 Alumni Association of the
Michigan Alpha Chapter of
Phi Delta Theta
Sword & Shield
E-news |
| Volume III, No. 3 | Early Fall 2010 |
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Quick Links |
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Michigan Alpha Alumni Association's Online Membership Directory:
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Dear Michigan Alpha Brother:
The concept of "change" may be popular around the nation, but here in Ann Arbor, reestablishing the old order for some things is a sign of progress.
Wolverine football is back in the Top 20. And U of M's other historically great team, Phi Delta Theta, finished 2nd in the IM Sports Fraternity Leaque during the 2009-2010 year. Yet another sign that Michigan Alpha is back!
I hope you had a healthy, prosperous and enjoyable summer. I am pleased to report that Michigan Alpha's summer was very productive as we accomplished important maintenance projects at the chapter house. With your help, we're going to keep the strong momentum going this fall and into 2011.
On behalf of the Alumni Association Board of Directors, I invite you to visit Michigan Alpha's Homecoming Open House prior to the Michigan vs Iowa football game on October 16. We have a brief formal program that will start at 10 a.m. and light breakfast refreshments will be available until 11:30 a.m.
The highlight of our Homecoming Open House will be the dedication of framed pictures in the Trophy Room of Cmdr. Phil Craig '63 and
Lt. Scott "Harv" Waldinger '86. We will also recognize the active chapter winners of the Bob Ufer '43 Scholarship and the Hiram Perry Holmes '17 Scholarship.
As always on football Saturdays, alums are welcome to view the house while it is open (it is locked during the football game) and park their vehicles on the front lawn for the afternoon.
Although we are separated by distance, remember that Phi Delta Theta is still your house on campus. The Alumni Association Board of Directors and the active chapter
encourage you to visit 1437 Washtenaw whenever you are in Ann Arbor.
Even if you cannot make it back to campus, I ask you to show your support and loyalty to the fraternity by making a donation to the 2010-2011 Annual Fund. Alumni donations are the main source of funding for major renovations and improvements to our 107 year old chapter house.
Thanks to the generous backing of alums, Michigan Alpha's historic home is in excellent structural condition -- regular maintenance will keep it that way. The house provides a new generation of Phis with a comfortable and safe living environment. It is undoubtedly the finest fraternity house on campus.
I welcome your suggestions and comments about the fraternity. I look forward to seeing you in A2.
Yours in the Bond,
JT (Tom) Buck '77
President
Alumni Association of the Michigan Alpha Chapter of
Phi Delta Theta |
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Homecoming Open House on October 16
Alums Invited to Open House Program at 10 a.m., Phil Craig '63 and Scott "Harv" Waldinger '86 to be Posthumously Honored
 Homecoming Open House Schedule and Highlights:
9:30 a.m. - Chapter house is open for alums to visit. Light breakfast refreshments (bagels, juice and coffee) provided.
10 a.m. - Brief formal program begins. This year's highlight will be the Alumni Association
dedicating framed pictures in the Trophy Room of Cmdr. Phil Craig '63 and
Lt. Scott "Harv" Waldinger '86 . Both brothers made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation while serving in the U.S. Navy. The Alumni Association will also recognize the active chapter winners of the Bob Ufer '43 Scholarship and the Hiram Perry Holmes '17 Scholarship.
11:30 a.m. - Breakfast refreshments end, and the house will be locked during the football game (Michigan vs. Iowa kicks off at 3:30 p.m.).
Last year, more than 20 alums visited the Homecoming Open House to witness the North Porch Dedication, socialize and reminisce prior to making the familiar cross campus walk to the Big House. For pictures of Homecoming 2009, please CLICK HERE.
As always, alums are welcome to park on the front lawn during football  Saturdays. We've noticed that more alums are parking on the lawn this year than last. Please try to park in a row and do not block the driveway access.
Also, please remember that the house will be locked during the football game. If you want to visit the inside of the house, arrive early!
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Sword & Shield 2010 Spring-Summer Issue
 This issue includes great news about the fraternity and updates on more than 30 alums.
Plus, it features a special tribute to the 5 year anniversary of the chapter's refounding (December 11, 2004) and the 2nd Refounding Fathers.
View the Sword & Shield online CLICK HERE.
Have news or want to submit an update? Contact us at pdtumich@gmail.com.
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Michigan Alpha's 2nd Re-Founding Fathers Commemorate 5 Year Anniversary: 2004 ~ 2009
Looking Back and Where are They Now
On December 11, 2004, 34 newly initiated Phi Delt Brothers joined with alums to hold the charter installation ceremony at the Michigan League on campus to restore Michigan Alpha as an active chapter of Phi Delta Theta.
The Alumni Association is pleased that the 34 young men who led the rebirth of Michigan Alpha have moved on to bigger challenges in life; however, we will never forget their their contributions to keeping our fraternity's great tradition alive at U of M. We will always remember them as the 2nd Refounding Fathers of Michigan Alpha (the first Refounding Fathers reestablished the chapter in 1887 after it closed in 1869).
All 2nd Refounding Fathers were invited to share their thoughts about the 5 year anniversary of the chapter's establishment and updates about what they've been during since their years as active members of Michigan Alpha. The Alumni Association received 15 responses, and the edited versions were printed in 2010 Spring-Summer issue of the Sword & Shield. The full versions of the responses can be viewed on the Alumni Association's web site by CLICKING HERE.
If you were a Refounding Father who did not have a chance to submit a response at this time, the Alumni Association encourages you to e-mail us your updates/recollections that can be posted on the web site with all the others. The Alumni Association's e-mail address is pdtumich@gmail.com.
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Michigan Alpha Alumni Association is on Linked-in & Facebook
Social and Professional Networking Sites are Part of Alumni Association's Active Web Presence
Thanks to efforts of Dan Recinella '81, Michigan Alpha has a Linked-in page that expanded our online professional networking potential. During fall of 2008, the Alumni Association started a Facebook page as a part of the Phi Delta Theta General Headquarters' initiative to connect alums online.
Our Linked-in and Facebook pages are key elements of the Alumni Association's robust presence on the web. We established our first web -- www.pdtma.com -- site during the fall of 2005. In the fall of 2008, the Alumni Association established a new web site -- www.pdtumich.com -- with blog software that enables us to better control and manage information.
The Alumni Association's old web site is fully integrated into the new site and continues to feature a passcode-protected online membership directory that has the best available contact information about approximately 1,000 living Michigan Alpha alums.
In addition, the Alumni Association established pages on YouTube and Scribd.
Given the many cost and speed advantages of electronic communications, the Alumni Association would like to make greater use of this medium in the future. If you have any suggestions about, or want to help maintain (even a small amount of assistance would be appreciated!), the Alumni Association's web efforts, please contact us at pdtumich@gmail.com.
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Contribute to the Michigan Alpha 2010-2011 Annual Fund
Last Year's Contributions Kept House in Great Shape, but More Work to Do
 Michigan Alpha kicked off the 2010-2011 Annual Fund in September and the response to date has been positive.
We recognize that times are challenging, but any level of donation is very much appreciated.
All contributions of at least $25 will be recognized on Michigan Alpha's Annual Fund Honor Roll. The Alumni Association is extremely thankful for every dollar we received. Alums contributing between $25 and $50 accounted for approximately 10% of the total raised each year.
We cannot reach our fundraising goal for this year without the support of donors at all giving levels.
We would like to make a significant level of investment on important maintenance projects at the chapter house during the summer of 2011, but we need your help now.
The list of all alums who contributed to the 2009-2010 Annual Fund Honor Roll (last year's Annual Fund donation year that ended on August 31, 2010) can be viewed by CLICKING HERE.
In order to make it easier for you to contribute, the Alumni Association accepts donations made by credit card (Visa and MasterCard) through our secure web site.
We express thanks to all of our donors for their generosity and loyalty. If you haven't yet contributed to the 2010-2011 Annual Fund but would like to do so, please CLICK HERE.
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Michigan Alpha Heritage Project
Mud Bowl 1988, 22 Years Ago This Fall
PDT Crushes SAE 12 to 0
Mud Bowl 1948, 62 Years Ago this Fall
PDT Dominates SAE 25 to 12
Do you remember PDT's Mud Bowl victories and hard fought contests against the "house across the street" as well as our many other great moments in U of M Greek System history?
Share your memories and pictures for our Heritage Project online archives by contacting us at pdtumich@gmail.com.
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Rush Recommendations Wanted!
Help Phi Delta Theta Be the Leaders and Best at Michigan
 Know a young man headed to the U of M, or already on campus, who might make a good Phi? Please contact the active chapter Rush Chairman Carl Stanhope '12 by e-mail at cstan969@gmail.com.
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The Chapter Grand
Phi Delta Theta mourns the passing of our Brothers in the Bond, and extends condolences to their friends and families. Please note that you now may post condolences and memories after obituaries posted on the Alumni Association's web site.
Since publication of our last issue, we have learned that the following Brothers have passed away:
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