Alumni Association of the Michigan Alpha Chapter of
Phi Delta Theta
Sword & Shield E-news |
Volume V, No. 1 | Early Fall 2012 |
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Quick Links |
Michigan Alpha Alumni Association's Online Membership Directory:
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Dear Michigan Alpha Brother:
We're firing up the old grill for Michigan Alpha's Homecoming Open House prior to the Michigan vs Illinois football game on October 13 between 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
On behalf of the Alumni Association board of directors and the active chapter leadership, I invite you and your guests to join us for good BBQ food, camaraderie and great memories. We'll have burgers, dogs and Italian sausage with other traditional tailgate favorites along with beverages (remember, the chapter house and yard are alcohol-free). A donation of $15 per person is encouraged if you're going to eat during your visit. If you plan to attend for lunch, please RSVP to pdtumich@gmail.com.
At some point when the most alums are present, the active chapter president and I will make brief remarks to welcome alums and provide an overview of the great progress being made by Michigan Alpha.
As always on football Saturdays, alums are welcome to view the house while it is open (it is locked during and after the football game) and park their vehicles on the front lawn for the afternoon.
It's been a number of years since the Alumni Association had a BBQ lunch during Homecoming, but we'd like to get back the alumni participation levels we had in the past.
If you haven't visited in long time, I think you'll be impressed with the condition of our historic chapter house and the quality of the active chapter members.
As always, 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 13
Alums Invited to Visit the Old "Red Brick Barn"
Homecoming Open House Schedule and Highlights:
11 a.m. ~ 1:30 p.m. - Chapter house is open for alums to visit, and free parking is available in the yard. BBQ tailgate foods & beverages (remember, the chapter house and yard are alcohol-free). Brief remarks from the presidents of the active chapter and Alumni Association.
3:30 p.m. - Michigan vs. Illinois kicks off in the Big House.
Last year, more than 20 alums attended the 2011 Homecoming Open House.
 | Homecoming 2011 |
We are hoping that the addition of the BBQ tailgate lunch -- featuring some of the best grilled Italian sausages in the State of Michigan -- will boost alumni participation.
If you join us for lunch, you are encouraged to make a $15 (per person) donation to the Alumni Association. If you plan on attending, please RSVP to pdtumich@gmail.com.
As always, alums are welcome to park on the front lawn during football Saturdays. Please try to park in a row, and do not block the driveway access.
Also, please remember that the house will be locked during, and after, the football game (actives may open it upon request after the game if they are there). If you want to be sure that you can visit the inside of the house, come by during the Open House!
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Alumni Updates Wanted for Sword & Shield, Alumni Participation Encouraged
Even though alums are better connected than ever before through the use of e-mail and social media, the Alumni Association still plans to publish the Sword & Shield newsletter (written and electronic versions) that features updates, pictures, memories and feedback from alums. But, we need your input to do it!
In addition, the Alumni Association is interested in getting assistance from younger alums to help us to improve our electronic communications, social media and web site. If you any updates for the Sword & Shield or want to get involved with the Alumni Association's communications efforts, please contact us at pdtumich@gmail.com.
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Michigan Alpha Alumni Participation Growing on Linked-In & Facebook
79 Alums "Like" Facebook Page and 88 Joined Linked-In
Michigan Alpha alums are separated by distance, but thanks to social networking web sites and the Alumni Association's online membership directory, they can easily stay connected and well informed about the fraternity.
The Alumni Association's web site -- www.pdtumich.com -- features a passcode-protected online membership directory that has the best available contact information for approximately 1,000 living Michigan Alpha alums.
The Alumni Association also 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.
The Alumni Association thanks Dan Recinella '81 for taking the initiative to establish our Linked-In group which has 88 members. Our Facebook page has 79 "likes." Alumni participation in both is steadily growing.
If you have any suggestions about, or want to help maintain the Alumni Association's web/social networking efforts, please contact us at pdtumich@gmail.com. We would especially welcome young alums to help us with these efforts!
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Contribute to the Michigan Alpha 2012-2013 Annual Fund
Donations Essential for Maintaining Chapter House and Alumni Association Communication Programs
 Michigan Alpha kicked off the 2012-2013 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.
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, so even modest donations are very important to us. Please keep in mind that the Annual Fund is our main source of revenue for major improvements to the chapter house and the only funding for Alumni Association communication programs.
In order to make it convenient for you to contribute, the Alumni Association accepts online donations made by credit card (Visa and MasterCard) through our secure web site (online donations are processed by our professional alumni services vendor, Affinity Connection).
We express sincere thanks to all of our donors for their generosity and loyalty. If you haven't yet contributed to the 2012-2013 Annual Fund, but would like to do so, please CLICK HERE.
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Michigan Alpha Heritage Project
Alumni Association Seeks Pictures of Fraternity History to Prepare for 150th Anniversary in 2014
Homecoming 1972...40 Years Ago...PDT Beats SAE (score unknown)
Homecoming 1987...25 Years Ago...PDT 6 ~ SAE 14
Homecoming 1992...20 Years Ago...PDT 12 ~ SAE 6
While Michigan Alpha has always been proud of its long and distinguished history, the upcoming 150th anniversary in 2014 of the chapter's founding is providing a new impetus for better documenting every day fraternity life and the great moments through the years.
The Alumni Association is early in our thinking about how we should commemorate the sesquicentennial. As the 16th oldest chapter of Phi Delta Theta in the nation (7th oldest fraternity at U of M), our longevity gives us elite status worth celebrating.
Moreover, according to the active members of the chapter, the story of our tradition of excellence has helped to recruit a new generation of Phis who are eager to help the fraternity achieve new triumphs.
Both of these motivations are among the key reasons that the Alumni Association began the Michigan Alpha Heritage Project during 2008.
At a minimum, the Alumni Association believes that during the next two years it would be worthwhile to develop photo albums on our web site that illustrate the history and best achievements of the chapter. Photo albums will focus on such topics as distinguished alums; U of M athletes; philanthropy activities; IM sports; chapter house interior and exterior views; fraternity life; major social events; and the history of the PDT-SAE Mud Bowl series from 1934 to 1997.
If there is sufficient interest, the Alumni Association could incorporate these pictures into a commemorative book published in 2014 featuring an all-time membership directory and pictorial history of the fraternity.
In the near future, we plan to survey the interest of alums about a range of potential celebratory actions for the sesquicentennial that have been successful at other PDT chapters for major anniversaries.
In the meantime, the Alumni Association wishes to thank the following alums for their donations to the Heritage Project: Robert C. Young '36 (posthumously), Robert Cooper '38, Martin Newcomer '38, Ted Spangler '40, Don Lund '45, Dr. Arthur J. Prange, Jr. '47, Bob Chappuis '48, John Ghindia '50, Bill Mogk '53, Bill Michaels '54, Ken Copp, Jr. '55, Doug Roby '56, Charlie Green '58, Dr. Anthony Petrilli '63, Jim "Hulk" Bogenrief '70, Bob Schram '71, James I. Montgomery '72 and Andrew Brandner '93.
Share your memories and pictures for our Heritage Project online archive by contacting the Alumni Association at pdtumich@gmail.com.
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PDT-SAE Mud Bowl 1934 - 1997
Help the Alumni Association Remember the Greatest Fraternity Athletic Rivalry in Michigan History
As every Michigan Alpha man knows, it was the brash, intrepid E. Reed Low '37 who challenged the "house across the street" -- Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) -- to a friendly game of "touch" football on the morning of Homecoming 1934 in a little used valley in their side yard. The men of PDT won the first grudge match which was dubbed the Mud Bowl.
While we know the outcomes of 43 games (PDT won 22 of them), we are missing scores from games played in the following years: 1997, 1996, 1985, 1982, 1981, 1978, 1973, 1972, 1971, 1970,1968, 1966, 1965, 1964, 1963, 1962, 1961, 1960, and 1935 to 1946.
If you know any missing scores or have pictures, old Sword & Shield newsletters articles, memorabilia or just interesting memories of the Mud Bowl to share with the Michigan Alpha Heritage Project, please contact Alumni Association Secretary Greg Karmazin '87 at gkarm@aol.com.
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Rush Recommendations -- Legacies -- 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 Recruitment Chairman Matt Weiss at mgweiss@umich.edu. Michigan Alpha is especially proud to currently have two legacy members: Rawlins Horlacher '14 son of Tom Horlacher '81, and Matt Kraus '14 son of Joe "JR" Kraus '82. For an overview of the active chapter, please CLICK HERE. |
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 write condolences and memories after obituaries posted in the Chapter Grand section of the Alumni Association's web site.
We intend to maintain the Chapter Grand on the Alumni Association's web site as a permanent memorial to our esteemed departed brothers.
Since publication of our last issue, we have learned that the following Brothers have passed away:
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