL NOTICE
Be advised that the Theta Phi Chapter of the Zeta Psi Fraternity Of North America, shall hold a special meeting of its members for the purpose of the disposition of the substantial assets of the corporation namely the real estate property and house located in London, Ontario. All elder members are invited to attend and those members in good standing shall be entitled to vote at the meeting on this issue. The meeting shall take place at 28 Fulton Way Unit 7, Rainbow Playland, in Toronto near Leslie & the 407, on Sunday, May 3rd, 2009 at 6:30pm. Further enquiries and request for proxies can be directed to zetapsilondon@gmail.com |
DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROGRAM INFO ONLINE: Information on Zeta Psi's Dispute Resolution Program, now in effect and known as "Binding Arbitration," is available online at www.zetapsi.org. | |
