Geneseo Greek Gazette Newsletter

Saturday,
May 2, 2009
1 pm - 3 pm
Mary Jemison Dining Hall on the Campus of SUNY Geneseo

The Geneseo Alumni Association, the Office of Greek Affairs and The Fund for Geneseo are partnering again this year to reunite Greek Alumni from every generation and every organization at the third annual Greekfest event. Please join current students and alumni as we celebrate the many ways that Greek life has enriched the Geneseo community for more than 100 years.

Bring your family to honor the third class of Geneseo's Greek Hall of Fame and to recognize organizations celebrating significant milestones and anniversaries. You'll also have the chance to meet current fraternity and sorority leaders, to hear what's new in your organization and to congratulate the 2009 Greek scholarship recipients.

Registration information is available online here or you can also register by calling 585.245.5506.

Congratulations to the 2009 Inductees to Geneseo's Greek Hall of Fame

Jeff Cramer '86,
Sigma Phi Epsilon
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Denine Anderson Regan '98, Alpha Delta Epsilon
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Paul Scipione '68, Prometheus/Phi Kappa Sigma
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Heather Hoffman Maldonado '95, Arethusa/Sigma Gamma Phi

Happy Anniversary

15th Anniversary -
Phi Eta Psi
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25th Anniversary -
Omega Beta Psi
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45th Anniversary -
Sigma Tau Psi
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115th Anniversary - Arethusa/Sigma Gamma Phi

Endowed Scholarship Awards

Alpha Kappa Phi
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Sigma Kappa
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Tau Kappa Epsilon

Make a Difference - Make a Gift to the Geneseo Greek Fund

Student Adventures in Leadership

by Mark Passero '09, Sigma Tau Psi

Last summer I had the opportunity to attend the Undergraduate Interfraternity Institute, or UIFI, at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. The program is described as a five-day journey, but I think adventure is a better description.

Though the conference was only five days, it seemed much longer because I left with such an incredible amount of information. Each day starts early and ends late. We participated in very challenging and interactive games and programs and listened to our mentors and took a lot away from what they told us. We also had the chance to hear what other fraternity and sororities were going through. No matter where we were from, we all seemed to have similar problems. We discussed different ways for our organizations to get involved with the community and how to get rid of the stereotypes that burden all Greek communities. I think most importantly, we took time to evaluate ourselves and others, and really leaned on each other to discover solutions to our problems.

What I remember most though is the character of the people I met. There were 85 Greek members from across the nation-from New York City, Montana, Florida and Washington. Although it took some longer than others, by the end of our adventure together everyone was ready and willing to make a difference and change themselves and their Greek community. As a group, we adopted the motto: "live, learn, and teach your ritual." We committed to setting a higher standard for ourselves and our organizations, and to help others as we worked to meet these standards. At the end of the trip we all made a promise to each other to live, learn, and teach our ritual and that is something I will remember for the rest of my life.

As a result of UIFI my fraternity is meeting a higher standard. We are more involved in the Greek community and in the larger Geneseo community than ever before. Our grades as a whole have increased drastically placing us in the top three among fraternities. Though the process may be slow we are trying to make a difference and I am sure everyone who attended UIFI is attempting to do the same.

A whole day at the Institute was dedicated to courage. I believe the entire program gave us all the courage to make a difference. I encourage everyone to support their organization by sending students to UIFI to help tham find that courage for themselves and our entire Greek community.

Thanks to the generous contributions of alumni to the 2008 Greek Fund, the Inter Greek Council will be able to send several more students to UIFI this summer.

A Tradition of Giving

By Rajesh Bellani '95,
Tau Kappa Epsilon

As a member of Geneseo's Greek community, you know the value that Greek life adds to the Geneseo experience. For more than 100 years, Greeks from all organizations have enriched the campus community through a variety of programs and have supported a tradition of giving back to Geneseo through financial contributions.

Greek life is important at Geneseo. Several years ago, in a partnership between the Geneseo Alumni Association and the Office of Greek Affairs, the Greek Fund was established through The Fund for Geneseo so that gifts from Greek alumni could directly benefit the community we worked so hard to build. By providing funding for things like scholarships, leadership development programs, student travel to national conferences (see article above) and alumni communications efforts, the Greek Fund enhances Greek life at Geneseo now and into the future.

State funding to Geneseo has fallen in recent years-down to about 25 percent of the College's operating budget-making private giving more critical than ever before. By giving to the Greek Fund, you help to ensure that Greek life continues to thrive at Geneseo. Our gifts strengthen our community, and every gift counts.

A current Geneseo student will call you soon to ask for your contribution to the Greek Fund. When your call comes, please do all that you can for a great group of young men and women who proudly carry on the Greek tradition at Geneseo.

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